1973 Pontiac Trans Am Hammerhead – This 1973 Pontiac, showcased at the MotorTrend booth, is a genuine father/son project by Russell and Cavan Cameron. Russell, the owner of Horizon Motorsports, has an impressive background working with various notable IndyCar and CART teams. His son, Cavan, has followed in his footsteps, and when it was time for Cavan to take on a high school internship, it provided the perfect opportunity for them to create something truly special.
The Trans Am’s impressive LS-based 400ci small-block V-8 is the powerhouse of this machine, crafted by Late Model Engines (LME) in Houston, Texas. Starting with a Concept Performance-sourced LSR block, LME incorporated a Callies Magnum forged crankshaft, 10.5:1 Diamond forged pistons, Total Seal rings, Clevite H-series bearings, and an LME custom solid-roller camshaft.
This setup is complemented by an LME dual-throttle-body intake manifold, twin Garrett G35-900 turbochargers, and Injector Dynamics ID1700 fuel injectors. Engine management is expertly handled by a Motec system, delivering an estimated 1,800 horsepower with boost levels ranging from 12 to 20 psi.
Even more impressive is that this Trans Am weighs just 3,100 pounds and boasts a 47/53 weight distribution. This is achieved by positioning the engine 28 inches rearward of its stock location, making it a true front-mid-engine car and enhancing rear-wheel traction. It’s paired with an Xtrac six-speed gearbox, and much of the suspension comes directly from a 2001 Reynard IndyCar racer, with the rest custom-designed to fit Cavan perfectly.
1973 Pontiac Trans Am Hammerhead Specs
- 1973 Firebird – steel and composite body
- LME/LSR 400 CID engine 9000 RPM, set back 26”
- Motec paddle-shifted
- Xtrac 6 speed sequential transverse gearbox
- 2001 Reynard suspension and uprights
- Brembo metal matrix brake calipers
- Forgeline custom aluminum wheels
- 10”x18” front wheels 14”x18” rear wheels
- Michelin racing tires
- Full tubular chassis
- Ohlins TT-44 dampers
- Hyperco springs and hydraulic spring platforms
- ATL fuel cell – Radium Engineering fuel system
- Sparco steering wheel
- Sparco Racing harnesses
- Spark carbon racing seats
- SPAL cooling fans
- Dual radiators
- G-35 900 Garrett twin turbos rear mounted
- Twin Garrett waste gate
- Aerodynamics include:
- Front splitter with adjustable IndyCar
- Front wing flaps and end fences with rub strips
- Radiator exit ducts in hood
- Flat bottom from splitter to the tunnels and out the diffuser
- 82” wide rear IndyCar rear wing
- Fender flares with flow through design and top fender louvers
- Ride height adjustments allow a range of 2”-4”
- 3100 lbs total curb weight, 50/50 weight distribution
- Top speed of 202 mph at 9000 rpm
1973 Pontiac Trans Am Hammerhead Photos
About Russell Cameron Owner/Designer/Builder
Russell began repairing engines on the family horse ranch in the Black Hills as child. He moved on to motorcycles, muscle cars and then race cars. After moving to Scottsdale, Arizona his senior year of high school, Russell quickly immersed himself with the local car community. He and a friend left for the east coast to begin their racing careers. During his career, Russell worked for Patrick Racing, Galles Racing, Target Chip Ganassi Racing, and PacWest Racing. He began as a race mechanic and worked his way to chief mechanic, team manager, director of race operations, and general manager of PKV Racing. Russell decided to expand his company, Horizon Motorsports, to include custom vehicle design and manufacturing in addition to sales of race car parts. He completed several custom car builds with his son, Cavan. Their current project is a complete transformation of a 1973 Firebird to a race car with Indy Car parts. Russell enjoys passing on his years of experience to his son.
About Cavan Cameron Motorsports Engineering
Cavan grew up sitting in race cars while his dad built them. He rode a motorcycle before he learned to ride a bicycle. Cavan’s passion for engines began early. He worked with his father on several custom builds and confirmed he wanted to understand how to make cars go faster. Cavan took PLTW classes, AP Physics and Engineering classes in high school. For his internship senior year, he designed a custom car build with a 1973 Firebird to transform it into a race car. Cavan also improved his welding skills, learned how to build gearboxes, shocks from current racing guys. He received Direct Admit to the IUPUI/Purdue Motorsports Engineering program in Indianapolis. Cavan plans to complete several internships during the next few years. He is currently helping finish the internship car, named IndyBird, on the weekends and will be attending the 2022 SEMA event in Las Vegas.
About CarShowz.com
CarShowz.com was born from decades of real automotive experience — the kind earned under shop lights, at late‑night meets, and through thousands of miles chasing the next great build. In 2009, we took a scrappy .us domain and turned it into a mission: fix the chaos of forums, flyers, and outdated event info. So we built the one-stop garage for car culture.
What started as a simple event hub evolved fast. Our passion behind the lens exploded, and automotive photography became the heartbeat of CarShowz — capturing the chrome, the craftsmanship, and the stories that make this community legendary.
CarShowz isn’t just a platform. It’s a crew. A movement. A brand forged by years of real‑world automotive grit — built by people who live it, breathe it, and bring it to life for the world to see.
