In 1977 the Firebird had caught on with the public and sales were skyrocketing.  The black and gold Trans Am, now called the Special Edition took on the name Bandit after the movie Smokey and the Bandit made the car universally famous.  All Firebird models were updated in 1977 receiving a new grille treatment with four square headlamps replacing the single round ones of previous years.  The 455 was gone from the option list but a remarkable new 400 option, called the W72, matched the 455's power with 200 hp on tap.  The Hurst Hatch roof became a regular production option on all Firebirds. 

"The Firebird Spirit.  It's grabbing life for all it's worth.  It's making good times happen.  It's doing it all with style.  If that spirit moves you, friend, come along.  Firebird, now in its eleventh year, offers you four dramatic ways to express it."