Open Daily: 10am - 10pm | Alley door pickup 10am - 7pm 3038 Hennepin Ave Minneapolis, MN
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  • Open Daily: 10am - 10pm
    Alley-side Pickup: 10am - 7pm

    3038 Hennepin Ave Minneapolis, MN
    612-822-4611

Open Daily: 10am - 10pm | Alley-side Pickup: 10am - 7pm
3038 Hennepin Ave Minneapolis, MN
612-822-4611
Trans-Am Challengers: The Cars That Rivalled Mustang and Camaro Supremacy 1966-1972

Trans-Am Challengers: The Cars That Rivalled Mustang and Camaro Supremacy 1966-1972

Holmes, Steve

Hardcover

Motor Sports

Publisher Price: $45.00

ISBN10: 1836440340
ISBN13: 9781836440345
Publisher: Veloce Publishing
Published: Sep 30 2025
Pages: 192
Weight: 2.00
Height: 0.70 Width: 10.00 Depth: 8.20
Language: English

Trans-Am Challengers: The Story Behind Detroit's Racing Revolution

In April 1964, Ford's Mustang pony car stormed onto the scene, igniting a sales phenomenon that forced Detroit's other automakers to scramble to create their own competitors. Around the same time, the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) was transforming from a purely amateur organisation into a professional racing powerhouse, introducing prize-money championships.

By 1966, the SCCA launched two landmark series: the Canadian-American Challenge Cup (Can-Am) and the Trans-American Sedan Championship (Trans-Am). While Can-Am focused on unlimited FIA Group 7 sports cars, Trans-Am catered to FIA Group 2 touring cars, with classes divided by engine sizes: up to 2000cc and 2001-5000cc. The Over-2000cc class was crafted specifically with the Mustang in mind, ensuring Ford's interest and leveraging the growing pony car wars.

Chevrolet answered Ford's Mustang with the launch of the Camaro in September 1966, sparking fierce competition on the track and in showrooms. Soon, Mercury, Pontiac, Dodge, Plymouth, and AMC joined the fray, turning the Trans-Am series into a battleground for Detroit's 'Big Four'. Manufacturers saw Trans-Am success as a path to dominance, investing heavily in developing race-ready cars and unleashing low-production homologation specials like the Mustang Boss 302, Camaro Z28, Pontiac Firebird Trans-Am, AMC Javelin Mark Donohue Edition, Dodge Challenger T/A, and Plymouth 'Cuda AAR--now some of the rarest and most valuable classic American cars.

Beyond the famous Mustang and Camaro rivalry, this book uncovers the untold stories of their challengers and the relentless pursuit of sales glory. Mercury nearly claimed the championship in 1967, and AMC triumphed in 1971 and 1972 with Penske Racing. The fierce competition left an indelible mark on American motorsport history.

A chapter also explores lesser-known contenders from outside the U.S., such as Ford Falcon Sprints in the British Saloon Car Championship and the powerful Holden Monaros and Ford Falcons that dominated Australian circuits.

This is more than just a tale of Mustang versus Camaro--it's the story of an era when Detroit's finest fought to conquer the track and the showroom floor, leaving a legacy of engineering brilliance and motorsport passion.

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