“I always wanted a V8, manual, rear-drive—and then there was Smokey and the Bandit,” says Gregg Hamilton, “When I moved here to America, [I realized] this is the only place in the world where I can really own one.”
Wanting something that’s American, New Zealander Hamilton settled on this PontiacTrans Am—that is definitely not like any other. Using tricks learned from years of working with some of the best World Rally Championship teams in the world—including Toyota Team Europe and Prodrive—Hamilton’s Firebird has been given handling to match its extensive engine modifications.
“I needed something to do, so we found this car on eBay, and flew to Alabama, picked it up at the airport sight unseen…[and] it sort of just evolved into what it is today.”
From its wider bodywork, to custom engine computer, to fully revised suspension and brakes, it’s “about as quick as a Z06 Corvette,” he says. Sound far-fetched? As someone whose day job is spent building and testing Ken Block’s latest projects, we’d believe him.
“I like the mechanical-ness of it. I like the engine bay…I like that you can see the injectors, and plug for ECU…There’s no wheel arches in there, so you can see the uprights and the roll bar,” says Hamilton.
“It’s not always about the drive for me. It’s about the build of it. It’s about tinkering with it…”
Big wheels on the back....Smaller ones on the front...very cool...But....Could have come from the #factory in 1955 Pro Auto custom Interior by Steve Holcomb interior....Now under the hood...There are only two of those on the planet.....Over 500 CI...All polished aluminum HEMI!!! #ProAuto #back #SteveHolcomb ...
Big wheels on the back....Smaller ones on the front...very cool...But....Could have come from the factory in 1955 Pro Auto custom Interior by Steve Holcomb interior....Now under the hood...There are only two of those on the planet.....Over 500 CI...All polished aluminum HEMI!!!
Nancy and Bob Dunbar with their #original owner 1969 Pontiac GTO Judge in their Beachfield neighborhood. When Pontiac brought out its first GTO in 1964, it was a special edition of the Tempest, and the initials stood for Grand Tempest Option. Project Manager John DeLorean - of DeLorean auto fame - dictated that the Judge would always be this color orange, which was first patented by #Chevrolet and called #PontiacGTOJudge #CarouselRed #HuggerOrange #BobDunbar #GrandTempestOption #GeneralMotors ...
Nancy and Bob Dunbar with their original owner 1969 Pontiac GTO Judge in their Beachfield neighborhood. When Pontiac brought out its first GTO in 1964, it was a special edition of the Tempest, and the initials stood for Grand Tempest Option. Project Manager John DeLorean - of DeLorean auto fame - di...
I always dreamed about those orange Judges as a kid. I passed one in a driveway every day walking to catch the school bus. Not sure why I've seen red, white and blue Judges if this story is true though.
In the early '90s, I had a '66 GTO frankenstein LeMans creation with a 400 Chevy engine in it. Closest I ever got...