When a second generation Firebird Trans Am appeared in a starring role in the 1977 film Smokey and the Bandit the car became one of the most desirable muscle cars of the 1970s. The Trans Am performance package would become a major part of the Firebird’s brand, denoting the highest performance version of the car throughout the 1970s and beyond, characterized by the “Hood Bird” decal on the hood, sometimes affectionally referred to as the “Screaming Chicken.”Įxternally there was no mistaking the Trans Am for anything else, there was a small “Hood Bird” on the nose accompanied by a functional rear-facing shaker hood scoop, spoilers ahead of each wheel, a front air dam, a rear spoiler, and fender air extractors. This new version of the Firebird would be a total blank slate redesign of the model, a whole new design for a whole new decade. The second generation Pontiac Firebird appeared in 1970, it was based on the second generation GM F body platform (as was the second generation Camaro). It was released in 1967, in 1969 the optional handling package named the “Trans Am performance and appearance package.” The car would be officially named the “Firebird” though the Banshee name had been considered. The Chevrolet Camaro was developed to compete squarely with the Mustang, it was based on the GM F body platform, the same platform that Pontiac would later be given approval to use for their own Mustang-fighter. The 455 cubic inch “High Output” V8 produced 335 bhp and 480 lb ft of torque from the factory. many have since noticed the startling similarity to the third-generation “C3” Corvette that would be released two years later in 1967. General Motors refused to green light the Banshee, fearing it would compete too closely with the C2 Corvette. 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.
#Banshee tv show trailer manual
The vehicle you see here is a 1971 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am 455 HO with the 4-speed manual transmission.
#Banshee tv show trailer 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. 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.
0 kommentar(er)
