Image Editorial credit: Oleg Mirabo / The Advent of the Trans Am Otherwise, plan on buying a fixer-upper and doing a rebuild. If you can find a 1973 SD Formula in top condition, you will have to fork over somewhere around $150,000. They came with the Trans Am’s rear spoiler and shaker hood scoop, but it lacked the unique Trans Am mods. Muscle cars seemed to be going out-of-style in those years, as only 43 units were made in 1973 and 58 in ’74. This performance-oriented engine made 310 hp at its max, which was in 1973, dropping to 290 hp in 1974.’ We all know that a Firebird Trans Am can still hold a lot of value, but the 1973-74 Formula and Trans Am both had a sturdy Super Duty 455 engine. There was a naturally aspirated V6 from Buick that served as a base engine from 1977-81, and it only made 105 hp. Each of the 1,500 units came with a standard tan-and-white interior. This Buick V6 put forth 245 hp and 340 lb-ft of torque, which, at the time, made this Firebird the fastest ever made. This is the same engine utilized in the GNX and Grand National. The 1989 20 th Anniversary Indianapolis 500 Pace Car Trans Am was the first Firebird to use a Buick engine – and not just any Buick engine, but the 3.8-liter turbo V6. Image Editorial credit: Max Ddos / The 1989 20 th Anniversary Indianapolis 500 Pace Car Trans Am Featured the First Buick Engine Who would have thought that a Firebird could only generate a measly 88 hp? It wasn’t on-brand for the Firebird, and that’s why these models tend to get modded with more powerful engines. That distinction goes to the LQ9 2.5-liter four-cylinder, which was made in 1985. So, which one was the most unbearably slow? The Firebird had some seriously sluggish iterations throughout its four-generation run. This Firehawk had 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque, and only 25 units were ever made. In 1991, you could opt for code B4U to transform a Formula into the SLP Firehawk with its modified L98 350-cubic-inch V8 engine from Street Legal Performance. GM never made a Firebird engine that topped 400 hp, but this one sure came close. This V8 was a 400-cubic inch masterpiece that made 345 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque. Image Editorial credit: Steve Lagreca / The Most Powerful FirebirdĮver wonder which Firebird is the strongest in terms of factory horsepower and torque? That honor goes to the 1969-70 Trans Am equipped with an optional Ram Air IV. This same airbag design was included in the Esprit, as GM also owned Lotus at that point. Why? That’s because a new airbag was added to the steering wheel. Horns were placed to the side as opposed to in the middle. Technology itself was somewhat clunky, and the Firebird ended up needing a totally redesigned steering wheel and column. Safety designs were changing in the late 1980s and early 1990s. People loved The Screaming Chicken, and it became a signature design element until 1981, at which point it once again became optional on the third generation Trans Am. Coded WW7, this decal carried at $55 price tag. This logo was made in 1970 by Norm Inouye and Bill Porter, but it took some urging from John Schinella to get it put onto the hood in 1973.Īnd, even then, it was just an option. The easiest way to identify a Firebird is by the massive screeching bird with tis wings extended decaled on the hood. The Firebird Logo Didn’t Grace the Hood Until 1973 The Best – and Worst – Selling Model Years.The 1989 20th Anniversary Indianapolis 500 Pace Car Trans Am Featured the First Buick Engine.The Firebird Logo Didn’t Grace the Hood Until 1973.
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