The driving force behind what we do should be our passion in life. Does this mean your job and your personal life always blend into a passion; not at all. When that does happen something special tends to emerge in products that are better and elements you are proud of. This is certainly why so many mechanics and race drivers love their cars so much, even though they work in the automotive industry they love their cars whether it’s the one on the track or the vehicle that they choose to have in their own garages as a daily or weekend driving machine.

Gregg Hamilton is one of these passionate people and what he has done for an older model Pontiac Firebird Trans Am is simply amazing. Hamilton worked on several different WRC teams throughout the world and has been a mechanic for Ken Block and his outrageous Hoonigan Gymkhana vehicles. Originally from New Zealand, Hamilton has been part of reworking and enjoying the mechanical and speed aspects of race vehicles all over the world but was drawn to the Trans Am in a way that showed his passion and drive for the vehicle and creating one of his own that looks and drives the way he wants it to.

One of the first things he did was replace the old engine and add a new twin turbocharged 5.3-liter V8 engine that is fuel injected along with a six-speed manual transmission. This puts the car in the speed category that would rival the new Corvettes of today. Hamilton says he wanted to get the mechanical part of the car just right and have a car that he would be more than proud of to drive and enjoy on the open roads of the United States.

Not only did he replace the engine and put in electronics that would not have been part of the Trans Am in its day, but he added rear wheel arches to give the car a meaner look and added a larger rear wing for a more dramatic effect. The result of these changes gives him a car that looks and feels like menacing speed and would fit right in with the Ken Block collection or find its way as a Mad Maxx car with a few other modifications. This Trans Am now has new life because of a passion and drive Hamilton has for the amazing products he can make.

Check out the video and enjoy the look and feel of this awesome car that could have easily been the one the Bandit drove all those years ago to escape the long arm of the law affectionately known as Smokey. Ask yourself, “does my passion run as deep as Gregg Hamilton’s?” its apparent he has found his place in the world and is capable of producing some of the most interesting and amazing cars we have ever seen, especially when it comes to recreating an American Muscle car that lived after the real Muscle Car Era was over. This Trans Am is one of a kind, like its owner and is a true product of a highly developed passion for cars. Enjoy the video.