Pontiac Firebird
History
2nd Generation
1970-1981
Introduction: The second generation Firebird saw the Firebird becoming more like a
Camaro, but Pontiac still had a few more tricks up its sleeve, especially under the
hood. Nothing would rule the mid 1970s quite like the Firebird.
1970 Pontiac Firebird
Comments: An all new Pontiac Firebird was introduced for 1970 and represented a new
high for Pontiac styling. The front bumper and grille were molded out of Endura
rubber and were painted the same color as the car to give it a bumperless appearance.
The sides sported rounded full wheel cut outs without any extra trim (the Camaro had
more squared off wheel cut outs). The suspension was revised and a rear stabilizer
bar was added. The Firebird lineup was reduced from six to four, and the convertible
was eliminated. At the bottom of the line up was the Base Firebird, whose Pontiac
250 I6 was replaced by a Chevy built 250 I6 rated at a meager 155bhp. Most buyers
wisely opted for one of the optional V8s. Next up was the Espirit, which featured the
Pontiac 350 V8 rated at 255 bhp. The Formula 400 featured a unique twin-scooped hood
with a 400 V8 rated at 335 bhp. At the top was the Trans Am, which was fitted with
air dams across the bottom of the front and in front of the wheels. A large decklip
lip and small spoilers in front of the rear wheels completed the package. These aero
pieces were claimed to generate 50 pounds of downforce on the front and rear of the
car at highway speeds. Trans Ams also received a rear facing shaker hood scope
to feed the standard Ram Air II engine. Optional on the Trans Am was the Ram Air IV
engine, whose output had increased to 370 bhp due to bigger ports, better heads,
swirl-polished valves, and an aluminum instake manifold. Only 88 copies were made.
Rarer still was the Ram Air V, an over-the-counter, special order engine that included
solid lifters and tunnel port heads and made up to 500 bhp. A four speed Hurst
shifter was standard, but a three speed Turbo Hydra-matic automatic was available.
Inside, complete instrumentation, including a tach turned on its side to red line at
12 o'clock just like a race car, completed the performance image. The Trans Am
featured one of the best tuned suspensions of any car (including the Corvette) and its
European styling gave it instant class. The Trans Am was now available in either Polar
White or Lucent Blue, with contrasting stripes, a relatively modest bird stencil at
the tip of the nose, and the words "Trans Am" across the rear spoiler.
Production: Formula 400: 7,708 Trans Am: 3,196
Engines: 250 I6 155 bhp. 350 V8 255 bhp. 400 V8 265 bhp. 400 V8 330 bhp @ 4800rpm,
430 lb-ft @ 3000 rpm. 400 V8 (HO) 335 bhp @ 5000rpm, 430 lb-ft @ 3400 rpm. 400 V8
(Ram Air II) 345 bhp @ 5000 rpm, 430 lb-ft @ 3400 rpm. 400 V8 (Ram Air IV) 370 bhp
@ 5500 rpm, 445 lb-ft @ 3900 rpm. 400 V8 (Ram Air V) 500bhp.
Performance: 400/370 (RA IV): 0-60 in 5.6 sec, 1/4 mile in 13.9 sec @ 102 mph.
1971 Pontiac Firebird
Comments: 1971 saw little styling change for the Pontiac Firebird, with the addition of
high-back bucket seats being the major appearance change. Rather, the major changes
were under the hood. In order to satisfy General Motors decree that all engines
had to run on unleaded gasoline to meet federal emission standards, the engine options
were significantly altered. A new 400 V8 rated at 300 bhp was added, but both 400 Ram Air
engines were dropped. In their place were two new 455 V8s, rated at 325 bhp and 335
bhp. The 455 HO engine was only available in the Trans Am and borrowed the cylinder
heads from the 1970 Ram Air II and the intake manifold from the 1970 Ram Air IV. The
Trans Am continued with its blue and white paint scheme, functional rear facing engine
shaker hood scoops, and aero body pieces. Although the 455 engines available in the Trans
Am were less powerful than the 1970 Ram Air II and IV engines, their 480 lb-ft of torque
and less tempermental nature made them easier to drive on the street and were one of the
high points in a time when performance was on the decline.
Production: Formula: 7,802 Trans Am: 2,116
Engines: 400 V8 300 bhp @ 4800rpm, 400 lb-ft @ 3600 rpm.
455 V8 325 bhp @ 4400 rpm, 455 lb-ft @ 3200 rpm. 455 V8 (HO) 335 bhp @ 4800 rpm,
480 lb-ft @ 3600 rpm.
Performance: 455/335 (HO): 0-60 in 5.9 sec, 1/4 mile in 13.9 sec @ 103 mph.
1972 Pontiac Firebird
Comments: 1972 was a disasterous year for the Firebird. GM executives considered dropping the
Firebird altogether as sales fell drastically as the muscle car market collapsed, which was
worsened by a crippling 174 day strike at the only plant that produced Firebirds. Pontiac
executives were able to eventually save the Firebird and it continued, with very little
change from 1971, except that its engines were now rated in net SAE numbers. Pontiac's
famous "honeycomb" wheels also made their first appearance in 1972.
Production: Formula: 5,249 Trans Am: 1,286
Engines: 400 V8 250 bhp @ 4400rpm, 325 lb-ft @ 3200 rpm.
455 V8 300 bhp @ 4000 rpm, 415 lb-ft @ 3200 rpm.
Performance: N/A
1973 Pontiac Firebird
Comments: 1973 saw some significant new changes to the Firebird, including a new eggcrate
grille and a revised front bumper. Engine ratings were down again, with the 350 rated at a
mere 150 bhp and the 400 at 250 bhp. But two things would save the Firebird and firmly
establish Pontiac as the performance manufacturer during the dark days of the 1970s. The
first was the introduction of a new Super Duty 455 V8 (SD-455). "Super Duty" was the name
Pontiac used on its high performance (i.e. race ready) engines in the early 1960's, and
the Super Duty 455 was a street legal race prepped engine. All SD-455's were hand
assembled, and had a reinforced block, special cam shaft, aluminum pistons, oversize
valves and header-like exhaust manifolds. Pontiac rated the SD-455 engines at a stout
310 bhp and 390 lb-ft, but experts agreed that it was closer to 370 bhp. This level of
engine ratings were unheard of in an era when other manufacturer's engines' output
were falling dramatically, and the Firebird became the only true performance car remaining
in the market. Unfortunately, Super Duty engines were expensive and therefore rare; only
252 Trans Am's and 43 Formula 455's received the SD-455 engine. The second major coup
for the Firebird was the introduction of a new Firebird decal on the Trans Am, which
covered almost the entire hood and was quickly nick-named "the screaming chicken,"
which added to the excitement and popularity of the entire Firebird lineup. Sales
of the Firebird and Trans Am were up dramatically, ensuring their survival.
Production: Formula: 10,166 Trans Am: 4,802
Engines: 350 V8 150 bhp. 400 V8 230 bhp @ 4400rpm, 325 lb-ft @ 3200 rpm.
455 V8 250 bhp @ 4000 rpm, 370 lb-ft @ 2800 rpm. 455 (SD) V8 310 bhp @ 4000 rpm,
390 lb-ft @ 3600 rpm.
Performance: N/A
1974 Pontiac Firebird
Comments: 1974 was a difficult year for the Firebird. Gone was the Endura bumper, replaced by
new, Federally mandated, fiberglass front end with a slight wedge shape and rubber covered
5 mph bumpers. The chrome rear bumper was also gone, replaced by those pesky rubber
bumpers. Engine ratings dropped again with the Trans Am's base 400 V8 engine rated at
225 bhp. But for a mere $57, buyers could order the 250 bhp 455 V8, which received a
10 lb-ft boost to 380 lb-ft, but which came only with an automatic transmission. The
mighty Super Duty 455 V8 was also available for an additional $578 and were unchanged from
the year before. All V8s included true dual exhausts, which made their last
appearance on the Firebird. Also available for the last time on the 1974 Firebirds
were the Muncie 4-speed manual transmission and the TurboHydramatic 400 automatic
transmission. The lower output of the 1975 engines would make those heavy-duty
transmissions unnecessary. This would also be the last year of the Super Duty engines.
Production: Formula: Trans Am: 10,255 Super Duty 455: 943
Engines: 350 V8 155bhp. 400 V8 225 bhp @ 4000 rpm, 330 lb-ft @ 2800 rpm.
455 V8 250 bhp @ 4000 rpm, 380 lb-ft @ 2800 rpm. 455 (SD) V8 310 bhp @ 4000 rpm,
390 lb-ft @ 3600 rpm.
Performance: SD455/310: 1/4 mile in 13.5 seconds @ 104 mph
1975 Pontiac Firebird
Comments: In what had been a sea of pony car competitors, the Pontiac Firebird was all alone
for 1975. The Camaro Z28, AMC Javelin, Plymouth Barracuda, and Dodge Challenger all were
discontinued. The Ford Mustang was now offered on a Pinto platform and boasted a top engine
offering of a 105 bhp 2.8 liter V6! The 1975 Firebird featured a new front end (it's third
in three years) and a much improved rear window, which greatly improved visibility. The
instrument panel stayed the same, but the old 160 mph speedometer was replaced by a new 100 mph
unit, to better reflect the new times. The base 400 cid V8 Trans Am engine put out a pitiful 185 bhp,
but still cranked out 310 lb-ft of torque. But the big news was what was lost: No
Super Duty 455 engine, no Turbo-Hydramatic 400 automatic transmission, no Muncie Four-Speed Manual
Transmission, no true dual exhausts. The main culprit: the new Federally mandated Catalytic
Converters. The 455 V8 was re-introduced mid-year in "H.O." guise, but it was just the
455 engine from the Bonneville and produced only 200 bhp.
Production: Formula: Trans Am: 27,274
Engines: 350 V8 155bhp. 400 V8 185 bhp, 310 lb-ft. 455 V8 200 bhp @ 3800 rpm, 330 lb-ft @ 2000 rpm. 455 (HO) V8 200 bhp.
Performance: 455/200: 1/4 mile in 16.1 seconds @ 89 mph
1976 Pontiac Firebird
Comments: 1976 would be the last year of the 455 engine, and the first year of available
T-Tops. All Firebirds received new more angular bumpers which improved their appearance,
and Pontiac introduced the very popular Black-and-Gold Special Edition Trans Am which quickly
became one of the most famous Trans Am's of all time. This would be the first year that
over 100,000 Firebirds were sold.
Production:
Engines: 350 V8 155bhp. 400 V8 185 bhp, 310 lb-ft. 455 (HO) V8 200 bhp @ 3800 rpm, 330 lb-ft @ 2000 rpm.
Performance:
1977 Pontiac Firebird
Comments: 1977 saw a new "Batmobile" front end with quad square headlamps and ever more complex
engine choices. The Chevy inline six was dumped for a Buick 231 cubic inch (3.8 liter) V6 as the
base engine. A new 301 (4.9 liter) V8 rated at just 135 bhp was available in Esprits and Formulas,
with the familiar 350 was optional. Trans Am's featured either a Oldsmobile 403 (6.6 liter) V8
or the Pontiac 400 (T/A 6.6) engine under their shaker hood. Meanwhile, Firebirds sold in
California had to make due with Chevy 305 and 350 V8s to meet the state's strict emission laws.
But 1977 would the year that firmly established the Firebird as the performance car of the 1970s.
Burt Reynolds drove a Black-and-Gold Special Edition Trans Am in the unexpected movie hit
"Smokey and the Bandit", that drove the Firebird's popularity (and sales) to new heights.
Production: Total: 155,736 (Trans Am: 68,745)
Engines: 231 V6 105 bhp. 301 V8 135 bhp. 305 V8 (California). 350 V8 (California).
350 V8 155bhp. 400 V8 185 bhp, 310 lb-ft. 403 V8.
Performance: 400/185: 1/4 mile in 16.02 sec. @ 89.64 mph.
1978 Pontiac Firebird
Comments: Attempting to capitalize on its new found popularity, Pontiac offered a slew of
Special Edition Firebirds including a Gold Trans Am with brown accents and Blue "Sky Bird"
and Red "Red Bird" Firebirds. Sales soared to a record 187,285 units, including 93,341
Trans Am's.
Production: Total: 187,285 (Trans Am: 93,641)
Engines: 231 V6 105 bhp. 301 V8 135 bhp. 305 V8 (California). 350 V8 (California).
350 V8 155bhp. 400 V8 185 bhp, 310 lb-ft. 403 V8.
Performance:
1979 Pontiac Firebird
Comments: As the 1970s drew to a close, the 1979 Pontiac Firebird received a new nose, with the
four rectangular headlights all in their own bezels, and the split grille was moved below
them. The rear end featured blackout panels disguising the taillights on Formula and Trans Am
models. All models also received some revised graphics. A special silver 10th Anniversary
edition Trans Am was sold in what would be the last year for the Pontiac 400 engine.
Production:
Engines: 231 V6 105 bhp. 301 V8 135 bhp. 305 V8 (California). 350 V8 (California).
350 V8 155bhp. 400 V8 185 bhp, 310 lb-ft. 403 V8.
Performance:
1980 Pontiac Firebird
Comments: In perhaps the ultimate insult to the Firebird, Pontiac dropped its 400 V8 and
installed a new Turbo-charged 301 (4.9 liter) V8 as its top engine choice. The
notorious "Turbo 4.9 was rated at a pathetic 210 bhp, but the real insult came from its
actual performance. There was no Turbo boost indicator as Turbo lag was a huge problem
and the engine often made loud pinging sounds under heavy loads just before it
self-destructed. Nevertheless, a Pontiac Trans Am paced the Indianapolis 500 race that
year. Sales dropped considerably.
Production:
Engines: 301 Turbo V8 210 bhp.
Performance: 301/210: 1/4 mile in 17.02 sec @ 82.1 mph.
1981 Pontiac Firebird
Comments: The disasterous Firebird of 1980 continued into 1981 as sales dropped to just 38% of
just two years before.
Production: 70,899
Engines: 301 Turbo V8 210 bhp.
Performance: 301/210: 1/4 mile in 17.02 sec @ 82.1 mph.
