1986 WS6 Trans Am - Takeout T/A

For those who like the curves, the most sought-after option on Wayne's Trans Am is the legendary WS6 performance package. The WS6 group of factory-designed modifications substitutes 16x8 Hi-Tech aluminum wheels matched to Goodyear Eagle P245/50VR16 blackwall tires for the standard 15-inch rolling stock and adds disc brakes in the rear. Also included is a special suspension package with stiffer MacPherson struts up front and a thicker 36mm front stabilizer bar. In the rear, specially valved gas-charged shocks are employed, as is a 24mm stabilizer bar. A limited-slip differential was also part of the package.

With all of this corner-carving performance, the Pontiac must have been a dream to drive, right? Well, Wayne confides that his mother found her WS6 T/A wasn't practical for her personal daily driving, so in July of 1986, she relinquished ownership to him. He says "a mother-to-son deal was struck," and a young man's second dream had come true. The Trans Am has been meticulously cared for ever since.

In the 10 years that followed, Wayne registered only 17,000 miles on the odometer. He began detailing and showing the Trans Am in 1997, logging an exiguous 8,000 more miles by 2005. During its lifetime, the Trans Am required three batteries, replacement of the original tires and lower striping, and the rear bumper cover was repainted due to a parking lot scrape.

Though it appears all stock, Wayne performed a few subtle mods that focus primarily on the fuel, air, and spark delivery systems, as well as the exhaust. He added an SLP "Ram Air" airbox with a K&N filter (this was later swapped back for the stock box for stock-class competition), and many products from TPIS, including a modified MAF, throttle-body airfoil, ported stock plenum, adjustable fuel-pressure regulator, plug wires, and fuel injectors. Bosch plugs, a Hypertech performance chip, a 160-degree thermostat, and a Flowmaster 3-inch after-cat exhaust system with stock exhaust tips round out the upgrades.

Wayne's efforts have resulted in an impressive array of awards for his '86 Trans Am including:

• '99 Trans Am Nationals-Second Place, D Stock Class '82-'92
• '00 Trans Am Nationals-Second Place, D Stock Class '82-'92
• '01 Ames Pontiac Nationals-First Place, Stock Class T/A-3 ('82-'92)
• '03 Ames Pontiac Nationals-Second Place, Stock Class T/A-3
• '04 Ames Pontiac Nationals-First Place, Stock Class T/A-3
• '04 Trans Am Nationals-Second Place, Stock Class D (82-92)
• 1st Annual Pontiac-Buick-Olds SuperNationals-Second Place, Third-Gen

• '05 Great Lakes Regional Firebird Gathering-Second Place, Stock Class
• '05 Ames Tri-Power Nationals-First Place, T/A-3
• '06 Ames Tri-Power Nationals-Second Place, T/A-3
• '05 Buick-Olds-Pontiac Nationals at Summit Racing-Top 30
• '06 Great Lakes Regional Firebird Gathering-First Place, Stock Class

Currently, the now 21-year-old Trans Am shows only 25,758 miles on its odometer-a testament to a young man with the vision to preserve this F-body as part of Pontiac's history. You can be sure that the next time someone says to Wayne, "Order whatever you want," he's not going to think of bellying up to the fast-food counter. Instead, he'll have to fight off the urge to head to the closest Pontiac dealership to order the best Trans Am on the order sheet-because Pontiac doesn't make them anymore.