The Lingenfelter 455 T/A Concept really is badass
by Alex Nunez on Oct 31st 2009 at 6:07PM 
Lingenfelter 455 T/A Concept - See more images at Car and Driver
Car and Driver is the first outlet to post real live photos of the SEMA-bound Lingenfelter 455 T/A Concept. By taking the looks of the '70 Trans Am and adapting them to the new Chevrolet Camaro, Lingenfelter has created something that will have you playing "What if.." scenarios regarding Pontiac over and over again in your heads. Imagine a world in which you could walk into a General Motors dealer and pick between this and the G8 GXP...
Anyway, snap out of it, because that ain't happenin'. We think what's likely to happen, if people go as batsh*t crazy over this creation at SEMA as we think they will, is that Lingenfelter will probably offer the package to customers. That's probably good, anyway, as we can't see GM spending the bucks to offer the 455 T/A's upgraded interior (yeah, it's premium vinyl, baby) and monstrously-upgraded engine. See, that 455 nomenclature's no joke. According to C/D, the 455 CID/7.5-liter V8 rocks an 11.5:1 compression ratio, ported and polished LS7 heads, a new intake and a forged crankshaft. The exhaust is by Corsa, the honeycomb wheels are custom jobs, and most importantly, the engine comes correct with 655 horses and 610 lb-ft. of torque. We'll have plenty more on this bad mofo next week from SEMA. In the meantime, head over to CarandDriver.com for more images.
[Source: Car and Driver via Camaro5 | Image: Patrick M. Hoey]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
TKOsoccer03 9:36PM (10/31/2009)
Why didn't they model it after a T/A that actually looked good? like the '77?
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Derek 8:44PM (10/31/2009)
Sorry, '70 is probably the best looking T/A, if not the best looking F-body ever. (not saying that I don't love Smokey and the Bandit too)
Unfortunately the 2nd gen inspired look doesn't mesh that well with a 1st gen inspired body. Something in the shape just doesn't go. The headlights are set far too deep in those recesses and the lines leading back from the lights don't flow like the original. Plus the taillights are just gawky looking.
TKOsoccer03 9:36PM (10/31/2009)
I will have to respectfully disagree. The 1970 T/A you speak of was modeled after the GTO. the designers were looking for a replacmnet.. something that could carry on the excitement and "wow factor" from the GTO, yet, they wanted to keep the overall look and feel. look at a 1970 GTO.. beautiful car! look at a 1970 T/A.. Essentially a goat with one less headlight on each side of the car. it's not a unique creation from GM in any regard, which is why the '70 is long forgotten by most people today. not saying it's not worthy. IMO, the '70 is one of the best muscle cars there was. however, it's not the T/A classic that lives on in the younger generations of today.
the 1977 T/A is something much more unique to the general and pontiac. when you say the word trans am, that is the one people think of for many reasons, but primarily because of the bandit. the 77 is the image and icon of the trans am that still lives on today. whether it was the best or not, it's hard to deny this to be true.
this is the look i would prefer to see. it is much more balanced and less "hoaky". the lines a crips and agree with the current muscle car era that has reemerged today.
http://media.motortopia.com/files/cars/album_2010_trans_am_prototypes/4935a922c3313/tn_full_zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzes1jpg_Thumbnail1.jpg
Craig 12:23AM (11/01/2009)
I agree with Derek. Earlier 2nd gens I find look more balanced - they fit the swoopy curves better.
I also don't understand why they didn't for for either of the first gen looks. I find 2nd gens best feature was it's greenhouse, which this doesn't have.
inline6 12:34AM (11/01/2009)
Well, the '77 T/A had the same basic front end as the '76 Sunbird. So your point about the '70 GTO is a little moot.
I happen to like the '70.5-'73 Trans Am nose.
This is, however, a bit of a mish-mash. But I think it works.
toronado455 1:12AM (11/01/2009)
This is all yucky and out of proportion.
The new Camaro is retro to 1st gen, not 2nd gen. No matter how much you like 2nd gen better, trying to graft a 2nd gen F body nose on a 1st gen design just doesn't work.
They should have just designed a really nice '67-'68 Firebird kit for this. Would have gone nice with the new Camaro.
Instead they've alienated both the 1st and 2nd gen fans with this thing. They blew it.
GOT 1:35AM (11/03/2009)
If they would use the front end from the Kevin Morgan design ( http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/12/confirmed-phoenix-trans-am-conversion-kit-coming-for-camaro/ ) this would rock! The front of this one looks bad and the rear of the Morgan-design (that is actually being for the kit) looks craptastic.
The Lingenfelter rear + the Morgan front = success.
robb 6:14PM (10/31/2009)
Don't like.
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MKIV 6:36PM (10/31/2009)
Is it me or are we loosing the creativity that we once had. Why on god's earth do we keep going back to 40 year old designs?
These cars were once classics and had a lot of character. Now most of the big guys are reviving the old designs. That's not saying much about the new car designers or the people making the final call.
Farmboy 7:34PM (10/31/2009)
So true, and the same could be said about the movie industry. Anyways, yeah, this car is kinda fail. It looks "assembled." Kinda looks like what some guy down the street would do, same quality job.
AZZO45b 8:46PM (10/31/2009)
MKIV: This is not an auto industry only phenomenon.
Why does Hollywood make multi-million dollar movie based on old TV shows?
Why do fashion designers contently recycle fashion trends from older eras?
Why are Oldies or Classic Rock music formats popular... many of the artist they play will never record NEW music.
I'm with you... I would prefer new design trends, I mean what will GM COPY for the 2040 Camaro??? 2010 model has copied 1969 era. Perhaps we will get an "updated" late 1980's Z28?. Wonder what a 1997 Camaro SS will look like in 2040?
Just like all the other media... GM needs a sure fire hit & people have proved they will buy retro or nostalgia design. Cool if your want to buy that... but I feel sorry for designers that have to repackage stuff designed before they were born (as opposed to being allowed to create the next look for the car).
Bobmarley 8:59AM (11/02/2009)
barf x2...it looks terrible. Those wheels, the grille, the headlights, the hood, the rear end...everything looks terribly integrated like a low budget Honda civic body kit (maybe a little better).... I'll take a factory SS over this
or one of these...
http://www.autoblog.com/gallery/phoenix-trans-am/#30
vespid82 6:17PM (10/31/2009)
ugly.jpg
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vespid82 6:18PM (10/31/2009)
Also, why the hell would they put the SECOND generation Firebird styling cues on a car that's a retro version of the FIRST generation?!
Taglane 7:22PM (10/31/2009)
My sentiments exactly... If anything, it should have been modeled after the first Gen Firebird. Now that was good looking. Or maybe they could have made a brand new design instead of resorting to this steaming pile of ugly.
AZZO45b 8:55PM (10/31/2009)
Well, the Camaro & Firebird's "1st Gen" was 1967-1968 models. Ask most GM old timers & they are confused why designers modeled the 2010 Camaro off the 1969 "hold-over". It was 1.5 Gen & a stop gap for the 1970 launch!!!
The 2nd Gen lasted from 1970 -1981 (12 sales seasons).
abba 6:17PM (10/31/2009)
Another plastic surgery operation gone wrong.
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eric.mcclanahan 6:19PM (10/31/2009)
i think i just threw up
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noodlz 6:23PM (10/31/2009)
I was gonna say, this isn't badass at all.
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timwang2006 10:57AM (11/01/2009)
Okay, the powertrain is at least a little sexy. I mean 455 CID and 655 horsepower? Thats good for some bragging rights.