Just a Simple Small Block, Right?

This here is Mr. Brad Ziegler’s 1982 Pontiac Trans Am. 1982 was the first year of the 3rd iteration of the Firebird and Camaro. New to the platform were improved aerodynamics, coil over suspension, as well as tune port fuel injection. This car originally would have come with either a 305 ci Chevrolet engine or the optional 350 ci Chevrolet engine. This car was born with a 5 speed borg warner transmission which we can say in short, is no longer here with us. Reason that I say that is because the original engine is long gone. Brad had a 441 ci Chevrolet engine dropped into this Firebird to replace the old boat anchor that it came equipped with. A built 441 ci engine equipped with a custom direct fuel injection system makes this car scream! It’s good for around 600 hp! That measly 5 speed that we were just talking about a few moments ago got blow to smithereens in the matter of a few drives. In place of the fried Borg-Warner transmission is a 5 speed Tremec gearbox.

When I got hired to shoot photos of this car I had no idea of what to expect. The loose description that I received was a 1982 Trans Am. When I was asked I answered right away with an excited yes. I always am up for a good challenge when it comes to photography. Seriously, I live, sleep, and breath photography.

I was so excited when I arrived in Ashtabula, OH. I was presented with a gorgeous car. The paint on this beaut is damn near perfect. The exterior was so smooth and slick. The car was so clean that I could eat off of it. The old accents just POP off the black paint! One of my absolute favorite pieces of the exterior is the wheel set! These wheels may look familiar to you. These wheels look just like the original Trans Am Wheels but, they are no longer 15 inch wheels. They are brand new 17 inch aftermarket wheels made to look like the originals. I would argue that this wheel set is the absolute most perfect wheel choice for this car. I don’t think that there is a single wheel that could make this car look better. I swear that this car looked perfect!

Shooting photos of this car was unarguably a ton of fun, however it wasn’t the best part. The best part of this trip was Brad and his hospitality. Brad was so kind to offer me a ride along for the 200 mile cruise. I had just assumed that I was going to drive my sable behind all of the sick Firebirds but, Brad said that he’d be more than happy to have me along. Honestly this made the whole entire weekend and all of my efforts worth it.

Before I sat in the passenger seat of this car he warned me that it might have a rough and uncomfortable ride (it wasn’t at all). I told him that I was ok with that and we set off chasing the rest of the flock. The first time that he gave the car any throttle, I immediately knew that I was in for a treat. I could tell that this thing was going to be FAST. Remember that part earlier when I mentioned the “new and improved aerodynamics?” Well on all of the other cars the aerodynamics meant to help fuel economy and what ever other BS. However on this car the aero was meant for something else. It was meant to make the car resemble how it moved, because this car was a ROCKET SHIP! This car just shot down the highways. It sliced right through the air. If this car hit one the duke boys’ ramps it would never come back down. This thing would be heading straight through the atmosphere and into space. We were good and didn’t speed too much. The fastest speed that we went was only 85 mph! Well that only is because the stock speedometer from the 1980’s only reads up to 85 mph!

It was nice chatting with Brad over the ride. It was fun to telling each other our stories and getting to know each other. It was so much fun, it was hard not to smile the entire time. It was a genuine good time.

It felt like Heaven on this trip. Cruising down the highway with the t-tops off with wind spinning around us, the sun shining down making my skin glow. It was so peaceful. Everything just felt so right with the world. It was such an amazing feeling to be surrounded by so many great people, awesome cars, and beautiful scenery. It was so much fun watching people race each other for bragging rights and it was even better when we saw their faces as we blasted right past them. The car just moved effortlessly. It felt like it had enough power to keep going and going and going. It seemed like there was no end to the gearing. It felt as if this car could travel to 200 mph if you just asked it to. It seemed like it could go on forever.

I feel like this trip provided so much more for me than I could have ever given in return. I went with the expectation of just shooting some cool cars for work but I am overwhelmed by the amazing memories and lessons that I learned on this trip. This trip did so much more for me than I could have ever dreamed. To say that I am extremely thankful for this experience would be a severe understatement. I just cannot describe how thankful that I am for all of the great friends that I got to see again and all of the new friends that I am fortunate enough to have met. Thank you so much Brad for your kindness and your amazing hospitality. Your attitude helps give me a different look on life and I have to thank you for that.