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The nose of Brown's Trans Am features the single headlight/oval split grille theme, with a blue hood stripe and a subdued Firebird emblem. Later models came equipped with the larger bird graphics known as the "Screaming Chicken."

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Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle

Louie Brown's 1972 Pontiac Trans Am has covered more than 124,000 miles in its lifetime, but still looks remarkably fresh with original paint and graphics.

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Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle

Louie Brown

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Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle

Another minor add-on is the dash-mounted shift light used for drag racing duty.

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Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle

One of the few modifications to Brown's Trans Am is this Hurst Quarter Stick shifter mounted atop the Turbo 400 automatic transmission. Note the factory-installed, still-working 8-track tape player.

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Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle

Trans Am drivers were treated to an engine-turned dash insert, a 160 mph speedometer and a flat 3-spoke steering wheel. The whole setup shouted "performance car."

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Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle

The interior remains essentially factory-stock; the front bucket seats have been reupholstered in original pattern material.

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Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle

Fender vents and a low-key Trans Am logo are other trademark touches that set the car off from garden variety Firebirds.

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Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle

Fender flairs tuck in behind the factory 5-spoke wheels mounting BFG/TA rubber; the rears are wider factory-style rims outfitted with Mickey Thompson cheater slicks.

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Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle

The rear deck is set off by a full-width spoiler that accents the Trans Am's smooth lines. Note the vanity plate, a dead giveaway for those who know Pontiac muscle cars.

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Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle

The 455-cubic-inch big block V-8 was beefed up by RPM Motorsports, which added a roller cam and high-compression aluminum heads to the setup, to provide some added oomph for occasional blasts down the drag strip.

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Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle

The iconic "shaker hood scoop" advertises what lies below, a 455-cubic-inch, high output Pontiac V-8.

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Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle