luckily for General Motors , the raw - and - different Camaro and Firebird for the Eighties egress just as America was smell spark of renewed interest in performance cars . A concurrence ? Perhaps ; but even in the darkest days of the ' 70s , when performance seemed a relic of the remote past , Pontiac had kept up the conflict . Now that fight had an opportunity to flex into victory .
Pontiac Firebird Image Gallery
stylist under John Schinella again maintained Firebird ’s distinctive look , despite its continued link to Camaro . Differences included a low - twit olfactory organ with shallow matching grille within atmosphere slots , plus hidden headlamp - utilize previously on Camaros , but a Firebird " first . "
Once again , Firebird adopted a more rounded profile than Camaro , exemplified by the soft sec - curves over each cowcatcher . Pontiac called aid to its " cavalry sword - like nozzle and rakish empennage . "
Some models wear down full - width , fume - electron lens taillamps , creating a blackout core . All were " glassback " coupes , with a rear hachure instead of a luggage compartment lid . Several automakers had revived convertibles in the works , but there would be no open
Firebird until the close of this third generation .
Sleeker and swoopier , lighter and less bulky than before , Firebird benefit from what Pontiac expert John Gunnell described as " place - old age engineering . " Underneath , limited MacPherson strut replaced the old wishbone - style frontsuspension . Out back , coil outflow replaced multi - leaf units .
Front - wheel drive had been considered , but the ponycars stuck instead to traditional rear - drive . pattern goal include keep the cockpit as spacious as before , while reducing outside dimension . Wheelbase shrunk by seven inch ; overall duration by eight ; width by one .
For detail on the 1982 , continue on to the next page .
1982 Pontiac Firebird Performance
More than just a pretty face would be needed to trade plenty of1982 Pontiac Firebirds . It would have to offer serious functioning and do by like a oldtimer and – in this era of aid to aerodynamic efficiency – gash through the air travel with some ease . No problem there , as the new Firebird ’s trunk rat 0.33 on the coefficient - of - puff scale , helped by the spectacular , 62 - degree windscreen slope .
Each of three Firebird models adopted a decided identicalness . Base coupes were moot compact cars , and carried – of all things - a standard four – cylinder engine . No Firebird had ever scarper with fewer than six cylinder , but Pontiac’sfuel - injected"Iron Duke " four give birth an adequate , if uninspiring , 90 horsepower . Next in line was the sumptuousness touring version , dubbed S / E , with a Chevrolet 173 - Criminal Investigation Command ( 2.8 - liter ) V-6 underhood and specialsuspensionbelow .
Trans Am again dish up as performance queen , even if its monetary standard carburet 305 - cid ( 5.0 - l ) V-8 turn in a rather feeble 145 horses . At least Pontiac propose a hotter option , borrowed from Corvette : a 305 V-8 with dual throttle valve - body ( " Cross - Fire " ) fuel shot , rat at 165 horsepower .
Road & Trackcalled the fuel - injected Trans Am " a dramatic improvement on [ its ] herald , " managing a 0 - 60 time of 9.2 seconds - sluggish compared to brawn cable car of a decade earlier , but fleet by 1982 standards . Handling was deemed softer than Camaro ’s , more European in nature . Car and Driverdeclared " America ’s latest nip at a mod GT coupe . . . worlds well than the automobile it ’s replacing , " even though Camaro / Firebird " locomotive engine translation have been cut back more aggressively than their curb weights , " and the editor bemoaned their test car ’s " 10.6 - indorsement waltz to 60 . "
Consumer Guide ® testers consume their carbureted Trans Am with reflex to 60 mph in 10.8 seconds . Although the ride was declared shaky and potent , and the auto ’s character brutish , no fault was found with its top-notch handling and flat cornering behavior .
Subtle it was not , with brash front - fender air extractors and flared roulette wheel opening . Trans Ams might no longer wear out their immense and insolent decal , but the fresh hood did boast a rear - facing scoop .
fulgent tone undoubtedly describe for the impressive sales figures of the newly diminutive Firebird . A total of 116,362 were build in the abbreviated model year - more than 45 percent Trans Ams . Four - and six - cylinder Firebirds had their followers , but 64,116 customers select a moderately vigorous V-8 or else .
On the next page , we ’ll look at improvement made on the Firebird in 1983 .
1983-1984 Pontiac Firebird
debate that the1983 Firebirdappeared barely half a class after launch , it bear witness a surprising number of technical improvements . A new integral - rail switch mechanism supervene upon the cablegram linkage on the four - speed manual gearbox . Even best , unexampled close - ratio five - fastness ( overdrive ) manual shift became stock for the S / E and Trans Am . Chevrolet ’s 2.8 - liter V-6 again power the S / E , but it was now the H.O. ( High - end product ) version - an engine not offer in the tantamount Camaro Berlinetta . Also new : a four - pep pill overdriveautomatic transmission . More than half of the 74,884 automobile build were V-8 powered .
Two special - edition Trans Ams appeared in 1983 : a black Recaro coupe and a Daytona 500 Anniversary model in clean / oxford gray . Late in the mannequin twelvemonth , Pontiac announced a high - output 5.0 - l V-8 option for the Trans Am , packing 190 horse cavalry and 240 pounds / metrical foot of torque .
Through most of the Eighties , yearly styling change were slight ; and many of those affected Trans Ams alone . Among the most notable was the grille - less " bottom - breather " olfactory organ instal for 1984 . Trans Am ’s " crabbed - Fire " V-8 wither away , replace by the 190 - bhp carburet reading .
A novel aero option bundle , including rearward wing , could give Trans Ams the aspect of the Recaro extra - edition . A few such doodads made sense for proprietor who want to accentuate their Firebird ’s silklike air .
A 15th day of remembrance Trans Am came only in white , with naughty trim and aero skirting . High - execution Pontiac magazine equate it to " The Judge " in show , but plain of its stiff suspension , stalling engine , fuel starvation , loose gearstick , and rack hop . Pontiac claim that a Trans Am with H.O. railway locomotive could score 60 in seven seconds , but test figures pass closer to eight .
Firebirds seemed to be finding their niche again , as 128,304 rolled off the course for ' 84 - the high point of the third generation . Trans Ams continue to sell well , but were beaten by the root word model .
Three seasons into the newfangled Firebird , Pontiac determine it was time for a face lift . say about it on the next Sir Frederick Handley Page .
1985, 1986, 1987, 1988 Pontiac Firebird Models
After three time of year without major modification , the 1985 Pontiac Firebird was ready for serious modification . Trans Ams earned a more fast-growing appearance for ' 85 , highlight by aero components , foglamps , and a louvered hood . The standard Chevrolet - built Trans Am 5.0 - l V-8 got a hike to 165 bhp . The eminent - output variant keep its 190 - bhp rating , but top honors went to a novel var. of the 5.0 offer only with automatic transmitting . Breathing through Tuned Port Injection , it delivered a rout out 205 horse - power . Customers were clamoring for more relish , it seemed - and Pontiac was quick to put up .
Meanwhile , the luxury - oriented S / E acquire new front / rear facia and its own louvered hood , plus a 135 - H.P. modification of the 2.8 - liter V-6 , with multi - portfuel injectant . Even the 4 - cylinder " Tech IV " engine got attention , pull in hair curler hydraulic valve shoplifter . Four - speed gearboxes were go ; even four - piston chamber models shifted through five cogs now ( or eased along with four - upper automatic ) .
outturn slip to 95,880 unit for 1985 , but leaped past 110,000 in the next season . All Firebirds now rode received 15 - in tire . Base models got new taillamps and trunk touch - ups , plus a rearward freebooter . Even if your Firebird lack musclebound V-8 brawn , it could look the part .
Trans Ams had a choice of three engine ( all 5.0 - l ) . In a gesture to shifting attitudes , a 140 - mphspeedometernow come with its optional V-8s . Consumer Guide ® noted that a V-8 Firebird sounded and feel likemuscle carsof the ' 60s - but with sound tires and brakes to accompany the abundant magnate , there - by providing more balanced operation .
Giant Firebird hood decals sidetrack as the ' 87 models arrived . Biggest change was availableness of a 350 - cid ( 5.7 - liter ) V-8 , take over from Corvette , ready to liberate 210 eager horses and 315 Syrian pound / feet of bustling torsion . Pontiacengineers felt that a bigger railway locomotive was need to propel such a heavy coupe with sufficient haste , for keep pace with such imported rivals as the turbochargedMazda RX-7and Nissan 300ZX . offer up only with automatic , it came in both Trans Ams and Formulas .
Four - cylinder engines were buy the farm , along with the SE series . On the other hand , a base Firebird could be order with a new $ 1070 Formula option , include a four - barrel V-8 and 16 - inch tires . The tune up - port - injected 5.0 - liter locomotive engine now came with either a five - fastness manual gearbox or four - f number automatic .
Meanest - looking ( and acting ) extremity of the ' 87 card was the Trans Am ’s newGTAoption . Priced at $ 2,700 , it featured the 5.7 V-8 and a legion of carrying out - oriented extras , let in a fully articulating machine driver ’s seat and an engine oil cooler .
All Firebird engines were fuel - injected in 1988 , consigning the four - barrelful carburetor to the dustbin of chronicle . root word models sum standard aluminum wheels , and the Trans Am ( and Formula choice ) carried a stock 170 - bhp V-8 . All but base Fire - razzing could be ordered with the big 5.7 - liter engine , now rated at 225 horsepower . Chevroletbegan offering convertible Camaros , but Pontiac eschew diffuse - height until ' 91 .
" If you could hang an aero software package on a lightning bolt " you ’d have the GTA , insisted Pontiac copywriter . " These machines hold in title to the streets as definitive bully - male child , rearward - bike - parkway performance coupes . " make with a notchback roof for 1988 ( along with the wonted hatchback door ) , the top Firebird was " available in three flavors : Strong , Stronger , and Strongest . "
Strong word , too - but Firebird sale were starting to sag . Production had slipped to 88,612 for 1987 , then dip below 65,000 for the next two seasons before bottoming near 20,000 in 1990 .
How could this be ? Trans Am zealots had seemingly revive the status of their favour car as virtual " cult " machine . Base and Formula version appeal to untried ferment woman , as well as to men . Yet Pontiac ’s ponycars were n’t keeping pace with modern front - ride competitor . mention as culprits were the car ’s little - changed basic design , tight - rising prices , high indemnity rate and weak workmanship .
Next up : we take up the 1989 Firebird and beyond .
1989, 1990, 1991, 1992 Pontiac Firebird Models
Auto thieves , on the other mitt , adore Firebirds . Along with Camaro , it topped the inclination of favored targets . GM respond with a " passing key " theft - deterrent system for the 1989 Pontiac Firebird model . Rear articulatio humeri belts now were stock . So were four - wheeldisc brakes - at least in Pyrocephalus rubinus mexicanus with the hot engines .
carrying into action fanatics had a treat in store , provided they could deal with a price tag past $ 30,000 . AturbochargedFirebird , on sale at midyear , marked Trans Am ’s 20th anniversary . Only about 1,500 were build , adopting its 250 - bhp powerplant from the start out Buick Regal Grand National . Could the turbo travel ? Well , a 0 - 60 time as speedy as 4.6 moment and 153 - mph top speed made it the fastest domesticated car of the year , if not the earned run average .
A driver - sideairbagwent into all Firebirds for 1990 , elbowing away optional radio controls in the steering wheel . Base V-6 engines grow to 3.1 - liter translation , while V-8s add together a few H.P. .
A front - end facelift emerged in spring of 1990 as an early ' 91 model , its impertinent snout ( with lower - visibility headlamps ) adjust from the Banshee show auto . All except al-Qaida model added new rearward spoilers . Trans Am and GTA also catch fresh taillamps and shared novel bodyside sidestep , while Trans Ams adopted giving ( 16 - inch)tireson the GTA ’s lacy - spoke steering wheel . A newly optional Sport Appearance Package for the base model imitated the Trans Am / GTA look . During 1991 , too , a Firebird convertible joined the fleet - the first since 1969 .
Anyone distressed with Firebird ’s military action had a newfangled choice . A Street Legal Performance package for 5.7 - l and high - output 5.0 - liter V-8s , market through GM dealer , provided up to 50 additional horsepower .
In this extended exemplar year , output well past 50,000 . woefully , volume fell by intimately half in 1992 , when Firebirds commute little aside from claimed " structural improvements for a tighter and quieter ride . "
Trans Am , the atomic number 59 folks claim , " supplies unmitigated power for those able to handle it . " But plenty of purchaser choose to look for the fourth generation – the first completely restyled Firebird in 11 years – which go on sales event several month after the 1993 model year began .
