Racing a 700 HP Trans Am in Reverse

Roger Bolliger, a name synonymous with racing prowess, embarked on his racing journey in 1991. Over the years, his skills have been sharpened, primarily behind the wheel of a machine that’s nothing short of legendary.

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The tale of this racing marvel traces its roots back to 1970, spotlighting Jerry Titus, the celebrated “Mr. Trans Am”. Titus, famed for his exploits in a 1968 Firebird, was in the process of creating a masterpiece—a 1970 Trans Am with a custom wide body and distinct side pipes, adorned in a striking White and Blue livery, wearing the number 8. This very car, which left an indelible mark on the racing world, inspired Bolliger to model his own 1970 Trans Am after Titus’s iconic design.

Bolliger’s journey started with an authentic 1971 455 H.O. Trans Am, acquired in Switzerland, which he meticulously transformed into a tribute to Titus’s creation. However, Bolliger’s version boasts something Titus’s didn’t—a monstrous power output. Thanks to Butler Performance in Leoma, Tennessee, Bolliger’s Trans Am is powered by an all-aluminum Pontiac engine, delivering a staggering 700 horsepower and 670 ft-lbs of torque. A Jerico GF4/4 transmission handles the power distribution to a Ford 9-inch rear end, while the car grips the road with 13-inch wide front and 14-inch wide rear tires.

Bolliger has put this beast through its paces in competitions like the Hillclimb Reitnau, Histo Cup Austria, and One Lap of America. A particular highlight is a video of him racing at Germany’s Hockenheimring, showcasing some initial challenges but ultimately demonstrating the car’s unmatched dominance on the track after ironing out early issues. This experience not only pays homage to a racing icon but also cements Bolliger’s place as a master of the track.

Shawn Henry

Administrator

Shawn Henry has spent years writing about cars, and it shows—not in a resume kind of way, but in how he talks about them. He's the type who'll notice the weird trim option nobody remembers and actually know why it mattered. At Backfire News, he covers pretty much the whole spectrum: off-road trucks and trail builds, performance cars, racing, and the collector market. He's comfortable getting into the technical weeds, but he never forgets that most people read about cars because cars are fun, not because they want a spec sheet. His beat runs from classic and collector vehicles to overlanding culture, modified performance builds, new automotive tech, and the industry news that actually affects what ends up in your driveway. Mostly, though, Shawn thinks the best car stories are about people—the builds they pour money into, the road trips, the communities that form around a shared obsession. That's the stuff he likes writing about, and it's what you'll find in his work here.

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