Vehicle

The Firebird developed its own exuberant tradition that made it the glamour car of the 1970s and snuck in a few surprises during the ’80s and ’90s that are recognized today as classics of recent vintage.

With fuel economy a primary concern, Pontiac turned to turbocharging for Trans Am and formula power during the 1980 model year. The result was a single Garrett turbo lashed to the 4.9-liter V8 (301 cubic inches) to produce the notorious “Turbo 4.9.” It was rated at 210 horsepower, but the Turbo 4.9 was ultimately the most pathetic lump of iron to ever be allowed near a Firebird. “There’s no boost indicator,” explained Motor Trend in its comparison of the Turbo T/A with other turbo terrors of the era, “only the momentary (sometimes a lot of moments) heavy pinging, when the car is accelerated hard or pushed into passing gear, to let you know the turbo is at work.” That pinging was often heard just before the engine detonated into shrapnel. It was an unpleasant engine to drive and a miserable one to keep running. Motor Trend‘s Turbo T/A ran a sluggish 17.02 at 82.1 mph quarter-mile. However, a special white Turbo T/A did pace the 1980 Indy 500. Trans Am and Firebird sales crashed in 1980 and deservedly so.

Read more about Firebirds at: http://www.edmunds.com/pontiac/firebird/history.html