Firebird/Trans Am remakes: paying homage, or degrading a legacy?

The moment I heard that the Camaro brand was to be revived as opposed to the Firebird, I've been craving a true next-gen Trans Am design. A few have emerged recently and have generated quite a stir.

Unfortunately, thus far, they've all missed the mark.

I'm not denigrating the craftsmanship or work involved by any means. They just haven't been my cup of tea. In all honesty, I'm a fan of the 4th gen models far more than the older versions. That doesn't mean I don't appreciate the classic Smokey-and-the-Bandit styles of old - I just don't prefer them.

Maybe that's why I'm not liking any of these overly-retro TA redesigns. I guess it could also be the bland color choices. Or the strange mix of body lines and contours. Or maybe it's because I'm supposedly expected to like it better because there are models featured in the picture with the car. But pretentious photographers aside, something about these just hasn't clicked with me. I like the idea, I like the quality of work involved, I like the fact that there are others like me who would've preferred a Firebird revival... but so far, I haven't seen anything impressive to come from these independent concept designs.

I really like the new Camaro design. I think it turned out very well, and was a triumphant and victorious response to the retro-boom started by Ford's Mustang redesign. But that's probably because Chevrolet spent years developing it, and poured countless months into carefully crafting its overall look and design. Independent designers, of course, don't have this luxury. So even though I'm sure the people who designed these custom concepts spent a relatively long time getting their look "just right", in the end, it's no substitute for an army of GM experts and millions of dollars in R&D.

Overall, it's all a matter of taste I suppose. While I'm not a fan of any of these designs, there are surely others out there who are. I'm sure something will eventually come along that does the Firebird name justice. Just not yet.

Sources: Camaro5.com