With the 840-hp Demon, you'd think Dodge would have the most powerful muscle car debut at the New York Auto Show. But you'd be wrong. Florida-based Trans Am Worldwide has revealed a wild project that combines GM Alpha underpinnings, 1970s Pontiac Firebird Trans Am looks, and 1,000 hp of supercharged V8 muscle. This is the Trans Am 455 Super Duty, and it's just the cure for anyone that still pines for throaty Pontiacs of old.
Having covered the new Spyder GT not long ago, Trans Am reminds us of an all-American muscle car version of Eagle. It restores classic Firebirds, builds restomods and offers its very own Trans Am creations. It started off as a small customs shop, before securing exclusive rights to the Trans Am brand and building a business creating modern-day reinterpretations. Demand quickly outpaced supply, and it grew into a full-blown production facility, offering limited edition models.
Trans Am revealed the Bandit Edition at last year's New York Auto Show and the entire run sold out, helped out by the fact that each one was signed by Burt Reynolds himself. The company's back at this year's show with a pair of all-new models, the headliner being the 1,000-hp Trans Am 455 Super Duty.
The Super Duty is built atop GM's Alpha platform, which serves as the basis for the current Camaro and Cadillac ATS and CTS models. With in-house chief designer/engineer Tom Sawyer and Swedish auto designer Bo Zolland at the helm, Trans Am turned those underpinnings into a modern-day Firebird Trans Am complete with hood graphic and accents all around. A mullet isn't required for purchase, but it'll definitely look more natural flurrying freely in the air streaming through an open window.
The Super Duty's Pontiac-inspired body is covered in carbon fiber, including a carbon shaker hood, front and rear fascias, fenders, deck lid and rear spoiler. The workup also includes a ground effects package.
True to the spirit of the muscle car, and the Trans Am SD-455 specifically, the Super Duty's real claim to fame is under its tattooed hood, where you'll find a big ol' 7.5-liter (455-cu in) version of GM's LT1 V8 engine, modified with help from a NASCAR engine builder. A 2.3-liter Magnuson supercharger blows on that engine, releasing the gates for the full 1,000-horse stampede. Torque tops out at 1,046 lb-ft.
Other Super Duty package standards include 1-in lowering springs, anti-roll bars, 20-in three-piece, 10-spoke wheels, and Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires. The interior includes a Super Duty shifter handle, "455" embroidered headrests on the leather seats, vintage-styled AC vents, Super Duty gauge cluster, and various other custom embroideries, paints and badges. A T-top and Brembo performance brakes are available as options.
Trans Am will offer just 50 examples of the 1,000-hp Super Duty, but for those that don't snag one, it'll also be selling the more humble 2017 Outlaw Edition Trans Am. This model still looks every bit the part of a Trans Am but comes powered by the standard 6.2-liter LT1 V8 engine with Magnuson supercharger for more down-to-earth, three-digit output numbers: 602 hp and 625 lb-ft. It includes 20-in snowflake-style wheels, Goodyear Eagle tires, lowering springs and anti-roll bars, and its own custom interior.
The Super Duty and Outlaw Edition are on display at the New York Auto Show, which runs through Sunday, April 23. For a look at the Bandit and other past Trans Am creations, check out the website link below the video.
Source: Trans Am Worldwide