Forget about Burt Reynolds—the Pontiac Firebird was the reason that ‘Smokey and the Bandit’ became a classic. And just like the protagonist of the film, the gas crisis of the ‘70s affected the Firebird too, eventually leading to its demise. Pontiac’s darling will forever be immortalized as one of America’s most beloved classic cars
. Light, fast, and powerful, the Pontiac Firebird was a car for the ages. The birth of the Pontiac Firebird
In 1967, GM knew that it had to release something in response to the Ford Mustang. Haynes
splits the Firebird’s production years into three separate generations. The first generation of the Pontiac Firebird sold 250,000 units from 1967-1969. Just like the Mustang, the Pontiac Firebird’s target audience was primarily a younger crowd, who would be impressed by a cheap sticker price paired with a powerful engine.
Like other pony cars of the day, the Pontiac Firebird came in a dazzling variety of trim options, including a 2-door hardtop and convertible option. Those wishing to save money could expect cheaper options with the smaller engine blocks, ranging from smaller four-cylinders all the way up to an impressive 455 cubic-inch big-block V8.
The ‘70s gas crisis spelled doom for the Firebird
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The 455 big-block V8 mentioned above was part of the second generation Firebird’s lineup, debuting in 1970, lasting just until 1971.
The reason? The gas crisis
caused nearly every automaker to start rethinking the fuel efficiency and engine size of their vehicle models. For pony car fans, this meant vehicles like the Firebird would receive a significant reduction in power, albeit with an increase in fuel economy. By the time ‘Smokey and the Bandit’ was released in 1977, the Trans-Am (near top model variant of the Firebird) featured in the film had just 200 hp, coming from a 6.6-liter V8. The gas crunch of the ‘70s spelled doom for high-horsepower cars, and as with other manufacturers, GM eventually phased out the Pontiac Firebird (and the rest of Pontiac, too). The last year for the Pontiac Firebird was 2002, with the Firebird Trans-Am restoring some of its dignity thanks to a 325 hp V8 and a 13 second quarter-mile time. Not bad for an old-timer.
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