How rare is a...........
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Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 35
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From: Charlotte, NC
Car: 85 Trans Am
Engine: 350: cam, aluminum heads, etc
Transmission: WC 5 speed
Axle/Gears: Dana 44, 373
How rare is a...........
How rare is a 83 Mecham MSE that was built on a 83 Daytona 500 pace car? Car is a 305, 5spd, t-tops, 4W disc brakes and only 57K orginal miles. Looking at it, I see it has the Mecham "Git Kit" already installed: Mallory ignition, Edelbrock intake, headers, y-pipe, etc.. This TA is in really good shape and I'm seriously considering on buying it. I've already called Mechem Design and waiting for a return call. Any info and help is appreciated.
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From: Fletcher, NC, USA
Car: 1982 Recaro T/A
Engine: LU5 CFI 305 V8
Transmission: TH-200C
Axle/Gears: 3.23 F-body Fanatic: Yes
Re: How rare is a...........
Originally posted by Howie
How rare is a 83 Mecham MSE that was built on a 83 Daytona 500 pace car?
How rare is a 83 Mecham MSE that was built on a 83 Daytona 500 pace car?

AN 83 MSE is rare since there were only 150, and an 83 Daytona is rare since there were only 2500, but as far as I know they never made any with both packages, since the 2 are vastly different.
Pictures would be interesting to see
GT
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Junior Member
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 35
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From: Charlotte, NC
Car: 85 Trans Am
Engine: 350: cam, aluminum heads, etc
Transmission: WC 5 speed
Axle/Gears: Dana 44, 373
I guess I'm lucky to be in Phoenix and be able to actually go and talk to Dennis Mecham. Anyways I gave him a call and he does recall the car and he said to just bring it by for him to look at. I'm going to get it and take it over there so he can authenticate it. If it turns to be a real MSE Daytona car, I'll be buying it!! If it all works out I'll post some pics after I purchase it. Thanks for the help!!
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,076
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From: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Car: 1982 Trans Am
Engine: LG4
Transmission: 200C
Axle/Gears: 3:73
Hey, nice find. If it is a MSE, I'd love to see it. It would be neat to have another MSE owner on the board. Heres my 82.
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Junior Member
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 35
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From: Charlotte, NC
Car: 85 Trans Am
Engine: 350: cam, aluminum heads, etc
Transmission: WC 5 speed
Axle/Gears: Dana 44, 373
Well I got the car this morning and took it over to Dennis Mecham so he could look at it. First off if anyone has not had the pleasure of meeting Dennis I highly suggest you do so if he's ever at a show you attend. A true class act and one of the nicest persons I've met!!
Back to the car, Dennis looked it over from top to bottom and bumper to bumper. He believes it's a real MSE and does remeber doing one of these Daytona cars. I has almost everthing required in the "Git Kit" except for it has Carter carb not a 600 Holley (but that's easy to replace). Everything else on the MSE kit appeared to be there except the sail panel decals are missing and the windshield banner has incorrectly placed. He said all I really need to do is get a DMV report and see if the car was originally sold from Mecham Pontiac in Glendale. So it's off to the DMV in the morning, that should be fun!! I'll posts some pics later, gotta shrink them down to post. If anyone wants some pics of this car just email me.
Back to the car, Dennis looked it over from top to bottom and bumper to bumper. He believes it's a real MSE and does remeber doing one of these Daytona cars. I has almost everthing required in the "Git Kit" except for it has Carter carb not a 600 Holley (but that's easy to replace). Everything else on the MSE kit appeared to be there except the sail panel decals are missing and the windshield banner has incorrectly placed. He said all I really need to do is get a DMV report and see if the car was originally sold from Mecham Pontiac in Glendale. So it's off to the DMV in the morning, that should be fun!! I'll posts some pics later, gotta shrink them down to post. If anyone wants some pics of this car just email me.
Last edited by Howie; Nov 12, 2002 at 03:12 PM.
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From: In the state of bliss
Car: 1984 Pontiac Firebird
Engine: 2.5L Iron Duke 4 cylinder
Transmission: 5 speed manual
Originally posted by Howie
If anyone wants some pics of this car just email me.
If anyone wants some pics of this car just email me.

Sounds like a pretty rare find. I would love to come across something like that someday.
Good luck with it. Oh, how much did you give for it?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 35
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From: Charlotte, NC
Car: 85 Trans Am
Engine: 350: cam, aluminum heads, etc
Transmission: WC 5 speed
Axle/Gears: Dana 44, 373
Ok I can't get these pics to posts can I email them to someone and you could post them for me?? Thanks!!!
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From: In the state of bliss
Car: 1984 Pontiac Firebird
Engine: 2.5L Iron Duke 4 cylinder
Transmission: 5 speed manual
That is in a whole lot better shape than I was expecting. Where did you pick that car up? Nice!!! :hail:
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 35
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From: Charlotte, NC
Car: 85 Trans Am
Engine: 350: cam, aluminum heads, etc
Transmission: WC 5 speed
Axle/Gears: Dana 44, 373
I'm still working on the price with the original owner, I figure we'll have something worked out today and I'll take delivery of it tonight. It's in really nice shape and just needs some very basic odds and ends (rear hatch struts, some electrical work, etc typical early 3rd gen stuff).
I totally forgot to take any pics of the engine. It does have everything on the engine that wouls have been included in MSE's "Git Kit" except for the carb, which I found out last night that the owner has in his garage. And yes it's a Holley 600!
I'll take some more pics once I own it and hopefully I can start meeting some of the 3rd gen owners in Phoenix!!
Thanks for posting the pics 92GTA!!
I totally forgot to take any pics of the engine. It does have everything on the engine that wouls have been included in MSE's "Git Kit" except for the carb, which I found out last night that the owner has in his garage. And yes it's a Holley 600!
I'll take some more pics once I own it and hopefully I can start meeting some of the 3rd gen owners in Phoenix!!
Thanks for posting the pics 92GTA!!
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iTrader: (1)
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 960
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From: Fletcher, NC, USA
Car: 1982 Recaro T/A
Engine: LU5 CFI 305 V8
Transmission: TH-200C
Axle/Gears: 3.23 F-body Fanatic: Yes
I guess I'm the only one here who doubts the originality of this car. Looks un-original to me. Looks like an MSE was parted out and all its parts pasted onto this car. Did anyone consider this possibility? There's no evidence they ever made any Daytona MSE's. MSE uses specific sail panel logos, not eagles. Those bumper logos on both ends look like upsized reprints of some MSE logos, which were never that big on the legit MSE's. What's up with the rear louvers? Were those available in 83? I can't remember. I'd still be skeptical if I saw the MSE serial number on the middle console. Do you have any pics of that or can you give us the number? That would be interesting.
Looks like a totally unique car though. I'd love to see that thing rolling down the street! good luck w/ it
:hail:
Edit: just saw your encounter w/ D.M. .. hmm, definitely an oddity. If it's real, it must be really rare, like maybe the only one ever.. damn. good luck
Looks like a totally unique car though. I'd love to see that thing rolling down the street! good luck w/ it
:hail:
Edit: just saw your encounter w/ D.M. .. hmm, definitely an oddity. If it's real, it must be really rare, like maybe the only one ever.. damn. good luck
Last edited by kizz; Nov 19, 2002 at 07:20 PM.
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From: In the state of bliss
Car: 1984 Pontiac Firebird
Engine: 2.5L Iron Duke 4 cylinder
Transmission: 5 speed manual
Legit or not, i think it is a very beautiful looking car. One that I would definitley go out of my way to get. 
Great find. Keep it nice.

Great find. Keep it nice.
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Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,300
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From: NJ,USA
Car: 1984 Trans Am
Engine: GMPP 350 V8
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23
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