1980 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Restomod

Description

This is not your average Trans Am. No, this 1980 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am has LS1 power, a vastly improved suspension, and a nasty look that makes the already flashy T/A look downright sinister. If you're tired of the Burt Reynolds jokes this car will put an end to it, because it's just plain sick.

In a sea of black Trans Ams, this great white shark of an F-body stands out in a big way. It's still mostly the way the factory intended, with the big Firebird decals and lots of details, but those black wheels give it an entirely new personality. The paint is a few years old and shows some wear, nothing major but it's obviously someone loved to drive this car, which is very easy to understand. The bodywork is extremely straight and suggests a car that has never been wrecked or damaged and never needed major surgery. It's not exactly subtle, but the black, gray, and red decals accentuate the white paint just perfectly, and while the tail still says "Turbo Trans Am," you'll note that the hood now calls out what's really living inside: LS1 T/A. That's pretty cool. Add in some blacked-out taillights, cool custom headlights, T-tops, and the sleek urethane nose and you get a car that looks predatory and fast just sitting still.

The stock two-tone interior is a dramatic look that one-ups the original in terms of functionality and style. Black cloth inserts in the bucket seats help grip you while you drive and the look is surprisingly elegant with the matching door panels and darker dash and console. Fitted with accessories such as power windows and a tilt column, it's a no-compromises cruiser that looks like a million bucks. For entertainment, you get an AM/FM/CD/iPod stereo heat unit that gives it a 21st century entertainment system, even though the original radio remains in the dash for a correct look. Nice! Pull the T-tops and have some fun, because this car was built to rock.

The 5.3 liter LS V8 under the hood is a great fit and thoroughly updates the Trans Am for the modern age. Considerably more powerful than even the turbo motor it replaces, the all-aluminum LS V8 is impeccably smooth and delivers that big whack of torque off the line that makes Trans Ams so much fun to drive. It's detailed nicely with a mostly OEM look, including Corvette coil covers and factory-style accessories with a serpentine belt drive. It's bolted to a 4L60E automatic transmission that's been built to live behind the LS motor, so it's always on its toes and far more responsive than the original unit. Out back, the original 10-bolt rear hangs on the original leaf springs and there's a custom Y-Pipe Flowmaster dual exhaust system that sounds great and lets the torquey V8 breathe easy. At all four corners you'll find 4-disc brakes, and those pricey 18-inch Foose wheels and 245/45/18 rubber, which is exactly the right look.

This is an extremely impressive car in every single possible way, particularly price. There's no way to duplicate this car at this price and if you're ready for a breath of fresh air in both the T/A and LS-swap world, this is it. Call today!