"Trans Am" is short for Trans American, a term used to describe a type of road racing series that was popular in the United States in the 1960s and 1970s. The Trans Am racing series was created by the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) in 1966, and it featured production-based cars that had been modified for racing. The series quickly became popular with fans, and it attracted the attention of car manufacturers who wanted to showcase their performance capabilities.
General Motors (GM) was one of the manufacturers that participated in the Trans Am racing series, and they used the platform to promote their performance-oriented Pontiac brand. In 1969, GM introduced the Pontiac Firebird Trans Am, a high-performance version of the Firebird that was named after the racing series. The Trans Am became a popular and iconic muscle car, and it was produced until 2002.