For 1971 they uppped the displacement to 455 cubic inches/7.5 liters but unleaded gas and smog laws started to cut into its power. The entry level Firebirds were always modestly powered, but in 1970 Pontiac offered at the top of the heap a 400 cubic inch/6.6 liter Ram Air IV motor with up to 370hp. The second generation started so well, with a new more streamlined body that borrowed some lines from Ferrari. A later 1970s version is the model shown in our cutaway image, which also unfortunately bore the brunt of the 1973 oil crisis, new emission controls, and increased safety standards. The long-running second-generation Firebird arrived in 1970 and continued right through to 1981. ![]() 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 Chevrolet Camaros, Dodge Challengers, AMC Javelins and Ford 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 more than 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-cylinder units through exotic SOHC straight sixes, turbo V6 and V8 motors, and on to the 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 the Firebird's GM sibling, the Camaro) it was as tame as an actual pony in more affordable trim levels, and so proved popular with those 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 had 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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