The Black and Gold Paint Scheme Was Exclusive
The distinctive color scheme, which consists of a black exterior with gold accents and trim is a Pontiac exclusive. The film’s director Hal Needham chose the black and gold color scheme. The color scheme was also intended to pay homage to the iconic black and gold uniforms worn by the Pittsburgh Steelers football team, one of Needham’s favorite teams (via Get Jerry).
The black and gold paint scheme quickly became closely associated with the Trans Am. The color scheme was available as an option on 1977 and 1978 Trans Ams. The color was so popular that Pontiac continued to offer it as a special edition. The 1977 Trans Am also featured some other unique design elements. These included a shaker hood scoop and a special “screaming chicken” decal on the hood.