When the muscle car era ended unofficially in 1972, somebody forgot to tell Pontiac. The Pontiac Firebird, and the even more potent Trans Am, carried the muscle car banner pretty much unhampered from 1972 until modern fuel-injected performers hit showrooms in the mid-1980s. So when central casting came calling for a steed to carry the hero (Clint Eastwood, James Garner, Burt Reynolds, et al.), Pontiac almost always got the nod. That savvy move indebted a lot of performance freaks to the Pontiac fold for life-such as Kregg Reynolds of Knoxville, Maryland. Kregg's Super Duty '73 Trans Am-replete with period-correct shaker hood-was arguably the final supernova blast of performance before the lights went out in the Motor City for the subsequent decade and a half.
| 1973 SUPER DUTY TRANS AM |
| Car Owner: | Kregg Reynolds; Knoxville, MD |
| Photographer: | Kregg Reynolds |
| Camera: | Minolta 8000 |
| Model: | Mary Hope |
| Photo location: | Harper's Ferry, WV |
| Engine: | Pontiac Super Duty 455 |
| Cylinder heads: | factory Pontiac |
| Camshaft: | factory |
| Intake: | Edelbrock |
| Carb/induction: | Holley 750-cfm double-pumper |
| Transmission: | Turbo 400 |
| Rearend model & gearing: | GM 10-bolt, 3.73 gears |
| Suspension/brakes: | factory |
| Body & paint: | factory Brewster Green |
| Peak hp: | 290 hp |
| Best 1/4-mile time: | n/a |
| Years owned: | 1 year |
| Cost to build: | $15,000 |
We got no cover letter or story explaining Kenny and Vicky Phillips' blown '69 Camaro, but it sure looks like it rocks. Lots of great equipment choices all around, but we predict a stronger transmission and suspension in the Phillips' future if they plan to continue drag racing. Model Jessica Baker is sizzling, and since we've got the space, we've got some tips for photog Spence Turner to make Jessica look even better: Recompose the setting so that the light comes in at a glancing angle, which will flatter Jessica's figure by showing more form. When doing this, a reflector off camera should light her face. Also, the leg nearest to the camera should be bent (not the far leg, as in the shot below); this will accentuate Jessica's figure in a good way, giving her more of an hourglass shape. And one piece of advice from tech editor Liz Miles: "Those shoes don't match at all. Try some black pumps."
| 1969 CHEVY CAMARO |
| Car Owner: | Kenny & Vicky Phillips; Newburgh, IN |
| Photographer: | Spence Turner; Newburgh, IN |
| Camera: | Nikon D50 |
| Model: | Jessica Baker |
| Photo location: | Evansville, IN |
| Engine: | 468ci big-block Chevy |
| Cylinder heads: | Canfield aluminum |
| Camshaft: | Isky |
| Intake: | BDS |
| Carb/induction: | BDS 8-71 supercharger, |
| | dual 850 Demon carbs |
| Transmission: | Turbo 350 |
| Rearend model & gearing: | Ford 9-inch |
| | with 3.50 gears |
| Suspension/brakes: | factory; CalTracs bars in rear |
| Peak hp: | 600 hp |
| Best ¼-mile time: | 6.50/105 (1/8-mile) |
| Years owned: | 16 years |
| Cost to build: | $20,000 |