Vintage Trans Am cars are brilliant. There is no other way to put it.
If you ever get the chance to watch these cars run in person, you'll know why so many consider late '60s and early '70s Trans Am to be one of the greatest racing series of all time.
While enjoying the sights and sounds of vintage Trans Am at Sonoma last weekend, I spent lots of time standing around and admiring the #77 Dodge Challenger, originally driven by Sam Posey.
This Mopar legend has everything that makes Trans Am cars great. First off, a very wide muscular stance. Have a look at the bulge of those rear fenders.
Filling those wide fenders are the original Minilite wheels with meaty Goodyear tires.
The interior is sparse as you'd expect. The low back bucket and tall Hurst shifter dominate the landscape.
Side pipes! These were also featured on street-going version Challenger T/A that Dodge sold. Trans Am rules required the 340 small block of the street car to be destroked to just 303 cubic inches. Power was still an astonishing 460hp.
This particular car has quite a resume, appearing at the prestigious Goodwood Festival of Speed.
The metal Chin Spoiler has a very DIY look, as do the headlight covers. You have to love the race engineering from those days.
What a a beauty. The lines of the Challenger just lend themselves so well to the Trans Am treatment.
I'm planning on doing a retrospective about both the Challenger and 'Cuda in Trans Am racing, and I thought this would be a nice little appetizer for that piece.
Stay tuned for more great Mopar race history!
-Mike Garrett
OFFICIAL SPEEDHUNTERS SUPPLIERS
Ha, sat in that driver's seat a few years ago in the paddock at this event. Could've gotten used to it
As I remember this car was consistently much faster than the others in the Trans Am heats at the historics.
my alltime favorite muscle car!!! man we need some desktops from these!!!
Great post. There was a G5 Sam Posey tribute car based on the new Challenger that was shown couple of years ago. Looked kinda cool. Can't wait to see your retrospective write up on the Chally and Cuda.
I love all vintage Trans Am race cars. They are all beefy and menacing. I like the front spoiler on this.
Also the bucket seats that were used in old Trans Am race cars didn't look so supportive.
One of the most beautiful cars I've ever seen.
Any video of this car? I would love to hear it.
Yes Sir! this is classic American Muscle.. bulgy rear arches, bonnet scoops, big blocks and wide tyres.. liking the bucket seat and seperate headrest too. - not very often that you hear the word 'Minilite' in the UK and think of American Cars. - Thanks
Can't wait to see the restrospective !
i dont think ive ever seen under the hood of the posey challenger.... which is a shame. i look at posey challenger pics all the time cause i have a challenger and love this one, but i never can find info on suspension, engine, or drivetrain specs
This is what we call Beast Machine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sC9Ts-H-bl8
there ya go
That's just awesome.
SWEET! Love the old Trans Am MOPARs. Someone found the number 76 Challenger a few years ago and restored it. No clue if it has been raced. Keep up the good work.
My favourite TA racing car and sister to my favourite of the muscle car era machines...the AAR Cuda
Can't wait to see the coming Trans Am articles. Nice work.
@cian: Thanks a lot! Although, it's a pity it was only idling in that clip. But anyway, in the related videos I found a few others, so... it's all good, hehe.
hellaflush before hellaflush was hellaflush
im actually making a replica of this car with a dodge viper engine and tranny,ive added a link to pics of the car build
http://www.google.ie/imgres?imgurl=http://www.dudefarts.com/images/roommate_uses_toilet_and_then_matt%2520does.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.dudefarts.com/index.php%3Fmain_page%3Dindex%26cPath%3D1&usg=__UAmn21HQYPEgPmkjj1TOemHmlEY=&h=240&w=320&sz=15&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=cM29jivIX_-4dM:&tbnh=121&tbnw=167&ei=OtX3TYjHHNO3hAee47WdCw&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dshit%2Bin%2Ba%2Btoilet%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26sa%3DG%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-GB:official%26biw%3D1920%26bih%3D951%26gbv%3D2%26tbm%3Disch&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=387&vpy=652&dur=1116&hovh=192&hovw=256&tx=150&ty=150&page=1&ndsp=69&ved=1t:429,r:26,s:0&biw=1920&bih=951
Woooow@Huffaker Trans-am in background of first picture, did you get anything more about it?
i actually found a video of this challenger on youtube doing a burnout
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDxsraH8fF8&feature=related
A few weeks ago I was on my way down to Bakersfield for the California Hot Rod Reunion, when I dropped by a truck stop for a quick snack break. If you've ever been to one of these roadside megastores you know they sell all sorts of strange stuff.