Quiz time. Which manufacturer won the first ever SCCA Trans-Am race? Javelin? Mustang? Camaro? ’Cuda? Shocker, it wasn’t any ...

or the AMC Javelin. But, while the Camaro was softening up with every model year, gradually shedding its viciousness in favor of luxury, the Firebird still had an ace up its sleeve: the Trans Am.

This makes it the torquiest muscle car AMC ever crafted, figures that translated well to the Javelins on-track form. The Javelin went on to secure 12 victories over the next two Trans Am seasons ...