Clear up something in the original trans-am cars?

Not sure I'd agree with that uncompetitive statement. For the first year of a doomed program I think both teams did really well. I mean by 1970 ford had been at it casually in '66, and seriously since '67. And gm seriously since '67. even amc had a couple of years on the Mopar teams. Too bad support didn't continue at least one more year. Great reflections on that era in Bob Tarozzi's book, a must read for a Mopar fan!
I will stipulate that the mopars were fast..... when they weren't broke, Swede Savage in particular. If I remember right, it was an engine oiling problem that resulted in most of the DNF's.