Chris Ryan's 1978 Pontiac Trans Am
Chris Ryan and his South Carolina hot rod shop, Ryan’s Rod and Kustom, are well known for turning out killer customs and other traditional hot rods and muscle cars. So, we had to ask him, “why a ’78 Firebird?” His answer? “I love hot rods,” says Chris, “but our hobby and industry has to keep moving forward.” In this case, moving forward means applying that same insane build quality that’s expected from his shop to a previously somewhat unloved “late model” muscle car.
And of course, we have to talk about Smokey & the Bandit. Chris is part of the generation that watched (and re-watched) Bandit and the Snowman deliver the goods to those thirsty boys in Atlanta. Chris, like just about everyone who’s seen the movie, wanted one of those bad, black TA’s in the worst way, but couldn’t quite swing it as a young man.
Now we fast-forward a few years. Chris was finally in the position to build his Bandit car, and the original idea was a slightly upgraded, black TA to cruise around in. But remember, Chris is a professional hot rod builder, and it didn’t take long for his inner custom guy to take over. Chris and crew replaced the old warped plastic flares and spoilers with custom steel pieces. The rockers were extended, the bumpers were sliced and tucked, and Nissan GT-R door handles were added. Everything was then gapped and straightened into something way nicer than the General could have managed in the late 70’s.
Chris notes that “these cars aren’t really as good as we remember them.” By modern standards, that WS6 suspension and 220-horse 400 aren’t really that great. Chris brought the performance of his Firebird up to a standard that the Bandit would have loved thanks to a RideTech Tru Turn suspension, Currie 9-inch, and Wilwood disc brakes. Under the hood is a 6.0 LS engine backed by a 4L80 transmission. It’s topped with a Holley Sniper, which allows the requisite shaker scoop to be perched on top.
Though the “slightly updated Trans Am” had now escalated dramatically, Chris wanted to keep that late-70’s Bandit inspired soul alive. The one-off 19x12 and 18 x 10 wheels were carved by Mike Curtis as a nod to those original snowflake wheels without simply being large-scale clones. And of course, there’s that flaming chicken on the hood. But like everything else on this car, this one is special. It’s not only painted on, it also features hand-turned silver leaf to set it off.
The custom flush-fit back glass and windshield combine to create yet another sneaky detail that contributes to the ‘Bird’s overall clean appearance. Hot Rod Interiors wrapped the cabin in red leather that really pops against the silver. The red is highlighted by cool hand-sewn white stitching, and the required engine-turned gauge panel remains.
We’re here to tell you, after seeing this thing in person at the 2023 Wheel Hub Live show in the Museum of American Speed, that the red and silver ‘Bird absolutely glows under the lights. Chris and crew did a great job preserving that Bandit spirit while creating a handcrafted Firebird that’s loaded with clever details.