Well some people have asked where the
Screamin’ Chicken Chasers name comes from so here is the story…
What's in a Name?
Here is my personal connection to Trans-Am…The year I was born, 1973, also marked the appearance of the large "screaming chicken" hood graphic, which nearly covered the entire hood. I actually owned a ’73 T/A for about a week, when I was 17, but my Dad would not let me keep it because the guy could not produce a clear title to it, so I have been I have been “chasing” one every since, hence the name Screamin’ Chicken Chasers. I soon replaced it with a ’76 T/A and licked my wounds, but I have often thought about that Red ’73, which as you know was 1 of 4,802 due to the 1972 GM strike. I have always felt I was born in the wrong decade...too late that is.
And yes, “Smokey and the Bandit” did it for me too! I was 6 when my parents brought me to see it. My best friend and I made a promise to each other that I would by the car and he would buy the rig before we graduated. We were in the first grade mind you, but as promised I bought and drove a T/A my senior year. It was a factory silver ’76 T/A that was white when I bought it and I quickly painted into an S.E. decals and all. Those were the days! I am still waiting on him to buy the rig.
I have been very blessed and fortunate on my life to own several Muscle Cars, multiple Trans-Ams, a GTO, a LeMans, multiple Chevelles and Camaros, countless other cars, as well as, several nice trucks. Like the one I have now for instance. I am about to post some pics and I will email you some. It is a 1986 GMC that is a nice machine (lowered with a fresh 350 and paint, new tires and rims, with a functional cowl induction hood). I have always had a list in my head of what I wanted to drive and I go and find it. Now there is always going to be those “unicorns”…lol…but that is what keeps you dreaming.
There is an even deeper connection to Pontiacs. My Dad sold his ’68 GTO just days before I was born. I always felt bad about that, so I built him one. One Christmas I handed him the keys to a ’68 GTO that I had bought, fixed, and had to hide during the entire restoration process. Once I gave it to him I decided after hearing countless stories growing up about how fast his GTO I had to show Pop what fast really was, so I added a 455 Super Duty under the hood with a little over 500 horses and bingo, Pop discovered what fast really was. When it was done at the muffler shop where it was outfitted with full 3” exhaust and 3” two chamber Flow Masters, he drove it home and got sideways on the road.
Now I get to share a Pontiac build with my son. Ah, how I love traditions.
Hope you enjoyed the story!
Thanks,
Hooper
