Leave it to automotive customizers to pick up where GM left off, saying “If GM won’t give us a Trans Am, then we will just have to make our own.” The latest company to enter the “5th-Gen-Camaro-to-Trans-Am” conversion market is Trans American Muscle out of Coral Springs, Florida, with their 2012 “Bandit.” We uncovered this great video of the Bandit thanks to Autoblog, which gives us a close up look at just what makes this 5th Gen more Firebird than Camaro.

Trans American Muscle’s Bandit features all the late 1970’s Trans Am styling cues you would expect, including a twin tip side exit exhaust, snowflake reminiscent wheels, restyled rear bumper that deletes the Camaro’s quad tail lights, a bird-beak nose front bumper, midnight black paint, and of course the iconic screaming chicken emblazoned on the shaker hood. Another authentic Trans Am detail added to the Bandit is that the Camaro’s quarter panel slits behind the doors have been smoothed out – a detail that several previous conversion companies have left out. The Bandit can be purchased directly through Trans American or from one of their authorized dealers for just under $60,000.

In spite of the hefty price tag, we’re actually digging the Bandit’s styling. What do you think? Are Trans Am conversions for the 5th Gen a clear win with the uniqueness they add in a sea of similar cars, or are they trying too hard and not quite hitting the mark?