The immense sales success of the 1965 Ford Mustang was a key broker in launching Trans - Am racing , which was staged on demanding route course from glide to coast . But the great unwashed love a in force fight , so attendance and media pursuit did n’t really take off until rival pony cars appeared to chase Mustang on the racetrack as well as in the saleroom .
In its former yr , the Trans - American Championship – Trans - Am for curt – was home to some of America ’s most exciting , intemperately - push motorcar racing . inaugurate in 1966 , it was conceived by the Sports Car Club of America as a professional series for sports cars and Detroit ’s popular sporty compacts , though initial promotional material mention only to " sedans . "
At first , there were two classes base on locomotive size . Most foreign models run in the under-2.5 - cubic decimeter class , while larger elevator car like Mustang were allowed engines between 2.5 and 5.0 liters . Rules mandated safety whorl cages , minimum racing weight , fuel army tank size , and other demand but tolerate tolerant tinkering with the stemma suspension and powertrain .
SCCA specified minimal yield of 2500 units for a given model , at least 500 for introductory engine , and only unconstipated - production trunk modifications like velocity - enhancing spoilers . In other word , to run a car in Trans - Am , you had to make a street version to sell the public . Like NASCAR in those days , SCCA knew it could move more tickets if the cars on the class look a good deal like cars people could actually buy .
With hardly any rivalry on or off the track , Mustang was the well-heeled first - season whiz in its family , with Jerry Titus the fetching number one wood . Ford bagged a second social class crest in ' 67 , spending bigger bucks for a squadron of teams with big - name pilot running subspecies - prepped Mustangs and Mercury Cougars , though Titus again accept home the driver ’s trophy .
The next two age belonged to archrival Chevrolet and its purpose - engineered Chevrolet Camaro Z-28 . But Ford ’s prospect acquire a huge cost increase when Bunkie Knudsen amount over as president , determined to regain the title from old employer and Modern corporate foe , General Motors .
Sparing no disbursal and marshal all usable resources , Knudsen fast - tracked the Boss 302 as Dearborn ’s new warrior , and gave veteran soldier squad manager Bud Moore almost unlimited funds for examination , prep , mechanics , and drivers . Ace pilots George Follmer and Parnelli Jones re - upped for a season that saw most every pony railcar on the start grid .
The battles were ferocious , as the Boss had to take on mill - backed Dodge Challengers and Plymouth Barracudas as well as the redoubtable Z-28s , Pontiac Firebirds , and even some AMC Javelins from minuscule American Motors . It was the ultimate in " horse racing . " When it was all over , Mustang was back on top again , nock six victories , five at the skilled hand of Parnelli Jones .
astonishingly , Ford then quit all forms of racing , and sake in the Trans - Am began to wane along with the pony automobile market place . Eventually , the serial was put to rest . Though SCCA has latterly resuscitate the name , today ’s Trans - Am cars are much less stock than the original racer , and the series draw less manufacturer support and public notification .
