Cars - Pontiac Firebird

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	Cars - Pontiac Firebird

The Pontiac Firebird was a sporty compact car built by the Pontiac Motor Division of General Motors and was manufactured from 1967 until 2002. Available in both coupé and convertible body styles, the Firebird was characterized by its aggressive styling and affordable muscle car performance. The car shared the same General Motors "F-Body" platform as the Chevrolet Camaro, also introduced in 1967. Production of both cars ceased in 2002.

The vehicles were, for the most part, powered by various V8 motors of different GM divisions. While primarily Pontiac-powered until 1981, Firebirds were built with several different engines from nearly every GM division.

All Firebirds have always included solid rear axles, also referred to as live axles. Pontiac switched to a coil spring/torque arm rear suspension design in 1982, which brought about a healthy but not overwhelming improvement over the pre-1981 Firebirds' excellent leaf spring/staggered shock arrangement.

First generation (1967–69)

The first-generation Firebirds had a characteristic "coke-bottle" styling. Unlike the Camaro, its bumpers were integrated into the design of the front end and its rear "slit" taillights were inspired by the Pontiac GTO. Both a two-door hardtop and a convertible were offered until the 1969 model year.

It was released five months after its Camaro twin and usually cost around $500 more. Unsurprisingly, the Firebird was outsold by the Camaro.

The base model had a 230 in³ (3.8 L) OHC six-cylinder, single-barrel carburetor motor developing 165 hp (123 kW). The next model, the Sprint, had a four-barrel carburetor, developing 215 hp (160 kW). Most buyers opted for the V8s: the 326 in³ (5.3 L) two-barrel 250 hp (186 kW, the 'H.O.' (High Output) engine of the same size but with a four-barrel carburetor 285 hp (213 kW), or the 400 in³ (6.6 L) from the GTO 325 hp (242 kW). A Ram Air option was available, with hood scoops and stronger valve springs. The 230 in³ (3.8 L) engines were replaced by 250 in³ (4.1 L) ones, developing 175 hp (130 kW) single barrel, and 215 hp (160 kW) four-barrel. An H.O. version of the 400 in³ (6.6 L) was offered from 1968, with a revised cam, and developed 330 hp (246 kW), while power output on the other engines increased marginally. In 1969, a $725 optional handling package called the Trans Am Performance and Appearance Package was introduced, with GM paying $5 to the SCCA for every car sold. Of these first Trans Ams, 689 hardtops and eight convertibles were made. There was an additional Ram Air IV engine option for the 400 in³ that year to complement the Ram Air II; these generated 345 and 335 hp respectively.

Despite the 1969 model year being the last of this generation, production in fact went into 1970, totalling 17 months, due to problems with the 1970s.

Second generation (1970–81)

The second generation appeared for the 1970 model year. Replacing the coke bottle was a more swoopy body style, with the top of the rear window line going almost straight down to the lip of the trunk lid. This body style was the longest-serving, initially with a large C-pillar until 1974; from that year, the rear window was enlarged. A substantial slant-nose facelift came in 1977, redone in 1979.

By this time, the Firebird was appearing more anachronistic against its more modern Ford Mustang rival. Therefore, the third-generation model, from 1982, was more of a departure, with pop-up headlamps and a rear liftgate.

The Firebird Trans Am with the 455 motor was the last high-performance muscle motor of the original muscle car generation. The 455 motor first made its appearance in 1971 as the 455-HO. In 1973, a special version of the 455, called the 455-SD, was offered. It was altered internally and produced 290 hp. The 455-SD is often considered the last of the true musclecar motors. Pontiac offered the 455 for a few more years, but tightening restrictions on vehicle emissions guaranteed its demise. The 1976 Trans Am was the last of the "Big Cube Birds" with only 7,100 units made with the 455 engine.

In 1974, Pontiac started offering smaller engines in the Trans Am. The 400 engine was the only other option in the 1974, 1975, and 1976 models. In 1977, Pontiac offered the 400 as the "high performance" option with the Olds 403 as the standard engine for the Trans Am. The 400/403 options were available until 1979. In 1980, because of ever increasing emissions restrictions, Pontiac dropped all of its large displacement motors.

1980 saw the biggest engine changes for the Firebird. The 301, offered in 1979 as an option, was now the standard engine. Options included a turbocharged 301 or the Chevrolet 305 small block.

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Cars - Pontiac Firebird

First generation (1967–69)

Second generation (1970–81)

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