FREE REVS MATT AVERY Matt is the Executive Producer of TheTransmission.com, a site dedicated to passion- driven car news, insight and road-going stories. After stints as a repair technician for both BMW and Mercedes-Benz, he acquired a B.S. Degree in Film and moved into automotive journalism. He wrote for the TV show “MotorWeek” before joining the Cars.com editorial team, working as the senior video producer. He also served on the Board of Directors for the Midwest Automotive Media Association and writes the long-running “Classic Recollections” car feature in the “Chicago Daily Herald.” Matt’s new book “COPO” documents Chevrolet’s ultimate muscle cars. BLACKBIRD IN FLIGHT If you wanted a performance Pontiac in the early 2000s, you went to Carl Black. The dealership, located in Kennesaw, Georgia—27 miles north of Atlanta—built a name by satiating the needs of lead- foot shoppers who came out in droves. In 2001 and 2002, Carl Black Pontiac was the No. 1 Firebird dealership in the world, selling some 500 to 600 examples each year. That figure contained some 350 of the upper-trim Trans Am versions, nearly triple what its closest competitor was moving. With such a strong fan base, in the summer of 2001, the dealership teamed up with GMMG performance shop in nearby Marietta, Georgia, to build its own limited-edition run of modified Trans Ams. Lance Martin, one of the dealership’s enthusiastic sales managers, spurred the project on, convincing Carl Black himself that this was a good idea. Martin called them “Blackbirds,” a clever nickname that combined the dealership’s name with the legendary Firebird moniker. A total of 52 Firebird WS6 Trans Ams were ordered from General Motors and brought to GMMG’s shop for further modification. After completion, they were sold from Carl Black’s showroom. The cars started off with GMMG’s base, or “Phase 1,” upgrades, but the sky was the limit in terms of additional options that could be added on. Customers were all for it, hungrily tacking on upgrades that brought upwards of 500 HP, and they were thrilled to get that and a warranty. Once word got out about the smoking deal, they all moved fast. In no time, a two-month waiting period to purchase one had built up. With that red-hot success and 2002 fast approaching, Martin quickly put together a plan for another run of cars. Picking up on Pontiac’s 35th anniversary that year, the cars were called Anniversary Editions. Martin ordered 44 more WS6 Trans Ams equipped with 6-speed manual transmissions. Both T-tops and convertibles were offered, coming in a variety of colors. The plan was to replicate the success of the previous year and allow GMMG to work its radical motor magic, cranking up each of the vehicle’s capabilities. 96 • MECUM.COM
