Classic muscle cars often hide massive secrets beneath their iconic hoods. Building a reliable machine that looks vintage but performs like a modern sports car takes an incredible amount of vision and precise engineering. This classic ’77 Trans Am Restomod, which recently rolled out of a California fabrication shop, proves exactly how far custom automotive building has evolved.
A Father-And-Son Project Turned Supercar
The journey started 15 years ago when owner Armen Pezeshkian bought the Pontiac sight unseen from New York. He originally intended to restore the old vehicle as a fun bonding project with his father. Time passed, and the vintage coupe eventually ended up at Vintage Motorworks under the careful direction of lead builder Nicko Moukoian. The team completely transformed the aging chassis using Detroit Speed subframes and a custom chromoly roll cage to handle a massive upgrade in overall performance.
The Heart Of The ’77 Trans Am Restomod
Pop the hood, and you’ll find a rowdy GM LSA V8 instead of traditional Pontiac power The modern engine features a ported Kong Performance blower and upgraded Texas Speed heads. Pezeshkian explained: “It made 780 to the wheels.” Because the chassis was originally prepped for a 600-horsepower target, the team actually lowered the supercharger boost to make the raw power slightly more manageable for street driving. Bottomside, a Tremec manual transmission, built by Liberty, sends torque directly to a heavy-duty Currie rear end.
Preserving The Iconic ’70s Vibe
Builders usually strip out old-school interiors for modern racing seats, but this project took a much classier route. The cabin proudly retains the factory, engine-turned dash bezel alongside custom Recaro seats that are wrapped in traditional houndstooth fabric. Shawn noted, “I love how it looked very OE in here.” Moukoian also fabricated a brilliant rear-seat delete to carefully hide all the modern electrical relays and the main battery. Outside, widened Year One fender flares wrap perfectly around massive Forgeline wheels, while custom exhaust exits straight through the rear quarters.
Dominating The California Pavement
Hitting the local canyon roads proved exactly why this ’77 Trans Am Restomod stands out from average garage builds. The hydroboost braking system easily stops the heavy steel frame while the modern coilover suspension absorbs uneven pavement without breaking a sweat. Vintage Motorworks successfully delivered a classic automotive masterpiece that violently shreds tires on demand while honoring Pontiac’s legendary Special Edition heritage.
At the end of the day, this isn’t just a classic Trans Am with a big engine stuffed under its hood. This is a carefully thought-out machine that blends old-school attitude with modern performance in a way that actually works. Every decision, from the Detroit Speed chassis to the slightly dialed-back boost, was made with drivability in mind, not just dyno numbers. That’s what makes this build special and successful.
You might also like
Project Swedish Meatball: Planning A Reliable Turbocharged LS Valvetrain
Learn how to plan a turbocharged LS valvetrain without overspending on unnecessary aftermarket parts using advice from Brian Tooley Racing.
