Pontiac Firebird

2009-12-21T05:23:36Z

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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.

{| border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=4 style="float:right; margin:0 0 .5em 1em; width:250px; background:#fff; border-collapse:collapse; border:1px solid #999; font-size:83%; line-height:1.5; " summary="Infobox Automobile"
|- style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0f0;"
| colspan=2 style="padding:0; background:#996; color:#fff; border-bottom:1px solid #999;" | [[Image:1990-92-Pontiac-Firebird-91129181990220.jpg|300px]]
|- style="color:#fff; background:#996; font-size:larger;"
! colspan=2 | '''Pontiac Firebird'''
|-
! colspan=2 style="text-align:center; font-weight:normal; background:#ddb;" | [[General Motors]]
|- style="vertical-align:top; background:#f0f0f0;"
| Production
| 1967-2002
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| Class
| Sports Car
|- style="vertical-align:top; background:#f0f0f0;"
| Body Style
| 3-Door Hatchback 2-Door Convertible
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| Length
| 195.1"
|- style="vertical-align:top; background:#f0f0f0;"
| Width
| 72.4"
|- style="vertical-align:top;
| Height
| 49.8"
|- style="vertical-align:top; background:#f0f0f0;"
| Wheelbase
| 101"
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| Weight
| 3100-3500 lbs
|- style="vertical-align:top; background:#f0f0f0;"
| Transmission
| 4-Speed Manual, RWD 5-Speed Manual, RWD 3-Speed Automatic, RWD 4-Speed Automatic, RWD
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| 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)
|- style="vertical-align:top; background:#f0f0f0;"
| Power
| 92-350 hp
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| Similar
| [[Chevrolet Camaro]]
|- style="vertical-align:top; background:#f0f0f0;"
| 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 [[Pontiac GTO|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 [[Plymouth Satellite|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.

{{Pontiac}}

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Pontiac Firebird