Paying homage to the original...
Paying homage to the original Trans Ams, the striping package was reminiscent of the '70 1/2 Trans Am's screaming chicken with a single blue stripe down the middle. The '94 uses the modern bird interpretation.
Underneath the appealing body lies a bread-and-butter LT1 that produces 275 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque. The LT1 engine was easily one of the best features of the new body style. It featured a 48mm twin-butterfly throttle body feeding an aluminum intake. A pair of aluminum heads flowing 226 cfm at 0.600-inch lift house 1.94 intake and 1.50 exhaust valves. A 202/207-degree duration 0.450/0.460-inch lift camshaft on a 116 LSA controls the valve events along with 1.5:1 stamped rocker arms. Inside the cast-iron block are 4.00-inch bore eutectic aluminum/silicone alloy pistons pinned to powdered metal rods. Spinning at the bottom is a 3.48-inch stroke cast iron crankshaft held down by 2-bolt mains. Final displacement is 350 cubic inches and compression comes out to 10.5:1. Engine revs are electronically limited to 5,700 rpm and an old-style Opti-Spark ignites the air and fuel mixture.
There were two transmission options: a 4L60E four-speed automatic with overdrive and a lockup converter or a Borg Warner T56 manual transmission, mated to a 3.23 (automatic) or 3.42 (manual) limited-slip 7.5-inch 10-bolt rearend. All of the cars were fully optioned Trans Am GTs and received the commemorative upgrades, which were entirely aesthetic. Owners also received a portfolio depicting the car as one of the 2,000 Anniversary cars.
Our Feature Car
Silvio Kimmel, a 42-year-old police officer from Choctaw, Oklahoma, located this immaculate example on eBay in early 2005. He was already a big fan of "odd ball" T/As, owning a handful of award-winning rare models. "I was amazed that the auction ended without a single bid. A 1,700-original-mile hardtop Trans Am 25th Anniversary car." He called the owner shortly after and had his friend, George Scala, take a look at it to confirm its condition. It is a rare hardtop with a compact-disc player and automatic transmission, one of 68. Once things were sorted out, Silvio and his friend, Lance Marston, drove 48 hours straight from Choctaw, Oklahoma, to pick up the Trans Am in Las Vegas.
White wheels? Well they didn't...
White wheels? Well they didn't say they would be easy to keep clean, but Silvio hasn't had a problem wiping them down anytime it sees street duty. Again we find the 25th badges located in the center cap.
The seller, John Moran, disclosed why he was selling the pristine beauty. "He apparently dipped into his son's college fund to purchase the car. John felt the right thing to do was to sell the car and his wife was pressuring him to do so. I could feel the hesitation in him to sell the car and I felt bad," recalls Silvio. "I actually attempted to convince him not to sell the T/A and to keep it." John couldn't believe what he was hearing. Silvio had just driven two days to buy the Pontiac and now he was trying to persuade him to keep it. When the dust settled, Silvio was the man standing with the keys in his hand. Everything checked out and he drove the Bird home.
Since taking possession, he has enjoyed his share of success, adding to his collection of award-winning Pontiacs. It took First Place at the '07 Trans Am Nationals and he hasn't looked back. "I'm proud to say that I've earned a national title with each of my cars. For me, it's not just about driving them, it's also about detailing and showing them, answering questions, and meeting new people." He has teamed up with his nephew, Nick, owner of an '06 GTO, at these national events and the pair detail every inch of their Pontiacs. "Nick has become the interior guy and he takes extra care to clean the interior while I go over the exterior with a fine-tooth comb," Silvio jests.
Whatever it has taken, it has certainly paid off as the T/A has placed first at many other national Pontiac shows. "The best compliment I have ever gotten with the car came from my 6-year-old daughter, Brittany. She was happy that I had the 25th car and said she could now take the 2002 Collector's Edition. She has come with me to shows to help me clean and is a true future Pontiac Girl."
Here is the early graphics...
Here is the early graphics package on the clay model. Note the silver wheels, the Bird decal just behind the window, and the 25th Anniversary logo that extends onto the front fender. None of these features made production.
While Pontiac created the car to celebrate a milestone for its top-dog Firebird, it's clear that its icon status will live on. An event like the Trans Am Nationals caters to these collectible Firebirds and their owners come out in droves. As the years go on, these commemorative editions will only gain in value to their owners and to would-be-buyers. Jack Folden and his design team spent countless hours to ensure that these T/As would be special, and to owners like Silvio Kimmel, they're as special as they come.