Smaller, more agile, and in many people’s eyes, better looking than the first generation, the 1970 Pontiac Firebird Formula 400 proved that whatever else the Firebird was, it had the potential to become a classic. The convertible option was dropped (not to return for a decade), the size was reduced (muscle cars were already on the wane), and the previous engine was replaced with a very respectable 400 V8 engine delivering 330 HP. In 1970, Pontiac released the second generation of the Pontiac Firebird.
PONTIAC FIREBIRD 1970 MOVIE
When the model featured in the movie “Smokey and the Bandit,” its status as one of Pontiac’s best-selling and most iconic models was cemented. It wasn’t the first time we’d seen the “Screaming Chicken” logo ( as notes), the design was conjured up in 1970 and attached to its first car in 1973), but never had it been such a focus before. Despite the fact neither were great engines, they both managed to outperform the competition. The Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Special Edition came with either a 4.9-liter turbo engine or a 400 NA V8. Pontiac didn’t escape the curse entirely, but in 1978 it released what would rapidly become a classic. With their sluggish engines and laughable horsepower, they had all the looks and none of the performance.
1978 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Special Editionīy the late 1970s, muscle cars were out of fashion and out of respect. Sure, it wasn’t the best Firebird ever released, but it was still of a good enough value and a good enough performance to make our list. Aimed to compete with the Z/28 Camaro and Mustang GT, the Formula was a mid-level car with a gutsy engine, respectable top speeds, and an aesthetic that, if not quite as star-spangled as a fully souped-up Trans Am, was still pretty enough to draw admiring glances. In 1987, Pontiac released the Firebird Formula, an affordable, capable machine positioned somewhere between a regular Firebird and a Trans Am. Its only downfall was an environmentally friendly, water-based paint that had to be repainted again and again and again. With a mighty engine capable of delivering up to 200 ponies and an aesthetic that couldn’t help but turn heads, the 1981 Pontiac Firebird was a masterful addition to the Firebrand legacy. As ends go, you couldn’t have asked for better. 1981 Pontiac Firebirdġ981 signaled the end of the second generation Firebird. The result was attractive, performance-driven, and a very worthy successor to the original. The instrument panel and steering wheel got a brand new look, and the entire front end received a major facelift.
PONTIAC FIREBIRD 1970 WINDOWS
The front door vent windows of the previous year’s model were ripped out and a single pane of glass and a fresh air inlet system were added in their place. Wrap around side marker lights were added to the front and at the back, the Pontiac Arrowhead logo was added. The sales figures may not have been in the same league as the Camaro, but as first impressions go, Pontiac couldn’t have done better. Lean, mean, and most definitely designed to make an impression, the Firebird quickly became one of the most popular muscle cars of the year. Available as either a two-door coupe or a convertible, the 1967 model had overtones of the Chevrolet Camaro, albeit with a more aggressive attitude. Where better to kick things off than at the very beginning? In 1967, Pontiac unveiled the very first Firebird. As to the line’s finest moments… find out what they were as we unveil the 10 best Pontiac Firebird models of all time. In 2002, it was retired, but not before we’d got to enjoy some world-class motors. It rapidly became one of the most successful cars in the segment. Soon enough, DeLorean did a 180, and in 1967, Pontiac unveiled the first-ever Firebird. But then Ford delivered the Mustang and Chevrolet came up with the Camaro.
The world didn’t need another muscle car…or so he thought. The brand had just delivered the GTO, and in head executive John DeLorean’s mind, that was sufficient. At first, the head of Pontiac was resistant to the idea of a Firebird.
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