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Pontiac Firebird
The Pontiac Firebird was introduced in February, 1967, five months after its Chevrolet Camaro corporate twin was introduced. The Firebird, along with the Camaro, was GM's answer to the astoundingly successful Ford Mustang, and were known as F-bodies. The Firebird would ultimately be offered in a few different variants, not the least of which was the successful and iconic Trans Am model. Although the Firebird would span 36 model years, it would only see 4 different variations until GM decided to throw in the towel on it after 2002. The Firebird, like its corporate twin, the Camaro, would throughout its lifetime garner a very enthusiastic and loyal fanbase, one that still remains strong today despite it no longer being in existence. .
This page is a portal for the Firebird. Please also see:
- Pontiac Firebird 1967-1981 for the first two generations.
- Pontiac Firebird 1982-2002 for the last two generations.
- Chevrolet Camaro for the Firebird's twin.
| |
| Pontiac Firebird | |
|---|---|
| General Motors | |
| Production | 1967-2002 |
| Class | Sports Car |
| Body Style | 3-Door Hatchback 2-Door Convertible |
| Length | 195.1" |
| Width | 72.4" |
| Height | 49.8" |
| Wheelbase | 101" |
| Weight | 3100-3500 lbs |
| Transmission | 4-Speed Manual, RWD 5-Speed Manual, RWD 3-Speed Automatic, RWD 4-Speed Automatic, RWD |
| Engine | 2.5L (151 cid) I4 (1982-1985) 2.8L (173 cid) V6 (1982-1989) 3.1L (191 cid) V6 (1990-1992) 3.8L (231 cid) Turbo V6 (1989) 5.0L (305 cid) V8 (1982-1992) 5.7L (350 cid) V8 (1987-1992) |
| Power | 92-350 hp |
| Similar | Chevrolet Camaro |
| Platform | F |
Trivia
- Then-Pontiac general manager John DeLorean was, prior to the Firebird's introduction, working on a 2-seat prototype called "Banshee" and had high hopes of getting it produced. The powers-that-be at GM, however, disapproved the project for fear it would be too much internal competition for the Chevrolet Corvette, so they ordered DeLorean to produce a Camaro twin instead, something DeLorean was initially reluctant to do, because he had reportedly thought that doing so would cannibalize sales of the GTO.
- In 1979, Pontiac sold an unprecedented 117,000 Trans Ams alone, more than the base Firebird, Esprit and Formula models combined.
- When the movie Smokey and the Bandit came out in 1977, Trans Am sales jumped nearly 50% that year over 1976. Pontiac's general manager was so thrilled by the publicity (and profits) that it offered to give Burt Reynolds a brand new Trans Am every year for an unspecified period of time.
- In 1970, what became the Trans Am model was originally to be named Firebird Sebring, and what became the Formula model was going to be the Trans Am. Plymouth, however, had dibs on the Sebring name, as it used it as an option package for the new-for-1971 Satellite models, so the top model became the Trans Am, and the Trans Am essentially became the Formula.
- The 1979 10th Anniversary Trans Am would be the first Pontiac model to incorporate red instrument lighting, something all other Pontiac models would later incorporate and still use today.
- The 1979 10th Anniversary Trans Am was the only anniversary edition Trans Am that wasn't white.
- The 1980 Turbo 4.9 V8 engine was the world's first turbocharged gasoline V8 engine.
