Any gearhead worth the title knows the names “Shelby” and “Yenko,” legendary for taking factory iron and turning it up to 11. But one particular moniker associated with Pontiac performance might have flown under your personal radar – what follows is the history of Mecham-modified Firebirds, some of the most interesting aftermarket specialty edition cars you’ll find.

¿Quién es Más Macho?

The Macho Trans Am was the beginning of the Mecham DKM (Dennis and Kyle Mecham) modified Firebirds that debuted in 1977. They were sold at Mecham Pontiac in Glendale, Arizona, which was owned by their father (the future, controversial governor of Arizona, Evan Mecham, who was removed from office less than two years after he took office in 1988, but was later cleared. He also sold Mecham Pontiac that same year).

The Macho Trans Ams first went on sale in 1977 (26 were sold the first year). The Mecham family realized there was still a market for muscle cars, so they took a leap of faith, built them and sold them. Sons Dennis and Kyle created their own company, DKM Performance, in 1978.

Early Macho Trans Ams had modified 400 cubic inch V8 engines, which included unsealing the shaker hood scoops to help assist more airflow into the engine, tuning the Quadrajet carburetors to run richer, installing Hooker Headers, dual exhaust and dual catalytic converters (no mufflers or resonators equipped on them). Optional turbochargers were also available.

The front ends were lowered, Koni shocks and 60 series tires were installed, as several other modifications were made as well. The Macho Trans Ams can put out well over 200 horsepower, which is impressive for a muscle car from the performance-strangled days of the late 1970’s. Emissions regulations, high insurance rates and the fuel crisis destroyed the muscle car era in the early ’70’s, and by the middle of the decade, it was virtually non-existent, save a few Pontiacs (such as Firebirds equipped with the Super Duty 455 engines, and even they were seriously detuned by muscle car standards, but at least they did have a little bit of muscle to work with). Nevertheless, the clock struck midnight on 455 Super Duty Trans Am as well, and even that engine became a complete empty shell of its former self.

As far as color selection went for the Macho T/A, that was left up to each individual customer. DKM also had decals it would install on them. Just over 200 Macho T/A’s were sold in 1978, and over 200 were also sold in 1979. In 1980, a very low number of Macho T/A’s were produced by DKM, because the 400 cubic inch engine went away and the gutless 301 engine (even with a turbo from Mecham) was just far too underpowered. The technology at the time wasn’t advanced enough to coax high horsepower from such an engine, in stark contrast to today’s engines – a good number of current four cylinder power plants will simply annihilate the performance of V8’s from the 70’s, 80’s and even the 1990’s.

At that point, the Pontiac Trans Ams were just not viable performance cars with the available stock engines, so DKM ended their run in 1980, but that would change in years to come. 1980 may have signaled the end of the Macho Trans Am, but not the end of Mecham-tuned Trans Ams. The Macho Trans Ams were a glimmer of light during the performance-stripped years of the 1970’s. However, the Macho Trans Ams would return in a very limited run in 1985, and once again in 1997.

The 1985 and 1997 Macho Trans Ams

The limited run of 20 1985 Macho Trans Ams were practically the same as the 1985 Mecham Motor Sports Edition Trans Ams (more on that in a moment), but of course had the Macho Trans Am lettering. Horsepower was not exactly breathtaking – since there were no engine modifications on the 1985 Mecham Motor Sports Edition Trans Ams, it’s safe to say they made about 190 horsepower, which was okay for the period. Macho Trans Ams had their own unique badges as well.

The 1997 Macho Trans Ams were 20th anniversary models, and by that time the horsepower renaissance had been well underway. They were available in three models: the Basic, the HO and the SD. The Basic model had painted graphics (not decals like the originals), a fiberglass hood and rear wing; engine upgrades included the similar bolt-on parts as the contemporary 300-plus horsepower LT1-powered V8 SLP Firehawks (also modified Firebirds), which made them far more powerful than the original Macho Trans Ams 20 years earlier. The HO had a whopping 400 horsepower V8 engine, benefiting from upgrades to the heads and cam.

Finally, The SD Macho Trans Am version benefitted from an even more massively-impressive 500 horsepower, bored and stroked V8 engine, better brakes, larger wheels, and all of the other upgrades that the Basic and HO models had. Actual production numbers vary from only 14 to 20 cars in total for the 1997 Macho Trans Am, making it a very limited edition and rare car, which should make the 1997 Macho Trans Am a highly-desired and collectible muscle car from the late 1990’s, especially since Pontiac no longer exists as a General Motors brand.

Mecham-Modified Motor Sports Edition Trans Ams of the 1980’s

Mecham Racing was started as a separate venture in the early 1980’s by Dennis Mecham, and when the new generation of Firebirds debuted for the 1982 model year from Pontiac, that afforded new opportunities for the Mecham modification magic. Mecham modified and entered cars in the Trans Am Racing Series. Funding was needed to supports Mecham Racing’s participation in the series, so Mecham sold some street versions of the racing car, called the Motor Sports Edition (MSE).

Some of the modifications installed were Koni shocks and struts, Recaro seats and other interior upgrades (including the steering wheel), a special Mecham Racing 170 MPH speedometer, rear window louvers, front and rear air dams, special alloy wheels, and Firestone P255/55R15 HPR tires. Special paint schemes, badges, emblems, a lowered ride height, and other additions to set the Mecham Trans Ams apart from their Pontiac factory counterparts.

Mecham Racing had success its first year, winning the SCCA Trans Am Racing Series championship in 1992. Sales of the MSE Trans Am may have been a reflection of this, along with the new Firebird design in 1982. Whatever the case, about 500 Mecham Motor Sports Edition Trans Ams were sold in 1982. In 1983, 150 were sold; about one-third of that number was sold in 1984, and even less in 1985, the final year of the MSE Trans Am.

The Final Mecham Firebirds and Trans Ams, 1998-2002

When Pontiac was shuttered as a brand by General Motors in 2002, not only was it the end of an era of Pontiac as a brand, it also meant the end of the iconic Pontiac Firebird. The final Mecham Formula Firebirds/Trans Ams produced between 1998 and 2002 were low in total numbers (roughly about 20 each year, with the exception of the 2002 model year, with far less than 20 apparently being built that year).

According to the Mecham Performance website, the final Mecham Formulas and Trans Ams featured a wide variety of performance upgrades, along with the appearance upgrades. Here is a partial list of just some of the available performance and appearance upgrade options:

• 5.7 L HO Engine (348 cubic inch)
• 6.3 L HO Engine (383 cubic inch)
• 6.5 L HO Engine (396 cubic inch)
• K&N Filtercharger Air Filter
• Pro Dyno High Performance MTTP Exhaust System
• Mecham 4-port Extractor / Ram Air Hood
• Pro Performance Springs, Front & Rear
• High Performance Gear Ratio, 3.73:1 ( 6-speed ) or 3.42:1 ( 4-speed Auto )
• Shocks (Koni adjustable) front & rear
• Brembo Front Calipers with Cross Drilled & Slotted Rotors
• G-Force KD 275 40 ZR 17 Tires (set of 4 for ROH wheels)
• ROH “ZS” alloy Wheels: 17″ x 9.5″ High Polish finish (set of 4)
• Mecham Graphics with Production Number in Paint

That was only a small sample of options available for the 2002 Mecham Formula and Trans Am. There were many, many more that could be added. Some of the options were very expensive ($3,605.00 for the Brembo Brakes, and $16,813.00 for the 6.5 L HO engine), so the later-model Mecham cars were a lot more expensive than the original DKE Macho Trans Ams.

There were also the Mecham GTR’s from the same period, which were supposed to be direct competition for the factory-built Pontiac WS6 Trans Am and SLP’s Firehawk. As the Mecham Performance website notes, there were ram air and exhaust enhancements, among others. In fact, some of the options on the GTR Firebird (a smaller number than on the Mecham Formula and Trans Am) are exactly the same.  Mecham made a wide variety of options available for enthusiasts, and even though production numbers were smaller in the final versions of the Mecham Firebirds and Trans Ams, the few enthusiasts fortunate enough to purchase one could buy a uniquely-equipped, powerful Firebird that was unlike any that rolled off a General Motors assembly line during that period.

The original Macho Trans Ams, now well over thirty years old, have become collectible cars, just as the original factory Firebirds and Trans Ams have. Were the Macho Trans Ams anywhere near as powerful as Firebirds made even six to eight years earlier? Not even close. Nevertheless, because the Mecham family took a leap of faith in 1977 and decided to give performance enthusiasts something they wanted but were missing, the Macho Trans Ams (as well as the other Mecham creations afterward) have an important place in muscle car history.