When news of the Camaro’s rebirth emerged back in the late 2000s, GM fans rejoiced. It wasn’t long before we all asked: if Chevrolet is remaking the Camaro, will there be a Pontiac Firebird version? Back then, Pontiac still sort of existed, so it seemed like a logical possibility we might see another Trans Am.

The Dream Of A Modern Trans Am

Then we saw designer Kevin Morgan’s concept drawing of a new Trans Am using the Camaro as its base. He hit it out of the park with the rendering and generated quite a buzz. The problem is GM discontinued Pontiac just before the 5th-gen Camaro finally made it to production, so the dream of a Pontiac counterpart never came true. A few independent companies took it upon themselves to create what GM should’ve out of the Camaro, and one of those companies was Gearhead Street Customs of Indianapolis, Indiana.

Vision Brought To Life

Up for auction this weekend at the Mecum Fall Special in Indy is the third Trans Am conversion built by GSC based on a 2010 Camaro SS. GSC offered a limited number of coach-built Trans Am conversions with an array of different options. One could opt for the standard 6.2-liter LS3 rated at 426 horsepower at 5,900 rpm and 420 pound-feet of torque at 4,600 rpm, or you could get a number of different LS powerplants like the LS7 from the C6 Z06 up to a custom twin-turbo LS9 making upwards of 900 horsepower.

Power, Sound, And Performance

This Trans Am has only 1,206 miles and is equipped with the LS3 and 6-speed manual, but topped with a Magnacharger sandwiched between the cylinder heads and hood scoop, producing 550 horsepower. To make sure even the hardest of hearing can feel all 550 of those ponies, the car is also equipped with a Magnaflow exhaust. An Eibach suspension aids in improved handling while providing a lowered ride height that aids in the looks department.

Design Cues That Honor Heritage

Trans Am design cues are everywhere, but nowhere more evident than in the nose and hood. The Camaro front fascia was reshaped into Pontiac’s distinctive 1977 and ’78-style bird beak, and a split grille replaces the Camaro’s big open grille. The Shaker scoop sets off the look and, of course, one can’t miss the defining detail, the big Screaming Chicken on the hood.

At the tail end lies the general Camaro shape, but with taillights that give a nod to later Trans Ams, a big lip spoiler, and a few other subtle changes. Combine that with the black and gold paint scheme and the 22-inch custom gold wheels, and the look is undeniably Trans Am. The interior was also given the classic Firebird touch with custom gold and black trim.

A Convertible Twist on Rarity

As if the Trans Am conversion wasn’t unique enough, this one is even rarer than rare with a Coach Builders convertible conversion. Chevrolet didn’t offer a convertible Camaro until halfway through the 2011 model year, so if you wanted to feel the wind through your hair with your Trans Am conversion, you had to fork over big bucks for a convertible conversion.

So there you go, Pontiac and Trans Am lovers. Even though the Pontiac brand is no more and the legendary Burt Reynolds is no longer with us, you can still have your (almost) brand-new, modern Trans Am. And if you’re thinking about a modern-day sequel to Smokey and the Bandit, so are we.