Home Up 1969 Firebird 1969 Firebird Convt 1977 Trans Am SE 1979 Trans Am WS6 1982 MSE 1985 Trans Am Convt 1988 Fiero GT 1989TTA 1991Firebird 1991Paxton 1991BanditII 1996GPGTP 1997 Montana 1998 Formula 1999 Firehawk 1999Vette 2000 NHRA 2002 GT 2002 GTP 2002Deville 2004 GTO

While checking Craigslist, looking for the Supercharger blower unit for our new 1991 Formula, I saw this car listed in San Jose CA.  It was called a "Bandit II Limited Edition", transformed by a company called "Choo Choo Customs" in Tennessee.  The $4,500. conversions took place at the Chattanooga Custom Center, and were offered to nearby Pontiac Dealerships.  They began production in 1987, with a proposed conversion rate of 500 per year.  By then year 1990, the rate was to be 600 per month, until production stopped after the 1992 model year.  But the actual production figures, while not know for certain, were clearly less than than the projected totals hoped for by Choo Choo Customs.

Original pictures shown on the Craigslist ad

  

I didn't remember anyone making a car looking like this back in the eighties.  So I spent the better part of the night on the internet trying to research information on these cars.  And what did I find?  A lot of information about how there is limited or no information on these cars.  What I did find was they were made by a company called Choo Choo Customs, out of Tennessee.  They were in business back in the eighties, customizing Firebirds, Camaros, El Caminos, and vans.  The cars come with a dash plaque, with production numbers of 500 to 600 per year.  But one prior researcher made an interesting discovery.  No one has be able to find any car showing a production number over 200.  Much like the MSE Trans Am, and many companies of that era, record keeping was not their strong suit.  And since Choo Choo Customs, like most of those companies in the eighties, are out of business, most or all records are long gone or missing in action.

Just for fun, I called the owner to see what information he could give me, knowing that I really shouldn't get this car, after just getting the 1991 Formula two months prior.  He had a lot of information on it, being the second owner of the car.  It started life for him back in Florida in 1993 when he bought the car used with 1800 miles.  The car was transported to California when his job changed.  His wife used the car as her daily driver.  It is in original condition, having had one repaint many years ago.  It now shows 124K, with automatic transmission, power windows, door locks and rear hatch.  It has A/C,  and the T-Tops that made Trans Am cars famous.  The engine is the 5.0 injected V8.

I liked the car even more after the owner sent me several dozen very detailed photos.  I even liked it enough to drive the five hours to see the car, and make the decision of getting it after I drove the car.  Nothing I saw changed my mind, and in fact it only enticed me more to make an offer.  The exterior is very straight, no dings, and only one dent, that I am confident will come out with a dent removal service.  The paint is not show quality, with minor issues my son and I can fix with power cleaning and detailing.  The front bumper will need to be repainted, as some of the paint is coming off.  The interior is also in nice shape, needing a dash cover, center console lid, headliner, and and little things like power door lock switches that had the color worn off and such.  The price was still an issue, being more than I was comfortable with paying.  The owner and I hit it off well, and he liked the idea of my son and me taking the car home to be kept original, and well taken care of.  Much to my surprise, he dropped the price in half, to the point that I could not pass it up.  With that in mind, we agreed on his new price, and the car was mine.  I just returned from San Jose with the car, and we made it home without issue. 

I know the car was hard to let go of Ron, but I promise we will take care of it, fix it up, and treat it well.  It will see some car shows and car cruises, including the "Bandit Run" in Northern California in June of 2012.  I hope you can come see us during that even to say hi to the car.

Original Choo Choo Custom exhaust tips

1979 Style gold bird, with original non functional shaker scoop

T-Tops, dirty from sitting in carport

Very clean engine bay

Note the gold dash and radio trim plates

Check the Choo Choo Custom embroidered headrests

Original floor mats in rear hatch

Choo Choo Customs, out of Tennessee in the 80's, specialized in making a Firebird called the Bandit II.  The Bandit cars were not Trans Am cars, but really just base Firebirds, with a special appearance package.  The package included the following items.

  • 1979 style hood bird

  • Shaker Hood (Fake, just glued on hood)

  • Gold Special Edition pin striping

  • Ground effects aero package

  • Deep dish rims, similar to GTA Lace rims

  • Dual exhaust tips (Gold on Black cars)

  • Embroidered logo headrests

  • Embroidered Bandit II floor mats

  • Special Gold Dash and Console trim

  • Gold serialized dash plaque

Based only on my research, I learned the following.

  • Based Firebird used only

  • 5.0 injected V8 was used on most cars, but a V6 was possible

  • Production numbers are very, very low, much less than thought

  • Embroidered headrest came in a few different variations

 

 

What a 1991 Bandit II on eBay looked like a few months ago.  All original, and very low miles.  The bird on the hood is faded, but that is the only flaw I can see.  When I saw this car while researching the Bandit II car, I really knew I was going to buy the one from Craigs list.   I hope mine will look like after we clean ours up and replace some minor items.  Even if it doesn't, I will be ok with that.  I am just looking forward to some nice drives, and the Bandit run they have in Northern California every year.

 

 

1987

 

1989

 

 

1990

 

 

 

1991

 

 

A barn find.  Just a little dirty.

 

Even the not so nice are for sale.  One owner?

Wrecking yard time.

 

Back Home Up Next