How about some '60's and '70's Trans Am racer tributes?.....

Popular Hot Rodding's "Project Talledega"-a 1975 Chevelle Laguna done up like Darrell Waltrip's mid-70's NASCAR racer is wildly popular among readers and many other mags have featured similar cars-a '73 Charger done like Richard Petty's most famous racer,an '84 T-Bird done like Bill Elliott's Championship car to name a couple. The NASCAR theme is cool, but what I think would be even cooler is Trans-Am tribute cars. Here's 4 that I think would be way cool and could be built cheaply. # 1. 1967-68 Mercury Cougar. I love this bodystyle-more than any Mustang. I'd go with radiused and flared fenderwells, Minilite wheels and fat tires all around. The good thing is-suspension and brake upgrades that fit a same-year Mustang will fit these cars-so you have a good selection of springs, shocks, sway bars etc-You could make it really handle. I'd go with some Corbeau or Recaro seats. For power I'd build a "Mock Boss" 302. or 351. Edelbrock and Trick Flow make Cleveland style aluminum heads that bolt up to Windsor blocks, and they make a special "E-Boss" Performer RPM manifold that works with this combo. You could use a 347 or 392 stroker kit and make some SERIOUS hp. Back it with a T10 4-speed or a Tremec 5-speed, and paint it like Bud Moore's racer. Mustangs are a dime a dozen-but you rarely see a badass Cougar. # 2. 1967-69 Pontiac Firebird. I'd go with radiused and flared fenders,some 16X8 or 17X9 American Racing Torq-Thrusts with 245/50ZR16 or 275/40ZR17 tires. Their's great suspension parts availability so handling would be superb. Power-wise-you could go two ways. One-you could build a snarling 400 or 455 Pontiac, or you could use a monster 383 or 427 small-block Chevy. Before you start screaming blasphemy remember that the 303 Pontiacs were mega-expensive, and unreliable,and only Milt Minter and Jerry Titus had them-through back-door factory backing by Herb Adams that was ok'd by Delorean. Since some Canadian Firebirds had Chevy engines from the factory-the SCCA allowed privateer Firebird racers to run 302 Chevys because they were cheaper and more plentiful. So a Chevy engine would be as realistic a "tribute" as a Pontiac. And of course it would have to be white with a blue stripes or blue with white stripes. Again-you see a lot of Nasty Camaros of this vintage but not many Firebirds. # 3. 1971-74 AMC Javelin. You have to go with Minilite wheels, side-exit exhaust, and a red,white and blue paint job-just like Mark Donohue's 1972 Championship car. Since they were used in Jeep Grand Wagoneers until 1992-AMC 360 V8's are plentiful in junkyards, and Edelbrock offers performance aluminum heads and intakes, you could build a potent, super-cool street fighter. # 4. 1967-69 Dodge Dart. Since the E-bodys didn't debut until 1970-a lot of guys raced Valiants and Darts in the Trans Am series in the '60's. The cars are very light-so even a 318 V8 would have good performance. Or you could go with a 360 or a 360 based 408 stroker with aluminum "Magnum" heads and a hot roller cam. You see Darts done like drag cars all the time but not in T/A style. I think any of these would be unique, low-budget, cool project. Any one else have similar ideas? Mastermind