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1983 NASCAR Trans Am Pace Car
A Brief History:
Daytona 500 Special Edition Trans Am
In 1983 the Trans Am was once again set to pace the Daytona 500. 2500 Limited edition Trans Ams would be produced in the colors and decal scheme of the actual 83 pace cars. The total production of 2500 seemed to coincide with the Daytona 500’s 25th anniversary.
The exterior of the 83 Daytona Pace, reverted back to the 1981 exterior color scheme to some degree, losing the red and black paint scheme used in 1982. The car produced to pace the 25th anniversary of the Daytona 500 would need to be special. GM was up to the task at hand, and this is one of the sharpest looking Trans Ams ever produced. The exterior as stated reverted to the 1981 model using the *19U black and *11L white color combination. This time however GM decided to go with a two tone type paint scheme running the lower half of the car in black and the upper in the white. Decals would once again follow tradition and adorn the windshield and rear window hatch with the words “Trans Am” in black print. Door decals were included also which stated “Official Pace Car” and “Daytona 500”. The designers at GM went a step further placing the NASCAR logo on the rear quarters and also a metal 25th anniversary badge was placed on each of the front fenders above the stock Trans Am logo. When this color and decal scheme came together with the aggressive turbo type hood bird, it became a car with style, and beauty. Other notable exterior points of interest were the addition of a ground effects package which would later become standard on all Trans Ams, yet in 1983 the Pace Cars would be the only Trans Ams to have the sleek low look. The standard rims of most 1983 Trans Ams were dumped and replaced by a brand new “Moon Aero” 15 x 7 inch cast aluminum rims which stated “Pontiac Aero” on the outer lip.
The interior also came to life on the 1983 Daytona Pace Trans Am. Recaro SST type seats once again were placed in this special edition Trans Am. The front and rear seats featured suede inserts and outer leather wraps. The front seat backs featured cloth and overall the seats were comfortable and stylish. The dash and radio lit up the now familiar “Pace Car” red, setting it far apart from the other Trans Ams of that year.
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Some other points of interest on the 1983 Daytona Pace was the optional close ratio 5 speed. While only 520 were produced with this option it provided the owners with some fun at the wheel. Fbodywarehouse is lucky enough to have one of these models. While the car was a tad under powered at 150hp at 4000 rpm, the addition of the 5 speed almost made the driver forget about this lack in power from the 305. Rot Rod magazine road tested the 83’ Daytona and got quarter mile times of 16.50 @ 83mph.. That equates to a lot of shifting and not a lot of get go. While the power was not the best it could have been this is still a very desirable car. With only 2500 of these “Special Editions” produced it is a very nice, well-rounded car that is destined to become high on the collector car list in years to come.
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