Heide Performance Products joins the post-Pontiac Trans Am-conversion arena with its interpretation of the Fifth Gen/First Gen Trans Am, which it calls the HPP Concept TA. (No relation to High Performance Pontiac, which also uses the acronym HPP.)
The company was founded by Gordon Heidacker, son of Pontiac engineer Walter Heidacker, who worked directly for Pontiac's assistant engineer (later chief engineer) John Z. DeLorean from 1958-1962, was Pontiac's engine development engineer for valvetrain and power generation in the late '60s, and was instrumental in the design and development of the OHC-6 engine.
"When I was growing up, my dad brought home many Pontiac development test vehicles," Gordon tells HPP. "They made a huge impression on me. Though my company launched and became recognized for building retro-inspired Superbird and Daytonas on current-production Challengers, I felt compelled to continue the Trans Am/Firebird lineage and keep Pontiac alive in its spirit of the '60s-the rebel division of General Motors."
"We changed over 58 components from the Camaro to make it a Trans Am, including every body panel on the car (except the roof) and the glass," Gordon continues. "We created all the panels off of math data, as any OEM would, and all parts are hard-tooled for conversions. Also of note, the front and rear chrome bumpers are stamped-steel and triple-chrome-plated."
Heide Performance Products estimates the full package of interior and exterior upgrades at approximately $30,000 on top of the Camaro's cost, though pricing wasn't finalized as of this writing. Performance options will also be available at additional cost, including supercharging, suspension lowering kits, and exhaust tuning.
For more info, visit www.hppcars.com.