1997 Trans Am WS6
LT1 M6
My Fbody Project
Welcome to my Fbody project Website.
A few years ago my friend Marc (with a c), who worked part time at a used car lot, stopped by for a visit and a few cold ones. While we were talking he mentioned they currently had a Trans Am WS6 on the lot, a 1999 he thought. "Color and trans?" I asked. Black with leather, T-Tops, and a six speed he answered. Almost my dream car I thought. I liked the LS1, but I was not a big fan of all the extra scoops and busyness of the newer WS6.
But let me go back n time to the late fall of 1995. I owned a 1990 300ZX 2+2 that I had bought used. It was avery cool car and I did enjoy driving that Nissan. But when I had bought it the 1993s just came out and I was enthralled with the new Camaro and Firebird now with almost 300 horse power! In 1993 When I was looking for a car the new Fbodys were very scarce and dealers were getting above list for them. I cannot bring myself to that no matter how much I dig a car. In the long run this was for the best since this ended up being not such a good year for 4th gen Fbodies. I wanted a Z28 badly after driving one.
Flash forward to 1996. The GM Fbodies had cooled off a little but now GM (along with SLP) was offering CAmaro SSes and Trans AM WS6es. This offering piumped up demand a little for Fbodies and these hot models were going for sticker in the fall of 1995 and were scarce. I found a WS6 formula to test drive and once again fell for the swoopy Fbodies. I loved the hood with the immotal "Ram Air" in bold letters on the hood scoop. This tries to recreate the reputation of the mid to late 60s GTOs which were successful street racers especailly when breathed on by Royal Pontiac. But as I found out later WS6 Firebirds are really not that much more special than the non-WS6 variety, But oh, that cool looking scoop with the evil nostrils in the front setting off that famous "Ram Air" designation.
But once again I was disappointed. The high SLP prices and rare 6 Speed with TTops combination (at the time) led me to look at the more common Z28s. These were in short supply as well but at least dealers were dealing on these. I found my favorite color black with a 6 speed Z28, but not optioned out as I had hoped. It had the chrome vegetable chopper wheels for $600 and no leather. I could see how just adding chrome to a wheel could possibly be woth that much. And I thought I really wanted leather. I had it in he 300ZX and I thought the Z28 cloth was rather ugly. So I settled on a solid silver (sliver roof) Z28 sitting right next to the black one with the leather and without the chrome wheels.
I did really end up liking the silver and my kids called it the "Silver Bullet". It was a great car to drive and I though this might be my last car. (ha ha) One day I was driving home from work when I got stuck in traffic. In the next lane over comming up in the rear view mirror an awsome looking black Trans Am was approaching. As it got closer I noticed it was the WS6. I was drooling as it rumbled by with its Ram Air it continued pulling away in the faster lane.
I paid the silver Z28 off really fast and two years later I was walking around the Chevrolet lot while getting the Silver Bullet serviced. I noticed a black Z28 with Ttops and leather but this one had the newlty released LS1. It also had chrome wheels, but I had grown to like them (it was very black and menacing) so I took the plunge and bought the car without even driving it. I took a beating on the '96 Z28 but I had always regretted not getting the black Camaro. Now I had that car.
Once i drove the LS1 Z28 off the lot for the first time I thought I had made a mistake. Where was the SBC (LT1)rumble and torque? Of course the first time i got on it I did appreciate the LS1 pull. I grew to love that car too and kept it for 4 years and 85,000 miles. One of my longest lasting cars of all time.
I ended up trading in that black Z28 for a truck that could pull my boat and carry my family in sheet metal safety. Several years later after all this Fbody experience I was excited once again at the prospect of being an 4th gen Fbody owner. I went to look at that Trans Am my friedn has talked to me about and found that it was a 1997 not a 1999. At first iw as disappointed. No LS1 here. But then as I though about it I realized this was the dream car that got away 10 years ago.
I bought that car it has been stayng in my garage ever since. Every time I walk by i admire those broad shoulders, that nasty scoop, and Ram Air lettering. I may keep this car forever, but I realize now there is room for improvement. Hence my Trans Am project.
