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The V-8 engine options were available as the Firebird 326, 326 HO, and Firebird 400. The 1967 Firebird was available with five transmission choices and the base Firebird had a standard Pontiac-built overhead-cam (OHC) inline 6-cylinder engine with the 326-ci V-8 optional. The name Firebird was previously used by General Motors in its line of concept cars in the 1950s. The year 1967 marked the Pontiac’s magnificent entry into the American pony car market with the classic Firebird. The underperforming division of the GM in the 1950s had risen from near extinction to become one of the largest selling car companies in the America in a short span of time, all thanks to an intricately created racing image backed by equally powerful racing cars – the Firebirds and the Trans Ams. The classic American muscle has also made its appearance in some of America’s most popular movies and it served as the pace car for the world’s most prestigious race events. Pontiac has reportedly sold over 2 million Trans Ams throughout its lifetime.
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The new look gathered a lot of attention and the popularity has continued through four generations of the Firebirds. The new visual tweaks and improvements took the Firebird to a muscular side. The 1969 Firebird received new front and rear styling to match the looks of the new Pontiac Grand Prix and contemporary GTO. Pontiac paid the SCCA $5 for each Trans Am built for the right to use the copyrighted name.
PONTIAC FIREBIRD TRANS AM SERIES
So, capitalizing on the immensely popular pony cars, the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) spearheaded the development of a new series of racing cars called Trans Am. The Camaro and the Firebird hit the market just as a new American road racing series was becoming immensely popular. The Trans Am combines power, agility, comfort and beauty in a package that also offers fuel efficiency and safety. Equipped with high performance engines, the Trans Am was marketed toward buyers looking for a fine visual appeal than the standard Firebird line. The Trans Am coupe was introduced in the 1969 model year and was only available in Cameo Ivory with twin longitudinal Nassau Blue stripes. Performance was always a key component in the Firebird engineering and Pontiac upped its game with a new line of sporty cars which went on to become one of America’s most successful muscle cars. The Trans Am was one of the most recognized muscle cars of its era.
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The Firebird etched its name in the history of the automotive world and is still considered one of the greatest muscle cars of all time. Pontiac went to great lengths to give its car an identity that would be remembered for years to come.
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The tale of the great Firebird reflects the development of the mainstream domestic car in the modern era. In fact, over its life, the Firebird has evolved significantly, reflecting general changes and trends in the auto world at large. The Firebird has had a great run throughout its 50-year golden history, followed by the constant changes in the engine performance to the body getting redesigned and improved. With significant performance tweaks and iconic styling of the generations that followed, the Firebird went on to become one of the most iconic muscle cars of the 1960s. Designed as a pony car to compete with the Ford Mustang, the Firebird has garnered a reputation for being larger than life. General Motors first used the name “Firebird” in its line of concept cars in the 1950s and the years that followed, the Firebird went on to become an American super car in the 1970s. Since its inception in 1967, the Firebird garnered a lot of media attention followed by strong consumer sales. It’s easy to understand how a name became a symbol of American culture.