Regarding the Carmine Red...
Regarding the Carmine Red velour interior, Jim says, "The carpet and rear package tray have been replaced, and the seat pattern appears to be from a '79, so I'll be replacing the covers with the original material soon." (No, the driver's seatbelt no longer retracts.) Note the overspray from the Mecham graphics on the inner rocker, something you'll not likely see on a restored Macho.
As part of the mechanical upgrades, the carburetor was dialed in with jet and metering-rod changes and other adjustments; the distributor was blueprinted and recurved for 32-36 degrees total timing all in by 2,500 rpm; the Shaker was opened up; and Hooker headers, twin pipes with a crossover, and dual cats were installed. DKM claimed more than a 50-horse boost with these mods. To improve handling, the front springs were retempered for a 1.5-inch lower ride height, rubber sway bar bushings were swapped for urethane ones, Koni shocks were bolted in, and even the alignment was revised (+4 degrees caster, 0 degrees camber, 1/8-inch toe-in).
To add the Macho look, graphics were painted on and outlined with tape stripes. Macho decals and numbers followed. Mecham Pontiac was charged $1,295.10 by DKM to add the base package, according to a DKM invoice. To the customer, the price was about $2,000 on average depending upon options, and could go much higher with extra-cost items such as Corvette four-wheel discs, a fiberglass hood, and an H-O Turbo.
None the worse for wear, here's...
None the worse for wear, here's the numbered ID for the Macho T/A, which is affixed to the console.
Coincidentally, while car No. 54 was undergoing its upgrades, Hot Rod magazine visited Mecham Pontiac. As a result, a photo in "Pumping Iron" in the July '78 issue of Hot Rod shows car No. 54 in the service bay getting its graphics applied. Just as important, in that road test, the like-equipped No. 3 Macho T/A ran 14.29 at 98.79 in the quarter at Orange County International Raceway. According to the article, a stock four-speed 48-state Trans Am ran 15.20 at 96 on the same track in the same weather conditions the next day.
A custom button center for...
A custom button center for the horn came with the Macho package beginning sometime in 1978, according to Dennis. "DKM" stands for Dennis and Kyle Mecham.
Once the work was completed on the Macho machine, it was shipped to Reno for delivery. From then until 2007, its ownership and location information is sketchy at best, fortified by rumors passed around the hobby. What we do know is that when Jim and Claudia bought the Macho T/A, they received a fistful of paperwork copies from GM and DKM. Even so, Jim authenticated it through Dennis Mecham just to be sure. Pleased with their new purchase, the Martinsons put in a little seat time with their new Pontiac.
On The Road
How does it feel to drive a 31-year-old slice of tuner-car Americana? "As the Macho sits and idles, it has a `let's go' attitude," says Jim. "It rumbles and shakes, and has a deep exhaust tone. When you hit the gas, the front end goes up, the rear sucks down, and it just takes off. Despite its age, the T/A actually goes down the road straight and drives great. I've driven it on a 300-mile round trip, and it did really well, getting 18 mpg cruising at 75 mph at 3,100 rpm. I did, however, come to the conclusion that it definitely enjoys stoplight-to-stoplight jaunts more--well, at least I did."
Conclusion
The Macho T/A's two most obvious themes are what Jim and Claudia like best about it. "I like the rarity of the Macho and the fact that only a few people have ever heard of them," Jim says. "Finding a turnkey, unrestored original that doesn't need work is awesome. No looking for parts, no turning wrenches--just hit the key and you get an instant smile. Given the fact that only 204 were made, chances are not many people will see another one."
Willingly accepting the responsibilities as curators for this rare, desirable, and original '78 Macho Trans Am, Jim and Claudia Martinson plan to enjoy it, sparingly, on the road and at events for a long time to come. To answer the title's question, car No. 54 is just fine and in the capable hands of the Martinsons.