Pontiac thunderbird series#
The Trans Am variant arrived in spring of 1969, as an optional performance and styling pack that got its name from the American racing series where the Firebird took on Camaros, Challengers, Javelins, and Mustangs.įix the most common jobs on your car with our new one-job video tutorials Just like on the larger Tempest GTO, Pontiac included a Ram Air model at the top of the line, with functional air scoops built into the hood and a modified head and camshaft for better breathing. It was available in two-door hardtop and convertible versions and came with a choice of engines, from a 230 cubic inch SOHC straight six with 165hp up to a 400 cubic inch Ram Air IV model with 345hp. In between were a Sprint model and two smaller V8s. It had classic 'coke bottle' styling, where the pronounced front and rear wheel arches enclosed a narrow-waisted middle section. The first-generation Firebird ran for just three years, from 1967 to 1969, but sold over 250,000 units. Like the Mustang, Corvette and other muscular American classics, the Firebird's raw early power units were soon tamed, so that as the cars and their styling became more modern, their performance, alas, became more muted. Only later, as more advanced engine technologies were able to replace some of the power lost from the early V8s, did the Firebird and its Formula and Trans Am variants recover some of their early muscle. Depending on the generation, year, and options selected, engines ranged from economical 2.5 liter four cylinders, to exotic SOHC straight sixes, to turbo V6 and V8 motors, and of course fire-breathing 455 cubic inch big blocks.
It was built from 1967 to 2002, through four very different generations and, like so many American cars of this era, it was hit hard by the oil crisis and tightening emissions regulations of the 1970s. The Firebird was the base model, but there were also Sprint, Esprit, Formula, Trans Am, and Ram Air models. Check the options right, and you could get bigger engines, better trim levels and special editions, as long as you were willing to make the payments. But just like the Mustang (and its GM sibling the Camaro) it was as tame as an actual pony in more affordable trim levels, and popular with anyone who wanted to look cool, even if they weren't interested in going fast. It was a direct rival to the Ford Mustang and went for the same long hood, short deck look, and a performance-orientated image calculated to appeal to a youthful market. The Pontiac Firebird is a classic American 'pony' car, a sporty 'compact' car with an exotic look, and lots of power.
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