"Inside the Cars of the Trans-Am" and other articles

[Jon Mello]

From the 1969 Kent 300 Trans-Am program.

[Jon Mello]

Here's a small story on Ron Grable's '67 Dodge Dart. In '67, it was not a common thing for cars to
have a full roll cage and one where the seat was connected to the cage. Ron was ahead of the curve
in that regard. He was not far enough ahead to incorporate a fuel cell, however. Ron and Bob Tullius
were the only two in the nation making a serious try with Chrysler products in '67. Chrysler pulled out
of direct corporate involvement in Trans-Am after '66 and did not return until the '70 season.


1967 Modesto Trans-Am program

[Jon Mello]

Here's a decent article on the suspension and handling of the '68 Trans-Am cars from my November '68 issue of Car Life magazine.

[Jon Mello]

Sometimes you come across pretty decent articles in unexpected places like this one from my May 1967 issue of Car Craft magazine.

[Bruce302]

That is a great article Jon, thanks. It was no doubt articles like this that fueled the interest in the series, and confirmed what everyone was thinking.
The Trans Am was the hot series.

Bruce.

[Sixteen Grand Sedan #56]

Looks like a GM Harrison oil cooler behind that Cougar grill

[Jon Mello]

From the May 1968 issue of Sports Car Graphic.

[Jon Mello]

From the April 1968 issue of "Sports Car", the national publication of the SCCA.

[Jon Mello]

From the Spring 1969 issue of Stock Car Racing magazine.

[Jon Mello]

From the November 1969 issue of Stock Car Racing magazine.

[Jon Mello]

[Swede70]

Fearing these scans will be too small, nevertheless I have something to share...

An obscure model car publication, this being Model Car Science.  Issues to consider are the July 1970 and December 1971 copies.  The July 1970 issue has a fine '69 Penske Donohue Camaro sans accessory decal markings and sporting period telemetry gear on the front hub - rather racy this.  The July 1970 slot car build up is a bore, with no further period photos afforded.  The December 1971 issue has quite a bit more, with some unseen photography from the initial race of the '70 season at Laguna Seca.  

Check out the Chapparal Camaro front and rear lips in place before they were instructed upon technical inspection to remove the nonhomologated, albeit stock spoilers.  In particular, I don't think this front spoiler was ever seen again, being replaced at some point with the heralded 'unbreakable Lexan' spoiler of much broader section to see the season out.  The small rear spoiler was seen briefly at Dallas before the rain out, while I have a photograph which shows the #1 Camaro at speed presumably at a test wearing the same.  No stripes on the rear spoiler, whereas cutouts for pins and refueling gear is noticed.  

Very sorry I'm slow to understand why all this is so terribly small of scale and difficult to read, for I am not sure precisely what to do to improve matters.  Anyhow, rather fun to examine in total.  Thanks...

Mike K.









...left corner is actually a '70 1/2 Titus Firebird interior photo.



M.K.

[Jon Mello]

Thanks for posting those, Mike. Some very good stuff there and these modeling magazines give us a new place to look for photos and information. I had never seen the small spoilers on the Jim Hall Camaros previously. Nice to see something new and different.

[Jon Mello]

From the May 9, 1970 issue of Competition Press & Autoweek, courtesy of Craig Wheeldon.

[Jon Mello]

Also from the May 9, 1970 issue of CP&A.








Jon Mello Collection