The car he developed with his team looked like something from the future, with long sweeping lines, pop-up headlights, a low curb weight, excellent performance potential and a nicely appointed interior with two seats and a small trunk. The Banshee project, then known simply as XP-833, was led by John DeLorean – the Pontiac division chief engineer and soon to be the overall head of the Pontiac division by 1965 thanks to his remarkable success with the Pontiac GTO muscle car.ĭeLorean realized early on that to not just compete with the Mustang but beat it resoundingly, they would need to produce a vehicle that wasn’t simply as good as the first Pony Car, they would need to develop something superior. Image courtesy of Pontiac/General Motors. This is the 1965 Pontiac Banshee XP-833 concept car, it was never put into production but it had a signifiant influence on the C3 Corvette which was released two years later in 1967. They had originally been intending to offer their wildly popular 1964 Banshee (XP-833) concept car as a production car to compete with the then-new Mustang. Truth be told, the Pontiac Firebird was a consolation prize of sorts for the American automaker. It’s one of the highest specification Firebirds from its era, and the most powerful.
PONTIAC FIREBIRD TRANS AM MANUAL
The vehicle you see here is a 1971 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am 455 HO with the 4-speed manual transmission.
PONTIAC FIREBIRD TRANS AM SERIES
The two most famous Firebird Trans Ams included the one used in the 1977 film “Smokey and the Bandit,” and the 1982 Pontiac Trans Am used in the “Knight Rider” TV series – better known as KITT.The Firebird was built over four generations between 19, many special edition versions were offered, the most famous of which was doubtless the Trans Am.The Pontiac Firebird was released in 1967, it shared the F body platform with the Chevrolet Camaro – both cars were targeted squarely at the Ford Mustang and the fast growing “Pony Car” market segment.Fast Facts – The Pontiac Firebird Trans Am 455 The 455 HO (High-Output) V8 was the largest and most powerful engine offered in the Firebird Trans Am during the 1970s, producing over 335 bhp and 480 lb ft of torque. Now, that was one fast Firebird.This is one of fewer than 1,000 examples of the Pontiac Firebird Trans Am 455 HO that were made for the 1971 model year with the desirable 4-speed manual transmission option. They carried a fuel-injected 2.8-liter V-6 or the optional 170-bhp V-8.įull-bore performance freaks might be tempted by the Banks/Pontiac Twin Turbo GTA, whose 7.5-liter mill delivered a 268-mph run at Bonneville, hitting 283 mph along the way. Base models adopted monotone paint and aluminum wheels. More surprising yet, the GTA was offered in notchback, as well as hatchback, form-a short-lived but interesting choice.Ĭarburetors were gone - never to return - on all engines. GTA equipment expanded to include a remote decklid release, power antenna, power windows/locks, theft-deterrent system, cruise control, and tilt wheel. Heading the performance parade again was the 5.7-liter V-8, boosted to 225 horsepower-standard with the GTA package, optional in Formula or Trans Am for an extra $1,045. Automatic slashed output to 190 bhp (though torque output actually was higher).
With manual shift, that engine delivered 215 horsepower.
Both Formula and Trans Am came with a standard 170-horsepower V-8, but could be ordered with a high-output edition that featured multipoint fuel injection.
PONTIAC FIREBIRD TRANS AM PLUS
As in 1987, there were base and Trans Am editions, plus a Formula package for the base model and the sizzling GTA (at a whopping $19,299).
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