Lingenfelter Performance Engineering, a name that should really need no introduction to serious American hot rod enthusiasts out there, will be bringing a version of the latest Trans Am to this year’s upcoming SEMA show. It’s got all of the Trans Am goodies you remember:
Duck-tail spoiler, fender vents, twin-port front grille, raised white-letter tires, a 445 cubic inch V8, honeycomb wheels and that hideous screaming chicken hood decal.
Wait a second, the Trans Am was a Pontiac, and Pontiac is now, officially, sadly, dead, you say. Indeed you are right, but that’s didn’t stop Lingenfelter, now did it?
Now, for those of you that don’t know, or are too young to remember, the Firebird Trans Am was Pontiac’s version of the Chevy Camaro Z28, the hottest option you could get. And as is GMs want, under the sheet metal, the difference between the Firebird and the Camaro was essentially zilch.
Hence, even though Pontiac is now history, the new Camaro is very much alive and kicking. So turning the latest Camaro into a “new” Firebird Trans Am would be a snap for an out fit like Lingenfelter Performance Engineering.
Built up on a current Camaro body, the Lingenfelter 455 TA features a GM LS-based, aluminum-block V8 plant under the hood that cranks out a healthy 655-horsepower. It sports 11.5:1 compression ratio and has ported and polished LS7 heads (better fill it up with premium, huh?). The clutch is a version of the Corvette ZR1′s twin-disc flywheel/clutch deal, and the wheels are custom 20-inch honeycombs wrapped with Nitto tires.
The 455 TA will roll out at the SEMA show in early November is inspired by the second-generation 1971 Pontiac Trans-Am with the huge 455 engine.
The only word on the insides is that Lingenfelter guarantees a “custom classic interior” to match the exterior style. Yeah, this is just a one off, but Lingenfelter says, they will be gauging whether there’s enough interest to build a run of customer cars.
Source: Inside Line
Freakin amazing! If GM would have done this insted of the 04 – 06 gto, Pontiac would still be alive. This is one of the best looking vehicles I’ve seen in decades.