One Crazy Restomod: A 1981 Pontiac Trans Am With 1300 Horsepower

February 18, 2019

While most restomods give their source car a bit of a boost in power, some get on the next train to Crazytown. This 1981 Trans Am restomod, by Schwartz Performance of Woodstock, Illinois, fits neatly into the latter category. According to its eBay seller, the car cost over $300,000, but second-hand, it just sold on eBay for a price of $160,000. A bargain at (nearly) half the price!

So, what gives this monster its vastly increased horsepower? As you might be able to guess, the component chiefly responsible is a new engine. The Trans Am had a 6.9 liter LS9 iron block V8 installed, complete with twin turbochargers. The engine is mated to a Bowler 4L85E automatic transmission. Its lack of a manual transmission does not, apparently, hamper its speed one bit. According to the seller, the car can hit 200 mph on a half mile dragstrip. Its handling has also been improved over stock, with modern, custom coilover suspension installed, as well as a roll cage. The chassis is a custom G-machine by Schwartz, and the rear end is by Mosler.

Battle of the Pony Cars: Camaro vs. Mustang

October 29, 2025

The battle between the Ford Mustang and the Chevrolet Camaro is the biggest, most lasting rivalry in American car history. These two cars didn’t just…
Read more
The RM32 Ford Fastback Mustang Build Breakdown

October 24, 2025

The Ford Mustang: Historic Start The Ford Mustang is one of the most iconic muscle cars in American history, capturing the imagination of car enthusiasts…
Read more
6 Things to Consider: Keep Your Classic Muscle Car Original or RestoMod it?

October 15, 2025

When tackling the big question that has become a debate on the internet: Is it better to keep your classic muscle car original or turn…
Read more

Show more articles

Become a Car Club Member

Car Club Members Get Entries to Win, Discounts in our Shop, Discounts with our Preferred Partners and more!

Membership benefits

By joining the RestoMods Car Club Today, you will receive amazing perks plus 15 bonus entries into our sweepstakes for every month you are an active member

Auto Discounts:Curated Discounts From Your Favorite Parts Companies
Restomods Monthly:Monthly Magazine With The Latest Industry News
Classified Ads:Get Free Postings seen by 300,000 enthusiasts monthly
Car Show Tickets:Check out the biggest vintage car shows on us.
Exclusive Car Deals:First chance to purchase any prize cars not selected