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Actually, it's a hardtop. It's a 1976 Pontiac Special Edition 50th Aniversary model.
T-Tops do leak after a while, the frame actually twists like you said.
It was the last year of the Big Block 455, 4 speed.. does an awesome burnout 
Iv'e had it up to about 125 MPH.
It's rare, less than 500 ever produced with that combination.
The Bandit car was a 78' I believe (square headlights from 77' on),and a small block.
If you ever get back up to NY I'll let you drive it 
, although the engine is a bit 'tired' now, needs an overhaul.
Body is mint, never seen a drop of rain.
WOW!! The 455 4spd is extremely rare....WOW. Dude keep that car. All original? Do all the numbers match?
If you do a resto on it make sure you do it right, even if it takes 10 years if you have an all original 455 T/A, 4spd with the 8 track and original interior and everything it can bring in some big money. Right now the market is slow due to the economy and the majority of the big dollar cars are still the 60's muscle cars. But the late 70's and early 80's are just beginning to roll into the auctions like Barrett Jackson and Russo and Steele. If you hold onto that and do a slow, nice restoration on it in 7-10 years from now it will bring in some big money.
The late 70's and 80's really didn't have a lot of big muscle cars...not like the 60's. The majority of them are the IROCS, T/A's,Mustangs, Buick T/Type Regal and the Grand Nationals. Problem is those cars were so many and everyone modified them, so its hard to still find an original 80's muscle car. I grew up in NJ so it was all Mustang GT's and IROCS and an occasional Vette or GN but everyone modified them and changed exhaust,paint, added body mods like scoops and spoilers and they changed the Interiors and cut up the dash for lights and stereos and whatever...but thats how it was everyone modified their rides back then and no one knew any better. Try and find an original, fresh 84-92" Camaro,Mustang,Trans-Am. Its almost Impossible. Not too mention everyone who owned a Mustang or IROC would always swap out the rear end gears and change the Pulleys and belt to get that low end, 1/4 mile, tire spinning torque or put on a Supercharger or add NOS and aftermarket heads and headers. So its real hard to get any of those cars in good original condition.
You have a real, rare car and actually In 76' they only made 300 or so of the S.E 455 HO with the 4 Spd.. I'm sure some of those were wrecked, raced,beat up,totaled...so I'm sure theirs less than 200 in existence. You need to contact Pontiac and get copies of the build sheet and the window sticker. If you contact GM with the VIN number they should be able to get you copies or even original documents from the car. I know a lot of collectors and restoration places do it. I dont know if it costs anything or not. But if you get copies of the build sheet, spec sheet or window sticker it can increase the value of the car a lot. Plus with the build sheet you can use it if you restore it and make sure it stays original.
Theirs a guy who has a site for T/A collectors and owners. It has info on serial numbers,production specs, history, info and links.
www.transamworld.comI worked for Mustangs Unlimited and dealt with collectors and owners of classic cars and old Muscle and know a lot of the ins and outs of the business. Nowadays its not what it looks like its how ORIGINAL it is. Their are the Rotisserie restorations and "Concours Correct" restorations which are perfect restorations, I mean perfect down to the marks and stamps on the heads of screws under the dash and actually reproducing the crayon marks on the firewall that the factory workers made when producing the car in the factory. If you get "Concours Correct" restoration its the same as if you traveled back in time and waited at the end of the production line and brought it back. I saw one once it was a 68' Mustang Fastback. It had 450 miles on it had all the window stickers and interior covers on it. It had the original factory markings on it. The dealership never even prepped it for sale. It had original plastic cover on the seats. The only thing ever done to it was a wash and the guy would start it a few times a year and wax it.
Oh well I'm rambling...I love talking cars..
. Congrats on your car dude, it is a real collectible car, hold onto it. like I said, dont sell it now, you will get 40-60% more if you wait 6-8 years. Cars dont start getting "Collected" until they hit about 25-35 years old, depending on the car and your car is going to be HIGHLY sought after. Low production numbers, big muscle and in original condition...thats a BIG collector car. 5 years ago their was a huge rush to get rare Hemi's, Mopar and SS Chevelles. Some of them were low production numbers under 1000 made and they were getting $200,000-300,000 depending on the condition and specifics. It was crazy, Chevelles, Chargers, Cuda's, Camaro's they just exploded and were getting insane auction prices and you have a car which is one of 200 or so in circulation. I'm sure in a few years I'll see it rolling across the stage at Barrett Jackson. Good Luck.
