Chip Foose is a name synonymous with automotive artistry and innovation. Known for his seamless blend of creative vision, technical expertise, and passion for car restoration, Foose has become a legendary figure in the custom car industry. His iconic television show, Overhaulin', has not only showcased his remarkable skills but has also inspired millions of automotive enthusiasts around the world. Among his many partnerships, Foose's collaboration with Classic Industries stands out as a perfect marriage of talent and resources, resulting in automotive magic.

"I'm basically in tears. There she is, man. I haven't seen her for years and years," said Joe Gransden in a recent VINWiki video, thinking back to the time he finally found his long-lost '79 Trans Am. He originally bought the car in high school after working and pinching pennies, but was eventually forced to sell it to buy a boring and economical commuter vehicle. Regret set in soon after, and he spent decades trying to find it again. Thankfully, this story had a happy ending.

The world of custom car restoration and fabrication has long been a realm where passion meets artistry. Few exemplify this as well as Joe and Amanda Martin, alongside their talented team at Iron Resurrection. Known for their expertise in breathing new life into rusted-out relics and forgotten classics, the Martins and their crew continue to set the gold standard in automotive restoration.

Whether you call it the Firebird, the rising phoenix, the hood bird, or use its tongue-in-cheek "screaming chicken" nickname, this iconic decal has become synonymous with the Pontiac Trans Am. But it hasn't always been that way. In fact, according to former Pontiac head of design Bill Porter, GM leadership hated the idea when it was first proposed. YouTube channel Original MotorCar interviewed Porter and his colleague John Schinella to hear the fascinating history behind the development of the Trans Am Hood Bird design.

The early 1980s was a tough time for fans of American muscle cars. With increasing government regulations and high fuel costs, many manufacturers were focusing on small, efficient cars rather than high performance. However, enthusiasts still had an insatiable need for speed, and this led a small custom coachbuilder known as Knudsen Automotive to develop something truly radical. The 1984 Pontiac Tojan was an 800+ horsepower twin-turbo supercar based on the Pontiac Trans Am which hit a staggering top speed of 206 miles per hour. Not only was it faster than the legendary Ferrari F40, it broke the 200mph barrier several years earlier and for a fraction of the cost.

Photos courtesy of Mecum Auctions

The Pontiac Firebird has one of the coolest names in automotive history and was designed with sleek aircraft-inspired styling cues to match that name. But BBT Fabrications decided to take things one step further by equipping this 1969 Firebird with enough power to achieve takeoff velocity on a mile-long runway. With its 1,400 horsepower twin-turbo V8, this Firebird practically has wings and is capable of achieving a top speed of over 200 miles per hour. The team from AutotopiaLA traveled to BBT Fab's Illinois headquarters to get a closer look at this unique build.

Searching for a classic car can be quite the adventure. There are so many online sites that publish private party listings and deals from online old car brokers. One can really spend a great deal of time and effort finding just the right vehicle to research, go and see, take for a test drive, and decide on whether the muscle car is worthy of negotiating a fair price with the car's current caretaker.

"It's a head-turner, not only when it's going down the road but when it's sitting still. When people are out on the street and I get on that thing, it just turns heads! You don't see that today," said Gary Plowman, the owner of this '78 Pontiac Trans Am. His car features the famous WS6 suspension package and W72 T/A 6.6L V8 engine — a combination of options that made the Trans Am a top-tier performer, even alongside the Camaro Z28 and Corvette of that era. A recent video from Hemmings' Tested Muscle series takes a closer look at this bright red Trans Am.

"I always wanted a V8, manual, rear-drive car... but I wanted something that's American. I come from New Zealand, so all the stuff here that's local is cool to me." Fueled by memories of watching Smokey and the Bandit as a kid, Gregg Hamilton started looking for the classic American muscle car of his dreams shortly after he moved to the United States. However, he didn't want just any Trans Am, he wanted one that he could make his own. "It's not always about the driving for me. It's about the build, it's about tinkering with it." With that goal in mind, Hamilton ended up creating the aggressive, twin-turbo, widebody Trans Am seen in this video from Petrolicious.

My Firebird was built in Norwood, Ohio. The original color was Verduro Green. She sports a power top, power disc brakes, rally gauges, standard interior with a wood grain steering wheel, and dash face. The engine's backed by a Turbo 400 transmission, 2,800-rpm stall converter, with all that torque transferred to 3.42 gears stuffed in a 10-bolt rear end that was donated from a 79 Trans Am. The engine is the factory, numbers matching 400 that has been stroked & bored to 468 cubic inches of V8 power. The hydraulic roller cams have .623 degrees of lift and .240 duration. The Edelbrock cylinder heads and intake have been ported. There's also a beaudacious 950 cfm Holley four-barrel carb, two-inch Doug's headers, forged steel rods, forged pistons and nitrided crank in the mix for this prodigious mill. As far as the numbers go, the engine has 11.0:1 compression, makes 600-horsepower and 640-lb.-ft. of torque on 91 octane pump fuel. The paint scheme is the LeMans Blue hue from a 2006 Corvette.