Trans Am Racing Series Kits

[Xingu]

How many kits are there for cars from the Trans Am Racing Series? How many street cars can be easily converted? Is there a list of aftermarket resources for the conversions.

Road racing is one of my favorite forms of auto racing. While I was to young to appreciate Trans Am when it was around, I do love to watch the old video footage. Those guys were always on or over the edge when racing.

I have a vision of a long term diorama with a Trans Am starting grid or a group of cars going into a turn. So I am just trying to compile some information so I can be on the lookout for items I will need. 1970 would be my preferred year, as I am a bit partial to the Mopars of that year.

[Daddyfink]

And a ton of version of the above two cars. 

 

[bbowser]

1st and 2nd gen Camaros, Mustangs, Challengers, the aforementioned Javelins, all are available as starting points.  Decals my be a sticking point?

[vamach1]

Fred Cady did decals which you can still find on EBay. Sadly except for the Tope Mustang (which was raced after Ford lost interest in the TA series in 1971) you have convert a street car into a race car (e.g. A resin 68 Coupe, 69/70 fastback Mustang in a Boss 302 racer).  The same probably goes for the Big Three brands (Mercury, Chevy Camaro, Dodge, Pontiac and Chrysler).

[Snake45]

The Jimmy Flintstone '70 Javelin resin body, is, I believe, a Trans Am racer, with the enlarged fender flares the street cars didn't have. You still need everything else to finish it off, but a (more) common JoHan '74 (or whatever it is) Javelin and a quick stop at Modelhaus (if they ever open their website again) will get you in the ballpark.

[Xingu]

Anything special i would need to do with resin, I have never used it (have barely worked with styrene). I am hoping my skill level will be a little further along before I attempt this.

Guess I need to start getting some historical photos lined up. Are the AAR Cuda and T/A Challenger kits close to what was raced. I had assumed, like was mentioned above, there would be (at the very least) flared wheel openings. Wasn't sure if there were aftermarket racing interiors and chassis' that were produced.

I think I am addicted to this site. There are so many knowledgeable people here.

[afx]

You should do some research before buying a lot of kits and parts.  Two books I have in my collection and would recommend:

Edited May 11, 2016 by afx

[Xingu]

Thanks for the info. I will be on the lookout for those books.

[Vince Nemanic]

The 240Z was a national championship winning car in SCCA C Production, not the Trans Am.  The Porsche 911 was (dubiously) classified as a "sedan" due to its having 4 seats - the car was disallowed in 1970.

If you want to convert stock kits to racers, '66 sand '67 Novas were raced, as were a '64 GTO and a few VW bugs and '64-'65 Falcons and Comets. Then there was the Group 44 '66 Dart...

[Pete L.]

1st and 2nd gen Camaros, Mustangs, Challengers, the aforementioned Javelins, all are available as starting points.  Decals my be a sticking point?

Fellas,

 The Mini Lite wheels will be a tough find as well...

[vamach1]

Fellas,

 The Mini Lite wheels will be a tough find as well...

HRM or R&M of Maryland should have them.

[maltsr]

 

Guess I need to start getting some historical photos lined up. Are the AAR Cuda and T/A Challenger kits close to what was raced. I had assumed, like was mentioned above, there would be (at the very least) flared wheel openings. Wasn't sure if there were aftermarket racing interiors and chassis' that were produced.

I think I am addicted to this site. There are so many knowledgeable people here.

This page may help you - posted by Bangshift just now!

http://bangshift.com/general-news/thursday-time-killer-a-massive-treasure-trove-of-vintage-late-1960s-trans-am-photos/

[Can-Con]

HRM or R&M of Maryland should have them.

When the AMT Sunbeam Tiger kit comes out, it should have a very nice set in it also.

[Greg Myers]

You should do some research before buying a lot of kits and parts.  Two books I have in my collection and would recommend:

The second one yes, the first, a bunch of rebuilt cars currently raced not original.

[Jon Cole]

Trans Am photo file:
http://public.fotki.com/JCole/trans-am-racing!/

[Snake45]

Fellas,

 The Mini Lite wheels will be a tough find as well...

Aren't they in the Revell '67 Camaro? Also, I think some issues of the AMT '53 Stude had them too, didn't they?

[Snake45]

Thanks for the info. I will be on the lookout for those books.

Why "be on the lookout" for them? I'm sure they're just a few clicks and/or keystrokes away on either Amazon or abebooks.com.

[Crazy Ed]

   Michael, the Friedman Book also has the results for every race. If you want to build the more unknown Cars of the TransAm look into the U-2 Class where you'll find the most surprises!! Heck there's plenty of folks out there that don't know that there even was a Under 2 Liter Class in the Old TransAm series.

[afx]

The second one yes, the first, a bunch of rebuilt cars currently raced not original.

I find the David Tom's book a wealth of detail and technical information about the original cars.  Yes it also includes restored original cars (slightly modified to compete in vintage racing) but it's still a great book, at least in my opinion.

[Xingu]

Why "be on the lookout" for them? I'm sure they're just a few clicks and/or keystrokes away on either Amazon or abebooks.com.

Books will be here next week. Found some used ones online.

[Xingu]

All the photos in the links you guys provided will be a great help. Thanks so much for those!

[Snake45]

Books will be here next week. Found some used ones online.

There ya go! Evidently you've played "cool books" before!

[afx]

Fellas,

 The Mini Lite wheels will be a tough find as well...

Item# R-31

[oldcarfan]

The resin bodies are usually pretty good. Be aware however that some are better than others, they will require a good wash with a degreaser and some of them may have some pinholes and flaws that will need attention and some such as Jimmy Flintstone bodies are usually thicker than a styrene body which will require thinning. That being said, you get some cars that are not available any where else. The new Revell 67 Camaro body has the Minilites and the car itself lends itself well to modification for Trans Am. The Revell Monogram 70 Mustang also makes a good Follmer car with the Fred Cady decals if you can find them.

[Dave Van]

As already posted the T/A books are a good thing to have......lots on the net too. 

Few of the kits sold as T/A racers are not real accurate. But most of what you need to build good models. Between aftermarket and kit parts it can be done. Some of my T/A models. 

 

 

Fantasy T/A builds.......

 

Edited May 12, 2016 by Dave Van