PHR's Third Annual Photo Contest - Hometown Heroes

In the hot and humid state of Texas, it's not always comfortable, or even a good idea, to be cruising around in an old car. Being broken down, overheating, and overheated can be miserable. Ted Fox of Lancaster, Texas, chose a '99 Trans Am to serve the torturous duty. Equipped with an absurdly reliable LS1, automatic transmission, and air conditioning, this car is ready to fight the heat. LS1 powerplants also have the advantage with gas mileage. What 300-plus-horsepower muscle car can achieve over 27 mpg on the freeway? There are four-cylinder cars with sub-100hp ratings that can't get that even with the A/C off! These '99 models are showing their age, but Ted Fox has kept this one in great shape, keeping the innards unmolested. With this kind of care, we wouldn't be surprised to see it pass the 200,000-mile mark.

Being relocated by a company can bring good things. Originally from Laguna Niguel, California, the Hillebrand family was moved to Gonzales, Louisiana. Also a father and husband, the builder of this Camaro was put on assignment nearly a year and half ago to build the first oil refinery in the United States since 1976. We hope he gets a discount on their product for what he stumbled upon shortly after the move. Peter's wife and daughter spotted this '69 Camaro and fell in love with it. They immediately purchased it and started the restoration process. They stripped the car of pretty much anything that fasteners held. Peter ordered a Dart Little M block and had it punched out to displace 434 cubic inches. Currently, Peter does not have any timeslips, because his car is too fast for the rule book. He will have to make some safety upgrades before visiting the dragstrip. For now, the Camaro roams the streets of Louisiana. The Hillebrands look forward to moving back to Southern California and driving the car along Pacific Coast Highway.