Car Model History

Second generation · Long-running '70½–'81 F-body · 1970–1981

1971Pontiac 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.

Second generation · Long-running '70½–'81 F-body

1971 Pontiac Firebird — exact-model-year car

Photo: “1971 Pontiac Firebird 350 5.7L.jpg” by Calreyn88 / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.

Start here

What do you need to know?

This page covers the whole 1971 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 1971 Firebird

Start with a family, body style, or engine. Every card opens the facts and maintenance information for that factory version.

32factory configurations
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 — 1971 Pontiac factory prestige brochure.

32versions shown
Firebird9 exact versions

Firebird Hardtop Coupe — 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
Open exact version

Firebird Hardtop Coupe — 250 cu in inline-six, 1-barrel, 3-speed floor-shift manual

Body
Two-door rear-wheel-drive hardtop coupe
Engine
250 cu in inline-six, 1-barrel
Gearbox
3-speed floor-shift manual
Built
Regular production
Open exact version

Firebird Hardtop Coupe — 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
Open exact version

Firebird Hardtop Coupe — 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
Open exact version

Firebird Hardtop Coupe — 350 cu in V8, 2-barrel, 3-speed manual

Body
Two-door rear-wheel-drive hardtop coupe
Engine
350 cu in V8, 2-barrel
Gearbox
3-speed manual
Built
Regular production
Open exact version

Firebird Hardtop Coupe — 350 cu in V8, 2-barrel, 3-speed heavy-duty manual

Body
Two-door rear-wheel-drive hardtop coupe
Engine
350 cu in V8, 2-barrel
Gearbox
3-speed heavy-duty manual
Built
Regular production
Open exact version

Firebird Hardtop Coupe — 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
Open exact version

Firebird Hardtop Coupe — 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
Open exact version

Firebird Hardtop Coupe — 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
Open exact version
Esprit6 exact versions

Esprit Hardtop Coupe — 350 cu in V8, 2-barrel, 3-speed manual

Body
Two-door rear-wheel-drive hardtop coupe
Engine
350 cu in V8, 2-barrel
Gearbox
3-speed manual
Built
Regular production
Open exact version

Esprit Hardtop Coupe — 350 cu in V8, 2-barrel, 3-speed heavy-duty manual

Body
Two-door rear-wheel-drive hardtop coupe
Engine
350 cu in V8, 2-barrel
Gearbox
3-speed heavy-duty manual
Built
Regular production
Open exact version

Esprit Hardtop Coupe — 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
Open exact version

Esprit Hardtop Coupe — 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
Open exact version

Esprit Hardtop Coupe — 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
Open exact version

Esprit Hardtop Coupe — 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
Open exact version
Formula 3505 exact versions

Formula 350 Hardtop Coupe — 350 cu in V8, 2-barrel, 3-speed manual

Body
Two-door rear-wheel-drive hardtop coupe
Engine
350 cu in V8, 2-barrel
Gearbox
3-speed manual
Built
Regular production
Open exact version

Formula 350 Hardtop Coupe — 350 cu in V8, 2-barrel, 3-speed heavy-duty manual

Body
Two-door rear-wheel-drive hardtop coupe
Engine
350 cu in V8, 2-barrel
Gearbox
3-speed heavy-duty manual
Built
Regular production
Open exact version

Formula 350 Hardtop Coupe — 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
Open exact version

Formula 350 Hardtop Coupe — 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
Open exact version

Formula 350 Hardtop Coupe — 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
Open exact version
Formula 4004 exact versions

Formula 400 Hardtop Coupe — 400 cu in V8, 4-barrel, 3-speed heavy-duty manual

Body
Two-door rear-wheel-drive hardtop coupe
Engine
400 cu in V8, 4-barrel
Gearbox
3-speed heavy-duty manual
Built
Regular production
Open exact version

Formula 400 Hardtop Coupe — 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
Open exact version

Formula 400 Hardtop Coupe — 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
Open exact version

Formula 400 Hardtop Coupe — 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
Open exact version
Formula 4553 exact versions

Formula 455 Hardtop Coupe — 455 cu in V8, 4-barrel, 3-speed heavy-duty manual

Body
Two-door rear-wheel-drive hardtop coupe
Engine
455 cu in V8, 4-barrel
Gearbox
3-speed heavy-duty manual
Built
Regular production
Open exact version

Formula 455 Hardtop Coupe — 455 cu in V8, 4-barrel, 4-speed manual

Body
Two-door rear-wheel-drive hardtop coupe
Engine
455 cu in V8, 4-barrel
Gearbox
4-speed manual
Built
Regular production
Open exact version

Formula 455 Hardtop Coupe — 455 cu in V8, 4-barrel, Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic

Body
Two-door rear-wheel-drive hardtop coupe
Engine
455 cu in V8, 4-barrel
Gearbox
Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Formula 455 H.O.2 exact versions

Formula 455 H.O. Hardtop Coupe — 455 cu in H.O. V8, 4-barrel, 4-speed close-ratio manual

Body
Two-door rear-wheel-drive hardtop coupe
Engine
455 cu in H.O. V8, 4-barrel
Gearbox
4-speed close-ratio manual
Built
Regular production
Open exact version

Formula 455 H.O. Hardtop Coupe — 455 cu in H.O. V8, 4-barrel, Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic

Body
Two-door rear-wheel-drive hardtop coupe
Engine
455 cu in H.O. V8, 4-barrel
Gearbox
Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Trans Am3 exact versions

Trans Am Hardtop Coupe — 455 cu in H.O. V8, 4-barrel, 3-speed heavy-duty manual

Body
Two-door rear-wheel-drive hardtop coupe
Engine
455 cu in H.O. V8, 4-barrel
Gearbox
3-speed heavy-duty manual
Built
Regular production
Open exact version

Trans Am Hardtop Coupe — 455 cu in H.O. V8, 4-barrel, 4-speed close-ratio manual

Body
Two-door rear-wheel-drive hardtop coupe
Engine
455 cu in H.O. V8, 4-barrel
Gearbox
4-speed close-ratio manual
Built
Regular production
Open exact version

Trans Am Hardtop Coupe — 455 cu in H.O. V8, 4-barrel, Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic

Body
Two-door rear-wheel-drive hardtop coupe
Engine
455 cu in H.O. V8, 4-barrel
Gearbox
Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version

The 1971 model year

Overview

Pontiac's exact-year factory literature documents 32 1971 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
  • 455 cu in V8, 4-barrel
  • 455 cu in H.O. V8, 4-barrel
Transmissions
3-speed column-shift manual, 3-speed floor-shift manual, 2-speed automatic, Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic, 3-speed manual, 3-speed heavy-duty manual, 4-speed wide-ratio manual, 4-speed close-ratio manual, 4-speed manual
Body styles
Two-door rear-wheel-drive hardtop coupe

Year over year

What changed

  • The 1971 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 32 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 1971 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 1971 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
7
Factory intervals
6
Fitment-scoped
7
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

    Applies to: 1971 · United States · The photographed reproduction is identified as GM glovebox schedule part 325131 for 1970–1981 Firebird/Trans Am. It is a readable independent reproduction, not a factory-hosted manual; the records below transcribe only its unambiguous rows, and the schedule itself directs owners to the year-specific owner's manual for additional requirements.

    Published interval: 6,000 mi / 4 months · Whichever occurs first; check the oil level between services.

    Source: General Motors part 325131 — 1970–1981 Firebird glovebox vehicle-safety maintenance schedule (reproduction photographed by Firebird Central) · Product image of GM schedule 325131 — engine-oil row at every 6,000-mile service; footnote defines each service as 4 months or 6,000 miles · checked

  • Brake and power-steering inspection

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1971 · United States · The photographed reproduction is identified as GM glovebox schedule part 325131 for 1970–1981 Firebird/Trans Am. It is a readable independent reproduction, not a factory-hosted manual; the records below transcribe only its unambiguous rows, and the schedule itself directs owners to the year-specific owner's manual for additional requirements.

    Published interval: 6,000 mi / 4 months · Check all brake and power-steering lines and hoses; check brake linings and parking-brake adjustment.

    Source: General Motors part 325131 — 1970–1981 Firebird glovebox vehicle-safety maintenance schedule (reproduction photographed by Firebird Central) · Product image of GM schedule 325131 — brakes and power-steering row at every 6,000-mile service · checked

  • Chassis lubrication and fluid levels

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1971 · United States · The photographed reproduction is identified as GM glovebox schedule part 325131 for 1970–1981 Firebird/Trans Am. It is a readable independent reproduction, not a factory-hosted manual; the records below transcribe only its unambiguous rows, and the schedule itself directs owners to the year-specific owner's manual for additional requirements.

    Published interval: 6,000 mi / 4 months · Lubricate the chassis and check all fluid levels.

    Source: General Motors part 325131 — 1970–1981 Firebird glovebox vehicle-safety maintenance schedule (reproduction photographed by Firebird Central) · Product image of GM schedule 325131 — chassis row at every 6,000-mile service · checked

  • Suspension, exhaust, and tire inspection

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1971 · United States · The photographed reproduction is identified as GM glovebox schedule part 325131 for 1970–1981 Firebird/Trans Am. It is a readable independent reproduction, not a factory-hosted manual; the records below transcribe only its unambiguous rows, and the schedule itself directs owners to the year-specific owner's manual for additional requirements.

    Published interval: 6,000 mi / 4 months · Check tire condition at each service and pressure at least monthly. Check the front and rear suspension, steering system, exhaust, and underbody every 12,000 miles or 8 months; rotate tires as indicated by wear.

    Source: General Motors part 325131 — 1970–1981 Firebird glovebox vehicle-safety maintenance schedule (reproduction photographed by Firebird Central) · Product image of GM schedule 325131 — suspension/steering and exhaust rows at alternating 6,000-mile columns; tires and wheels row with monthly pressure note · checked

  • Engine air-cleaner element

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1971 · United States · The photographed reproduction is identified as GM glovebox schedule part 325131 for 1970–1981 Firebird/Trans Am. It is a readable independent reproduction, not a factory-hosted manual; the records below transcribe only its unambiguous rows, and the schedule itself directs owners to the year-specific owner's manual for additional requirements.

    Published interval: 12,000 mi / 8 months · Replace the air-cleaner element; service sooner when conditions require.

    Source: General Motors part 325131 — 1970–1981 Firebird glovebox vehicle-safety maintenance schedule (reproduction photographed by Firebird Central) · Product image of GM schedule 325131 — air-filter row at alternating 6,000-mile service columns · checked

  • Engine coolant

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1971 · United States · The photographed reproduction is identified as GM glovebox schedule part 325131 for 1970–1981 Firebird/Trans Am. It is a readable independent reproduction, not a factory-hosted manual; the records below transcribe only its unambiguous rows, and the schedule itself directs owners to the year-specific owner's manual for additional requirements.

    Published interval: 24 months · Change the coolant every two years; check cooling-system condition at scheduled services.

    Source: General Motors part 325131 — 1970–1981 Firebird glovebox vehicle-safety maintenance schedule (reproduction photographed by Firebird Central) · Product image of GM schedule 325131 — engine row states ‘Change coolant every two years’ · checked

  • Engine oil filter — catalog fitment

    Exact reference available

    Manufacturer-catalog fitment scoped to the exact engine row in the Firebird application table.

    Baldwin B27 cataloged fitment

    This manufacturer application record establishes filter fitment only; it does not alter the separately sourced service schedule.

    Applies to: 1971 · 250 cu in inline-six, 1-barrel · United States · Baldwin's exact 1971 Firebird six-cylinder 250 (4.1L), code D row assigns B27; confirm the engine code and installed filter before ordering.

    Source: Parker/Baldwin Filters — 2025 Automotive Applications catalog · PDF page 943, Pontiac 1971 Firebird six-cylinder 250 (4.1L), code D row — Lube — B27 · checked

    Verified ordering references

    Baldwin B39 cataloged fitment

    This manufacturer application record establishes filter fitment only; it does not alter the separately sourced service schedule.

    Applies to: 1971 · 350 cu in V8, 2-barrel, 350 cu in V8, 4-barrel · United States · Baldwin's exact 1971 Firebird V8-350 (5.7L) carbureted row assigns B39; confirm the engine code and installed filter before ordering.

    Source: Parker/Baldwin Filters — 2025 Automotive Applications catalog · PDF page 943, Pontiac 1971 Firebird V8-350 (5.7L) carbureted row — Lube — B39 · checked

    Verified ordering references

    Baldwin B39 cataloged fitment

    This manufacturer application record establishes filter fitment only; it does not alter the separately sourced service schedule.

    Applies to: 1971 · 400 cu in V8, 2-barrel, 400 cu in V8, 4-barrel, 400 cu in Ram Air V8, 4-barrel · United States · Baldwin's exact 1971 Firebird V8-400 (6.6L) carbureted row assigns B39; confirm the engine code and installed filter before ordering.

    Source: Parker/Baldwin Filters — 2025 Automotive Applications catalog · PDF page 943, Pontiac 1971 Firebird V8-400 (6.6L) carbureted row — Lube — B39 · checked

    Verified ordering references

    Baldwin B39 cataloged fitment

    This manufacturer application record establishes filter fitment only; it does not alter the separately sourced service schedule.

    Applies to: 1971 · 455 cu in V8, 4-barrel, 455 cu in H.O. V8, 4-barrel · United States · Baldwin's exact 1971 Firebird V8-455 (7.5L) carbureted row assigns B39; confirm the engine code and installed filter before ordering.

    Source: Parker/Baldwin Filters — 2025 Automotive Applications catalog · PDF page 943, Pontiac 1971 Firebird V8-455 (7.5L) carbureted row — Lube — B39 · checked

    Verified ordering references

Collect

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Famous variants this year

Sources

  1. Pontiac Motor Division — 1971 Pontiac factory prestige brochure

Other Second generation years

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