Thursday CarTune: Trans Am by Thompson Square

The Song
As modern country songs go, this is pretty standard fare. A straight ahead melody, testosterone fueled guitar work, double entendres that include this gem, “She’s fast, she’s loud, looks pretty damn good with her top off” and of course, the car. Like the 1977 Trans Am, this song isn’t very subtle. Everything you need to know is right at the surface of this three-minute country rocker. There’s no Dylan-like depth to the lyrics. No need to parse every line. Just crack open a Busch light and enjoy.

Thompson Square is the husband and wife duo of Keifer and Shawna Thompson backed by a collection of Nashville session players. Founded in 2010, Thompson square hasn’t exactly been prolific, releasing just two albums. Trans Am was released in 2015 as a single, but no album has followed. They are currently touring, playing festivals and small venues across the country where I’m sure they’ll be playing Trans Am and their newest single You Make It Look So Good.

The Car
Though the Pontiac brand was put to pasture a few years ago when GM was forced into bankruptcy, the Trans Am legend will live forever – thanks not just to songs like this, but also its star turn in Smokey and the Bandit.

The movie starring Burt Reynolds and Sally Field was so popular that Pontiac marketed their ’77 black and gold Trans Am as “The Bandit Edition.” Featuring a screaming chicken on the hood and a 400 cubic inch V8 under it that made a whopping 200 horsepower, the T-topped, bucket-seated, two-door was the automotive wet dream of seemingly every pimple-faced 17-year old male in America. So beloved is this car that a version used to promote the movie and owned by Burt Reynolds sold at Barrett-Jackson last year for $550,000.

There have been attempts to revive the marque most recently the 1,000 horsepower Trans Am Super Duty that made its debut at the New York Auto Show this spring. Manufactured under license by Trans Am Worldwide of Tallahassee, Florida, this tribute car is built on GM’s Alpha platform that underpins the current Camaro and Cadillac ATS-V. Only 50 will be made, so if you want yours, you better get your order in now.