OH, Hal Needham did mention that nobody had seen the car yet, referring to the 77 model. The movie was filmed in the summer of 76, which means that yes, pontiac was in production on the 77 models. New cars usually hit the show room floors in the fall of the year, I/E : the 77s began showing up in the fall of 76. After editing and what not, the film was released in 77. Being that it was May 77 when the movie was released, pontiac quite possibly been in production on the 78 models. Even though dealers probably sold what remaining 77s they had, any ordered cars were probably 78s and that is why the 78 model sales went through the roof. please correct me if i'm wrong