Slideshow: This '73 Trans Am Captures the Essence of Pontiac

If they made a new Firebird, this is what it should be like!

By AJ Mawley - June 4, 2018
This '73 Trans Am Captures the Essence of Pontiac
This '73 Trans Am Captures the Essence of Pontiac
This '73 Trans Am Captures the Essence of Pontiac
This '73 Trans Am Captures the Essence of Pontiac
This '73 Trans Am Captures the Essence of Pontiac
This '73 Trans Am Captures the Essence of Pontiac

The Perfect Pontiac..

Nostalgia is often the root of a classic car build and this '73 Pontiac Trans Am is no exception! Sometimes a simple memory of a neighbor's "cool" ride that you dreamed about or a family member's prized possession is enough to spark your very own pro-touring style build! 

Sriyantha Weerasuria (SW) says that memories of the Trans Am he owned during high school bring him back to a simpler time in his life when responsibilities were limited. As the owner of a highly successful Exotic Vehicle Dealership, SW was in the position to build his perfect Trans Am. SW started with a '73 Trans Am with factory Brewster Green paint (1 of 143 ever). The car was immediately sent over to Detroit Speed to undergo a massive transformation! Read on to find out what makes this Trans Am the ultimate Pontiac! 

427ci of Modern Power

At the heart of every Detroit Speed build is a furious modern powertrain. This '73 Trans Am was fitted with a 427ci built by Mast Motorsports. Diamond forged pistons, H-beam rods, and a Callies forged crank allow this motor to handle silly four-digit power levels if the owner pleases. Mast CNC'd LS7 heads and a hydraulic roller crankshaft all this motor to produce a rock solid 675 horsepower at 6,800 rpm and 561 lb-ft of torque at 5,200 rpm. Custom 2" primary headers and 3" Borla mufflers route the plumes of exhaust gases out the beast! 

An engaging Tremec TR6060 and top-of-the-line Detroit Speed 9" rear end complete the driveline making the entire combo bulletproof! 

>>Join the conversation about this 1973 Trans Am Firebird right here.

Detroit Speed to the rescue!

If you are familiar with Detroit Speed's builds, then you know they go all out when it comes to suspension! Detroit Speed’s QUADRAlink 4-link setup with adjustable JRi coil-over shocks suspend the car and greatly improve its potential over the stock setup. Weld-in subframe connections and floor modifications allow the chassis to run larger wheel tubs to accommodate massive rubber.

The front suspension is all-new with Detroit Speed’s proprietary Hydroformed Subframe system. The entire suspension setup allows the Trans Am to have modern handling characteristics that match the ground-stomping LS7's capabilities.  

>>Join the conversation about this 1973 Trans Am Firebird right here.

The ultimate in brakes and wheel technology for the ultimate Pontiac!

The eye-catching custom forged Fikse Profil 10 billet in 19×12.5 wrapped in 345/30/19 Nitto Invo tires provide an unmistakably sinister stance in the rear. The front Fikse 18×10.5's are wrapped in 295/35/18 Nitto Invo tires to help complete the steamroller look that will prove to be extremely effective at any road course at an autocross event. The overall look is a homage to the stock Trans Am wheels with a modern twist! The massive 6-pot Baer brakes hide behind the wheel and provide supercar-like performance!  

>>Join the conversation about this 1973 Trans Am Firebird right here.

Stock Interior sneakily modernized!

Sometimes less in more, especially when it comes to pro-touring interiors! The stock-style steering wheel and dash bezel provide a much-welcomed throwback to some of the most iconic design cues of the 1970's. The custom leather-wrapped DSE seats and Vintage Air system introduce a level of comfort unavailable when the car was new. Lastly, a custom sound system with an Alpine Head Unit and JL audio speakers completes the interior!  

>>Join the conversation about this 1973 Trans Am Firebird right here.

A stance that rivals any pro-touring build!

SW's 1973 Trans Am is perfectly described by the saying that "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts." By a very careful selection of period-correct parts and modern components, Detroit Speed was able to construct the Ultimate Pontiac!  

>>Join the conversation about this 1973 Trans Am Firebird right here.

For help with your maintenance and repair projects, please visit our how-to section in the forum.

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