TRANS AM WORLD






Thanks to PHS Online for some of these statistics.


Pontiac Firebird



History

4th Generation

1993-2002






Introduction: Pontiac saved the best for last with its Fourth Generation Firebird. Although these Firebirds would be the fastest and most powerful Firebirds since the glory days of old, the overall decline in the sport coupe market and the changing taste of young performance buyers to newer, more refined imports, sealed the fate of the Firebird. At least it went out on top.


1993 Pontiac Firebird






Comments: The Firebird was substantially revised for 1993, the beginning of its fourth generation. The exterior styling was dramatically aerodynamic, and incorporated plastic front fenders, although much of the floorplan and rear suspension was carried over from the third generation. The front suspension was new, and incorporated a new short/long-arm design and incorporated rack-and-pinion steering for the first time. The Firebird lineup was reduced to three models, Base, Formula, and Trans Am, the convertible was eliminated and engine choices were now just two. The base engine was a new 3.4 liter V6, based on the previous 3.1, rated at a decent 160 bhp. But the big news was the new LT1 version of the classic 5.7 liter small-block V8 rated at a stout 275 bhp. Furthermore, the LT1 could be ordered with a six-speed manual transmission and was standard in both the Formula and Trans Am models.



1993 - Model Breakdown:

Model (Total) Roof Style Tranny Special Options
Hard-Top T-Top Conv Auto Manual AR9 1LE R6V UP3
Firebird (5006) 4622 384 N/A 4434 572 N/A N/A N/A 302
Formula (3985) 2929 300 N/A 3229 756 790 3 201 520
Trans Am (5121) 4282 839 N/A 4018 1103 ? 0 N/A 2369

Special Options: AR9 = Leather / 1LE = Perf. Suspension / R6V = Firehawk / UP3 = Compact Disc


Engines:
3.4 liter V6 160 bhp.
LT1 5.7 V8 275 bhp.
Performance: 5.7/275: 0-60 in 5.6 seconds, 1/4 mile in 14.1 sec. @ 98.45 mph.


1994 Pontiac Firebird






Comments: 1994 saw the reintroduction of the convertible and a special blue and white 25th Anniversary Trans Am. Also new was a GT version of the Trans Am which added additional luxury features such as leather seats. Perhaps most annoying was a new "Skip Shift" feature on the six-speed manual which, depending on throttle position, would force an upshift from first to fourth gear for better fuel economy. This lead to an explosion in aftermarket skip shift eliminator kits.


1994 - Model Breakdown:

Model (Total) Roof Style Tranny Special Options
Hard-Top T-Top Conv Auto Manual AR9 1LE R6V UP3
Firebird (25683) 170698440 174 206395044 1816 N/A N/A ?
Formula (9225) 4372 4685 168 7172 2053 ? 2 501 ?
Trans Am (3852) 1432 1957 463 3345 507 ? 0 0 ?
Trans Am GT (6357) 1800 4342 215 5011 1346 3795 0 9 3241
Anniversary (2000) 338 1412 250 1872 128 2000 0 3 1070

Special Options: AR9 = Leather / 1LE = Perf. Suspension / R6V = Firehawk / UP3 = Compact Disc


Engines:
3.4 liter V6 160 bhp.
LT1 5.7 V8 275 bhp.
Performance:



25th Anniversary

1994 25th Anniversary Trans Am:
Hard Top T-Top Convertible
Manual Six-Speed (MN6) 16 112 0
Automatic (MX0) 322 1,300 250
TOTAL 338 1,412 250


1994 25th Anniversary Trans Am:
Coupe Convertible
TOTAL 1,750 250
T-Top 1,412 ---
Hardtop 338 ---
---- ---- ----
Cassette (UT6) 879 51
CD Player (UP3) 871 199





1995 Pontiac Firebird






Comments: 1995 saw minimal changes to the Firebird. Traction control was added, the Trans Am GT trim was dropped, and at mid year, GM's familiar 3.8 liter V6 was offered as an alternative to the 3.4 V6.


1995 - Model Breakdown:

Model (Total) Roof Style Tranny Special Options
Hard-Top T-Top Conv Auto Manual AR9 GU5 L36 PO5 R6V
Firebird (29156) 12682135482926 237885368 1340 N/A 2018 N/A N/A
Formula (8486) 3106 4342 1038 5639 2847 2962 2029 N/A 37 671
Trans Am (13345) 2263 8680 2402 9130 4215 103275740 N/A 166 N/A
Comp T/A (72) 2 70 0 0 72 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Special Options: AR9 = Leather / GU5 = Auto Perf. Axle / L36 = Series-II 3800 V6 / PO5 = Chrome Wheels / R6V = Firehawk

93-95  Engines
Type  Trans   CID HP Torque   Induction 
LT1 V8 A4,M6   350/5.7 275@5200  325@2400  SFI 
3400 V6  A4, M5   207/3.4 160@4600 200@3600 SFI
3800 V6  A4, M5   231/3.8 200@5200 225@4000


1996 Pontiac Firebird






Comments: With the new 3.8 V6, there was no need for the 3.4 liter engine, so it was dropped for 1996. Pontiac offered an optional 3800 Performance Package for the Base Firebird which added four-wheel disc brakes, dual exhaust, 3.42 axle ratio, limited slip differential, and alloy wheels. Formula and Trans Am models saw the 5.7 liter V8 gain 10 bhp from the use of dual catalytic converters for a total of 285 bhp. But now there was a new top engine choice. Pontiac reintroduced their "Ram Air" cold air induction system for the 5.7 V8 as option WS6 available on Formula and Trans Am coupes (not convertibles), built by SLP under contract to GM. Ordering the WS6 package added twin nostrils (air intakes) on the hood which boosted the engine rating to 305 bhp. All came with 17" wheels and 275/40-17 tires, plus the 1LE suspension, except with DeCarbon shocks using different valving from the stock shocks.
A total of 2,575 WS6 cars were made in 1996, out of a total of 30,937 Firebirds.

Air Conditioning made standard on all V8 cars.
Factory chromed wheels now available.
Exterior Colors: Medium Patriot Red dropped; Cayenne Red Metallic, Bright Green Metallic added.
Red leather interior now available.

1996 - Model Breakdown:

Model (Total) Roof Style Tranny Special Options
Hard-Top T-Top Conv Auto Manual AR9 1LE GU5 L36 PO5 R6V UP3 WS6
Firebird (18749) 9244 8529 976 147663983 1458 N/A 3983 4967 1553 N/A 6415 N/A
Formula (3335) 1325 1708 302 1909 1426 1051 10 798 N/A 508 41 1648 524
Trans Am (8853) 1201 6735 917 5660 3193 6981 N/A 3693 N/A 481 N/A 5213 2051
Comp T/A (45) 10 35 N/A 16 17 N/A 26 16 N/A N/A N/A N/A 45

Special Options: AR9 = Leather / 1LE = Perf. Suspension / GU5 = Auto Perf. Axle / L36 = V6 Perf. Pkg. / PO5 = Chrome Wheels / R6V = Firehawk / UP3 = Compact Disc / WS6 = Ram Air Pkg.



1997 Pontiac Firebird






Comments: The WS6 was now available on Formula and Trans Am convertibles. Also new was the option of a 500-watt Monsoon audio system.
30,756 Firebirds were built in 1997, and of those, 3,847 were WS6 cars (2,827 Trans Ams, 473 Formulas, and 41 Formula convertibles).
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) introduced on all f-bodies.
Exterior Colors: Polo Green and Dark Purple Metallic dropped. Medium Quasar Blue dropped at midyear. Bright Purple Metallic introduced.




1997 PONTIAC FIREBIRD PRODUCTION FIGURES
MODEL SUB-MODEL SUB-TOTAL TOTAL
FIREBIRD     16,394
FIREBIRD CONVERTIBLE     1226
       
FORMULA     2,766
  1LE WS6 14  
  FORMULA WS6 473  
  FIREHAWK 29  
FORMULA CONVERTIBLE     324
  FORMULA CONVERT. WS6 41  
       
TRANS AM     8,656
  TRANS AM WS6 2,827  
TRANS AM CONVERTIBLE     1,390
  TRANS AM CONVERT. WS6 463  
------ ------- ------- -------
TOTAL PRODUCTION   3,847 30,756


1997 Firehawks and Comp TA Trans Am:
1997 Firehawk Coupes Firehawk Convertible Comp T/A
Cars built 100 16 47
Transmission
MN6 6 Speed Manual 58 42 30
MXO Automatic 42 11 17
Option Package
1SA 5 0 47
1SB 95 16 0
1SC 0 0 0
CC1 T-Tops 81 N/A 40
Colors
#05 Purple 1 0 N/A
#10 White 12 1 N/A
#13 Silver 14 0 47
#37 Blue Green 0 0 N/A
#41 Black 39 9 N/A
#48 Dark Green 4 2 N/A
#79 Chameleon 0 0 N/A
#80 Bright Blue 0 0 N/A
#81 Bright Red 30 4 N/A
Interior
102 White Leather 0 1 0
103 White Leather 0 2 0
12B Graphite Cloth 0 0 0
14B Gray Cloth 28 3 0
142 Gray Leather 43 6 47
143 Gray Leather 16 0 0
52B Taupe Cloth 2 0 0
522 Taupe Leather 9 4 0
523 Taupe Leather 2 0 0
Top Colors
#10 White N/A 3 N/A
#41 Black N/A 9 N/A
#56 Taupe N/A 4 N/A


96-97  Engines

Type  Trans   CID HP Torque   Induction 
LT1 V8 A4,M6 350/5.7 285@5200  325@2400  MFI 
SLP LT1 V8 A4,M6 350/5.7 305@5200 335@2400 MFI
3800 V6  A4, M5 231/3.8 200@5200 225@4000 SFI




1998 Pontiac Firebird






Comments: Pontiac replaced the LT-1 with the LS-1 V8 engine, which had first appeared in the 1997 Chevrolet Corvette. The all-aluminum LS-1 was rated at 305 bhp in base trim and 320 bhp in WS6 "Ram Air" mode. Firebirds also received new front end styling, and Base Firebirds could be ordered with a Sport Appearance Package which gave them some of the more aggressive look of their bigger brothers.
The Firebird coupe and Formula received a new nose with pop-up quad headlights and fog lights. Trans Am received same headlights, with different nose and fog lights. Taillights received honeycomb pattern. Slightly different wheels introduced on Formula and Trans Am initially, but disappeared later, replaced by the original 5-spoke wheel.
Firebird GT dropped.
1LE performance suspension package now available on Formula, but requires WS6 package.
Firehawk cancelled for 1998 due to safety certification problems (will return for 1999).
New interior cloth on Camaros: Dark Gray, Neutral and Red Accent.
Leather interior available in Dark Gray, Neutral and White.
Exterior colors: Navy Blue Metallic and Sport Gold Metallic added.


No official Firehawk (WU6) production.

1998 Production Breakdown




1999 Pontiac Firebird






Comments: The 1999 Firebird got only minor changes, including a Torsen limited-slip differential for V8 models (and V6s with the Performance Package). A few new options were available, including a Hurst shifter for the six-speed manual transmission and a power steering cooler on V8 models. Pontiac celebrated the Trans Am's 30th Anniversary with a special White with Blue trim color scheme along with blue-tinted alloy wheels and a white leather interior.



30th Anniversary
1999 30th Anniversary Trans Am:
Coupe Convertible
TOTAL 1065 535
Manual Six Speed (MN6) 613 175
Hurst Shifter (BBS) 292 119
Automatic (MX0) 452 360
Traction Control (NW9) 712 375
Monsoon In-Dash CD Player (W55) 1010 511
Monsoon In-Dash Tape Player (W54) 55 24
12 Disc CD Player (U1S) 517 279



1999 PONTIAC FIREBIRD PRODUCTION FIGURES
MODEL COUPE CONVERTIBLE TOTAL
Firebird 17,170  1,245 18,415
Formula 1,427   175
(w/WS6)
1,602
Trans Am 10,343 1,027
(non WS6)
11,370
Trans Am WS6 3,820   1,002 4,822
---- ---- ---- ----
Total Firebird 32,760  3,449 36,209







2000 Pontiac Firebird






Comments: The 2000 model was a complete carryover from 1999.

98-00  Engines

Type  Trans   CID HP Torque   Induction 
LS1 V8 A4,M6  346/5.7 305@5200  335@4000  MFI 
Ram Air A4,M6 346/5.7 320@5200 335@4000 MFI
Firehawk A4, M6 346/5.7 335@5200 335@4000 MFI
3800 V6 A4, M5 231/3.8 200@5200 225@4000 SFI


2000 PONTIAC FIREBIRD PRODUCTION FIGURES
MODEL COUPE CONVERTIBLE TOTAL
Firebird 13,529  1,149 14,678
Formula 1,302 233
(w/WS6)
1,535
Trans Am 6,639 783
(non WS6)
7,422
Trans Am WS6 7,166   1,025 8,191
---- ---- ---- ----
Total Firebird 28,636  3,190 31,826


2001 Pontiac Firebird






Comments: 2001 saw a small increase in engine ratings, with the LS-1 increasing to 310 bhp and 325 with the WS6 option. WS6 package included new 17x9 wheels.
The Ram Air engine was now no longer available on the Formula trim.
SLP Firebird GT Package
In 2001 SLP introduced their Firebird GT as a factory available option package.


2001 TRANS AM / FORMULA PRODUCTION FIGURES
MODEL MANUAL AUTOMATIC TOTAL
Formula Coupe 311 (6 speed) 726 1037
Trans Am Coupe 1028 (6 speed) 1568 2596
Trans Am Conv 81 (6 speed) 315 396
Trans Am WS6 Coupe 3832 (6 speed) 3241 7073
Trans Am WS6 Conv 280 (6 speed) 516 796


2001 TRANS AM / FORMULA OPTIONS FIGURES
OPTION Formula TA Coupe TA Conv TA WS6 Coupe TA WS6 Conv
Hurst shifter (BBS) 225 605 57 3257 214
3.23 Rear Axle (GU5) 507 692 141 3241 516
TTop (CC1) 849 2596 0 7073 0



2002 Pontiac Firebird






Comments: 2002 would prove to be the last year for the Firebird, and Pontiac decided to issue a special 35th anniversary Firebird (as opposed to Anniversary of the Trans Am). This special model was a Trans Am which featured yellow paint, black wheels, and special graphics. Not really much of a send off for one of only two vehicles that survived from the muscle car days to the modern era without interruption.
(the Chevrolet Corvette is the other one that survived muscle car era uninterrupted)
2002 Firebird Production


01-02  Engines

Type  Trans   CID HP Torque   Induction 
01 LS1 V8 A4,M6  346/5.7 310@5200  335@4000  MFI 
01 WS6 SS A4, M6 346/5.7 325@5200 335@4000 MFI
02 LS1 V8 A4, M6 346/5.7 310@5200 340@4000 MFI
02 WS6 & SS A4, M6 346/5.7 325@5200 340@4000 MFI
3800 V6  A4, M5 231/3.8 200@5200 225@4000 SFI








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