Pontiac Firebird

Pontiac Firebird at a glance

Pontiac launched the Firebird a few months after Chevrolet's Camaro, as its answer to the Ford Mustang. Both cars shared the F-body structure, but Pontiac gave the Firebird its own front end, interior and, in early years, its own engines. Assembly took place mainly at Norwood, Ohio, and at Van Nuys, California; from 1972 to 1977 Norwood was the only Firebird plant.

First generation (1967–1969): six-cylinder and Ram Air V8

The first Firebird was offered as a two-door hardtop coupé and a convertible. Its base engine was unusual for an American car of the time: a 230 cu in (3.8-litre) overhead-camshaft straight-six of 123 kW (165 hp). The V8 range ran up to the 400 cu in (6.6-litre) with 242 kW (325 hp), and Ram Air versions used working bonnet scoops. The 1969 Ram Air IV produced 257 kW (345 hp).

Production was 82,560 in 1967, 107,112 in 1968 and 87,708 in 1969. In 1969 Pontiac added the Trans Am, a handling and appearance package named after the SCCA racing series. Only 689 hardtops and 8 convertibles were built that year, which makes the first Trans Am one of the rarest Pontiacs.

Second generation (1970–1981): Super Duty and the Bandit years

The second Firebird arrived in early 1970 as a coupé only, with a longer, lower and wider-looking body. Emission rules soon cut engine outputs, but Pontiac kept performance alive longer than most: the 1973–1974 Super Duty 455 produced 216 kW (290 hp) net, an unusually high figure for that era. The 455 High Output engine was another strong option.

The turning point for sales was the 1977 film "Smokey and the Bandit", which starred a black-and-gold 1977 Trans Am. Production rose year after year, from 48,739 in 1970 to a record 211,453 in 1979, when about 117,000 Trans Ams were sold; by our count, that means more than half of all 1979 Firebirds were Trans Ams. Special editions included the 1976 50th anniversary Trans Am and the 1979 10th Anniversary Trans Am, of which 7,500 were built. For 1980–1981, Pontiac offered a turbocharged 301 cu in (4.9-litre) V8 with 157 kW (210 hp), as sales fell to 70,899 in 1981.

Third generation (1982–1992): lighter, aerodynamic and turbocharged

The 1982 Firebird was smaller, lighter and more aerodynamic, with pop-up headlamps and a large glass hatch. Engines ranged from a four-cylinder to V6 and V8 units, and from 1987 the 5.7-litre L98 V8 gave 175 kW (235 hp). A convertible returned in 1989, and a notchback option of 1988 found only 718 buyers.

The most famous car of this generation is the 1989 20th Anniversary Turbo Trans Am. It used a Buick-sourced 3.8-litre turbocharged V6 officially rated at 186 kW (250 hp), though independent dyno tests often showed more than 300 hp. Only 1,555 were built, and one was chosen as the pace car of the Indianapolis 500. This generation is also the Firebird most people know from the television series "Knight Rider".

Fourth generation (1993–2002): LT1 and LS1 V8 power

The last Firebird appeared for the 1993 model year with a smooth, wedge-shaped body that used composite panels for parts of the bodywork. Coupé, T-top coupé and, from 1994, convertible versions were offered. Base cars had a 3.4-litre V6, replaced in 1995 by a 3.8-litre V6. The Formula and Trans Am used the 5.7-litre LT1 V8 with 205–213 kW (275–285 hp), or 227 kW (305 hp) with Ram Air in 1996–1997.

From 1998 the LS1 V8, shared with the Corvette, brought 239 kW (320 hp) and, for 2001–2002, 242 kW (325 hp) in the WS6 Ram Air package. Anniversary models included the 25th Anniversary Trans Am of 1994 in white with a blue stripe, the 30th Anniversary of 1999 and a yellow Collector's Edition for the final year.

Thirst and parts supply

All Firebirds are thirsty by modern standards. The V6 cars of the 1990s are the most economical, while the big V8s of the 1970s use the most fuel, especially in town. The LS1 is efficient for its size thanks to a six-speed manual with tall top gears, but it still prefers premium fuel. Parts are easy to find in North America because most mechanical components are shared with the Camaro and other GM models. To compare fuel costs at your own mileage, use the fuel cost calculator. On our power-to-weight calculation, a 2001–2002 LS1 Trans Am of about 1,530 kg carries roughly 6.3 kg per kW, close to many modern sports cars.

Safety and reliability by generation

None of the Firebirds was crash-tested by Euro NCAP. The fourth generation had dual front airbags as standard and anti-lock brakes, making it the only Firebird with modern passive safety. On older cars, check for rust in the rear wheel arches, floors and the lower doors, the condition of the T-top seals and the originality of the engine and drivetrain, which strongly affects value. On fourth-generation cars the composite panels resist rust, so attention turns to the steel structure underneath.

Why the Firebird ended in 2002

Sales of large rear-wheel-drive coupés had fallen through the 1990s, and GM decided to end the F-body when it closed its Sainte-Thérèse plant in Quebec, where the fourth-generation Firebird and Camaro were built. The last Firebird was completed on 30 August 2002. Pontiac later sold the GTO, and the brand itself was closed by GM in 2010; its story is in the history of Pontiac.

Rivals: how the Firebird compares