Once upon a time, the Pontiac Trans Am was just about the fastest thing on American roads, but Environmental Protection Agency Regulations eventually put a damper on General Motors‘ fun. For the 1977 model year, GM was forced to ditch the Trans Am’s hot 455 cubic-inch V8 in favor of a smaller 400 cubic-inch motor, sapping the pony car of performance and disappointing Pontiac fans all over the country.
Brothers Dennis and Kyle Mecham saw the Trans Am’s subjugation as an opportunity, though. The pair began modifying 400 V8-equipped Trans Ams to give them more power and resold them under the Mecham Macho banner, restoring some of the luster that was lost when the 455 engine bowed out.
The Mecham Macho Pontiac Firebird Trans Am featured a revised intake manifold, different distributor, upgraded carburetor, heavy-duty shocks and springs and bigger ‘Snowflake’ style rims and tires. Their modifications not only gave the car more power, but also significantly improved handling.
One of these specially prepared Trans Ams will be auctioned off at Barrett-Jackson’s online auction this month. The vehicle in question comes out of the collection of Richard Rawlings collection, who is best known as the host of Discovery Channel car show Fast ‘N Loud. A near-perfect example of the rare Macho Trans Am, this car left the factory with nearly every available option. It was repainted in early 2000, but is otherwise a true 1970s time capsule.
The car, which features a four-speed manual transmission, will also be sold with original documentation, including its original build sheet. It shows 34,000 miles on the odometer, according to Barrett-Jackson.
Check out the lot listing at this link for some more photos of this beautiful red on black Mecham Macho Trans Am.
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Comments
The fact that the car will need a repaint to get rid of all that horrendous red “accent” striping (who thinks up stuff like that?) will likely reduce the car’s selling price, but I’ll at least give the brothers credit for leaving the car with a manual trans rather than an automatic.
It wasn’t the fastest available at all. That honour went to the Dodge L’il Red Express TRuck which was also much faster than the Corvette at the time.
I wonder if the truck’s lack of a catalytic converter that model year mitigated its coefficient of drag and its curb weight?
Lulz. There are actually 7 people here who think that paint scheme looks good?
No accounting for taste, I guess……………………………..
You’re a dick…. and definitely not a car guy.
Simmer down it’s the original paint scheme
Always liked Formula model over Trans Am. Less body mods.
I suspect the motor mounts are sagged out. That hood scoop is sitting way too low!
The Red “Accent Striping” as you call it, was done by Mecum when new (keep in mind this was the late 70’s) & various colors were used depending on the base color. The Little Red Express was the fastest from the factory – Macho Trans Am’s are not factory… brand new a Macho (especially a fully loaded one) would blow the doors off a LRE!! A fully loaded Macho was turbo charged & if stick, it was usually a Doug Nash 5 speed… not to mention a higher gear set in the likewise “built” rear axle. Macho’s are NOT just a sticker package. As for the shaker sitting lower – that may be due to motor mount sag – that is a possibility, but is more than likely it is due to the aftermarket intake manifold – or maybe someone put the wrong shaker parts together for it – they aren’t all the same – even in any given year.
The article never stated that it was the fastest…