Launched in 1966, the wildly popular SCCA Trans-Am Sedan racing series thrilled spectators with intense fender-banging action throughout its original “glory days” to 1973. In addition to cementing the ferocious reputations of performance models from virtually every American automaker, the Trans-Am series was the crucible that mercilessly tested and pitted many established pro drivers and teams with fast-rising stars gunning for racing glory. Incorporating two classes of entries based on engine displacement including under 2.0L and over 2.0L cars for 1966-70, new rules added 500c to each class beginning in 1971. However, the Trans-Am “big-bore” cars utterly captivated spectators and drew incredibly engineered entries with significant factory support—either overt or covert—for much of the 1966-1972 period. Adding to the excitement, this timeframe coincided with the rise of sporty “pony cars” that captured the huge youth market and drew massive sales among the “Big Three” automakers and their various divisions, plus American Motors by ’68. Bob Tullius’ Group 44 Dodge Dart took the over 2.0L championship for ’66, followed by Jerry Titus and his Shelby Team 1967 Ford Mustang. Fast-rising driver and engineer Mark Donohue secured the ‘68 and ’69 championships with Roger Penske’s unforgettable Sunoco-sponsored Chevrolet Camaros, and then it was Ford and Parnelli Jones’ turn for ’70 at the wheel of the Bud Moore Engineering Ford Boss 302 Mustang. Switching to American Motors for 1971, Donohue and Penske took another Trans-Am championship with a new Javelin AMX. Direct factory involvement in the Trans-Am series began to dwindle by 1972, with lower emphasis on all-out performance cars, but hard-charging former Ford driver George Follmer took the title that year for AMC. Numerous highly competitive and resourceful privateers also contested the original Trans-Am series, including Frank Search of San Leandro, California (latterly Bremerton, Washington), who initially built and campaigned this 1971 Chevrolet Camaro Z28. A seasoned racing veteran since 1963, Search raced Chevrolets—Corvettes and Camaros—exclusively and extensively through 1978, and again for the 1983 and 1984 racing seasons. Accompanied by its original SCCA racing logbook (No. 72-AS-48) and the very rare corresponding brass tag riveted to its roll bar, this 1971 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 was built up from a theft recovery vehicle and raced by Frank Search in SCCA National events in 1971 and in the 1972 Trans-Am Series. According to the log book, Search entered two Trans-Am events in 1972: the July 4, 1972 race at Minnesota’s Donnybrooke Speedway (now Brainerd International Raceway) and the July 16, 1972 Road America Trans-Am race at Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, where Search was classified 26th. Considering that Search was part of the growing cadre of hard-charging Trans-Am privateers in Trans-Am racing during the early 1970s, getting to that level of professional racing with an approved racing car was certainly a significant achievement by any standard. Raced in Trans-Am and SCCA National events from 1971-85, all documented in the Camaro’s original logbook on hand with the car, the Camaro was eventually restored for vintage racing by former SVRA (Sportscar Vintage Racing Association) Technical Director Rick Parent. Vintage raced in SVRA competition from 1997-2021 by Sean Ryan, who was named SVRA Driver of the Year in 2005, this Camaro achieved a succession of SVRA Group 6 wins at legendary American tracks and venues including the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Watkins Glen, Road America, Sebring, Road Atlanta, Mid-Ohio, Virginia International Raceway, Homestead, Moroso, Lime Rock and Virginia Beach. Offered in ready-to-race condition, this Camaro is powered by a 309/585 HP Savannah Race Engineering V-8 engine that is legal for use in vintage racing and backed by a Hurst-shifted 4-speed manual transmission. It’s distinctively finished in a silver exterior with black Rally stripes and racing roundels, and the Camaro’s interior includes a black racing seat and roll bar. Stopping power is via 4-wheel J-57 disc brakes, and the Camaro rides on Hoosier racing tires and period- appropriate racing wheels. In addition to the aforementioned original SCCA Trans-Am racing logbook (#72-AS-48), officially documenting its period SCCA National and Trans-Am racing entries, the Camaro is further documented by correspondence with the SVRA including known owners and period racing details, plus race-result sheets, period and contemporary photos, and race-report clippings from Competition Press and Autoweek. Historically eligible for inclusion in the Historic Trans Am race group at legendary venues including Monterey/Laguna Seca, Sonoma, Sebring and other tracks as they travel, this 1971 Chevrolet Camaro Trans-Am Race Car will provide a fabulous entry opportunity into this highly exclusive vintage race grouping and high-level events.
