Classic: Pontiac Firebird (1970 -1981)
Posted on 26-12-2015 to 18:00 by larssb – No comments”
Nice, it is christmas time. Traditionally, we do something with turkey. Today it is a very large, on the hood of a car stuck.
All things considered, it is of course a real firebird and this firebird graces the eponymous model of Pontiac. The Firebird was always closely related to the Chevrolet Camaro, and also this model of the second generation seemed to be strong again on the Chevy variant. This series ran from 1970 to 1981, initially with varying degrees of success. This new design was less intended as a muscle car, but much more based on an Italian design. There, they had to be in ‘Murcia have to get used to: the sell halveerden the first year compared to its predecessor. Even the top model, the Trans Am Ram Airⅳ, attracted little american muscle lovers on the showroomdrempel with its 6.6 litre V8 with 370 HP. Only 88 pieces were sold of this brutal fat man. The scare was apparently good at it.
There’s no substitute for cubic inches, is a truth as a cow, and remember this ancient wisdom assembled in Ohio in 1971, a whopping 7.5 gallons of measuring a V8 in the front of the firebird. Due to local legislation on the environment (there is little really new under the sun) was the ability to be scaled down to 335 HP. The Formula 400 and Trans Am versions were also a rather out of the tall spoiler on the back. Expectantly watched the Pontiac dealers and then to the showroomdeur, in the hope that he ever could swing, but still rang the bell, but sporadically. Also in 1972, had the hinges not greased, the sales numbers of this attractive coupe had hardly shows a rising line. The gasoline prices.
That meant the end of the muscle car, engine power and performance, were no longer the main selling point in the USA. Everyone ran out there first, a little dazed around but Pontiac immediately went vigorously to work. The interior of the Firebird was substantially revised and now also a 4.1-litre six-cylinder in-line with 150 HP is offered. The thick 7.5 liter V8 continued to be available, but this famous Super Duty 455 was detuned to 290 HP. And this trend has continued until this mastodon in the 1976 final was cancelled. At that time, was the once mighty achtcilinder still only about 200 HP. Previously had his starter motor that is already available. That in the meantime, the Firebird also considerably heavier, has required heavier bumpers and other safety requirements made him not exactly faster. Except if he over the counter went.
Because the facelift of 1974 fell on good soil. Especially the front was revised during that clean-up and this “shovel nose” drew a lot more customers across the finish line. The choice of bike was large, the number of PK’s per block is still more limited: the six-cylinder engine remained stuck at 100 pieces, the smallest V8 of 5.7 litres had 55 more, the 6.6 litre achtcilinders hoestten up to 225 HP and the 7.5 liter big bastards put a maximum of 250 HORSEPOWER at the rear wheels. The Super Duty V8 was as yet left untouched, and provided the same 290 HORSEPOWER. Still.
In 1977 came to Pontiac again, with a substantial facelift. A small two-year ensure was the Firebird already has a larger rear window and some smaller changes as repositioned turn signals and extra lights in the grill, but now the entire front was revised and did the 4 square headlights were introduced in the smoother nose. In that nose was the HP inflation was finally halted, after the Super Duty V8, in 1976, on his knees, was forced and still only a measly 200 HP, the world in rochelde. Often if now again and it was celebrated with a new series of engines. The 6.6 liter RPO W72 achtcilinder resulted 220 pieces, for those with conscientious objection, there was also a granola-edition with a 3.8 liter six-cylinder engine that 145 HORSEPOWER produced. In the peak year of 1979, there were four times the number of Firebirds sold in lean years. The firebird was popular, also helped by the fact that a Firebird Trans Am such a prominent role was in Smokey and the Bandit. In the refined combination of black and gold, which the huge firebird on the hood also so chic came out.
For model year 1980 to find the last changes took place. The front is nearly grill-less and especially what vierkanter, because the eighties are coming. Under the long bonnet is a large scavenging place. There are only two achtcilinders available: a 5.0-liter version with 150 HP and a 4.9-liter turboversie that 210 HP produces. The last sat not-too-discreetly in the great Trans Am Turbo. That looked really wild, especially as the Indy 500 Pace Car replica. There were 5700 produced and this model had all the options that were available on a Firebird standard on board, including limited slip differential and a Performance Handling Package. He was only available in Cameo White with grey accents and the white, dense “Turbo”rims. It looked great, and you also had time enough to look at it, because it took over 8 seconds to 100 km/h reached. And if he is finally on the horizon disappeared, so did the Bird that with only 187 km/h.
Gives nothing, it is a beautiful icon of his time. For many years, if you bought this Ameri-Manta for next to nothing, nobody had anything. I do, which to me is such a guilty pleasure. The prices are strong in the elevator today, pristine copies of this generation Firebird may be just a small € 40.000 muster. But what concerns me than be like without the turkey, “the screaming chicken” on the hood. I can today anyway, not poultry see more, just uitbuiken. Burps.
Gallery: Pontiac Firebird 1976
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