Cars and Adventures

Tag: Trans Am

  • 2026 Trans Am Nationals

    2026 Trans Am Nationals

    Every August, the parking lot of the DoubleTree Inn by Hilton in Fairborn, Ohio, fills with Pontiac Firebirds for the Trans Am Nationals. Located on the northeast side of Dayton, Fairborn witnesses hundreds of cars representing the Firebird’s production years from 1967 to 2002, along with its various trim levels, including Formulas, Esprits, and Trans Ams.

    2026 marks the 41st Trans Am Nationals and Pontiac’s 100th anniversary. I first attended the Trans Am Nationals 20 years ago and have been fortunate to attend numerous times since, both as a spectator and a participant.

    My dad and I made the 5-state trek there, car in tow. We arrived Thursday evening.

    The Event

    • A Pontiac Firebird with a vinyl roof and a rare Ram Air II engine
    • A customized 1984 Pontiac Trans Am

    Hosted by the Dayton chapter of the Trans Am Club of America, the Trans Am Nationals brings together a wide variety of Pontiac Firebirds. Some bring their cars to be judged, while others just enjoy the show.

    There’s a lot going on. Although I couldn’t attend everything the event had to offer, I still got to experience a lot.

    There’s an unofficial drag strip gathering and a cruise to several covered bridges. Numerous seminars are held each year on a variety of topics. Not to mention, Friday night karaoke.

    For the second year, cars formed an American flag for a photoshoot, which was then photographed from above via drone. We drove out to a local golf course/event center not far into the countryside to create the flag and year. It was fun driving out to a new area.

    The swap meet and vendors offer everything from new and used parts to performance upgrades.

    Cars on display near a vendor’s trailer
    Various parts for sale

    For years, the event has helped raise money for A Special Wish Foundation, which grants the wish of children dealing with serious illness in Southwest Ohio.

    Mini-Nationals

    The Mini-Nationals Showcases Pontiac Firebird models and toys, including Hot Wheels, Matchbox, Micromachines, and more. Some of the toy cars on display here date back decades. Several are still in their original packaging. The incredible custom-made model of the host hotel returned this year, complete with Hot Wheels-sized Firebirds around it. Like the Trans Am Nationals, there are a lot of cool cars to check out at the Mini-Nationals.

    A model of the host hotel

    • A look at the Mini Nationals

    Tipp City Cruise-In

    On Saturday, the Tipp City Cruise-In is held in conjunction with the Nationals. It’s an optional Firebird show in a picturesque small city northwest of Fairborn with a brick building and tree-lined main street ideal for a cruise-in.

    While there is more than one way to get to Tipp City from the hotel, we followed what event organizers dub the scenic route. It wasn’t long before we left Fairborn behind on a highway that turned into a two-lane road in the countryside. Farm fields, communities, and a group of grain elevators later, we arrived at the eastern end of Tipp City.

    By the time we got there, the streets were filled with parked Pontiac Firebirds, Trans Am Nationals attendees, and spectators. Attendees can check out restaurants and shops dotted along the street.

    Seeing and hearing the cars rumble through Tipp City’s main street was a beautiful experience.

    Around sunset in Tipp City

    Around nightfall, awards were presented. On the way back to the hotel, the trail of Trans Am taillights moving through the Ohio night made for an awesome sight

    A KITT replica from the TV show “Knight Rider”

    Cars

    • A few of the Firebirds in attendance

    The Trans Am Nationals feature a diverse array of Pontiac Firebirds representing the model’s 4 generations and its various trim levels, plus this year saw a Firebird-derived Tojan. Aftermarket-modified Trans Ams, including Macho Trans Ams, MSE Firebirds, Fire-Ams, and a Blackbird, were also in attendance. Pristine survivors, drivers, and meticulously restored Firebirds all showed up, and factory-stock, custom, pro-touring, and pro-street styles were represented.

    Macho Trans Ams and MSE Trans Ams

    The Macho Trans Am was a series of Trans Ams equipped with upgrades and a distinct look by brothers Dennis and Kyle Mecham. They began modifying the cars at their father’s Pontiac dealership. In addition to a base package, buyers could select options such as a five-speed transmission, rack-and-pinion steering, and a roll bar. In a few years, several hundred Trans Ams were converted into Macho Trans Ams.

    • A rare Macho Turbo
    This Macho Trans Am is also a 10th Anniversary Trans Am. It forgoes the usual Macho Trans Am paint scheme—preserving the look of the 10th Anniversary Trans Am.

    As the driver of a Macho Trans Am, speaking with Dennis and Kyle was a surreal experience. They hosted a seminar that detailed the idea’s origin and stories surrounding it.

    More cars were to follow. In the 1980s, the MSE Trans Am was created. This saw third-generation Trans Ams modified under the MSE (Motorsports Edition) name. They feature a unique paint scheme and performance upgrades, including a distinct rear spoiler derived from Dennis’ racing experience.

    • An MSE Trans Am

    Fourth-generation Trans Ams were modified as well, and one appeared at the show. However, I didn’t get a chance to take a closer look at it with everything going on.

    Brothers Kyle and Dennis Mecham

    Fire-Ams

    Fire-Ams came from the mind of former Pontiac engineer and racecar driver Herb Adams. It includes performance parts and unique decals. As noted in this Hot Rod article, the Fire-Am was available as a complete car; you could bring your car to the company for a conversion, or buy a do-it-yourself mail-order kit. Fire-Am parts are still available today.

    1986 Pontiac Tojan

    One of the most unique cars I’ve seen at the show was the rare Pontiac Tojan. Based on a third-generation Firebird, it features a radical redesign with fiberglass body panels and a redone interior, with little indication of its origin. I believe I’ve only seen two in person. When it pulled up, it quickly drew a crowd.

    Wider fenders and a massive rear spoiler make a statement
    Note the Recaro seats and woodgrain interior

    1969 Trans Am with Custom Paint Job

    1969 marked the Pontiac Trans Am’s first model year, and it came in white and blue—America’s racing colors. It’s rare to see a 1969 Trans Am, with only 697 made, and even rarer to see one with custom paint. This 1969 Trans Am features an almost complete reversal of the factory paint, with a blue body and white stripes.



    Formula SD-455

    One Firebird Formula in attendance had an incredibly rare engine option: the iconic Super Duty 455. In 1973 and 1974, Pontiac’s legendary Super Duty 455 powered over 1,000 Trans Ams. In a time when emissions were rolling back horsepower, the SD-455 was a powerful act of defiance against reduced performance.

    While most Super Duty motors went into Trans Ams, a number of Formulas got them too. Interestingly, Formulas with the Super Duty motor all featured the iconic Trans Am hood scoop. This year, a Super Duty-powered Formula was on hand— a rare sight!

    Wrapping Up

    On Sunday, we were back on the road heading for Texas. It’s great to see old friends and make new ones. We never know who we’ll park beside. This year, the Trans Am Nationals attendance record was broken by 1 with a Sunday entry, for a grand total of 572 cars. I wanted to thank the volunteers who help make this spectacular event possible every year. Please visit the Trans Am Nationals website for more information.

    Have you attended the Nationals this year or in previous years? Do you know of a car-related event I should attend next? Let me know in the comments!

  • The 2021 Trans Am Nationals

    The 2021 Trans Am Nationals

    The year 2021 marks the 36th Trans Am Nationals. It’s a three-day celebration for all Pontiac Firebirds hosted by the Dayton Chapter of the Trans Am Club of America. This year it was held from August 27th through the 29th.

    It takes place at the Dayton Holiday Inn in Fairborn, Ohio, which is on the eastern side of the city of Dayton. I’ve been coming to the Nationals for years now, and I always have a great time. It’s fun to see what new cars show up.

    An awesome first generation pro-street Firebird.

    On Thursday and Friday, a movie theater on the southeast side of Dayton had screenings of Smokey and the Bandit (naturally).

    The Car Show

    Firebirds, Formulas, and Trans Ams fill the parking lot around the Holiday Inn. The 35 years of the Pontiac Firebird are well represented. The rumble of cars and music from the DJ fills the air. You’ll find everything from showroom stock to custom Firebirds.

    It’s not everyday you see a Redbird, the luxury version of the Firebird.

    The classes are divided up by years, as well as the level of modification. A car is considered “modified,” “heavily modified,” or “custom,” based on the number of modifications it has. There are several Concours classes and a driver/work-in-progress class as well.

    The categories the cars are judged on include the interior, exterior, engine compartment, as well as the overall appearance. On Sunday, the winners of the show are announced and presented with their trophies.

    Fourth-generation Firebirds were well represented.

    This year the show had 494 Firebirds registered, up from the 485 at the last show in 2019. This year, the Nationals also raised over $10,000 for the A Special Wish Foundation. This charity helps grant the wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses. The Nationals have supported the A Special Wish Foundation for years now. You can learn more about the charity on their website.

    The Seminars

    On Saturday, there were several seminars. There was a presentation by people involved with the engineering and design of the Firebird, Trans Am, and Camaro. They told some great stories about working at GM in the 60s and 70s under icons like John DeLorean.

    They discussed the evolution of the iconic “Screaming Chicken” design evolved from the logo used on 50’s GM experimental cars to possibly the world’s most famous hood decal. A radical design element at the time, the hood decal faced pushback from factory higher-ups. There were concerns over the perceived difficulty of installing them in large quantities.

    The “Screaming Chicken” design printed on film.

    The aluminum Snowflake Wheel’s creation was also covered, including the design process, and the pitch meeting that set it into production.

    The Mini Nats

    Like the full-size show, there’s always something new at the Mini Nats too. The Mini Nats is a room in the hotel filled with model Firebirds and Trans Ams in a variety of scales.

    There’s everything from plastic model kits to die cast replicas. Tables are covered with Firebird, Formula, and Tran Am models, some decades old and others still in the box. In addition, an incredible scale model of the host Holiday Inn was on display, complete with model Firebirds surrounding it.

    A replica of the host hotel.

    Tipp City Cruise In

    Located just outside of Dayton, the Tipp City Cruise In draws hundreds of Firebirds. It’s been a part of the Trans Am Nationals for years. Saturday afternoon, hundreds of Firebirds make the drive from the Holiday Inn to Tipp City, a city with just under 10,000 residents. The entire downtown area is shut down for the cars.

    A late 70’s Trans Am with stunning custom paint and wheels in Tipp City.

    Firebirds fill the main street and parts of side streets. Restaurants around town are filled to the brim, and a band performed on one end of town. The downtown is made up old brick buildings that are great for photo-ops, especially when surrounded by cars.

    Lambo doors and a custom air intake make a statement on this wild third-gen Trans Am.

    More Info

    For more information on the Trans Am Nationals, you can check out the official website at tanationals.org. You can visit the website for the Trans Am Club of America, Dayton Chapter, the club responsible for putting on the Nationals at tacadcinc.com.

    Also, check out my blog posts about the 2019 Trans Am Nationals and the 2018 Trans Am Nationals. Been to the Trans Am Nationals, or know of a car event I should attend next? Let me know in the comments!

  • The 2019 Trans Am Nationals.

                   This August I went to the 35th Annual Trans Am Nationals in Fairborn, Ohio. Although I was only able to attend on Saturday and Sunday, I was able to see a lot of stuff and got to go to the Tipp City Cruise. The Cruise is considered a highlight of the event by many. This year there were 485 cars. According to one person who was attending the record was around 600 back in 2002. Although it was a little off from the all-time high, it is still impressive considering that in 2002 the Pontiac Trans Am was still in production.
    The 1971 Pontiac Pegasus.
                   This year was unique in that the GM Heritage Center had brought several Pontiac Firebird concept cars from Detroit. This was a rare opportunity to see these cars as the Center is not open to the public, although large groups can arrange a visit. They included the Banshee, a red on red concept car with a longer, sleeker hood then production models. The Pontiac Pegasus, a V-12 Ferrari-Powered 1971 Firebird. The K Type Trans Am station wagon concept car was also in attendance. There was also an unveiling of the nearly completely restored Silverbird racecar, as well as the actual 1989 Trans Am used to pace the Indianapolis 500. There was a huge 1989 Turbo Pace Car turn out as it was the 30th anniversary for them. Several high-ranking Pontiac engineers were in attendance as well who helped shape the Trans Am in its early days of production in the ’60s and ’70s.
    The Pontiac Banshee concept car.

                   It was amazing seeing cars in person that I had only seen pictures of in books or magazines. The Pegasus was beautiful with its deep red paint. The body differed significantly from a production Firebird. The interior had been modified as well. The Banshee was also radically modified from a stock Firebird. Not only was the front of the car sleeker, but the doors had also been modified enough that that traditional full side windows had to be substituted with a much smaller one, like the kind seen on a DeLorean. There was also extensive pinstriping done as well, which makes sense as the car is from the mid-’70s. The other concept car was the Trans Am Type K. I had seen it years ago when the show was located at a nearby airport back in 2006. The Trans Am Type K is unique in that it is a station wagon prototype. It features redesigned rear seats, giving backseat occupants more room. It also has a lower rearview mirror to counter the changed rear visibility. A station wagon may seem like an odd choice for a Trans Am concept car, however, in the late ’70s, the Trans Am was a big enough seller that GM could afford to try something different. The sleek Silverbird was cool in a book and awe-inspiring in person. It was the brainchild of Pontiac engineer turned racecar driver and designer Herb Adams. It’s custom body mounted on a race car tube frame made it stand out from production models. It was very cool to see them all side-by-side.

    The Pontiac Trans Am Type K concept car.
                   
                    The Tipp City Cruise was always fun. It was nice seeing the hundreds of Firebirds and Trans Ams converge and park around the beautiful downtown area. There is a separate award ceremony for the Tipp City Cruise, as well as a DJ. On Sunday, I was able to check out more cars and go to the Mini Nationals, located in a room at the hotel. The Mini Nationals is always fun to see. It is an entire room filled with die-cast and plastic model kit Firebirds and Trans Ams representing many different scales, both unboxed and still in the original box. There were also some dioramas set up as well. Several people had brought large collections of cars to it.
    A 1969 Pontiac Trans Am. The first year for the Trans Am.
                   On Sunday a charity auction was held. Some of the items auctioned off for the charity event were a slot car set autographed by several of the Pontiac engineers in attendance. It was a great show that took a lot of effort to pull off, but the staff did an amazing job making sure everything ran smoothly. It was great catching up with old friends and meeting new people. I’m looking forward to seeing what new things are there next year.
    A large collection at the Mini Nationals.
    One of the many 1989 Turbo Trans Ams at the show.

  • The 2018 Trans Am Nationals

    The 2018 Trans Am Nationals.
                    The Trans Am Nationals, on its 34th year, is held annually near Dayton, Ohio. For the last several years it has been held at a hotel in Fairborn, Ohio. It is open to all Pontiac Firebirds. This year there were almost 400 Firebirds. It starts on Friday, and goes on till Sunday, with an optional meet up at a dragstrip several miles away on Thursday. It is made up of a car show with judging, auctions, a swap meet, cars for sale, and a vendor’s row. There is also the “Mini Nats” which was comprised of a wide variety of model Firebirds, spanning several decades and scales that filled an entire room.
    Trans Am at the Hotel.
    The hotel, which is located right off of the interstate, could be described as a college town. Just across the road from the hotel is Write State University. Surrounding the hotel are various restaurants and strip malls. I arrived around 2 in the afternoon. Went through the tech inspection and got my car washed with the hose the hotel had left out for the show cars. Later in the evening, we got dinner at a restaurant/brewery called the Wandering Griffin just down a side road not far from the hotel. The parking lot there formed a miniature car show. Even after dark people hang around outside their cars, inside at the hotel restaurant/bar there was karaoke. The second day had several seminars, as well as the Tipp City Cruise. The judging for the Nationals takes place on Saturday and Sunday and is divided up into several classes, in regards to year, extent (if any) of modification, as well as a driver/work in progress class and a concours class. The concours judging involves a far more detailed inspection of cars that what is normally performed in other classes. In the concours judging tent, it’s not usual to see a judge lying on the ground to get a view of the underside of a car.   
    A group of second generation Trans Am’s.
    Tipp City is a small city located just north of Dayton, Ohio. Its small downtown makes up the main drag and continues for a short distance down a few side streets. The main drag is actually a state highway, making the fact the entire thing gets closed down extra impressive. The Tipp City Cruise had its own awards. Ongoing to the Tipp City cruise; we were instructed to take a “scenic route”. There was construction on the main highway to Tipp City, and they had wanted us to enter the city opposite of the main highway. The route took us on the main highway, where we turned off far before the state highway that runs through downtown Tipp City where the site of the cruise is. After turning off the main highway, the road to Tipp City winds through fields, small towns, and rolling hills until it arrives there. The main street and side roads were filled with Trans Am’s and Firebirds. The restaurants in the town (although it is technically a city it gives a small town vibe) were packed. There were several groups that were selling food as well. We left out a little after noon on Sunday. I had a great time; I really look forward to returning next year.
    A variety of Trans Am’s arriving at the Tipp City Cruise.