The Gearhead Street Customs...
The Gearhead Street Customs '10 T/A is a modern interpretation of the classic Smokey and the Bandit Trans Ams. We couldn't talk the owner into jumping a bridge or outrunning Sheriff Buford T. Justice, but we were able to test the car on the Gainesville Raceway Road Course to see if this 21st century Bandit performs as good as it looks-and believe us, it looks fantastic.
Ask any Pontiac hobbyist what is the most popular Trans Am in the history of the Firebird brand, and you'll likely hear a two-word answer: The Bandit. Thanks wholly to the Special Edition Trans Ams driven by Burt Reynolds in the 1977 movie, Smokey and the Bandit and the 1981 sequel Smokey and the Bandit II, it's nearly impossible to envision any-year Trans Am without the now-iconic imagery of sinister-black-paint with a healthy accent of gold-colored trim and an intimidating Shaker scoop jutting up through a Screaming-Chicken-adorned hood.
That's why when General Motors made the universally unpopular decision to retire the Pontiac brand and the T/A model along with it, some aftermarket car builders turned to the '77 Bandit for inspiration in transforming '10 Camaros into retro-inspired musclecars that Pontiac hobbyists could embrace.
High Performance Pontiac has already featured two '10 T/A concept cars, the first designed by ASC (American Sunroof Company) ("Trans Am of Tomorrow," Aug. '09) and the second, the Phoenix T/A, currently in production as the SCCA officially licensed '10 Trans Am, designed by Kevin Morgan, fabricated by Todd Otto, and manufactured by Trans Am Depot ("Phoenix Rising ... Again," Nov. '09).
Gearhead Street Customs (GSC) of Indianapolis, Indiana, is another company that designed, and is currently building and selling, its interpretation of the 2010 T/A. "Pontiac fans have always refused to drive Camaros and will always refuse to drive Camaros," Mike Sloan, the owner of Gearhead Street Customs, tells High Performance Pontiac. "That's why we've built a '10 T/A that holds true to its 'Bandit' roots."
In May 2010, GSC delivered one of its Fifth-Gen Birds to HPP at Gainesville Raceway in Gainesville, Florida. Our mission? Put the T/A through some real-world testing-see how it performs on the street, dragstrip, and road course, and document its braking capability.
Before we get to the test results, we're sure you want to know if the GSC '10 T/A looks as good as its rendering, which appeared in HPP's Tribal News (Aug. '10). Our first impression as it was backed out of its trailer was complete awe. One look and there's no doubt that this T/A hits a homerun for Pontiac fans with its '77-styled front end; modern, low-rise Shaker scoop; "6.2L Supercharged" engine callouts; one-piece, silkscreened Screaming Chicken hood decal; correctly proportioned front-fender air extractors; clean chevron-free rear quarter-panels; retro-styled tailpanel and taillights; and one-piece, wraparound rear-deck spoiler.
The interior lives up to the T/A's reputation, too, with its Katzkin two-tone, black-and-tan leather seatcovers embroidered with Firebirds, and an emblem on the steering wheel, all designed to give the car a Pontiac personality.
But that is just the beginning. This T/A isn't just a better-looking musclecar than the new Camaro. It's more powerful and has the potential for better handling, too. Though it retains the Camaro SS 426hp LS3 engine, TR6060 six-speed manual transmission, and 3.45 rear gears, that number has been increased to 546 hp with the optional Magnuson Magna Charger MP TVS 2300 air-to-water-intercooled emissions-legal supercharger (or you can order the T/A without it). [The horsepower rating is based on Magnuson's claims.] Also included are a KW Variant 1 non-adjustable coilover suspension system, Dynamic Mesh 22x9.5/22x10.5 wheels wrapped in Nexen Roadian HP 265/35R22 and 295/30R22 tires, and a Magnaflow axle-back exhaust system featuring smooth transition pipes and 14807 stainless-steel mufflers and tips. The latter exits through the sides of the rear bumper.
Driving Impressions
Before we went for our driving impressions on the streets in and around Tampa, Florida, GSC advised us: "You're not going to get a mile down the road without other drivers honking, waving, and shouting their approval."
With its '77 Trans Am-inspired...
With its '77 Trans Am-inspired nose, front fender air extractors, rear spoiler, and Screaming Chicken, this T/A says "eastbound and down" all over it. The only thing it's missing is Burt, Sally, and a CB radio.
The cabin is modified to differentiate...
The cabin is modified to differentiate it from the Camaro, including the purposeful exclusion of the Camaro 2SS step gauges. Though this early-production test-car has the stock Camaro speedometer and tach, Gearhead Street Customs says it's currently working on a Pontiac-specific speedo/tach package.
Have you ever seen a prettier...
Have you ever seen a prettier Shaker scoop since the last of the Second-Gen Trans Ams were new? The made-just-for-the-GSC '10 T/A Shaker scoop sits on top of a Magnuson Magna Charger supercharger, set at 6 psi. The rest of the engine is stock, with the addition of a high-volume fuel pump.