The SCCA Trans Am collection 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 be taught fairly a bit concerning the historical past of Trans Am racing alongside the way in which.

Trying to develop past newbie racing with a professional collection, the SCCA launched Trans Am in 1966. The collection 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 subject 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 collection with manufacturing unit help throughout this golden age, which continued till 1972. After that, adjustments to the foundations moved Trans Am from its production-based method.

Lacking from that record is the Pontiac Firebird Trans Am, which was named after the collection, however was unable to compete as a result of its engine exceeded the 5.0-liter most displacement set by the foundations. Firebirds did race within the Trans Am, albeit with much less constant manufacturing unit help than the Camaros, and GM paid the SCCA a $5 payment for every Firebird Trans Am highway automobile offered. For a time, that was the SCCA’s greatest supply of earnings, Pleasure notes within the video.

What made Trans Am race vehicles stand out was their similarity to highway vehicles. The unique guidelines required inventory physique shells and powertrains, which made the racing attention-grabbing and spawned traditional homologation specials just like the Ford Mustang Boss 302 and Chevrolet Camaro Z/28. These vehicles have been raced by well-known drivers reminiscent of Dan Gurney and Mark Donohue, making the Trans Am collection a much bigger deal in its day than NASCAR, which was nonetheless largely well-liked solely within the South, Pleasure says.

The foundations pressured some attention-grabbing workarounds, reminiscent of the huge 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 slightly than the fancier Rally Sport model to avoid wasting weight. Not the whole lot was inventory—the Camaro employed a Chevy Impala rear axle to increase its observe width—however the vehicles did not less than look that manner. 

At a time when “win on Sunday, promote on Monday” was nonetheless a dependable technique, this made Trans Am an necessary advertising software for automakers. That was significantly true for AMC, which partnered first with Kaplan Engineering, then Penske Racing, and eventually the Roy Woods staff as an all-in effort to advertise its Javelin as an alternative choice to 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’s the No. 89 1966 Ford Mustang raced initially by Jim Whelan. It’s a deal with to listen to the 289 with GT40 heads in motion on the road.

The Trans Am collection nonetheless exists immediately, however the race vehicles don’t have a lot in widespread with highway vehicles, and the collection has been overshadowed within the U.S. by the likes of NASCAR, Method 1, IndyCar, and IMSA racing. But the vehicles from that 1966-1972 period are nonetheless iconic.

This text was initially revealed by Motor Authority, an editorial companion of ClassicCars.com.