14: Pontiac Trans Am Special Edition
Although GM redesigned many of their vehicles due to the fuel crisis of the 1970s, Pontiac still presented a unique special edition. The second generation F-Bodies were very different from the generation that came prior. The Trans Am was cultivating a new market niche, and the special edition model did it well. Featured in the movie ‘Smokey and the Bandit,’ the Trans Am Special Edition had a flaming bird painted on the hood (via Hemmings).
That was paired with the shaker hood and the distinct black and gold paint job. By all accounts, this generation of the Trans Am is the most memorable and popular. GM put a lot of effort into the design of this car and it helped differentiate it from the Camaro. If there was ever a beautiful pony car that came out of Detroit, the second generation Trans Am is one of them.