The SCCA Trans Am sequence achieved iconic standing within the late Sixties and early ’70s. On this episode of “Jay Leno’s Storage,” Jay Leno, NASCAR commentator Mike Pleasure, and historic racer Ken Epsman take a look at among the vehicles that made that period of Trans Am racing so particular. We study fairly a bit in regards to the historical past of Trans Am racing alongside the way in which.

Making an attempt to broaden past newbie racing with a professional sequence, the SCCA launched Trans Am in 1966. The sequence initially featured modified manufacturing vehicles in two lessons: these with engines displacing lower than 2.0 liters, and people with engines bigger than 2.0 liters however capped at 5.0 liters or 305 cubic inches.

The latter created a gap for Ford, Basic Motors, Chrysler, and AMC to discipline their pony vehicles, which have been simply hitting the market on the time. The Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro, Dodge Challenger, Plymouth ‘Cuda, and AMC Javelin all raced within the Trans Am sequence with manufacturing facility assist throughout this golden age, which continued till 1972. After that, modifications to the principles moved Trans Am from its production-based system.

Lacking from that listing is the Pontiac Firebird Trans Am, which was named after the sequence, however was unable to compete as a result of its engine exceeded the 5.0-liter most displacement set by the principles. Firebirds did race within the Trans Am, albeit with much less constant manufacturing facility assist than the Camaros, and GM paid the SCCA a $5 price for every Firebird Trans Am street automobile bought. For a time, that was the SCCA’s largest supply of earnings, Pleasure notes within the video.

What made Trans Am race vehicles stand out was their similarity to street vehicles. The unique guidelines required inventory physique shells and powertrains, which made the racing fascinating and spawned basic homologation specials just like the Ford Mustang Boss 302 and Chevrolet Camaro Z/28. These vehicles have been raced by well-known drivers akin to Dan Gurney and Mark Donohue, making the Trans Am sequence an even bigger deal in its day than NASCAR, which was nonetheless principally widespread solely within the South, Pleasure says.

The foundations compelled some fascinating workarounds, akin to the large oil sump on the Ford Mustang proven right here (as a result of dry sumps have been unlawful), or the usage of the bottom entrance fascia on the 1970 Camaro racer reasonably than the fancier Rally Sport model to avoid wasting weight. Not every little thing was inventory—the Camaro employed a Chevy Impala rear axle to increase its observe width—however the vehicles did at the very least look that manner. 

At a time when “win on Sunday, promote on Monday” was nonetheless a dependable technique, this made Trans Am an essential advertising instrument for automakers. That was significantly true for AMC, which partnered first with Kaplan Engineering, then Penske Racing, and at last the Roy Woods workforce as an all-in effort to advertise its Javelin as a substitute for the Detroit Three pony vehicles. The trouble netted titles in 1971 and 1972, giving AMC and the Javelin a quick second of glory.

The video ends like most of Leno’s video, with a drive in one of many vehicles. On this case, it is the No. 89 1966 Ford Mustang raced initially by Jim Whelan. It is a deal with to listen to the 289 with GT40 heads in motion on the road.

The Trans Am sequence nonetheless exists in the present day, however the race vehicles do not have a lot in frequent with street vehicles, and the sequence has been overshadowed within the U.S. by the likes of NASCAR, Components 1, IndyCar, and IMSA racing. But the vehicles from that 1966-1972 period are nonetheless iconic.