JAY DELAIGLE's
1974 455 Trans am
Jay DeLaigle is a recent newcomer to the F.A.S.T. class. He owns this 1974 Admiralty Blue Trans Am with the Factory Off white Deluxe interior. It's power comes from the original equipment standard 455.Loaded with options, it is often mistaken for the SD-455.Actually many L-75 455 never got the attention and collectability of the SD and were overlooked. Since many saw the crusher Jay feels lucky to have hung on to his for over 20 yrs.
Jay has owned the Trans Am since May of 1985. He purchased the car during his senior year in high school Initially Jay used the 455 as a daily driver to college as well as work. Thru out the years, many bolt-on's were experimented with as well as chrome upgrades, but he knew there would be no end if he continued. The Factory look was a goal from this point on.
In 1991 the car was parked in favor of more reliable transportation. Life changes thru the 90's kept it in dry dock.It was kept in the basement of his first home until 2002.That year at the urging of his wife Nicole he began his restoration of the TA.
In October of 2002 a trip to Bristol,TN to the Year One Bristol Bash got his project in high gear. His introduction to the F.A.S.T. class at that event started a goal that would be realized 4 yrs later in Martin Michigan.
The Trans Am has seen many cruises as well as Friday night test and tunes at the local 1/4 mile strip. Jays TA looks as good as it goes. He has won several car show awards including:
- 2006 -Pontiacs In The Park HPP “Editors Choice Award”
- 2006- Best in Class World of Wheels / Chattanooga and Atlanta
- 2005- 2nd in Class Trans Am Nationals / Dayton, Oh.
Jay's car is not a striped down muscle car, weighing in at 4150 LB's it still sports factory air conditioning, power windows even a factory 8-Track. The Trans Am has run a best of 13.20 @108.90 in F.A.S.T. trim, pulling the original 3.08 gearing. With more gear planned soon, 12's are a realistic goal.
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