Pace cars have always enjoyed a special status in the car hobby world because most of them are flashier and faster than the stock versions they represent.
They cost more (then and now) because they cost more when they were new and they’re rare now.
This 1981 Pontiac Trans Am Daytona 500 Pace Car Edition is an excellent example of a classic pace car because it’s fast, innovative and looks cool.
Jerry Sutherland
Luke Hubbard is a young guy, but he’s already owned cars and trucks that aren’t found in the garages of most people—including older guys who were around when those vehicles were new.
He bought his Trans Am almost by accident because he already owned a Gen-2 Firebird. Luke’s dad was a big influence on the Firebird choice because he owns one, so Luke grew up with classic Ponchos.
Luke found out about this Firebird through his girlfriend’s grandfather. He knew a guy who had one sitting around his garage, so he told Luke to talk to the owner. The owner was lukewarm on the sale because he admitted he, “hadn’t driven it much”, so he was thinking about driving it more instead of selling it.
The owner interviewed Luke and found out he knew more about the classic Pontiac T/A than most hardcore car guys. Luke’s history with these cars, plus his knowledge as an apprentice auto tech convinced the owner to give Luke a great deal on the Poncho.
This car was in great shape thanks to a careful owner and careful storage, but Luke is a perfectionist, so he put together a game plan for his T/A. The first thing he did was get rid of his original Gen 2 Firebird to open space and financial options to get this car to the level he wanted.
This is a 4.9 (301 cubic inch) small block with the turbo option so it’s relatively rare on its own—the Pace Car option makes it even rarer. The engine was rebuilt by the previous owner, but it’s something Luke wants to pull it because he wants to make sure the job was done right. He also wants to detail the engine compartment while it’s open.
Luke said these pace cars came with heavier sway bars front and back and disc brakes all around, so they were cutting-edge in 1981. Luke also said they were thought to be the best handling domestic production car at the time–and he agrees.
Luke explained how these cars came with very specific decal packages, but the door decals were left in the trunk for dealers to install. Luke believes his car never had them on because there is no trace of letters in the original paint—he added them right after he bought the car
Luke is a twenty-something guy, so he’s used to the driving experience of 21st century cars. He said this car compares very favorably because it was designed for high performance—even within the limitations of 44-year-old technology.
In most cases, this T/A would typically be the property of a much older owner, but in this case it’s in the hands of the right owner.
Jerry Sutherland
By: Jerry Sutherland
Jerry Sutherland is a veteran automotive writer with a primary focus on the collector car hobby. His work has been published in many outlets and publications, including the National Post, Calgary Herald, Edmonton Journal, Ottawa Citizen, Montreal Gazette, Saskatoon StarPhoenix, Regina Leader-Post, Vancouver Sun and The Truth About Cars. He is also a regular contributor to Auto Roundup Publications.
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