1977 · Pontiac · United States
1977 Pontiac LeMans: the Can Am, and a dispute over how many
The one-year Can Am (RPO WW3) put the Trans Am's T/A 6.6 and shaker scoop on a Cameo White LeMans Sport Coupe, with published production figures of 1,133 and 1,377.
United States · researched through 2026-09-23
This record's own dek states that the one-year Can Am, RPO WW3, put the Trans Am's T/A 6.6 and shaker scoop on a Cameo White LeMans Sport Coupe for 1977, with published production figures of 1,133 and 1,377. This record's own overview states that Pontiac's 1977 intermediates were the Grand LeMans, LeMans Sport Coupe, and LeMans two-door and four-door, with a 3.8-liter 231 two-barrel V6 and column-shift three-speed standard, Turbo Hydra-matic in California, and options of a 301 two-barrel V8 not sold in California or high-altitude counties, a 350 four-barrel, and a 400 four-barrel, Turbo Hydra-matic the only optional transmission.
This record's own overview states that the Can Am was a package on the Cameo White LeMans Sport Coupe with louvered quarter windows: the T/A 6.6 400 four-barrel, or the 6.6-liter Oldsmobile 403 in California and high-altitude counties, Turbo Hydra-matic with no manual available, power front disc brakes, variable-ratio power steering, a Grand Prix instrument panel with Rally gauges and clock, the Rally RTS handling package with GR70-15 radials and stabilizer bars, body-color Rally II wheels, a blacked-out grille, a full-width rear spoiler, a Trans Am-type shaker scoop, tri-tone stripes, and a black lower body.
This record's own overview states that Hagerty reports the Can Am was conceived by Jim Wangers's Motortown with Pontiac product planner Ben Harrison, debuted at the Detroit Auto Show in January 1977, and was built by shipping finished Sport Coupes to Motortown for the appearance items, the program ending when Motortown's rear-spoiler tool broke and Pontiac chose to cancel rather than ship cars without spoilers. This record's own key facts state that the Can Am Option Package was RPO WW3 at $1,214, and that California and high-altitude Can Ams used the Oldsmobile 403 at 185 hp with a Turbo Hydra-matic 350 and 2.41 axle, carrying "6.6 Litre" scoop lettering against "T/A 6.6" on Pontiac-powered cars.1
This record's own conflicts section documents a genuine dispute over Can Am production: 1,377 as the widely accepted figure from the Can Am Registry per Hagerty, against 1,133 from Street Muscle's account of when the spoiler tool failed, with its own treatment showing both figures with attribution since neither article cites a Pontiac record, and noting the two rows are alternative counts of the same cars that must never be added. This record's own unpublished leads flag a Barn Finds claim that Pontiac Motor Division records show 1,377, attributed there only to a commenter rather than a verified Pontiac source, and a Wikipedia claim of a 42-car Oldsmobile-403 count with a 3.08 axle that contradicts Hagerty's own 3.23 figure.1,2
This record's own production rows document an uncited compiler total of 81,391 for the LeMans line, whose series scope is not stated, alongside the two disputed Can Am counts already noted. This record's own performance section documents a Car and Driver quarter-mile of 17.1 seconds at a 79.7 mph trap speed for a 1977 Can Am, as reported by Hagerty, with the test car's engine and axle not stated in that secondary report, and its own identification section documents that Pontiac-powered cars carry "T/A 6.6" on the shaker scoop against "6.6 Litre" on California and high-altitude cars with the Oldsmobile 403.3
Fourteen exterior colors are documented for the year with their order letters, from Cameo White (A), the only Can Am color, to Starlight Black (V). This record's own specifications section documents Can Am axle ratios of 3.23:1 with the T/A 6.6 and 2.41:1 with the Oldsmobile 403, GR70-15 steel-belted radial Can Am tires, a 112-inch two-door wheelbase against 116 for four-doors, and a separate 1977 GT Option available only on the LeMans Sport Coupe, with a two-tone color treatment, body accent stripes, Rally RTS and Rally II wheels, a Grand Prix-type instrument panel, body-colored sport mirrors, and a blacked-out grille.
Fact sheet · 1977 · United States
The numbers
1977 Pontiac LeMans — The one-year Can Am (RPO WW3) put the Trans Am's T/A 6.6 and shaker scoop on a Cameo White LeMans Sport Coupe, with published production figures of 1,133 and 1,377.
Coverage: Partial — researched sections are shown; missing ones are not yet sourced. Researched through 2026-09-23.
Every figure is labeled with how sure we are. Reported means a manufacturer, registry, or reference figure we cite but have not reconciled against factory records ourselves. Disputed means credible sources disagree and both are shown. Rows are separately scoped; don't add them together unless the note says they make up a total.
Key facts
- The Can Am Option Package was RPO WW3 at $1,214.1
- Published Can Am production figures disagree: Hagerty gives 1,377 as the widely accepted figure from the Can Am Registry, while Street Muscle says the spoiler tool failed after the 1,133rd Motortown conversion.1,2
- California and high-altitude Can Ams used the Oldsmobile 403 (185 hp) with a Turbo Hydra-matic 350 and 2.41 axle and carried '6.6 Litre' scoop lettering; Pontiac-powered cars were lettered 'T/A 6.6'.1
- A 1977 GT Option, available only on the LeMans Sport Coupe, included a two-tone color treatment, body accent stripes, Rally RTS and Rally II wheels, a Grand Prix-type instrument panel with rally gauges, body-colored sport mirrors and a blacked-out grille.
Production
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| LeMans total (series scope not stated by compiler)3 LeMans line (scope not stated) · not stated by source Uncited compiler figure; series scope not stated. | 81,391 | built, model-year | Reported |
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Can Am (RPO WW3), widely accepted final figure1 LeMans Sport Coupe with Can Am package · 2-door coupe · T/A 6.6 400 or Olds 403 · Turbo Hydra-matic · United States Same article says some 1,300 had been built when the spoiler tool broke. See conflicts. | 1,377 | built, model-year | Disputed |
| Can Am conversions completed by Motortown (alternative count)2 LeMans Sport Coupe with Can Am package · 2-door coupe · Turbo Hydra-matic · United States An alternative count of the same cars as the row above; never add the two. Excludes Cameo White Sport Coupes built with Can Am mechanical content but not converted. | 1,133 | built, model-year | Disputed |
Can Am production is disputed between published sources (see conflicts); neither figure is traced to a Pontiac record in the sources read. The two Can Am rows are alternative counts of the same cars and must never be added. The LeMans total is an uncited compiler figure of unstated series scope; the Can Am cars are presumably inside it but no source says so.
No split of 1977 LeMans production by body, engine or transmission was found, and no count of GT Option or Rally RTS cars. Best sources that would close this: Pontiac Historic Services (which can confirm individual Can Ams), the Can Am Registry, the Standard Catalog of Pontiac 1926-2002, and the 1977 Pontiac AMA specifications.
Prices when new
| Model | Price | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Can Am Option Package (RPO WW3)1 | $1,214 | option price as reported by Hagerty, 1977 model year |
Prices are the nominal dollars of the day, not adjusted for inflation.
Engines
| Engine | Factory rating | Availability | Built |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.8-litre (231) V6, 2-bbl 231 cu in · two-barrel | standard, LeMans and Sport Coupe | Not yet sourced | |
| 5.0-litre (301) V8, 2-bbl 301 cu in · two-barrel | optional; not in California or high-altitude counties | Not yet sourced | |
| 5.7-litre (350) V8, 4-bbl 350 cu in · four-barrel | optional | Not yet sourced | |
| 6.6-litre (400) V8, 4-bbl 400 cu in · four-barrel | optional | Not yet sourced | |
| W72 · T/A 6.6 (400) V8, 4-bbl1,2 400 cu in · four-barrel | 200 hp, 325 lb-ft (SAE net) | Can Am package only among LeMans models; not in California or high-altitude counties | Not yet sourced |
| Oldsmobile 6.6-litre (403) V8, 4-bbl1 403 cu in · four-barrel | 185 hp (SAE net) | Can Am in California and high-altitude counties only | Not yet sourced |
Ratings are the manufacturer's advertised figures under the standard shown (SAE gross before 1972, SAE net after). They are not dyno results, and gross and net ratings can't be compared directly.
Transmissions
| Transmission | Availability | Built |
|---|---|---|
| 3-speed manual, column shift | standard on LeMans and Sport Coupe; Turbo Hydra-matic in California; not in high-altitude counties | Not yet sourced |
| Turbo Hydra-matic | the only optional transmission; the only transmission on the Can Am (manual not available) | Not yet sourced |
| Turbo Hydra-matic 400 (Can Am with T/A 6.6; 3.23 axle)1 | Can Am, Pontiac 400 | Not yet sourced |
| Turbo Hydra-matic 350 (Can Am with Olds 403; 2.41 axle)1 | Can Am, California and high-altitude | Not yet sourced |
Options and packages
| Code | Option | Price | Installed |
|---|---|---|---|
WW3RPO |
Can Am Option Package (LeMans Sport Coupe)1 | $1,214 | 1,3771 Disputed |
|
GT Option (LeMans Sport Coupe only): two-tone color, body accent stripes, Rally RTS, Rally II wheels, Grand Prix-type instrument panel with rally gauges, body-colored sport mirrors, blacked-out grille | — | Not yet sourced |
|
Rally RTS Handling Package (GR70-15 steel-belted radials, front and rear stabilizer bars) | — | Not yet sourced |
G80RPO |
Safe-T-Track rear axle | — | Not yet sourced |
QCYRPO |
GR70x15 white-letter tires | — | Not yet sourced |
N31RPO |
Custom Sport steering wheel | — | Not yet sourced |
A01RPO |
Soft Ray glass, all windows | — | Not yet sourced |
AK1RPO |
Custom color-keyed seat belts | — | Not yet sourced |
U05RPO |
Dual horns | — | Not yet sourced |
B37RPO |
Floor mats, front and rear | — | Not yet sourced |
C60RPO |
Air conditioning | — | Not yet sourced |
UM2RPO |
AM/FM stereo radio with stereo 8-track tape player | — | Not yet sourced |
UN8RPO |
Citizens Band radio | — | Not yet sourced |
WW8RPO |
Instrument-panel tachometer | — | Not yet sourced |
D55RPO |
Front seat console | — | Not yet sourced |
T44RPO |
Interior hood latch | — | Not yet sourced |
Paint
| Code | Color | Built |
|---|---|---|
11 |
Cameo White (order letter A; the only Can Am colour) | Not yet sourced |
50 |
Cream Gold (B) | Not yet sourced |
61 |
Mojave Tan (D) | Not yet sourced |
63 |
Buckskin Metallic (E) | Not yet sourced |
78 |
Mandarin Orange (F) | Not yet sourced |
69 |
Brentwood Brown (G) | Not yet sourced |
36 |
Firethorn Red (I) | Not yet sourced |
72 |
Roman Red (J) | Not yet sourced |
13 |
Sterling Silver (M) | Not yet sourced |
22 |
Glacier Blue (N) | Not yet sourced |
44 |
Bahia Green (P) | Not yet sourced |
29 |
Nautilus Blue (R) | Not yet sourced |
48 |
Berkshire Green (T) | Not yet sourced |
19 |
Starlight Black (V) | Not yet sourced |
Color names are the factory's. We don't show color swatches, because a screen color is no guide for a restoration.
Interiors
| Code | Trim | Built |
|---|---|---|
|
LeMans standard: full-width cloth and Morrokide front seat, rosewood vinyl instrument-panel trim, deluxe cushion 3-spoke steering wheel | Not yet sourced |
|
LeMans Sport Coupe custom interior with diamond-patterned seats: cloth-and-Morrokide or all-Morrokide notchback full-width seat with center armrest, or Morrokide bucket seats | Not yet sourced |
|
Can Am: Grand Prix instrument panel and console with LeMans upholstery; black, red, white or tan2 | Not yet sourced |
Specifications
| Measure | Value | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Wheelbase, 2-door | 112 in | 2-door including Can Am (4-door 116.0) |
| Overall length | 208 in | 2-door (4-door 212.0) |
| Overall width | 77.4 in | 2-door and 4-door |
| Track, front/rear | 61.6/61.1 in | 2-door and 4-door |
| Fuel tank | 21.8 US gal | LeMans |
| Axle ratio, Can Am1 | 3.23:1 (T/A 6.6); 2.41:1 (Olds 403) | Can Am |
| Tires, Can Am | GR70-15 steel-belted radials | Can Am |
Period road tests
| Test | Car tested | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Car and Driver (as reported by Hagerty), 1977-051standing quarter mile | 1977 Pontiac Can Am (engine and axle of the test car not stated in the secondary report)trap speed 79.7 mph; test weight 4,125 lb as reported | 17.1 s |
A road test result belongs to the one car that was tested, with its engine, gearing, tires, and conditions. It is not a figure for every car of the year.
Identification
- Can Am scoop lettering
- Pontiac-powered cars carry 'T/A 6.6' on the shaker scoop; California and high-altitude cars with the Oldsmobile 403 carry '6.6 Litre'.1
Where the sources disagree
1977 Can Am production
- 1,377 (widely accepted final figure, per Verne Howard of the Can Am Registry; the article also says some 1,300 had been built when the spoiler tool broke)1
- 1,133 (the spoiler tool failed after the 1,133rd Motortown conversion)2
Both figures are shown with attribution and the rows are marked disputed. Neither article cites a Pontiac record. 1,377 may include cars counted by the registry beyond Motortown's own conversions (Hagerty notes Sport Coupes built with Can Am equipment but without the appearance items); that explanation is not stated by either source and is not asserted.
Identification
Read a 1977 Pontiac VIN
The VIN decoder runs in your browser and never sends the VIN anywhere. How the factory numbered this year's cars:
Same model year
Also in 1977
- AMC AMX The AMX name returns as a $799 appearance-and-handling package on the Hornet hatchback, with the 258 six or the 304 V8.
- Buick Riviera A downsized B-body Riviera with a 350 or Oldsmobile 403; 26,138 built.
- Chevrolet Chevelle and Malibu SS The last Colonnade Chevelle year; no SS or Type S-3 performance model was found in the sources, and the strongest listed engine was a 170 net hp 350.
- Chevrolet Chevy II and Nova No SS in the source production table; Rally package offered 1977-79. Enthusiast-compiled production: 365,264 cars.
- Chevrolet El Camino SS Colonnade-era El Camino; Chevrolet's 1977 data pages define the RPO Z15 SS option for the El Camino Classic. Team Chevelle's production totals give 54,321 El Caminos built, 5,226 of them with SS equipment.
- Ford Maverick Grabber The Maverick's final year; no performance-package count was found.
- Ford Ranchero GT An auction catalogue reports 12,462 of 1977's 21,850 Rancheros as GTs, a figure no primary Ford record read here confirms.
- Ford Thunderbird The downsized seventh-generation Thunderbird became the best-selling Thunderbird; performance was no longer its brief.
- Mercury Cougar Outside the muscle focus: 194,823 Cougars for 1977 per Wikipedia's table.
- Oldsmobile Cutlass, 4-4-2 and Hurst/Olds An appearance and handling option in this period; no Hurst/Olds was offered and no production figure was found.
- Plymouth Road Runner A Volare package with a separate Decor Group and Super Pak.
- Pontiac Firebird and Trans Am The Bandit year: a new face, 68,744 Trans Ams, and more than 15,000 black-and-gold Special Editions.
- Pontiac Grand Prix The record Grand Prix year, 288,430 built, with Pontiac 400 and Oldsmobile 403 V8s at the top of the engine list.