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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
TRANS AM WORLD
