Bat Auction Success Story: Dvredc5 Finds His Trans Am At The Mall

This Success Story comes to us from Dvredc5, who won this modified 2001 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am WS6 from Flexfitness16 in a November 2025 BaT auction:

I’ve been a BaT member for a couple of years now and have enjoyed every moment of it. I had been seeking an ’80s IROC-Z similar to one I bought new in 1986 and sold in 1990 to help fund my new business. There were very few examples out there, and I never found the right car.

So I opened my mind to a newer-generation Pontiac Trans Am. I also decided I would likely modify whatever I purchased for increased performance, and I was open to finding a very clean, lower-mileage example even if it was already modified. I own several newer performance cars, which I enjoy very much, but I missed the “old school” performance camshaft sound. The hunt for the right car continued until I won my first BaT auction: this modified 2001 Pontiac WS6 Trans Am.

I drove to Middlesboro, Kentucky, where I picked up the car with our trailer. We live in northern Illinois, so hauling the car back was the only viable option. The original owner performed all the modifications but passed away before sorting out the car. The current owner was a very enthusiastic collector, and I really enjoyed meeting and hearing his life story, including how he came to own this car and why he was selling it. I’ve never seen, much less picked up, a vehicle from inside a shopping mall, where he has his business and keeps several cars from his collection! What an experience, to say the least.

Unfortunately, it was still winter when I got it home, and I haven’t driven the Trans Am or gotten it to a local performance shop to go through it, dyno it, check the tune, and ensure all the suspension pieces were set up properly. That will wait for after the rains clean the salt off the roads. I cleaned up the car, and it’s parked on one of our lifts, waiting for better weather, which can’t come soon enough! I never could have had an experience like this if it weren’t for BaT. What a great service and community. Thank you, BaT!

If you have a Success Story about a car you’ve bought or sold on BaT, please send a few lines and pictures (or a video) to community.content@bringatrailer.com, and we’ll send you a $50 credit to the BaT Gear Store when your story posts to the site.

We love to hear from satisfied BaT buyers and sellers, and a Success Story feature is a great addition to any car’s history when you’re ready to sell.