ASC recreates Trans-Am with 2010 Chevrolet Camaro
ASC Pontiac Trans-Am – Click above for high-res image gallery
Pontiac is on its way out just as the new 2010 Chevy Camaro has arrived. Had this been a decade or two earlier, the Camaro would most certainly be accompanied by an equally sick Pontiac version, namely the Trans-Am. But even before it was decided to put the final nail in Pontiac's coffin, General Motors had no intention of developing a new Trans-Am based off the Camaro. Well, someone should, and someone did. Enter ASC, otherwise known as American Specialty Cars, the sub-contractor responsible for building many of the convertibles you see on the road today like the Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder and Toyota Camry Solara Convertible. ASC also has experience building whole specialty cars for manufacturers, having been the building force behind such machines as the Chevy SSR, GMC Syclone/Typhoon and even the unforgettable Buick GNX.
Now, according to DUB, ASC will take your 2010 Camaro and transform it into a modern-day Trans-Am. We don't have too many details except for these few renderings, but the Pontiac-ification of the Camaro looks great from the front and we dig the duck tail spoiler. The air inlets behind the doors are a little much and for all we know are non-functional, but the overall treatment evokes Pontiac's past in much the same way that Chevy's new muscle car draws inspiration from past Camaros without copying them outright. We've got a request in to ASC for more information, so we'll wait and see if the Trans-Cam is the real deal.
Gallery: ASC Pontiac Trans-Am
[Source: DUB]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
tommy 2:32PM (5/07/2009)
Too bad it can never be built..
Reply
Ed 2:36PM (5/07/2009)
Looks too much like a Mustang.
Reply
zamafir 2:49PM (5/07/2009)
Agreed, not much trans-am in it.
Not that it matters, can't drive the camaro with the recall, at least according to a local dealer. Maybe they'll pick it up on a flat bed and by the time it's done the new bits will be out to fix the battery cable?
Polly Prissy Pants 3:43PM (5/07/2009)
The problem is they modelled it on the 73 instead of a 69 (at least that's what it looks like to me). Good idea, just a little bit off on the execution.
bmw4dea 6:47PM (5/07/2009)
really? to me, that rear end SCREAMS trans-am.
I like it a lot.
Mike M 2:37PM (5/07/2009)
While the rear end isn't too bad, the front is just HIDEOUS. What were they thinking with those tumor-esque lights and grille?
Reply
Xa 2:39PM (5/07/2009)
take a look back into 60/70's pontiac styling and the answer may come to you.
Francis 2:55PM (5/07/2009)
You uhh... don't know much about the 1969 & 70-73 Trans-Am then. Pitty.
tekd 4:03PM (5/07/2009)
I gotta agree with Mike here. Yes the old Trans Ams had the huge kidney beans up front, but if you're trying to do a modern retro design you have to make it work. And it just looks out of place on this thing.
And while the 69 Trans Am had the huge kidney bean grille it didn't look cheesy on it, the grille on this is going to remind people more of bad 90's Pontiacs than any classic cars. I suppose if you only want to sell to people who were huge fans of old school Trans Ams that would be OK but it definitely lacks mass market appeal.
jalopyjunky 2:38PM (5/07/2009)
Dave, you are my hero for this.
Reply
Hamhock 2:42PM (5/07/2009)
It's a shame...based on the 4 year gestation period for the Holden rebody that became the Camaro I guess we could have expected a Firebird for 2014...but alas, Pontiac is dead...couldn't have anything to do with GM going 7 years between redesigns when the industry standard is now 4... could it?
Reply
inline6 2:58PM (5/07/2009)
2009 - 2006 = 3 years, which is average for the industry...especially since it's a "rebody" (actually, only a few under-the-skin bits carry over) of a platform that was also IN DEVELOPMENT at the time.
Oh, and care to name a model or two today that lasts only 4 seasons on a platform?
There aren't any.
So get your facts straight. Until then, sit down and shut up.
letstakeawalk 4:37PM (5/07/2009)
Everybody, just forget hamhock. He's been peddling this "4 years to rebody a Holden" garbage for a while now - only to be corrected every single time about his error (thanks for the yeoman duty, inline6).
Hamhock is a retarded troll who couldn't understand automotive development cycles if it we explained them a thousand times - stop wasting time on his bait.
STFU Hamhock, and that's not something I say lightly.
john 2:44PM (5/07/2009)
oh my god help us...
Reply
jv2k 2:42PM (5/07/2009)
Looks terrible. Too blocky and clunky looking.
Reply
Rev 7:37PM (5/07/2009)
+1
A shame Chevy didn't release the new Camaro 10+ years ago.
John Johnson 2:43PM (5/07/2009)
Where's my love for sending this tip in this morning? ;)
Reply
De 2:44PM (5/07/2009)
I'll just take a regular Camaro with that color scheme, thanks.
Reply
havoc 2:46PM (5/07/2009)
i quite like it
maybe needs a few tweaks but i like it.
Reply
StanleyVanBuren 2:48PM (5/07/2009)
bring on the mullets
Reply