PONTIAC FIREBIRD TRANS-AM [Vendu]

Afin de démontrer le potentiel de son nouveau pneu, B.F. Goodrich recherchait une équipe professionnelle et une série ou engager le T/A en compétition. Ils ont trouvé le partenaire idéal avec Terry Godsall et le T/G Racing de Jerry Titus.
Pour la saison 1970, Ils avaient construit un trio de Pontiac Firebirds , qui allaient devenir mes « Tire Birds ».

La voiture qui vous est présentée est la troisième construites par le T/G Racing de Jerry Titus pour la saison Trans-Am 1970.

Conduite par le champion canadien John Cordts, Don Pike et Larry Dent, cette voiture a été engagée dans les épreuves Trans-Am, les 24 Heures de Daytona, les 12 Heures de Sebring et la SCCA.
Cette Firebird est finalement devenue la première voiture de série à remporter une course utilisant des pneus radiaux avec une victoire de classe à Watkins Glen.
Aux 24 Heures de Daytona, ils ont gagné 14 places dans les 5 premières heures, mais le V8 Pontiac de 303 ci lâchait tôt dimanche matin, mettant ainsi fin à leur course, non sans avoir prouvé le potentiel d’un pneu urbain dans une preuve telle que les 24 heures de Daytona.

Après Daytona, l’équipe avait convaincu la SCCA de permettre à cette voiture de fonctionner avec un moteur Chevrolet au lieu du moteur problématique de Pontiac, basé sur le fait que les Firebirds canadiens pouvaient être livrés avec des moteurs Chevrolet. Par précaution, et pour éviter toute réclamation, la voiture a été transformée en Camaro (une demi soeur) dans les délais pour participer aux 12 heures de Sebring. Elle poursuivra sa carrière jusqu’à la fin en tant que Camaro.

Au terme du contrat avec B.F. Goodrich, la voiture a été vendue à Alfie Ruys de Perez qui l’a pilotée aucours de la saison de Trans-Am en 1972 avec l’aide de l’équipe de Mo Carter. Il a enregistré une vitesse de pointe de 187 mph avec la voiture!

Elle a été ensuite cédée au Canadien Don Clement pour un dernier baroud d’honneur, et celui-ci l’a mise en vente en février 1980.

Cette voiture a été restaurée niveau concours par le spécialiste de Trans-Am Mark Mountanos et son équipe. L’attention portée aux détails se retrouve jusqu’au écrous et boulons. Elle est vendue avec une énorme collection de documents, de photographies historiques et d’entrevues avec les membres de l’équipe Titus a assuré une restauration correcte à l’époque.

Depuis sa restauration, la voiture n’a participé qu’à sept courses dont les Monterey Historics.Tony Oddo a construit le moteur Chevy, qui ne compte que 12 heures de temps d’utilisation sur piste, et produit 485,1 ch et 377,6 de couple sur le dyno.
La transmission T10 a été entièrement reconstruite par Tex Racing.

Historique en Course

1970
Watkins Glenn Trans-Am – Cordts , 22nd. (Goodyear tires)
Canadian Sedan Championship, Mosport – 3rd, Cordts
Watkins Glenn SCCA National – Cordts, 1st, A Sedan, 2nd overall
(first production car to win a race using radial tires.)

1971
24 Hours of Daytona 24 – Cordts, Pike , DNF
(converted to Camaro)
12 Hours of Sebring – Cordts, Pike, DNF
Bridgehampton SCCA – Dent, 2nd
Cumberland SCCA – Dent, DNF
Lime Rock SCCA – Dent, 1st in class, 10th overall
Bryar Trans-Am – Dent, 16th
Thompson SCCA – Dent, 2nd
Road America June Sprints – Dent, 3rd
Mid-Ohio Trans-Am – Dent, 3rd
Nelson Ledges Trans-Am – Dent DNS

1972
Bryar Trans-Am – Perez, 8th
Mid Ohio Trans-Am – Perez, 29th
Watkins Glenn Trans-Am – Perez, 9th
Donnebrooke Trans-Am – Perez, 26th
Road America Trans-Am – Perez, 8th
Saniar Trans-Am – Perez, 14th

À propos de Jerry Titus

En 1967, Jerry Titus était le champion du Trans-Am sur une Ford Mustang de Carroll Shelby. En 1968 et 1969, il était troisième de la série Trans-Am. Il a participé à 43 courses, et obtenu 4 victoires dans la saison 1967.

Lors de la dernière course Trans-Am en 1968 dans le Kent, Jerry Titus qannonçait son départ de chez Ford pour s’installer chez Pontiac. Terry Godsall, un jeune homme d’affaires canadien, lui a offert à Jerry la possibilité de diriger une équipe composée de ses propres Pontiac Firebirds. En arrivant chez Pontiac, Titus s’est aperçu de l’ampleur des besoins de développement, en particulier sur le moteur. Jerry a ensuite assumé les responsabilités administratives ainsi que la conduite de son équipe.

En 1970, Jerry Titus a décidé d’arrêter de construire des Firebirds pour ses clients et de se concentrer sur ses propres voitures de course. Trois voitures ont été construites. Cette BFG « Tire Bird » et la voiture de Titus sont les 2 seules qui existent encore. La troisième Trans Am Firebird ayant été gravement endommagée dans un accident puis finalement détruite.

La saison 1970 était la dernière saison de Jerry.

For sale Pontiac Firebird Trans-Am 1970. VIN: 72AS18

In the days before our modern 186-mph Y-rated tires, street tires were street tires, and race tires were race tires, and never the two shall meet – until the T/A. The B.F. Goodrich Radial T/A was the first American-made tire that was DOT rated, and also had SCCA approval for track competition. In order to prove the new tire had what it took, B.F. Goodrich looked for a team and a series to run a street tire in professional competition. They found a perfect partner in Terry Godsall and Jerry Titus’ T/G Racing. They had built a trio of Pontiac Firebirds for the 1970 season. At the end of the season papers were signed, and the Firebirds became Tire Birds. This car was the third of three cars built by Jerry Titus’ T/G Racing for the 1970 Trans-Am season.

Driven by Canadian champion John Cordts, Don Pike, and Larry Dent, this car was raced in Trans-Am, the 24 Hours of Daytona, the 12 Hours of Sebring, and SCCA events. B.F. Goodrich took stock T/As and shaved off half the tread and had them put on the 3,200 lbs racecar. This Firebird eventually became the first production car to win a race using radial tires with a class win at Watkins Glen. At the 24 Hours of Daytona they moved up 14 places in the first 5 hours, but the 303 ci Pontiac V8 would let go early in the morning on Sunday, ending their race. They proved their point though, being the first street tire ever to run at Daytona.

After Daytona the Firebird would become a Camaro. The team had already convinced the SCCA to allow this car to run with a Chevrolet engine instead of the problematic Pontiac engine based on the fact that Canadian Firebirds could be delivered with Chevrolet engines. As a precaution the car was converted to Camaro bodywork in time for the 12 Hours of Sebring. It remained in Camaro trim for the remainder of its active racing career.

At the conclusion of Godsall’s contract with B.F. Goodrich the car was sold to Alfie Ruys de Perez, and was raced by him in the 1972 Trans-Am season with assistance from Mo Carter’s team. He recorded a top speed of 187 mph during his time with the car.

Its final professional stint would be with Canadian Don Clement who campaigned the car in IMSA and CSCC events. Don Clement would advertise the car for sale in February 1980.

This car has been restored to a very high concours standard by Trans-Am specialist Mark Mountanos and his team. The attention to detail down to the nut and bolt level is second to none. A huge collection of documentation, historic photographs, and interviews with Titus team members has insured a proper period correct restoration. The car has participated in just seven races since the restoration was complete including the Monterey Historics.

Today the car is in spectacular condition, fully sorted, and race ready. Last owned by a prominent west coast collector and vintage racer it has always had top quality care and preparation. The car looks as if the restoration had been completed yesterday.

The car has only three race weekends since a complete race-prep. Tony Oddo built the Chevy engine which has only 12 hours of track time, and produced 485.1 hp and 377.6 torque on the dyno. The T10 transmission has been completely rebuilt by Tex Racing.

Race History

1970
Watkins Glenn Trans-Am – Cordts , 22nd. (Goodyear tires)
Canadian Sedan Championship, Mosport – 3rd, Cordts
Watkins Glenn SCCA National – Cordts, 1st, A Sedan, 2nd overall
(first production car to win a race using radial tires.)

1971
24 Hours of Daytona 24 – Cordts, Pike , DNF
(converted to Camaro)
12 Hours of Sebring – Cordts, Pike, DNF
Bridgehampton SCCA – Dent, 2nd
Cumberland SCCA – Dent, DNF
Lime Rock SCCA – Dent, 1st in class, 10th overall
Bryar Trans-Am – Dent, 16th
Thompson SCCA – Dent, 2nd
Road America June Sprints – Dent, 3rd
Mid-Ohio Trans-Am – Dent, 3rd
Nelson Ledges Trans-Am – Dent DNS

1972
Bryar Trans-Am – Perez, 8th
Mid Ohio Trans-Am – Perez, 29th
Watkins Glenn Trans-Am – Perez, 9th
Donnebrooke Trans-Am – Perez, 26th
Road America Trans-Am – Perez, 8th
Saniar Trans-Am – Perez, 14th

About Jerry Titus

In 1967, Jerry Titus was the Trans-Am Champion racing a Ford Mustang for Carroll Shelby. In 1968 and 1969, he was third in the Trans-Am series. He had 43 career races with 4 wins in the 1967 race season. He had 5 poles, and 7 wins in his career as a driver or co-driver.

At the final 1968 Trans-Am race at Kent, the big news was that Jerry Titus was leaving Ford and moving to Pontiac. Terry Godsall, a young Canadian businessman, offered Jerry a chance to run a team of his own Pontiac Firebirds. In going with Pontiac, Titus found that he was handicapped by the need of a great deal of developmental work, especially on the engine. Early on, Godsall pulled out of the Trans Am series, saying that the SCCA was inconsistent in its rule enforcement policies. Jerry then carried on the administrative responsibilities as well as driving for his team.

In 1970, Jerry Titus decided to stop building Firebirds for customers and concentrate on his own race cars. Three cars were built. This BFG  » Tire Bird » and the Titus car are the only cars that still exist. The third Trans Am Firebird was severely wrecked in a crash and eventually destroyed. The 1970 Season was Jerry’s last season.

Disclaimer: The above vehicle information is complete and accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time it is posted to this website. Corrections or additional information is always appreciated. All advertised prices exclude government fees and taxes, any finance charges, any dealer document preparation charge, and any emission testing charge. Vehicles are subject to prior sale. All advertised to be true but not guaranteed. We assume no liability for errors or omissions.