What kind of cars did the Trans Am race?
Trans-Am production cars. Trans-Am production cars were factory-built pony cars based on vehicles raced in the Sports Car Club of America Trans-Am Series. These cars were used largely for homologation purposes, but also as promotional tools for the series.
What happened to the Trans Am’s stock engine?
Though most people modifying old school Trans Ams tend to opt for an engine swap, the original engine is not too bad for its era. The 6.6L V8 found on the 1969 Trans Am is also found in the 1970 version, and it would be the last time a stock Trans Am produced 345hp. Starting around 1975, the effects of the oil crisis were definitely palpable.
What kind of engine does a 1976 black and Gold Trans Am have?
The 1976 Black-and-Gold Trans Am is a special vehicle with only 2,590 units produced that year. The car was released in the midst of the enactment of laws relating to emissions. As a result, the Y82 inherited the 7.5L V8 that cranks out 200hp.
How many Trans Ams did Pontiac make in 1979?
Pontiac was obviously doing something right, as 1979 saw an all-time-high Firebird production figure of 211,453 units, 117,108 of which were Trans Ams. How could this be so?
Was the Trans Am in Smokey and the Bandit stock?
This movie used a 1976 Pontiac Firebird Trans AM, which became one of the most popular car makes of the time.
What Motor came in Trans Am?
The 455 engine was available in the L75 325 hp (242 kW) version and the LS5 335 hp (250 kW) HO version. Both the 455 and 455 HO were available as engine options for the Firebird Formula, but the Trans Am received the 455 HO as standard equipment.
Do they make Trans Am anymore?
Here's what we know about the 2021 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am. After being a staple of the brand's lineup for over eight decades, General Motors discontinued Pontiac in 2010. The iconic brand was discontinued because of the company's financial problems and the restructuring it necessitated.
What was the fastest stock Trans Am?
Gale Banks Engineering's 1988 Pontiac Trans Am is the World's Fastest Street Machine By John Baechtel On a station somewhere near the three-mile marker you see it long before you hear it.
Will GM bring Pontiac back?
Will GM bring back Pontiac? No, it won't. Winding out of Pontiac franchises cost GM billions of dollars. It was a desperate move to help save the corporation from its bankruptcy woes.
Is there a 2020 Pontiac?
The New Pontiac GTO 2020 is a featured car model by the manufacturer. The New Pontiac GTO 2020 image is added in car pictures category by the author on Dec 30, 2019.
Will GM bring back the Firebird?
There will never be another Firebird concept car from GM due to Pontiac's untimely demise, but even if the brand was still around, it's unlikely it would be stuffing a Ferrari V12 into any flashy new concept it revealed.
What Pontiac has the most horsepower?
1 2006 Pontiac GTO (175 mph) This pinnacle of the muscle car industry used a 400-hp LS2 6.0-liter V8 engine as its powerhouse.
Did Pontiac ever make a 428?
The 428 was Pontiacs top engine for 3 short years- 1967-9. The bore is the same as the 400 at 4.12". The stroke is 4", the main journals are 3.25". The 428 has remained one of the favorite Pontiac engines for racers and hot rodders and, are always one of the most sought after for a build up.
What was the most powerful Pontiac engine?
The rear-drive G8, hailed here at AutoWeek and elsewhere in the wheeled world in its original rear-drive, 361-hp, 6.0-liter V8 form, now has a mighty 415-hp 6.2-liter V8 driving those rear wheels, making it the most powerful Pontiac ever.
Where Trans-Am has been: Golden Era Boom to Growing Pains Bust
The early history of Trans-Am is basically tattooed into every car-fiend's skull: hard-knock racers like Parnelli Jones and Mark Donohue making bar fights look like civil discourse while mad scientists like Roger Penske and Bud Moore were picking every ounce of speed they could out of the rulebook.
The Recipe as We Know it Today
Unlike NASCAR, which moved away from production-like bodies, resulting in the stickered-up soap bars seen in the 2000s, Trans-Am's headliner classes stick close to the production cars with four classes: TA, TA2, TA3, and TA4.
When did Trans Am change?
The flamboyant 1969 Trans Am began to change things at the end of the first-generation’s production, although even as the second-generation upped the power and cubes, no amount of hood scoops, shaker or otherwise, could draw buyers in like the Bow Tie brand. In 1978, hot on the heels of Smokey and the Bandit’s big box office, ...
How much did the 1979 Trans Am cost?
In 1979 Trans Am sales peaked with around 117,000 sold, and the WS6 Package—now also offered on the Formula—got four-wheel disc brakes, which drove its price up to $434.
What engine did the 2001 Firebird use?
2001 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am WS6 Mecum. In its run of final Firebirds, Pontiac used two versions of the small-block V-8, both displacing 5.7 liters. From 1992–97, all Trans Ams and Formulas were powered by the Gen II LT1 small-block. By 1996, the engine was rated for 285 horsepower at 5000 rpm and 325 lb-ft of torque at 2400 rpm.
How much is a 1996 Pontiac worth?
The current value of 1996 and ’97 WS6 Pontiacs is about $12,000. More people want the 1998 and later cars with the more desirable LS engine. However, the average price of a ’98 Trans Am Coupe only jumps to $13,000. The surprise is the average price of the 1998 convertibles, which is $20,100.
What is a trans am?
Trans-Am production cars were factory-built pony cars based on vehicles raced in the Sports Car Club of America Trans-Am Series. These cars were used largely for homologation purposes, but also as promotional tools for the series. The first Trans-Am street car was Chevrolet 's Z/28 Camaro, which entered production in 1967.
When did the Trans Am start?
The Trans-Am Series began in 1966, with the first race being held on 25 March at Sebring International Raceway. The series consisted of two classes: over 2 litres and under 2 litres.
When did the Pontiac Trans Am Firebird come out?
The Pontiac Firebird went into production contemporaneously and on the same platform as the Camaro. Pontiac entered the Trans-Am Series in 1968 , and a year later introduced the Trans-Am Firebird for public purchase.
When did Chrysler introduce the pony car?
In 1970, Chrysler introduced its first pony cars, the Plymouth 'Cuda and Dodge Challenger, built on the new E Platform. In their first year both of the new vehicles participated in Trans-Am.
Who won the Trans Am Series in 1971?
In 1970, AMC signed Roger Penske and Mark Donohue to its team. AMC won the Trans-Am Series in both 1971 and 1972, the final years of Trans-Am's "golden age.". In 1970 the Donohue Javelin was introduced for public purchase.
What engine did the 1970 Camaro use?
In its first year, the Camaro could be ordered with RPO Z/28, which included a small block-series 302 cubic inch motor with 11.0:1 compression. For the 1970 model year the Z/28 engine was changed to the 350 cubic inch LT-1 . 1967.
What V-8 does a 79 Trans Am have?
T-tops were another popular option from Fisher Body. In base configuration, the '79 Trans Am came with an Oldsmobile-sourced 403-cu.in. V-8 (RPO L80) , which had already seen use in California-bound Trans Ams (and some Formulas) since the 1977 model year. It was only available with an automatic.
What transmission does a Pontiac have?
Pontiac only issued two transmissions during the model year, the standard being the Turbo Hydra-Matic 350 three-speed automatic. Containing a first gear ratio of 2.52:1, it backed both the 403 and the 301. The governor cover features the transmission code ME or MJ against the 301, and LM or LP against the 403.
How many liters is a Pontiac 301?
First on the option chart, though off-limits to California residents, was the Pontiac 301 (4.9 liter). Those who selected RPO L37, which was effectively an economy engine introduced just two years prior, received a $195 credit; look for the letter "W" within the VIN and "T/A 4.9" decals on the Shaker scoop.
How many engines were in the 79 Firebird?
The exact number of engines retained for the '79 models varies between 8,672 and 8,800 in several published reports; however, what is established is that 8,326 were bolted into Trans Ams (some of the balance was used for Firebird Formulas).
Was the Trans Am the only survivor?
By mid-decade, it had become apparent that the Trans Am was the sole survivor. Even in the brief period sandwiched between the demise of the Super Duty after 1974 and Burt Reynolds 's silver-screen endorsement of the top-tier Firebird, sales of the Trans Am were on the rise; after the world met the Bandit, they exploded.
Did the Trans Am survive the Seventies?
The hallowed halls of horsepower may have been desecrated in the Seventies by federal regulations and two oil embargos, but even as the muscle era dispersed into a vast sea of personal luxury coupes and compact commuters, performance lived on at Pontiac. By mid-decade, it had become apparent that the Trans Am was the sole survivor.
Does a Pontiac 400 have a Y-pipe?
Unlike the 403, the Pontiac 400 used a Y-pipe to link its exhaust manifolds to the single catalytic converter, but used similar twin resonators and twin tailpipes with "splitter" tips aft of the cat. Californians were excluded from ordering this option. Check for the letter "Z" within the VIN and "T/A 6.6" Shaker scoop decals.
What is the Trans Am series?
Officially known as the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli in honor of the spec tire, this racing throwback is a cost-effective alternative to the ultra-expensive, factory-built cars marketed through customer racing programs in IMSA, World Challenge America, and one-make series such as Ferrari Challenge and the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. Featuring tube-frame chassis, silhouette bodies that mimic street cars, and honking American pushrod V8s, Trans Am thoroughbreds can match the lap times turned by GT3, GT4 and TCR cars at a fraction of the cost.
What is the tube frame for a Camaro?
Tube-frame cars must be bought from one of three approved chassis builders, and seven approved engine builders provide sealed motors for the appropriate bodywork: a 376-cubic-inch LS3 for a Chevrolet Camaro, a 368-cubic-inch Windsor for a Ford Mustang, and a 392-cubic-inch Hemi for a Dodge Challenger.
How much did the Firebird Trans Ams sell for?
Two of the film’s original promotional cars have been sold, one in 2014 for $450,000, and one in 2017 for $550,000.
What are some interesting facts about the Trans Am?
Smokey and the Bandit was one of the most iconic movies of the 1970s. It was the second highest-grossing film of the year, trailing only Star Wars: A New Hope, and it made Burt Reynolds into a certifiable superstar. ...
What car was used for Smokey and the Bandit?
The second generation Firebird Trans Am, which was used for Smokey and the Bandit and its sequel, Smokey and the Bandit II (1980), actually followed many of the styling cues from its car “cousin,” the Chevrolet Camaro.
What car did Burt Reynolds own?
Burt Reynolds finally did get his own Pontiac Firebird Trans Am , a 1978 model. He had the upgraded version with all of the fixings, including the 8.2-liter engine tuned and fully customized to bring power up from the original output of 220 horsepower to a head-turning 600 horsepower. That same “tribute” Trans Am was eventually auctioned off in 2017 for $275,000. Burt Reynolds also had a Turbo-Trans Am “Official Pace Car” that he owned, which was also auctioned off earlier this year. The car originally sold for $53,000, but Burt’s managed to bring in over twice that, at $110,000, due to his celebrity status alone. Imagine how much it’ll be worth now that he’s gone!
What size engine did the 1976 Pontiac Firebird have?
The engines of the Pontiac Firebird Trans Am were delegated by their cubic inch size, such as the 455ci 8-cylinder engines from the 1976 model, the 400ci engines from the 1974 model, etc.
What engines did the Firebird have?
There were four models available for the Firebird: the base model, the Esprit, the Formula 400, and of course the Trans Am. The first three were typically OHC six-cylinder cars with the Chevrolet 250ci straight-six engines , producing a weak 155 horsepower. But the Trans Am was different. When buyers ponied up to the V8, they had a choice of the two-barrel 350 that put out 255 hp, or the Formula 400 that put out 330 hp. Other changes in the Trans Am, making it a perfect car for films like Smokey and the Bandit, were the rear-breathing shaker hood scoop, the deep front spoiler, the front fender vents, the full-width rear spoiler, and the color combos.
Did Burt Reynolds get a free Trans Am?
Reynolds expected to get the car, but the Trans Am never came. Months later, Reynolds finally called Pontiac and learned that the executive that had made the promise had retired. The new executive refused to keep the promise that was made, and Burt never got his free Trans Am. (He did eventually get one, though.)
