To Joe Gransden, his 1979 Black Trans Am wasn’t just a car—it was a reflection of his hard work, dedication, and passion. Over 30 years later, after 25 years apart, the same still rings true.
Gransden, a professional jazz recording artist, trumpeter, singer, and big band leader based in Atlanta, GA, has a love story like no other. Growing up in Williamsville, NY, “everybody loved cars,” and Joe was no exception. In 1988, after two years of saving from odd jobs, 17-year-old Joe bought a 1979 Black Trans Am Y-84 Special Edition 4-speed. A car you might’ve seen in Rocky, or Clint Eastwood driving in “that one, or few, movies.”
As a 17-year-old musician in a band, there was hardly anywhere Joe didn’t go in that car. “Once I purchased that Trans Am, I felt like I had everything I needed at that stage of my life. A wonderful family, my trumpet, which I loved and played every day, lots of friends, a cool social life, and a job. The Trans Am just seemed to round it all out for me.”
After years of joyriding, gigging, and working on the car with his dad, the ride came to an end. While touring with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, his parents moved to Atlanta. When Joe joined them and resumed college, he realized he couldn’t afford both school and gas. That’s when he made the heartbreaking decision to sell the car—something that had mattered to him as much as his music and loved ones.
In 2005, Joe was diagnosed with colon cancer. He didn’t know if he’d survive. “The battle was brutal and the thought of not beating it was brutal.” But, “the beautiful part was the wake-up call. I was racing through life at that point and the cancer brought everything to a halt.”
He promised himself that if he made it through, he would do two things: buy his dream trumpet—a Monette Prana 3 Bb brushed in 24-karat gold—and find his old Trans Am.
The search didn’t begin right away, but a seed had been planted.
Then in 2017, Joe and his son, Joey, stumbled on a TV show called Trans Am. On screen was a car that looked exactly like Joe’s. After Joe told his son about it, Joey said, “Dad, you have to find that car!”
With his son cheering him on and his wife Charissa by his side, Joe started hunting. She “did everything in her power to help me with this fight… I would not have made it through without her love and support.” While “the Trans Am is definitely not her ‘dream car,’” she always believed he’d get it back. “There was no doubt in her mind.”
But Joe had no VIN, no clue who he sold it to, and couldn’t find any insurance documents. What he did find was an old photo of the car and license plate. He contacted the DMV, but they no longer had records from that far back. After a year of dead ends, he gave up and bought a different Trans Am—a 1980 Bandit Tribute car. “It’s a blast and my son Joey and I are really enjoyed it,” but “in no way could it ever compare with my original Trans Am.”
Finally, in a last-ditch effort, Joe called Rick Deiters of Trans Am Specialties in Florida. Rick posted the old photo of Joe and the car on social media. Incredibly, the man Joe had sold the car to in 1993 saw the post and reached out. “I remember your driveway. Your father was there. You were so upset about selling this car!” He no longer owned it but found an old insurance card with the VIN. They tracked it to a 2002 registration in Alabama—but the trail went cold again.
After a suggestion from his dad, Joe hired a private investigator. “He was also a huge fan of the Trans Am and Smokey and the Bandit. He was just as excited as I was, it seemed, to help me find this car.” Joe simply Googled “private investigator in Atlanta,” called the first number he saw—and hit gold. “He instantly said that he would help me… It did feel like we were on a mission from a movie. In fact, many times he mentioned that if we got the car back, we should turn the story into a movie. I’m currently working on plans to make that happen.”
The car had been sitting under a tree in Alabama for 20 years.
Joe has played shows all over the country—including for Clint Eastwood, gigs with Kenny G, and a live TV broadcast at the White House—but none of those experiences even touched the level of excitement he felt when he saw his beloved Trans Am sitting in that Alabama yard.
“I was in tears. It had been at least 25 years since I laid eyes on her. The emotions were incredible. Car people will understand. The first words out of my mouth were, ‘Oh my God, there she is!’ I think I also said, ‘What’s up, honey? It’s been a minute. Let’s get you home!’”
As the dust settled and memories came rushing back, he thought of the rides he once took with his best friend. “Riding around in that car with my best friend Tony Scire, who has since passed away, were some of the best days of my life.”
After months of convincing and negotiation with the owner, Joe was finally able to buy her back in 2019 for $6,000. With Rick’s help, the car was fully restored—now fitted with an LS2 V-8 engine, a fresh paint job, and that same unmistakable presence. She’s home for good.
And yes, the music lives in all of it. “There is a part of my personality that goes all in 100% when I want something. My brain doesn’t let me quit until I get there.”
Joe even co-wrote a song inspired by the search, “Missing You.” It appears on his album Close to My Heart, produced by Kenny G. “The song was based on the search for my Trans Am as well as trying to reconnect with that fulfilled feeling I had as a child… having two solid parents that were always there for you.”
He hasn’t driven the car to a gig yet. But he will.