DKM Macho Trans Ams Lot#7

1983 MR MSE Trans Am #39 of 150

owner: Gary Vass

This MSE TA has only 4,500 miles on it. It was built with most of the options available in '83 including Motorola stereo, Lear-Seagler leather seats, the GIT KIT, T-Tops, and a Doug Nash 5-speed.

Gary is quite the Pontiac fanatic and collector with a collection totaling 12 cars. His expansive collection includes:
a '76 50th Anniversary Trans Am 455 4-speed (see the '76 L.E. 50th Anniv. Trans Am Lot#1),
a '79 10th Anniversary Trans Am (see the Anniversary Trans Ams Lot#1),
an '80 Trans Am Pace Car,
an '81 Nascar Edition Pace Car with only 4,000 miles (seen at the '80 Nascar Edition Pace Car Trans Am Lot#1),
an '83 Daytona Pace Car,
an '84 15th Anniversary Trans Am,
an '87 Trans Camino (wildly customized into a Truck!!!) (seen the '87 Firebirds Lot#1),
an '89 20th Anniversary Turbo Trans Am with only 500 miles,
a '92 yellow/black Trans Am convertible,
a '94 25th Anniversary with Daytona decals,
and a '96 Formula convertible (see the '96 Firebirds Lot#2). Whew thats a heck of a lot of garage space.

1983 MR MSE Trans Am #64 of 150

owner: unknown

For those of you who do not know let me take the opportunity to explain the meaning of the acronyms associated with these cars. In the late 70's two brothers got together and started modifying production TAs for customers much as SLP is currently doing for the WS6 Ram Air cars. The finished cars were dubbed Macho TAs and were numbered since they were a limited production car every year. The company formed by the two brothers was called DKM which simply stood for Dennis and Kyle Mecham. The initials of the brothers names. The program was continued beginning in 1982 (after a one-year absence in 1981) but the name of the company was changed as well as the designation given to its cars. MR stands for Mecham's Racing and was the new name of the company. MSE stands for Motor Sports Edition (as seen on the door of this car) and was the new name given to the cars that had been modified by MR.

If you are interested in these cars or want to learn more about this interesting part of Pontiac history I would highly recommend you go to the Mecham Hompage. Here you will find a generous amount of information on the history and production of the DKM and MR MSE cars. You'll find info from articles printed from various magazines after the original test drives as well as part-one and two of the two part story recently published by High Performance Pontiac on the history of the Mecham brothers and there cars.

1983 MR MSE Trans Am #65 of 150

owner: unknown

Found this 53,950 mile original MSE TA recently up for sale. We'll try to contact the new owners for better pics and more information. For now we know that it has the 5.0L V8 with the usual performance upgrades, automatic tranny, T-Tops, A/C, cruise-control, tilt steering wheel, power windows, power locks, power steering, power brakes, AM/FM stereo cassette and a CB. Exterior colors are red with a silver base and the interior is dark gray cloth. Its also equipped with the "Talon Suspension" which consisted of urethane bushings and "Koni" shocks. Cosmetic additions include a custom steering wheel, 160+ speedometer, console plaque, various MSE emblems and decals, custom ground effects, an "Aerotail" rear spoiler, custom aluminum wheels and a ram air hood.

1983 MR MSE Trans Am #83 of 150

owner: unknown

Bad image quality but its the only one we have. Nothing is known about this car. Hopefully the owner will contact us with some information.

Pics provided courtesy Cameron Holeman

1983 MR MSE Trans Am #89 of 150

owner: Toby Mackey

Update: This car changed owners and the new owner contacted me with new pics and info and to let me know its for sale again. Toby provided the following:

"This 1983 Mecham Racing MSE Trans Am, based on the SCCA Trans Am Winner, is a true Limited Edition collector car built by MR from a Pontiac Trans Am. This is an authentic high performance option, called “ Motor Sports Edition”, that could be ordered from the factory. In 1983 Mecham Racing made only 150 MSE TA’s and this is #89.

This car was built for performance and handling, it has a 305 V8 with Cross Fire Ignition with twin carbs and working Ram Air (part of the MSE option). The MSE had a “Talon” suspension system, featuring Koni struts which tightened up the car and lowered it 1”, droop limit straps, 4 wheel disc brakes and a posi-trac rear end with 3.23:1 gears rounded out the MSE package. These drive train upgrades were designed to allow this machine to handle at speeds in excess of 160mph.

Each MSE was personalized with a Mecham Racing console plaque that bears the car’s serial number. Additionally, Each MSE (aka Macho 5.0) was outfitted with an MR 170mph speedometer (see Pic), MR Tachometer, MR leather steering wheel, MR Alloy wheels, MR ground effects (which were used in later model Pontiac TA’s) which included the nose/air dam and a whale tail fin and the MR “War Paint” two tone paint. Other factory options on this car include gray interior, T-tops with trunk mounted storage bags, rear hatch privacy pull-down, A/C, Tilt wheel, cruise control, power windows/door locks/steering/mirrors/rear hatch and a surround sound cassette stereo system."

Please email questions and requests for photos to: Toma_NH@yahoo.com

This particular MSE has been featured in Car Craft in August of '85 and High Performance Pontiac in April of 1997. At last report the car had 74,000 miles on it.

1983 MR MSE Trans Am #103 of 150

owner: Jeff Rummell

Jeff writes:

"Just purchased this car, 47,000 miles on the car. 305HO, 5 speed and 373 pois rear. Car was in OHIO for all it's life."

1983 MR MSE Trans Am #120 of 150

owner: Mike Williams

Mike purchased this car in 1996 for $3,800. The car has 81,000 original miles. It comes equipped with the L-69 2.8L V-6 2bbl HO, a 5-speed manual transmission, the WS6 Special Performance Package and all available power options. The car is also equipped with California emissions and was sold by Wood Pontiac in Santa Rosa California. Mike writes:

"Wood owned the dealership, and remembers ordering the car. The car was shipped to Mecham Racing in Glendale, Arizona. I have never seen or heard of any 1983 L-69, 5-speed Mecham Racing cars sold in Calif. that year! California wouldn't let in these HO cars in until 1984. If anyone knows of a 1983 HO ,5-spd car in Calif., please let me know!"

E-mail: Mike Williams

1983 MR MSE Trans Am #135 of 150

owner: Joe Murdock

This Mecham TA was built to commemorate the 1982 SCCA Trans Am racing championship. At the time these photos were taken it had only 3,400 original miles on it. The Firebird is equipped with a racing suspension that includes specific rate coil springs, larger sway bars, Koni adjustable shocks and struts, droop limiters, and a functional rear wing and front air dam. In the engine compartment a 305c.i. V-8 was installed massaged to 300hp with functional Ram Air which is mated to a 5-speed manual tranny. Mecham appearance mods include the special "War Paint" scheme, and various MSE emblems and badges. Interior enhancements include a Mecham 170mph speedometer, serialized console plaque, an AM/FM radio with a power antenna and glass T-Tops. The car now has 3,660 original miles and still has original paint, tires, hoses, belts, and exhaust.

This MSE TA was recently sold to Joe Murdock. Hopefully he will contact us at some point with new info on the car.

1983 MR MSE Trans Am #147 of 150

owner: unknown

This incredible low mileage survivor MSE Trans Am has only 9,200 miles on the odometer. Below is a comprehensive list of the modifications made by the Mechams on this and many other MSE TAs:

Performance:
- 5.0L Engine/5-speed Tranny (Standard)
- WS6 Special Performance Package (Standard)
- Additional Front Crossmember
- Front & Rear Special Sway Bar Pivot Bushings
- Front & Rear Specific Rate Coil Springs
- Independent Lower A-Arms
- Koni Adjustable Front Struts
- Koni Adjustable Shocks, rear
- Torque Arm and Panhard Rod
- Droop Limiter Straps, rear
- Lowered Ride Height
- P255R55/15 HPR Firestone Tires

Cosmetic/Interior:
- Mecham Racing 170mp speedometer
- 4-spoke Leather Steering Wheel
- MSE Raised Metal Emblem, Map Pouch
- MR Raised Metal Serialized Console Plaque

Cosmetic/Exterior:
- Special White/Black "War Paint" Paint Scheme
- Special Alloy "Finned" Wheels"
- Mecham Racing MR Hood Emblem
- Mecham Racing Aero Tail
- Mecham Racing Front Air Dam
- MSE Raised Metal Emblem, front headlamp door
- Motor Sports Edition Door Graphics
- Motor Sports Edition Rear Bumper Graphic
- SCCA Trans Am Championship Wreaths, Sail Panels
- Race Team Windsheild Graphic

1983 MR MSE Trans Am #148 of 150

I've heard recently this TA was parted out to restore an '84 MR MSE TA and the rest was scrapped. Sadly it joins the DOA list...