Firebird Trans Am 1967-2002

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Item # MB-18508  ISBN: 9780760318508




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Pontiac's Firebird started life as the forgotten cousin of the popular Camaro series, Chevrolet's response to the performance trend started by the Mustang, Corvette, and GTO. Thanks to the success of the iconic Trans Am version of the car, the Firebird far surpassed the Camaro in popularity. Did Burt Reynolds drive a Camaro in Smokey and the Bandit? Did David Hasselhoff drive a Camaro in Knight Rider? No way! They drove Trans Ams.

In the emissions-strangled 1970s, the Trans Am earned a reputation as the last muscle car standing. In the face of the EPA, DOT, and insurance industry, Pontiac kept the focus on tire-shredding speed and power. In an era of 180-horsepower big blocks, Landau tops, and crushed-velour interiors, the Trans Am proved to be one of the quickest muscle cars ever built, a car that thumbed its nose at the envirocrats and safetycrats with every thump of its super-sized pistons.

Sadly, the Firebird has disappeared, and with it the mighty Trans Am. But these icons of the muscle era live on for performance car fans. In Firebird Trans Am, acclaimed author and photographer David Newhardt tells the story of this remarkable car. His thorough text and gorgeous color photos bring the power of these cars to the page.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

Chapter One: Upscale Cousin 1967-1969

Chapter Two: Opportunity Seized 1970-1981

Chapter Three: "performance" Is Spelled in Lower Case 1975-1981

Chapter Four: 1982—Aero Friendly Market Friendly

Chapter Five: Scene Four Enter Stage Right—1993-2002

Firebird Trans Am 1967-2002