American tuners ASC set to remake the Trans Am

Pontiac is on its way out just as the new 2010 Chevy Camaro has arrived, coincidence perhaps, but American muscle car tuner ASC sees it as an opportunity. Had a new Camaro been released a decade or two earlier, it would most certainly be accompanied by an equally sick Pontiac version, namely the Trans-Am. But even before Pontiac ate it, General Motors had no intention of developing a new Trans-Am based off the Camaro. Someone had to do something. ASC, otherwise known as American Specialty Cars, usually a sub-contractor responsible for building convertible versions of road cars stepped up. ASC also has experience building whole specialty cars for manufacturers.

Now, ASC will be taking stock 2010 Camaros and transforming them into modern-day Trans-Ams. Details are scarce at this stage except for these few renderings, but the Pontiac-ification of the Camaro looks awesome from the front and the duck tail spoiler is sharp. The overall treatment evokes Pontiac’s past in much the same way that Chevy’s new muscle car draws styling cues from past Camaros without copying them outright.

More should be revealed soon about this modern Trans Am reincarnation.

Collector’s Originality Guide: Chevrolet Camaro 1970-1981 – 213

If you own, are restoring or are simply planning to own a second generation Camaro, this is the book for you.

This book will guide you through Chevrolet’s options minefield, allowing you to select just the right Camaro and, of course, if you’re restoring one of these iconic performance cars, it’s good to know that all the information you’ll need to maintain originality is contained within these pages.

All models between 1970 and 1981 are covered, with Schild identifying engine options, trim, special parts and paint finishes.

Collector’s Originality Guide: Chevrolet Camaro 1970-1981 by Jim Schild
Review book supplied by Techbooks
Review by James Black

1971 Chevrolet Camaro – From Lollipop To Big-Block – 154

Trevor retraces the path his brother took on the way to acquiring his current big-block Camaro

My brother Dennis left high school at the age of 16, to start an apprenticeship as an auto electrician at SV Turnbull and Son in Montreal Street, Christchurch. Within a few months Dennis bought his first car — a 1947 J Model Vauxhall 14/6.

However, his ownership of the Vauxhall was short-lived. At that time I owned a pink and black ’39 Ford coupe, our sister Rosalie’s ‘boyfriend’ Neil Stuart drove a red ’34 V8 five-window coupe, and our elder brother Jim owned a Ford V8-powered powerboat. Dennis also caught the V8 bug, and sold the Vauxhall in favour of a 1937 Ford V8 DeLuxe sedan which he bought from my then-girlfriend Lorraine’s brother.

Dennis was soon lowering the Ford, fitting new longer shackle plates and telescopic shock absorbers, and dropping the body by an incredible 77mm (three inches). That’s a lot for an otherwise stock ’37 V8. With help from Mum and Dad, the interior of the Ford was trimmed in possum skins! Of course, it didn’t end there. The tails were tied to the six foot-high twin aerials. A year or so later the ’37 was swapped for a ’34 three-window coupe.