Data On The 1983 Mecham Racing Trans Am Production

(Rendered From The Information Collected From Archive Photos)

(34 Cars currently on file)

(150 Car Production Run “Foretold”)

(Cars pictured Below)

Cars By Color

1983 Production Year

Cars By Roof

1983 Production Year

3 Solid White (Similar to 82) (#21, #39 #110)
1 Solid Black (Gold at bottom) (#31)
1 Solid Silver (#22)
12 White/Black War Paint (#25, #27, #60, #64, #66, #89, #95, #100, #107, #124, #147, #148)
1 Silver/Black War Paint (#27)
6 Blue/Silver War Paint (#43, #83, #101, #117, #145, #19)
5 Red/Silver War Paint (#54, #65, #73, #103, #123)
1 White/Red War Paint (#75)
4 Black/Gold War Paint (#85, #91, #120, #135)
Notes:
#75 Might Be A 1984 Car
#19 Was Repainted, #22 Was Repainted, #101 Was Repainted

16 Hard Top Cars (#19, #21, #22, #25, #27, #31, #37, #43,#54, #64, #73, #83, #100, #101, #110 #148, )
18 T-Top Cars (#39, #60, #65, #66, #75, #85, #89, #91, #95, #103, #107, #117, #120, #123, #124, #135, #145, #147)

1983 Mecham Racing Trans Am Documentation

1983 MSE Pontiac Dealership Internal Memo

March 1st, 1983

Key Takeaways:

“War Paint” Openly Available for 1983
A “Standard, And “Luxury” MSE. In Short, Base Model OEM Car, And A Well Optioned Car.
Overview of Most Of The Factory Options. Taken with A “Grain Of Salt”. As Seen in 1982 With Statements Made Over What Each Car Will Have. Proven Not The Case.

1983 MSE Detailed Product Analysis

March 1st, 1983

Key Takeaways

MSE Suspension Upgrades AKA “Talon Suspension” Stays The Same As 1982
Lowering Springs (1 Inch Drop), Koni Shocks, Polyurethane Bushings, Front Cross Member (Talon Brace), OEM Wheels With Upgraded Tires
Updated Exterior Options
War Paint, Color Coded Badges, 1st Official Mention Of Mecham Racing Windshield Banner, Serialized Numbers On Fenders/Rear Wing, And New “Winners Wreath Decals. Mention Of Front Air Dam (True MSE Air Dam Quietly Replaced with OEM W62 Aero Parts)
Same Interior Options as 1982
Direct Mention Of (1982 Option) 170 MPH Speedometer, Escort Radar Detector, Lear Siegler Seats OEM Option (83-85 OE Option, 1986 Camaro Lear Seats Exist, Power Adjustable, Beyond Rare Under 100 Sets Made)
New Engine Options For 1983
Git Kit Still Available For 1983 (GM LG4 Vin H )(However Mid 1983 GM Introduced The L69 H.O Engine Vin 7 1983 Only, 662 Made, G Vin 1984). New For 1983, Macho 5.7 Chevy 350. In Two Forms, Turbo And N/A.

1983 MSE Official Sales Sheet

Key Takeaways

Same Information Seen Above, However Here We See Direct Mention Of “War Paint” Colors, And 3:73 Rear Gear Ratio. OEM Rear End. Standard With L69 Engine, LG4 5 Speed Cars.

New Lateral Acceleration Stats

1983 MSE Official Sales Advertisement Picture

Key Takeaways

This Picture Might Not Show A lot At Face Value. However This Picture Shows A lot. Here We Have Non-War Paint Cars. Which, As You Will See, For 1983, Is Uncommon. Notice At The Bottom Of the White Car’s Door, You Can See Faint Lettering. Which Says “Motor Sports Edition”.

1983 Mecham Racing Press Kit

September 1982

Key Takeaways:

Same Physical Design As 1982 Folder
MSE Pricing, And New Luxury MSE (Loaded Factory Car). Warranty Information
Escort Radar Detector
Engine Options 305 Or 350 (With Or Without Git Kit). Turbocharged 350 Or 406 Not Directly Mentioned
Basic Overview Of Standard MSE Package. Almost Identical to 1982.

1983 Mecham Racing Window Sticker

1983 MSE Cutaway

Similar To What Was Seen In The Sales Brochure.
It Is A Depiction Of MSE 1983-#110, Which Is Seen Above In The Press Photo.

Comparison Between 1982, And 1983

(Based On Baseline Of The Year, All Optional Equipment)

(All OEM Optional Equipment Available)

Pricing: $17,455 Automatic/ $17,375 Manual (Base MSE) (*Standard Features/Advertised)

Colors: Two Colors Available. (Red, And White) Solid Color Dominated (War Paint Available In 1982 However It Wasn’t Advertised) (Two Styles)

Wheels: OEM 15x7 N24 Wheel With Firestone HPR Tires. MSE Center Cap.

Body Modifications: MSE Rear wing, MSE Front Air Dam (Optional). OEM Features.

Roof Style: Hard Top Dominated, Targa Roof Available

Exterior Badges/Decals: MSE Badges (Rear Bumper, Sail Panels, Headlight, Hood Nose Badge), Windshield Banner (Optional)

Interior: MSE Steering Wheel, MR Speedometer/ Tachometer, MSE Serialized Center Console Badge, MSE Map Pocket Badge, Motorola Sound System (Optional), Recaro Seats (Optional)

Engine: GM LG4 Carbureted 305 (Git Kit LVL 1,2,3), Macho 5.7 (Very Rare)

Transmission: Th200 Th350 (350 Swap Cars), T-10

Rear End: OEM Rear

(Based On Baseline Of The Year, All Optional Equipment)

(All OEM Optional Equipment Available)

Pricing: $17,154 (Base MSE)/ $17,965 (Luxury MSE) (*Standard Features/Advertised)

Colors: Solid, And Two-Tone Colors Available (Two Styles) (Red, White, Silver, Black, Blue, Gold). Two-Tone Dominated

Wheels: OEM 15x7 N24 Wheel With Firestone HPR Tires. MSE Center Cap.

Body Modifications: MSE Rear wing, MSE Front Air Dam (Optional). OEM Features.

Roof Style: Standard GM Hardtop and T-Top

Exterior Badges/Decals: MSE Badges (Rear Bumper, Headlight, Hood Nose Badge). Sail Panel “Winners Wreath” Decal, Production Number On Fenders, And Rear Wing. Windshield Banner.

Interior: MSE Steering Wheel, MR Speedometer/ Tachometer, MSE Serialized Center Console Badge, MSE Map Pocket Badge, Escort Radar Detector, Recaro Seats (Optional)

Engine: GM LG4, LU5 “Cross-Fire”, L69 “H.O 5.0”, Mecham 350 “Macho 5.7”, Turbo 350 “Macho 5.7”. (Git Kit LVL 1,2,3)

Transmission: 700R4, T-5, Nash/Richmond 5 Speed (406 Cars), TH350 (406 Cars)

Rear End: OEM Rear, Dana 44 Optional (Standard On 406 Cars)

Mecham Racing 1983 Daytona Trans Am

A Special Edition Of A Special Edition

Two were Foretold To Be Built. (#95, and #??)
#148 Is Seen With Daytona Features. As Seen, The True #148 Was A White Car, Which Was Parted Out, And Used On A Daytona.
#95 Was A LG4/T5/CC1 Daytona, Which Only 483 Were Built By GM
Featured All Daytona Aspects With MSE Talon Suspension 1983 Upgrades. As Well As Daytona Two-Tone Paint, With A MSE Twist.
1984 Style Chevrons