Pontiac Firebird

Pontiac Firebird

Pontiac Firebird is an automobile, which was built by General Motors and marketed by their Pontiac division. The production lasted from 1967 to 2002. Pontiac Firebird is considered to be a pony car or a muscle car. There are four different generations of the vehicle as well as a specialty package of it, the Firebird Trans Am, whose production was started two years after Pontiac Firebirds began, in 1969, and it lasted until 2002.

First generation

The first generation of Pontiac Firebirds began in 1967 with the introduction of the first vehicle at that time. The production of the first generation models only lasted for two years though. The first generation Firebirds were often considered to have a “coke bottle styling”. It is an automotive body stilling whose shape looks like a classical glass bottle of Coca Cola. There were two types of body styles offered in the first model: either a two door cope or a two door convertible. Pontiac Firebird was equipped with very powerful engines. The least powerful ones were the 3.8 liter OHC I6 engines, with 215 horsepower and 160 kilo watts, however more powerful engines were also offered: 6.6 liter Pontiac V8 engine with 325 horse power and 242 kilo watts. In 1969 and additional package of the vehicle was introduced, it was called “Trans Am Performance and Appearance Package”, it marked the beginning of Pontiac Firebird Trans Am. There is also a minor difference between the models produced in 1967, 1968 and 1969. For example, the 1968 model, compared to the 1967 model had larger turn signals made, extended wraps were put around the front and back edges of the vehicle. The Pontiac logo was added to each side of the vehicle. The 1969 model received a major facelift with a new front end design. The steering wheel and the instrument panel were also changed.

Second generation

The production of 2nd gen Pontiac Firebird began 1970. The vehicle was considered to be rather successful; its production lasted up till 1981. The new model changed the previous “coke bottle” body style into a more stylish body than before. The rear window line going against almost straight to the top of the trunk– it’s a look that set an example of upcoming Firebirds styles.  During the second generation there was a large number of different trim modes introduced, going from regular Firebird to Firebird Formula, Firebird Trans Am, to Firebird Skybird or Firebird Redbird.. As mentioned before there were a lot of different Pontiac Firebird models made in the second generation of the vehicle. For example the 1974 model had a redesigned “shovel-nose” front end introduced and the new wider taillights. In 1977 another facelift was done, it once again changed the “shovel-nose” of the vehicle. In that year the Pontiac Firebird Trans-Am special edition received a lot of recognition and fame after it was featured in “Smokey and the Bandit” movie.

Third generation

The third generation of Pontiac Firebird was first introduced in 1982. The production began in 1982 and it lasted for 10 years till it was discontinued in 1992. The third generation of Firebirds mainly consisted of three models: Firebird, Firebird S/E and Firebird Trans Am. The Firebird was the regular model of the vehicle; the Firebird S/E was the luxury version of it and the Trans Am was the high performance version. The vehicle was once again offered as a two door coupe or a two door convertible. The vehicle was produced with a back wheel drive. The main objective of the new Pontiac Firebird was to reduce the gasoline costs to as minimum as possible and not to have the highest horsepower. In addition to that, General Motors also worked hard in order to increase the overall aerodynamics of the third generation Pontiac Firebird. Luckily, the engineers managed to balance the vehicle perfectly so that the Pontiac Firebird would have the best aerodynamics and handlings at that time. The vehicle was also about 230 kilograms lighter than the ones made in second generation Pontiac Firebirds. Pontiac once again offered a wide range of different styles as well as different engines.

Fourth generation

The fourth and the last generation of Pontiac Firebird were introduced in 1993. The production lasted for 9 years until Pontiac Firebird model was completely discontinued in 2002. There were two body styles of Pontiac Firebird offered: a two door couple and a two door convertible. The vehicle had a rear wheel drive. With the introduction of the fourth generation Pontiac Firebird, the manufacturers General Motors, continued on working on the aerodynamic formula that was initiated by the previous generation of the vehicle, however, regardless of that, it still saw declining sales. The first vehicles introduced in 1993 had a 3.4 liter V6 engine with 160 horsepower and 120 kilo watts or the 5.7 liter LT1 V8 engine with 275 horsepower and 205 kilowatts. In 1994 the fourth generation convertible was introduced and became available and the Trans Am Anniversary edition model was released. In 1995 the new Acceleration Slip Regulation (ASR) was available. In 1998 Firebird received a facelift: new front headlights were introduced as well as the new V8 engine.

Pontiac Firebird Trans Am

Pontiac Firebird Trans Am was a specialty package for the Firebird. It upgraded regular Pontiac Firebirds handling, suspension and horsepower, in addition to that, there were minor appearances changes done to the vehicle, such as an exclusive hood or spoiler. There were four generation of Pontiac Firebird Trans Am created between 1969 and 2002. The Pontiac Firebird Trans Am was also offered as a two door convertible and a two door coupe.  The Pontiac Firebird Trans Am featured in a number of different movies: the second generation model appeared in “Smokey and the Bandit”, “Hooper” and the “Smokey and the Bandit II”. Third generation model of the vehicle was shown in “Smokey and the Bandit 3”, “Alphabet City” and in the famous TV series “Knight Rider”.