We talked about the desing in a previous thread, well here's the 1st production and rebirth of an aftermarket job that brings the beloved Trans-Am back to life:
Meet the Lingenfelter 455 T/A
(http://www.caranddriver.com/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/news/car/09q4/lingenfelter_455_t_a_concept-auto_shows/gallery/lingenfelter_455_t_2fa_concept_photo_3/2963444-1-eng-US/lingenfelter_455_t_a_concept_11_cd_gallery.jpg)
(http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/12/2009/11/500x_lingenfelter_455_t_a_concept_7_cd_gallery.jpg)
(http://www.caranddriver.com/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/news/car/09q4/lingenfelter_455_t_a_concept-auto_shows/gallery/lingenfelter_455_t_2fa_concept_photo_11/2963556-1-eng-US/lingenfelter_455_t_a_concept_19_cd_gallery.jpg)
(http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/12/2009/11/500x_lingenfelter_455_t_a_concept_22_cd_gallery.jpg)
All I can say is - I LIKE IT!!! 8)
Where can I get one?!!
[clap] [clap] [clap] [clap] [bacon] [bacon] [bacon] [bacon]
Waaaaaaaay better looking than the new Camaro.
Very nice design execution with this platform!
I'd totally hit that and call her back the next day
and most importantly, the engine comes correct with 655 horses and 610 lb-ft. of torque.
That came off the AutoBlog web page.
Good grief, that's a lot of power.
LA
I was just thinking it would be truer to the 70.5-74 design if the rear quarter glass was ditched.
I was just excited to see custom work being done to bring back the TA - my first car was a 79 and I loved it!
Mmmmmmmmmm Shaker. [thumbsup]
Yeah! and sadness at the same time.
Pontiac is no more after 2010 so this is a one-year only bad boy.
Styling? A touch over-done in my opinion but LIGHT-YEARS better than that damned Camaro. [roll] WTF was Chevy thinking with that ass-end...
Quote from: Duck-Stew on November 02, 2009, 10:05:19 AM
Yeah! and sadness at the same time.
Pontiac is no more after 2010 so this is a one-year only bad boy.
Well, this will be around for longer than one year as it's not built by Pontiac - it a conversion option offered through a different company from a Camaro base.
Mmmmmm. Lingenfelter. 8)
They do naughty things to Corvettes, too. [evil] [thumbsup]
Quote from: alfisti on November 02, 2009, 09:34:47 AM
[clap] [clap] [clap] [clap] [bacon] [bacon] [bacon] [bacon]
Waaaaaaaay better looking than the new Camaro.
Hell yes. [thumbsup]
The new Camaro does nothing for me, especially the rear view.
This on the other hand....
I thought I would like it when I heard of the concept - I am disappointed with the end result. To me the Camaro and Firebird both look like toys. Life-sized matchbox cars. The honeycomb wheels in particular don't work for me in 20"+ proportions.
Like it, other than the wheels. I understand what they were tring to do, but yeah, I don't think it works...
Quote from: Monster Dave on November 02, 2009, 09:14:02 AM
(http://www.caranddriver.com/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/news/car/09q4/lingenfelter_455_t_a_concept-auto_shows/gallery/lingenfelter_455_t_2fa_concept_photo_11/2963556-1-eng-US/lingenfelter_455_t_a_concept_19_cd_gallery.jpg)
(http://www.rayskillmanclassics.com/images/cars/1971%20PONTIAC%20TRANS%20AM%20WHITE%20WITH%20BLUE%20STRIPES%20R320%20007.jpg)
I have to say that I think they did a really nice job of matching the origional 1971 TA. The honey comb wheels were a must given the year of the car - why do it in the make of the original if not to do it accurately?
Toys? Sure but all cars can look like toys, I have a box of 300 Matchbox cars from my childhood that look just like the cars of that era! Owning one of these would be a "toy" in my garage anyway!!!
looks like a reworked camaro? is it? i haven't heard bout this project yet..
Quote from: Monster Dave on November 04, 2009, 05:11:42 AM
(http://www.caranddriver.com/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/news/car/09q4/lingenfelter_455_t_a_concept-auto_shows/gallery/lingenfelter_455_t_2fa_concept_photo_11/2963556-1-eng-US/lingenfelter_455_t_a_concept_19_cd_gallery.jpg)
(http://www.rayskillmanclassics.com/images/cars/1971%20PONTIAC%20TRANS%20AM%20WHITE%20WITH%20BLUE%20STRIPES%20R320%20007.jpg)
I have to say that I think they did a really nice job of matching the origional 1971 TA. The honey comb wheels were a must given the year of the car - why do it in the make of the original if not to do it accurately?
Toys? Sure but all cars can look like toys, I have a box of 300 Matchbox cars from my childhood that look just like the cars of that era! Owning one of these would be a "toy" in my garage anyway!!!
Great comparison pics!
I agree -- looking at this '71 TA, I think Lingenfelter did a nice job on their modern TA. IMO, this wouldn't be a far fetched GM concept, if the Pontiac division were still in existence. :'(
Full disclosure: My first car was a 1987 Firebird Formula. Pontiacs will always hold a place in my automotive heart. ;D
it looks awesome!!!!!
Quote from: bluemoco on November 04, 2009, 05:44:27 AM
Great comparison pics!
I agree -- looking at this '71 TA, I think Lingenfelter did a nice job on their modern TA. IMO, this wouldn't be a far fetched GM concept, if the Pontiac division were still in existence. :'(
Full disclosure: My first car was a 1987 Firebird Formula. Pontiacs will always hold a place in my automotive heart. ;D
Thanks! I agree too - it's sad to think that the only way to get one is to have it done by Lingenfelter. My first ride was a '79 Trans-Am, so I can totally relate to the special place that Pontiac holds in your heart - after all they're Pontiac where "We Build Excitement" used to be a very true statement.
Looks like I'm in the minority here.
It's ugly, it looks like a cartoon of a plastic tupperware/rubbermaid car. Proportions suck, cheap looking front, a characture of the original penned by a sixth grader. [puke]
Camaro is a far better looking car. In that it actually looks like a real car.
Alright, well maybe "toy" does not describe it. There is something about it that is not believable as a car design to me. Or, it looks like the proportions were taken directly from the concept drawing, like taking a Chip Foose paper design and making it look *exactly* like that. I like form to follow function - this car looks like they designed the whole thing from the sheetmetal in.
I love the original by the way. In fact, I would rather have a late 70s Firebird than a modern one.
Quote from: Scottish on November 04, 2009, 07:13:40 AM
Looks like I'm in the minority here.
It's ugly, it looks like a cartoon of a plastic tupperware/rubbermaid car. Proportions suck, cheap looking front, a characture of the original penned by a sixth grader. [puke]
Camaro is a far better looking car. In that it actually looks like a real car.
For comparison:
(http://www.carsearch.com/photos/783805.jpeg)
(http://www.autoguide.com/gallery/gallery.php/d/106750-4/IMG_8818.JPG)
(http://image.chevyhiperformance.com/f/15300200/0905chp_10_z+1967_chevy_camaro+front_view.jpg)
(http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/vehicle-pictures/2009/chevrolet/camaro/10123251990001-480.jpg)
Just from a comparison to the accuracy of work done on both models, the TA is more accurate to the design than to what was recreated to the Camaro's lineage. Some of what you say I understand as if feeds directly from the Chevy vs. Pontiac lovers - but as it has nearly always been - it still remains true even in the reborn TA that they are nearly the same car with different stying cues. Both reiterations could use some stying adjustments, neither is "perfect", but is any car ever really 100% perfect to everyone?
For the record, my favorite year TA is a 1968 convertible:
(http://www.redlinespoilers.com/images/1968firebird750.jpg)
I like that '68 convert - I almost got one of those instead of the 1987 model I mentioned earlier.
A note about your Camaro comparison: I think today's Camaro shares more styling cues with the '69 model, rather than the '67.
(http://www.collectormotors.com/carsoldpix/1969CamaroSS.jpg)
(http://www.coolgizmotoys.com/.a/6a00e550df20b1883401156fc450fa970c-pi)
Don't get me wrong the old T/A's were cool as hell. The new one looks like plastic. The new Camaro at least appears road worthy. The new T/A looks like a cheap Walmart RC car with big bling wheels thrown on to appeal to a generation raised on crappy hip-hop and sports stars with a mouth full of metal.
Quote from: Monster Dave on November 04, 2009, 07:34:47 AM
For the record, my favorite year TA is a 1968 convertible:
Except they didn't make a Trans Am until 1969. [cheeky]
Until the recent plan for its demise, Pontiac was the only GM brand making anything I'd actually consider buying....
Quote from: Speedbag on November 04, 2009, 08:28:08 AM
Except they didn't make a Trans Am until 1969. [cheeky]
Until the recent plan for its demise, Pontiac was the only GM brand making anything I'd actually consider buying....
I meant Firebird - thanks! [cheeky]
Check out this Bandit Edition with era correct body work:
(http://cache-05.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/12/2009/11/500x_Bandit-Trans-Am-07.jpg)
Bandit edition is much better looking. [thumbsup]
Though you'd like that. [thumbsup]
I liked the nose on the recreation better than the original (White car). the only thing they don't have going in their favor is that the original car had 2nd gen bodywork and the "New Car" that they had to start with imitates the 1st gen body. Yes the 69 version which I never really cared for. But over all Considering what they had to work with i think they did a real good job. especially the way they toned down the Pinocchio nose on the front.