![]() ![]() In early February of 1980, one very fortunate, Special Edition Turbo Trans Am Indy 500 Pace Car was completed. In 1980, Pontiac built 50,896 Trans Ams but of those just 5,700 Pontiac Special Edition Turbo Trans Am Indy 500 Pace Cars were completed and sold to the public. That year a rare special edition version Pontiac Trans Am was selected as the pace car for the Indianapolis 500 race. There was no Turbo boost indicator but instead three sequential “boost” lights built into the rear facing edge, just ahead of the driver on the front bonnet. In 1980, Pontiac dropped its 400 V8 and installed a new Turbo-charged 301 (4.9 liter) V8 as its top engine choice. All models also received some revised graphics. The rear end featured blackout panels disguising the taillights on Formula and Trans Am models. 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.Īs the 1970s drew to a close, the 19 Pontiac Firebird received a new nose, with the four rectangular headlights all in their own bezels, and the split grille was moved below them. ![]() Trans Ams also received a rear facing shaker hood scope to feed the standard Ram Air II engine. These aero pieces were claimed to generate 50 pounds of downforce on the front and rear of the car at highway speeds. A large decklid spoiler and small spoilers in front of the rear wheels completed the package. 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 and at the top was the all new Trans Am which was fitted with air dams across the bottom of the front and in front of the wheels. The Firebird lineup was reduced from six to four, and the convertible was eliminated. The suspension was revised and a rear stabilizer bar was added. The sides sported rounded full wheel cut outs without any extra trim (the Camaro had more squared off wheel cut outs). ![]() 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. Although not appearent at the time, the Pontiac Firebird Trans Am, along with the Chevrolet Corvette, would be the only American high performance cars that would remain in continuous production since their inception.Īn all new Pontiac Firebird was introduced for 1970 and represented a new high for Pontiac styling. Offered as a $725 option, only 689 Firebird coupes and 8 convertibles (talk about a collectible) were built. Conceived to campaign in the SCCA’s road racing series (with a special 303 cubic inch V8 which was never offered in production cars), Pontiac paid a $5 license fee to SCCA for each Trans Am sold to use the name. In March of 1969, Pontiac released a little publicized option package, the Trans Am Performance and Appearance Package. Both 6 and 8-cylinder engines were once again offered but something altogether new was in store for the more sporting buyer. ![]() The redesign did not do well with customers, and sales fell, despite the fact that production lasted for 17 months, well into 1970 due to production problems with the 1970 model. The front end was redone and the rear end and interior were changed slightly. The Pontiac Firebird underwent a major restyling for the 1969 model year. These were a combination of both economy and performance six-cylinder engines and performance oriented V8s. Initially, five different Firebirds were available, named after their respective engine choices. But the key differentiator was under the hood, where the Firebird offered a range of Pontiac engines. Despite using the same front fenders, doors, and rear fenders as the Camaro, the Firebird’s styled split front grille, beaked hood, and GTO-slitted taillights gave it a distinctly Pontiac apperance. Pontiac was able to use that additional time to create a unique identity for the Firebird, despite having to use the Camaro chassis and some body panels. The Pontiac Firebird was released five months after the Chevrolet Camaro, and offered buyers choices of six and eight cylinder engines. Pontiac did try to make it their own and would create a European styled and mannered pony car that could hold its own against its more experienced competition. The Firebird was offered with both six and eight cylinder engines, like the Mustang and Camaro, and was based heavily on the Chevrolet Camaro chassis. Having watched first the Ford Mustang and then the Chevrolet Camaro enter into the pony car market, Pontiac finally got into the act in the middle of 1967. ![]()
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