Time is a mixed blessing for vintage car enthusiasts. On one hand it’s the very element that makes a vintage car, well, vintage. On the other, time usually takes a heavy toll on the condition of the car, turning the once proud apple of someone’s eye into simply an eyesore. But who among us hasn’t at least once gazed longingly at some tattered shell of an automobile and seen beauty. Hey, many of us go so far as to drag these hulks home with visions of cruises and show trophies dancing in our heads. (It’s usually at this point that close acquaintances and spouses start to seriously question our sanity.)

We know how it is, though. We understand, and have even come to grips with the condition. So much so in fact that we’re going to devote an entire page in each issue of RR to these . . . these . . ., well, let’s call them dream machines. We’ll get the ball rolling with this issue, but the rest is up to you. Send us your photographs of the rare and rough muscle cars, along with some basic information on where it was found and why it captured your attention. If we use your submission in the magazine we’ll send you a free T-shirt and the number of our therapist. Until then, poke around those abandoned barns, look closely behind all those houses and check out every overgrown clump of weeds you might just find a diamond in the rough.

Although you may not recognize it from the photos, this is actually a 1971 Pontiac Trans Am undergoing disassembly somewhere in sunny Florida. Equipped with a 305-horse 455 H.O., an M-22 4-speed and a 3.42 Safe-T-Track rear axle, the car is one of 885 manual transmission Trans Ams produced in ‘71 (total TA production in ‘71 was 2,116 cars). As you may or may not be aware, ‘70-72 Trans Ams were available in only two colors: Cameo White and Lucerne Blue. It’s estimated that only 25% of the Trans Ams produced during these three years were Lucerne Blue models, which if accurate means this car (which is blue) is one of 220 or so blue 4-speeds.

Options, you ask? There’s not very many on this car. Besides the standard Trans Am stuff (power steering, brakes, AM radio, 455 H.O., etc,) this car carries only air conditioning, tinted windows (mandatory with A/C), deluxe interior and floor mats. There’s no center console or power accessories other than those listed. Here’s an interesting tidbit related to us by the car’s owner. He received a copy of the dealer invoice from Pontiac Historical Services, and the car was actually first delivered to Pontiac Engineering. Normally, the name of the dealer receiving the car is listed. He believes the car was used as a quality test, since the factory occasionally takes certain cars off the line to make sure the finished product is up to standard.

The present owner has had the car since ‘78, and he relates that its current condition can be greatly attributed to the car seeing three kids’ worth of high school and college duty! (If that won’t do it, nothing will . . . ) His plans are to have the car back together in time for the show season in the spring and summer of ‘97. After 25 years of faithful service, it’s good to see this old warrior getting the attention it deserves.