Second generation · Long-running '70½–'81 F-body · 1970–1981
1970Pontiac Firebird
The long, swoopy second-generation F-body — the iconic Firebird era. Home of the screaming-chicken hood decal and the black-and-gold 1977 'Bandit' Trans Am that made the car a pop-culture icon.
Photo: “1970 Pontiac Firebird (14344184110).jpg” by Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Start here
What do you need to know?
This page covers the whole 1970 Pontiac Firebird model year. Choose your task first; exact trims and engines are separated where the factory offered different versions.
Complete, source-verified lineup
Find your exact 1970 Firebird
Start with a family, body style, or engine. Every card opens the facts and maintenance information for that factory version.
Verified complete for the U.S.-marketHow this lineup was verified
We checked this U.S.-market lineup against period sources for factory model, body, engine, and transmission combinations represented by the cited exact-year records. Every version shown below has its own detail page.
Verified 2026-09-01 from Pontiac Motor Division — 1970 Firebird Pocket Facts.
Firebird — 250 cu in inline-six, 1-barrel, 3-speed column-shift manual
- Body
- Two-door rear-wheel-drive hardtop coupe
- Engine
- 250 cu in inline-six, 1-barrel
- Gearbox
- 3-speed column-shift manual
- Built
- Regular production
Firebird — 250 cu in inline-six, 1-barrel, 2-speed automatic
- Body
- Two-door rear-wheel-drive hardtop coupe
- Engine
- 250 cu in inline-six, 1-barrel
- Gearbox
- 2-speed automatic
- Built
- Regular production
Firebird — 250 cu in inline-six, 1-barrel, Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic
- Body
- Two-door rear-wheel-drive hardtop coupe
- Engine
- 250 cu in inline-six, 1-barrel
- Gearbox
- Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic
- Built
- Regular production
Firebird — 350 cu in V8, 2-barrel, 3-speed floor-shift manual
- Body
- Two-door rear-wheel-drive hardtop coupe
- Engine
- 350 cu in V8, 2-barrel
- Gearbox
- 3-speed floor-shift manual
- Built
- Regular production
Firebird — 350 cu in V8, 2-barrel, 4-speed wide-ratio manual
- Body
- Two-door rear-wheel-drive hardtop coupe
- Engine
- 350 cu in V8, 2-barrel
- Gearbox
- 4-speed wide-ratio manual
- Built
- Regular production
Firebird — 350 cu in V8, 2-barrel, 2-speed automatic
- Body
- Two-door rear-wheel-drive hardtop coupe
- Engine
- 350 cu in V8, 2-barrel
- Gearbox
- 2-speed automatic
- Built
- Regular production
Firebird — 350 cu in V8, 2-barrel, Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic
- Body
- Two-door rear-wheel-drive hardtop coupe
- Engine
- 350 cu in V8, 2-barrel
- Gearbox
- Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic
- Built
- Regular production
Esprit — 350 cu in V8, 2-barrel, 3-speed floor-shift manual
- Body
- Two-door rear-wheel-drive hardtop coupe
- Engine
- 350 cu in V8, 2-barrel
- Gearbox
- 3-speed floor-shift manual
- Built
- Regular production
Esprit — 350 cu in V8, 2-barrel, 4-speed wide-ratio manual
- Body
- Two-door rear-wheel-drive hardtop coupe
- Engine
- 350 cu in V8, 2-barrel
- Gearbox
- 4-speed wide-ratio manual
- Built
- Regular production
Esprit — 350 cu in V8, 2-barrel, 2-speed automatic
- Body
- Two-door rear-wheel-drive hardtop coupe
- Engine
- 350 cu in V8, 2-barrel
- Gearbox
- 2-speed automatic
- Built
- Regular production
Esprit — 350 cu in V8, 2-barrel, Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic
- Body
- Two-door rear-wheel-drive hardtop coupe
- Engine
- 350 cu in V8, 2-barrel
- Gearbox
- Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic
- Built
- Regular production
Esprit — 400 cu in V8, 2-barrel, Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic
- Body
- Two-door rear-wheel-drive hardtop coupe
- Engine
- 400 cu in V8, 2-barrel
- Gearbox
- Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic
- Built
- Regular production
Formula 400 — 400 cu in V8, 4-barrel, 3-speed floor-shift manual
- Body
- Two-door rear-wheel-drive hardtop coupe
- Engine
- 400 cu in V8, 4-barrel
- Gearbox
- 3-speed floor-shift manual
- Built
- Regular production
Formula 400 — 400 cu in V8, 4-barrel, 4-speed wide-ratio manual
- Body
- Two-door rear-wheel-drive hardtop coupe
- Engine
- 400 cu in V8, 4-barrel
- Gearbox
- 4-speed wide-ratio manual
- Built
- Regular production
Formula 400 — 400 cu in V8, 4-barrel, 4-speed close-ratio manual
- Body
- Two-door rear-wheel-drive hardtop coupe
- Engine
- 400 cu in V8, 4-barrel
- Gearbox
- 4-speed close-ratio manual
- Built
- Regular production
Formula 400 — 400 cu in V8, 4-barrel, Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic
- Body
- Two-door rear-wheel-drive hardtop coupe
- Engine
- 400 cu in V8, 4-barrel
- Gearbox
- Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic
- Built
- Regular production
Formula 400 — 400 cu in Ram Air V8, 4-barrel, 3-speed floor-shift manual
- Body
- Two-door rear-wheel-drive hardtop coupe
- Engine
- 400 cu in Ram Air V8, 4-barrel
- Gearbox
- 3-speed floor-shift manual
- Built
- Regular production
Formula 400 — 400 cu in Ram Air V8, 4-barrel, 4-speed wide-ratio manual
- Body
- Two-door rear-wheel-drive hardtop coupe
- Engine
- 400 cu in Ram Air V8, 4-barrel
- Gearbox
- 4-speed wide-ratio manual
- Built
- Regular production
Formula 400 — 400 cu in Ram Air V8, 4-barrel, 4-speed close-ratio manual
- Body
- Two-door rear-wheel-drive hardtop coupe
- Engine
- 400 cu in Ram Air V8, 4-barrel
- Gearbox
- 4-speed close-ratio manual
- Built
- Regular production
Formula 400 — 400 cu in Ram Air V8, 4-barrel, Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic
- Body
- Two-door rear-wheel-drive hardtop coupe
- Engine
- 400 cu in Ram Air V8, 4-barrel
- Gearbox
- Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic
- Built
- Regular production
Trans Am — 400 cu in Ram Air V8, 4-barrel, 3-speed floor-shift manual
- Body
- Two-door rear-wheel-drive hardtop coupe
- Engine
- 400 cu in Ram Air V8, 4-barrel
- Gearbox
- 3-speed floor-shift manual
- Built
- Regular production
Trans Am — 400 cu in Ram Air V8, 4-barrel, 4-speed wide-ratio manual
- Body
- Two-door rear-wheel-drive hardtop coupe
- Engine
- 400 cu in Ram Air V8, 4-barrel
- Gearbox
- 4-speed wide-ratio manual
- Built
- Regular production
Trans Am — 400 cu in Ram Air V8, 4-barrel, 4-speed close-ratio manual
- Body
- Two-door rear-wheel-drive hardtop coupe
- Engine
- 400 cu in Ram Air V8, 4-barrel
- Gearbox
- 4-speed close-ratio manual
- Built
- Regular production
Trans Am — 400 cu in Ram Air V8, 4-barrel, Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic
- Body
- Two-door rear-wheel-drive hardtop coupe
- Engine
- 400 cu in Ram Air V8, 4-barrel
- Gearbox
- Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic
- Built
- Regular production
No factory configuration matches those filters.
The 1970 model year
Overview
Pontiac's exact-year factory literature documents 24 1970 Firebird configuration rows across 1 model, body, and powertrain combinations. This second-generation roster keeps Firebird, Esprit, Formula, Trans Am, engine, and transmission applicability within their supported year boundaries.
Specifications
- Engines
- 250 cu in inline-six, 1-barrel
- 350 cu in V8, 2-barrel
- 400 cu in V8, 2-barrel
- 400 cu in V8, 4-barrel
- 400 cu in Ram Air V8, 4-barrel
- Transmissions
- 3-speed column-shift manual, 2-speed automatic, Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic, 3-speed floor-shift manual, 4-speed wide-ratio manual, 4-speed close-ratio manual
- Body styles
- Two-door rear-wheel-drive hardtop coupe
Year over year
What changed
- The 1970 record includes only factory-supported model, body, engine, and transmission pairings; appearance groups and neighboring-year combinations are not inferred.
Worth knowing
Notable
- The documented lineup exposes 24 source-backed combinations while preserving Trans Am and other equipment boundaries instead of multiplying unsupported model pages.
Living with it
Reliability & ownership notes
- Verify VIN, engine code, transmission, emissions equipment, and build date before ordering parts. Inspect corrosion and prior body repair, cooling and fuel systems, drivetrain originality, weather seals, electrical accessories, and modification quality.
Maintenance & service parts
Keep your 1970 Firebird on the road
Start with the service interval, then match the engine or exact version you own. Order links appear only when a catalog-backed part number is available, and every listing still needs a fitment check.
Service desk
What this car needs & when
Use this as a service-planning checklist for 1970 Pontiac Firebird. Start with the interval, confirm which engine or configuration you have, then use an exact ordering reference when one is verified.
- Service topics
- 9
- Factory intervals
- 9
- Fitment-scoped
- 9
- Exact references
- 1
Before orderingIdentify your engine, options and build date.Part numbers and sizes can change within one model year. Shopping links appear only for catalog-backed references; still verify the listing against your vehicle before ordering.
Engine oil
Sourced interval available
Source: Pontiac Motor Division — 1970 Pontiac Service Manual, general lubrication schedule · General Information and Lubrication page 0-9 — engine-oil interval and adverse/Ram Air notes · checked
Engine oil filter
Exact reference available
Manufacturer-catalog fitment scoped to the exact engine row in the Firebird application table.
Source: Pontiac Motor Division — 1970 Pontiac Service Manual, general lubrication schedule · General Information and Lubrication page 0-10 — oil-filter row · checked
Baldwin B27 cataloged fitment
This manufacturer application record establishes filter fitment only; it does not alter the separately sourced service schedule.
Source: Parker/Baldwin Filters — 2025 Automotive Applications catalog · PDF page 944, Pontiac 1970 Firebird six-cylinder 250 (4.1L), code D row — Lube — B27 · checked
Verified ordering references
- Validated equivalentBaldwin B27
Qty. 1 · Engine lubricating-oil filter · catalog-listed
Cataloged for the 1970 Firebird six-cylinder 250 (4.1L), code D; verify engine code and installed dimensions.
Catalog: Parker/Baldwin Filters — 2025 Automotive Applications catalog · PDF page 944, Pontiac 1970 Firebird six-cylinder 250 (4.1L), code D row — Lube — B27 · checked
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Baldwin B39 cataloged fitment
This manufacturer application record establishes filter fitment only; it does not alter the separately sourced service schedule.
Source: Parker/Baldwin Filters — 2025 Automotive Applications catalog · PDF page 944, Pontiac 1970 Firebird V8-350 (5.7L) carbureted row — Lube — B39 · checked
Verified ordering references
- Validated equivalentBaldwin B39
Qty. 1 · Engine lubricating-oil filter · catalog-listed
Cataloged for the 1970 Firebird V8-350 (5.7L) carbureted; verify engine code and installed dimensions.
Catalog: Parker/Baldwin Filters — 2025 Automotive Applications catalog · PDF page 944, Pontiac 1970 Firebird V8-350 (5.7L) carbureted row — Lube — B39 · checked
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Baldwin B39 cataloged fitment
This manufacturer application record establishes filter fitment only; it does not alter the separately sourced service schedule.
Source: Parker/Baldwin Filters — 2025 Automotive Applications catalog · PDF page 944, Pontiac 1970 Firebird V8-400 (6.6L) carbureted row — Lube — B39 · checked
Verified ordering references
- Validated equivalentBaldwin B39
Qty. 1 · Engine lubricating-oil filter · catalog-listed
Cataloged for the 1970 Firebird V8-400 (6.6L) carbureted; verify engine code and installed dimensions.
Catalog: Parker/Baldwin Filters — 2025 Automotive Applications catalog · PDF page 944, Pontiac 1970 Firebird V8-400 (6.6L) carbureted row — Lube — B39 · checked
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Chassis lubrication
Sourced interval available
Source: Pontiac Motor Division — 1970 Pontiac Service Manual, general lubrication schedule · General Information and Lubrication page 0-10 — chassis-lubrication row · checked
Positive crankcase ventilation service
Sourced interval available
Source: Pontiac Motor Division — 1970 Pontiac Service Manual, general lubrication schedule · General Information and Lubrication pages 0-10–0-11 — 12-month/12,000-mile PCV row · checked
Carburetor fuel filter
Sourced interval available
Source: Pontiac Motor Division — 1970 Pontiac Service Manual, general lubrication schedule · General Information and Lubrication page 0-11 — carburetor fuel-filter row · checked
Paper air-cleaner element
Sourced interval available
Source: Pontiac Motor Division — 1970 Pontiac Service Manual, general lubrication schedule · General Information and Lubrication page 0-11 — standard paper air-cleaner row · checked
Automatic transmission fluid and filter
Sourced interval available
Source: Pontiac Motor Division — 1970 Pontiac Service Manual, general lubrication schedule · General Information and Lubrication page 0-11 — automatic-transmission row · checked
Engine coolant
Sourced interval available
Source: Pontiac Motor Division — 1970 Pontiac Service Manual, general lubrication schedule · General Information and Lubrication page 0-11 — cooling-system row · checked
Tire rotation
Sourced interval available
Source: Pontiac Motor Division — 1970 Pontiac Service Manual, general lubrication schedule · General Information and Lubrication page 0-11 — special-interval tire row · checked
Collect
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Famous variants this year
Sources
Other Second generation years
Explore the Long-running '70½–'81 F-body generation →All Second generation · Long-running '70½–'81 F-body years →