This '81 Trans Am is The Result of $300,000 Custom Build
With just 2,200 miles on the clock since a $300,000 build, this Trans Am won't hang around for too long at auction.
Pricy Build
There's no denying that this 1981 Pontiac Turbo Trans Am is something special, but you might not guess an estimated $300,000 has been poured into it. This resto-mod was professionally built by Schwartz Performance in Woodstock, Illinois. Now, it's up for auction.
Photos courtesy of Mecum.
Powertrain
In terms of power, this car is an atomic bomb in a world of peashooters. Under the hood sits a twin-turbo 6.9 liter LS9 unit with dry stump lubrication which pumps out a colossal 1,300 horsepower. All of this power is sent through a Bowler built 4L80E automatic transmission that's paired with a custom driveshaft.
Photos courtesy of Mecum.
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Accolades
Dubbed the "Full Force Trans Am", this car has a few claims to fame. Arguably, its most prestigious accolade was being voted Muscle Car of the Year by Popular Hot Rodding in 2013.
Photos courtesy of Mecum.
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Performance Parts
Getting an engine to pump out 1,300 horsepower isn't easy. This Trans Am was fitted with aluminum 4-inch intakes with Spectre filters as well as a Schwartz billet serpentine drive system. Keeping the temperature down is a Be Cool aluminum radiator with dual SPAL fans and a custom shroud.
Photos courtesy of Mecum.
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Handling
This car should be just as much fun around bends as it is in a straight line thanks to a custom Schwartz Performance G-Machine bolt-in full-length frame. There are also RideTech triple-adjustable coilovers over each of the four wheels.
Photos courtesy of Mecum.
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The Rear
There's plenty going on at the rear of this custom build to keep any motorhead entertained. Laying all 1,300 ponies down is a Winters aluminum rear end with Moser full-floating hubs and axles and Wavetrac 3.70 gears. Helping the car breathe is a stainless 3-inch exhaust with custom Schwartz manifolds.
Photos courtesy of Mecum.
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Brakes
With great power comes great responsibility: thankfully, that was taken into consideration when completing this build. Bringing everything to a brisk halt are Baer Extreme-Plus disc brakes with 14-inch cross-drilled rotors and 6-piston calipers at the front and rear.
Photos courtesy of Mecum.
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Style
No stylistic feature on this car illudes to the power it harnesses, but that's not to say it isn't a looker. The off-center bulge on the hood lays out a canvas for this model's red eagle design. Sure to turn a few heads and keeping with this Trans Am's red and white paint scheme are the redesigned Forgeline Snowflake wheels.
Photos courtesy of Mecum.
>>Join the conversation about this classic Trans Am right here in the LS1 Tech Forum!
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