Coupe and convertible body styles tempted buyers.
At the dawn of the 1970s, a redesigned Pontiac Firebird emerged, available only in a sleek coupe body style. But as that decade progressed, the Firebird's performance diminished while body graphics and spoilers, as if to compensate, grew more extroverted. The third-generation Firebird appeared for 1982, wearing a lighter, wedge-shaped hatchback body with flip-up headlights.
Most Recent Pontiac Firebird
Running from 1993-2002, the last Firebird generation continued the age-old tradition of performance and style above all else. Initially only a coupe body style was offered in base, Formula and Trans Am trims, the former coming with a 3.4-liter V6 (160 hp) and the latter pair with an "LT1" 5.7-liter V8 (275 hp). The following year saw the return of the Firebird convertible, while 1995 brought a 3.8-liter, 200-hp V6 for the base Firebird. For 1996, the V8 made 285 hp and Ram Air induction returned for that engine, boosting output to 305 hp.
Apart from minor trim differences and a bump in power to 310 hp for the V8 in 2001, the Firebird soldiered through 2002 mostly unchanged. Although fast, stylish and affordable, this Pontiac Firebird lacked refinement, particularly in regards to the interior. In our road test of a 1999 Firebird Formula, we found ourselves intoxicated by the rumbling V8 performance and racetrack-friendly handling. Consumer feedback is mostly favorable toward Firebirds from this era.
Past Pontiac Firebird Models
A four-speed manual and three-speed automatic backed those engines up.