Lingenfelter Camaro-Based Trans-Am Concept For SEMA

[HoeyHimself]

I spent the day with the guys at Lingenfelter for an exclusive advanced preview of the retro-inspired 455 T/A concept that the company has prepared for SEMA. I watched as the crew completed final assembly of the car, and spent a few hours nosing around their other upcoming projects. A 750-hp Camaro and Lingenfelter ZR1 kept me company as I waited to shoot the T/A. I met Ken Lingenfelter, the "Sultan of Michigan," and had the opportunity to chat a while as the guys put the finishing touches on their latest creation. It was a great time, but I am exhaust..so here is a link to our piece on the car. What do you guys think?







Lingenfelter 445 T/A Concept - Car and Driver
Take one part 2010 Camaro and add some ’70s Trans-Am . . .
BY JAKE HOLMES, PHOTOGRAPHY BY PATRICK M. HOEY

Given Pontiac’s demise, it’s clear there won’t be any factory-baked Pontiac Trans-Am coming from General Motors. Enter the aftermarket, which has become suddenly eager to serve buyers wanting a new-school T/A. Indeed, joining the conversion kit offered by Phoenix is this Lingenfelter take on turning your brand-new Camaro SS into the modern Trans-Am of your dreams. The concept debuts in the metal at this year’s SEMA show in Las Vegas.

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[Slideways]

I know it's not styled like a '77, but part of me really wants to see it in black with a big screaming chicken on the hood. Anyway, back to the photos, I really like the blue interior, which is sort of a surprise. I can't wait to see it in person next week!

[Quixote88]

Wow... I really like this concept. I've seen a few Zeta Firebird mock ups over the past year, and this may be the one I've liked the most. It does have that early gen 2 Firebird look to it, without being a total retro clone. It's ironically similar to how the Camaro looks retro without being an exact copy of a gen 1 '69.
Did you get a feel of whether this would be something Lingenfelter will pursue for sure?
It would certainly be out of my price range... Like everything else that's "Lingenfelter," but it would be cool to see these out in the wild...

The photos are great, no surprise there. Thanks for the link!

[HoeyHimself]

Originally Posted by Quixote88

Did you get a feel of whether this would be something Lingenfelter will pursue for sure?

Surly they are looking to see how its received at SEMA, but there was a room that contained some other goodies that look Pontiac-ish which are still in early development. I saw a mock-up car that Ken told me was their next project. I was under the impression that it leans towards something like this T/A, rather then just a snazzed up appearance package to enhance the looks of a current car..but I couldn't see enough to really say anything more.

Originally Posted by Slideways

I know it's not styled like a '77, but part of me really wants to see it in black with a big screaming chicken on the hood. Anyway, back to the photos, I really like the blue interior, which is sort of a surprise. I can't wait to see it in person next week!

They nailed the interior. The color and texture..that vinyl-y shine..

[OLDSCHOOLGMFAN]

All of these Trans Am concepts got me thinking now that it would be good for the Detroit autobuilders to enter into some kind of agreement with these folks to bring back/keep alive old favorites like the T/As. Maybe GM/Ford/Chrysler supplies engines, trannies, chassis, and body, and the aftermarket folks do the rest. Then you buy it though a dealer, just like a regular new car? It could generate goodwill, and happy folks who can still get a kind of new Firebird will maybe reward GM with a new Malibu or Impala purchase come family car time.

[Neanderthal]

Originally Posted by OLDSCHOOLGMFAN

All of these Trans Am concepts got me thinking now that it would be good for the Detroit autobuilders to enter into some kind of agreement with these folks to bring back/keep alive old favorites like the T/As. Maybe GM/Ford/Chrysler supplies engines, trannies, chassis, and body, and the aftermarket folks do the rest. Then you buy it though a dealer, just like a regular new car? It could generate goodwill, and happy folks who can still get a kind of new Firebird will maybe reward GM with a new Malibu or Impala purchase come family car time.

I'll take a 1968 Firebird ohc 6 6-speed, or 400 (now probably a Firebird 325).

[OLDSCHOOLGMFAN]

Neanderthal, I'll take a 1981 Firebird Formula t-top with the new 400!

[Stéphane Dumas]

Originally Posted by HoeyHimself

They nailed the interior. The color and texture..that vinyl-y shine..

For the Screaming chicken with the 1970 front end, they could use the 1973 model who was the first year of the big screaming chicken as we knew and the last year of the 1970 front end style. http://www.dreams-cars.org/fiches-te...s-am-1973.html

Edit: a bit of trivia, Dodge also taught of using the Trans-Am moniker for the Challenger, but Pontiac menaged to get the rights from the SSCA first, so Dodge used the T/A moniker instead. (Just a weird thing come to my head, had the GM-Chrysler merger materialized, Dodge could had access to the rights of using the Trans-Am name )

[EJD1984]

Lingenfelter 455 T/A Concept - Auto Shows
Take one part 2010 Camaro and add some ’70s Trans-Am . . .
BY JAKE HOLMES, PHOTOGRAPHY BY PATRICK M. HOEY
October 2009

Given Pontiac’s demise, it’s clear there won’t be any factory-baked Pontiac Trans-Am coming from General Motors. Enter the aftermarket, which has become suddenly eager to serve buyers wanting a new-school T/A. Indeed, joining the conversion kit offered by Phoenix is this Lingenfelter take on turning your brand-new Camaro SS into the modern Trans-Am of your dreams. The concept debuts in the metal at this year’s SEMA show in Las Vegas.

Link to Article (w/pictures)

[chevyman1973]

Originally Posted by EJD1984

Link to Article (w/pictures)

I find it funny that they write up these cars in the mags and dont put price! So tell me what is the cost?

[Phoenix]

Sorry, but this is just an ugly front end that needs to stay in the 70's.

[rueben44]

Originally Posted by Phoenix

Sorry, but this is just an ugly front end that needs to stay in the 70's.

To be honest the design is not bad but the quality is horrible. You can see that they had issue trying to form it with aesthetical details and so it looks like some Chinese kit. I really don’t like it and I have been unimpressed with all the Camaro styling exercises. Want to make the car look hot just do like I said before and give it the three bars slit head lights done in LED. That’s all that the Camaro needs save a leather rapped interior.

[jzchev28]

i like it...however it could really use some more refinement

[PistonsFan]

That version of it is just FUGLY.

There are other trans-am conversions that look better...



Here is a gallery of various trans-am conversions...

http://www.autoblog.com/gallery/phoenix-trans-am/#30

The Camaro, looks 100 times better. But the T-top Phoenix does come with a little bit of nostalgia.

They need to arrange for a photoshoot with Burt Reynolds.

[Phoenix]

^^^^78 is the way to go.