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Pontiac Firebird

Researched November 1, 2026 from 37 sources

Also called

  • Screaming ChickenThe optional hood bird introduced on the 1973 Trans Am gave the Firebird this nickname.1
  • BanditUsed for Trans Ams echoing the 1977 Special Edition in Smokey and the Bandit.2
  • TATAShorthand for the 1979 10th Anniversary Trans Am, the Y89 limited edition.3

At a glance

0200400
90–350 hpPower
0510
4.6–10 s0–60 mph
0150300
200–261 km/hTop speed
0400800
237–651 N·mTorque
01,0002,000
1,514–1,760 kgWeight

The coral arc spans the family, from its mildest version to its wildest.16910121314

Engine
2.5 L I4; OHC I6; V6s, including turbo; V8s up to 7.5 L359
Layout
Front engine, rear-wheel drive; F-body5
Gearbox
3-, 4-, 5- or 6-speed manual; 2-, 3- or 4-speed automatic5911
Built at
Lordstown, Norwood, Van Nuys, U.S.; Sainte-Therese, Quebec, Canada5911

The story

John DeLorean wanted a two-seat sports car; GM gave Pontiac a Camaro to rework instead. Launched in 1967 to challenge the Mustang, the Firebird stood apart with a belt-driven overhead-cam six and Pontiac V8s.456

1967: February 23: Pontiac takes on Mustang19671969: Trans Am joins the family19691970: Second generation: four flavors19701973: Hand-built SD-455 arrives19731982: Third generation cuts through the air19821989: Turbo V6: 4.6 seconds to 60 mph19891993: Fourth generation: LT1 and six speeds1993 Pontiac Firebird (first generation) (F-body): 1967–1969Pontiac Firebird (second generation) (F-body): 1970–1981F-bodyPontiac Firebird (third generation) (F-body): 1982–1992F-bodyPontiac Firebird (fourth generation) (F-body): 1993–2002F-body 197019801990200020102020
GenerationsMilestones34591114
Show the numbers
YearWhat happened
1967–1969Pontiac Firebird (first generation) (F-body)
1970–1981Pontiac Firebird (second generation) (F-body)
1982–1992Pontiac Firebird (third generation) (F-body)
1993–2002Pontiac Firebird (fourth generation) (F-body)
1967February 23: Pontiac takes on Mustang
1969Trans Am joins the family
1970Second generation: four flavors
1973Hand-built SD-455 arrives
1982Third generation cuts through the air
1989Turbo V6: 4.6 seconds to 60 mph
1993Fourth generation: LT1 and six speeds
  1. 1967

    February 23: Pontiac takes on Mustang

    The Firebird launches with a 215-hp Sprint six, 285-hp 326 HO and 325-hp 400. For 1968, the 350 HO rises to 320 hp.5

  2. 1969

    Trans Am joins the family

    The WS4 package offers a 335-hp Ram Air III 400 or optional Ram Air IV. Just 689 hardtops and 8 convertibles leave the factory.57

  3. 1970

    Second generation: four flavors

    Delayed by stamping problems until February 26, the second generation offers base Firebird, luxury Esprit, Formula and Trans Am; coupes only.45

  4. 1973

    Hand-built SD-455 arrives

    The hand-assembled, 290-hp SD-455 arrives for Formula and Trans Am, with a reinforced block and dry-sump provisions. Just 1,296 are built across 1973-74.158

  5. 1982

    Third generation cuts through the air

    The third generation brings hidden headlights and a hatchback. Trans Am's Cd is 0.32; power spans a 90-hp Iron Duke four and 165-hp Crossfire 5.0 L V8.49

  6. 1989

    Turbo V6: 4.6 seconds to 60 mph

    Buick's 3.8 L turbo V6 brings 250 hp to the 20th Anniversary Trans Am. It paces the Indianapolis 500 and runs 0-60 mph in 4.6 seconds.10

  7. 1993

    Fourth generation: LT1 and six speeds

    LT1 Formula/Trans Am get 275 hp, 441 Nm and six speeds; the 160-hp 3.4 L V6 gets five. For 1994, the optional four-speed automatic gains electronic control.11

Every generation

  • Pontiac Firebird (first generation)
    F-body1967–1969
  • Pontiac Firebird (second generation)
    F-body1970–1981
  • Pontiac Firebird (third generation)
    F-body1982–1992
  • Pontiac Firebird (fourth generation)
    F-body1993–2002

Power over the years

From 325 hp to 350 hp in 25 years.

0100200300400 1970197519801985199019952000 hp 1967 · 325 hp · 400 Ram Air (gross)1969 · 345 hp · 400 Ram Air IV (gross)1972 · 300 hp · 455 HO (net; 335 hp gross in 1971)1980 · 210 hp · Trans Am Turbo 3011982 · 90 hp · Base 2.5 L Iron Duke1985 · 210 hp · 5.0 L TPI V8 (automatic)1992 · 350 hp · Formula Firehawk1993 · 275 hp · Formula/Trans Am LT1 (T-56 manual)1995 · 200 hp · Base 3.8 L V6 (305 Nm)1998 · 320 hp · Trans Am WS6 LS12002 · 345 hp · SLP Firehawk 350 hp Formula Firehawk 325 hp 400 Ram Air (gross)
1456911121415
Show the numbers
YearHorsepowerModel
1967325400 Ram Air (gross)
1969345400 Ram Air IV (gross)
1972300455 HO (net; 335 hp gross in 1971)
1980210Trans Am Turbo 301
198290Base 2.5 L Iron Duke
19852105.0 L TPI V8 (automatic)
1992350Formula Firehawk
1993275Formula/Trans Am LT1 (T-56 manual)
1995200Base 3.8 L V6 (305 Nm)
1998320Trans Am WS6 LS1
2002345SLP Firehawk

Versions

12 versions worth knowing, with their power.

  • Standard

    Firebird (base)

    1970

    155 hp
  • Firebird Esprit

    Standard

    Firebird Esprit

    1970–1981

  • Firebird Formula

    Performance

    Firebird Formula

    1970–1981, 1987–2002

  • Trans Am GTA

    Performance

    Trans Am GTA

    1987–1992

  • Trans Am WS6

    Performance

    Trans Am WS6

    1978–1992, 1996–2002

  • Firehawk

    Performance

    Firehawk

    1991–1997, 1999–2002

  • Trans Am Limited / Special Editions

    Special

    Trans Am Limited / Special Editions

    1976–1981

  • Turbo Trans Am pace-car editions

    Limited

    Turbo Trans Am pace-car editions

    1980–1981

  • Trans Am 10th Anniversary (Y89)

    Limited

    Trans Am 10th Anniversary (Y89)

    1979

    7,500 built

  • 20th Anniversary Turbo Trans Am

    Limited

    20th Anniversary Turbo Trans Am

    1989

    250 hp
  • Formula / Trans Am SD-455

    Performance

    Formula / Trans Am SD-455

    1973–1974

    290 hp

    1,296 built

  • Trans Am (original)

    Limited

    Trans Am (original)

    1969

    335 hp

    697 built

How to spot one

Look for

  • Third generation: wedge body, pop-up headlights and a curved glass hatch.20
  • Trans Am's hood bird became a factory option in 1973.5

Year by year

  1. 1967–1969

    1967 has vent windows; 1968 deletes them and adds wraparound front signals and rear arrowhead markers; 1969 gets a new nose.56

  2. 1971–1972

    1971 non-Trans Ams gain louvers behind the front wheels; 1972 uses elongated hexagonal grille mesh.4

  3. 1974–1975

    1974 adds a shovel nose and wide slotted taillights; 1975 gets wraparound rear glass and moves turn signals into the grilles.3

  4. 1982–1985

    1982 adds hidden lights and a glass hatch; 1985 Trans Am gets standard ground effects, hood extractor vents and a wraparound rear spoiler.420

  5. 1998

    Revised nose gains twin air ports; pop-ups get dual lamps, front fenders gain vents and rear lights get honeycomb covers with round reverse lamps.11

Don’t confuse it with

  • Photo of a Pontiac Firebird
    Firebird
    Photo of a Chevrolet Camaro
    Chevrolet Camaro

    Chevrolet Camaro

    On third-gen cars, Firebird's retractable headlights and rounded hood/fenders provide the clearest distinction.9

  • Regular Firebird with Special Edition-style trim

    Gold detailing alone cannot verify a Special Edition; the same look can be added to a regular Firebird.15

  • Firehawk / WS6

    1999–2002 Firehawk: two big hood nostrils versus WS6's four; confirm WU6 or WS6 on the option label.1417

Against its rivals

Prices

Value today $20.0K–$45.0K15

Price when newAuction saleValue todayPrices on a log scale
$1K$10K$100K$1M 197019801990200020102020 Value today: $20,000–$45,000 1967 · $2,666 · US hardtop base1969 · $2,831 · US 400 hardtop; Trans Am +$10561974 · $4,289 · US Formula SD-455, original1974 · $4,929 · US Trans Am SD-455, original1979 · $6,299 · US Trans Am base; WS6 +$4341982 · $7,155 · US Firebird base1989 · $30,717 · US 20th Anniversary Trans Am base1992 · $51,989 · US Formula Firehawk, as tested1993 · $18,000 · US Formula base (estimate)2000 · $32,090 · US Trans Am WS6 test; option $3150 1967 · $2,666 · US hardtop base price, 1967 model year 2024 · $26,500 · 1970 Esprit, under 15k miles shown (TMU), Bring a Trailer2025 · $34,500 · 1967 Sprint coupe 4-speed, 84k miles shown, Bring a Trailer2025 · $112,500 · 1974 Trans Am SD-455 4-speed, 30k miles shown, Bring a Trailer2025 · $32,550 · 1968 convertible, 40k miles shown (TMU), Bring a Trailer2025 · $19,000 · 2002 SLP Firehawk convertible 6-speed, 80k miles, Bring a Trailer2025 · $38,500 · 1989 Turbo Trans Am T-top, nearly 26,000 miles, Mecum Kissimmee2026 · $32,900 · 2002 Trans Am WS6 coupe 6-speed, 9k miles, Bring a Trailer2026 · $76,500 · 1977 Trans Am Y82, 8k shown on rolled odometer, Bring a Trailer2026 · $24,000 · 1987 Trans Am GTA, Bring a Trailer2026 · $7,800 · 2000 V6 coupe, 82k miles, Bring a Trailer $112.5K Bring a Trailer, 2025
67810121320212228293031323334353637
Show the numbers
YearPriceAmountDetail
1967Launch price$2,666US hardtop base price, 1967 model year
1967Price when new$2,666US hardtop base
1969Price when new$2,831US 400 hardtop; Trans Am +$1056
1974Price when new$4,289US Formula SD-455, original
1974Price when new$4,929US Trans Am SD-455, original
1979Price when new$6,299US Trans Am base; WS6 +$434
1982Price when new$7,155US Firebird base
1989Price when new$30,717US 20th Anniversary Trans Am base
1992Price when new$51,989US Formula Firehawk, as tested
1993Price when new$18,000US Formula base (estimate)
2000Price when new$32,090US Trans Am WS6 test; option $3150
2024Auction sale$26,5001970 Esprit, under 15k miles shown (TMU), Bring a Trailer
2025Auction sale$34,5001967 Sprint coupe 4-speed, 84k miles shown, Bring a Trailer
2025Auction sale$112,5001974 Trans Am SD-455 4-speed, 30k miles shown, Bring a Trailer
2025Auction sale$32,5501968 convertible, 40k miles shown (TMU), Bring a Trailer
2025Auction sale$19,0002002 SLP Firehawk convertible 6-speed, 80k miles, Bring a Trailer
2025Auction sale$38,5001989 Turbo Trans Am T-top, nearly 26,000 miles, Mecum Kissimmee
2026Auction sale$32,9002002 Trans Am WS6 coupe 6-speed, 9k miles, Bring a Trailer
2026Auction sale$76,5001977 Trans Am Y82, 8k shown on rolled odometer, Bring a Trailer
2026Auction sale$24,0001987 Trans Am GTA, Bring a Trailer
2026Auction sale$7,8002000 V6 coupe, 82k miles, Bring a Trailer
2026Value today$20,000–$45,000

The rest of the story is in the app

The full file tells why each version matters, the legend behind the car and what to check before buying one.

  • Versions

    • Why each of the 12 versions matters

  • Legend

    • 14 stories from its legend
    • “America's quickest showroom sprinter in 1989”
    • “Trans Ams raced in disguise”

  • Generations

    • The story of each of the 4 generations

  • Market

    • 4 things to check before buying one
    • Where prices are heading, and why
Read the full file in SPOT

SPOT is free on iPhone. Full car files come with SPOT Plus.

Sources

Every fact on this page links to the source it rests on.

See all 37 sources
  1. Pontiac Firebird - Year-by-Year: Specs, Engines, Production & More musclecarclub.com
  2. Smokey and the Bandit: Behind-the-Scenes Details With Director Hal Needham hotrod.com
  3. Pontiac Firebird (second generation) - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  4. Looking back at the Pontiac Firebird hotrod.com
  5. Pontiac Firebird - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  6. The Summer of John Z: John DeLorean and the Pontiac Firebird < Ate Up With Motor ateupwithmotor.com
  7. Fired Up! Pontiac’s First Trans Am hotrod.com
  8. 1973-1974 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am SD-455 Collectible Classic - Automobile Magazine motortrend.com
  9. Pontiac Firebird (third generation) - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  10. Archive Road Test: 1989 Pontiac 20th Anniversary Trans Am caranddriver.com
  11. GMEFI Magazine gm-efi.com
  12. 1992 Pontiac Formula Firehawk, a Hot Rod by SLP caranddriver.com
  13. From the Archive: 1979 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Road Test caranddriver.com
  14. Pontiac WS6 Trans Am: Everything You Need to Know About the Exciting Firebird Package hotrod.com
  15. Pontiac Trans Am buying guide, history and review - Octane Magazine octane-magazine.com
  16. Firebird Models List/History by ACW | pontiac | firebird-1 | articles | DIY diyauto.com
  17. Firehawk.org : The Official Firehawk Web Site : Top : Firehawk : FAQ : General : How to tell a real Firehawk firehawk.org
  18. GMEFI Magazine gm-efi.com
  19. 1979 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am 10th Anniversary Coupe | The John Staluppi Collection | RM Sotheby's rmsothebys.com
  20. GMEFI Magazine gm-efi.com
  21. Tested: 1993 Pony Cars from Chevy, Ford, and Pontiac Compared caranddriver.com
  22. 2000 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am WS6 - First Drive & Road Test Review - Motor Trend motortrend.com
  23. History — BFGTirebird bfgtirebird.com
  24. Pontiac Firebird History - High Performance Pontiac Magazine hotrod.com
  25. 1982 Pontiac Trans Am - K.I.T.T. Confidential - High Performance Pontiac hotrod.com
  26. Elliott Forbes-Robinson - SnapLap snaplap.net
  27. gran-turismo.com gran-turismo.com
  28. Four-Decades-Family-Owned 1967 Pontiac Firebird Sprint Coupe 4-Speed for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $34,500 on November 8, 2025 (Lot #218,810) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  29. 9k-Mile 2002 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am WS6 Coupe 6-Speed for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $32,900 on March 21, 2026 (Lot #234,439) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  30. 1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Special Edition for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $76,500 on August 14, 2026 (Lot #257,693) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  31. No Reserve: 2000 Pontiac Firebird Coupe for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $7,800 on January 15, 2026 (Lot #226,513) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  32. Mecum Auctions Summer Special: 1989 Pontiac Turbo Trans Am 20th Anniversary Edition hotrod.com
  33. 1974 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am SD-455 4-Speed for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $112,500 on December 15, 2025 (Lot #223,542) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  34. 14k-Mile 1987 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am GTA for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $20,500 on October 10, 2024 (Lot #166,218) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  35. 1968 Pontiac Firebird Convertible for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $32,550 on October 8, 2025 (Lot #213,800) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  36. 2002 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am SLP Firehawk Convertible 6-Speed for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $19,000 on August 21, 2025 (Lot #206,264) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  37. Single-Family-Owned 1970 Pontiac Firebird Esprit for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $26,500 on July 3, 2024 (Lot #153,164) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  • musclecarclub.com
  • hotrod.com
  • en.wikipedia.org
  • ateupwithmotor.com
  • motortrend.com
  • caranddriver.com
  • gm-efi.com
  • octane-magazine.com
  • diyauto.com
  • firehawk.org
  • rmsothebys.com
  • bfgtirebird.com
  • snaplap.net
  • gran-turismo.com

Photo credits

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