Car Model History

Fourth generation · LT1/LS1 F-body · 1993–2002

1997Pontiac Firebird

The final Firebird — rounded composite-panel styling, the LT1 (1993–1997) then LS1 (1998–2002) V8 in the Trans Am and Formula, and the WS6 Ram Air package. Production ended August 30, 2002.

Fourth generation · LT1/LS1 F-body

1997 Pontiac Firebird — exact-model-year car

Photo: “1997 Pontiac Firebird coupe, rear right, 09-30-2023.jpg” by MercurySable99 / 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 1997 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 1997 Firebird

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

12factory 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 — 1997 Firebird factory brochure.

12versions shown
Two-door rear-wheel-drive hatchback coupe

Firebird Coupe 3.8L 3800 Series II V6 5-speed manual

Body
Two-door rear-wheel-drive hatchback coupe
Engine
3.8-liter 3800 Series II V6
Gearbox
5-speed manual
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door rear-wheel-drive hatchback coupe

Firebird Coupe 3.8L 3800 Series II V6 4-speed automatic

Body
Two-door rear-wheel-drive hatchback coupe
Engine
3.8-liter 3800 Series II V6
Gearbox
4-speed automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door rear-wheel-drive hatchback coupe

Formula Coupe 5.7L LT1 V8 6-speed manual

Body
Two-door rear-wheel-drive hatchback coupe
Engine
5.7-liter LT1 V8
Gearbox
6-speed manual
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door rear-wheel-drive hatchback coupe

Formula Coupe 5.7L LT1 V8 4-speed automatic

Body
Two-door rear-wheel-drive hatchback coupe
Engine
5.7-liter LT1 V8
Gearbox
4-speed automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door rear-wheel-drive hatchback coupe

Trans Am Coupe 5.7L LT1 V8 6-speed manual

Body
Two-door rear-wheel-drive hatchback coupe
Engine
5.7-liter LT1 V8
Gearbox
6-speed manual
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door rear-wheel-drive hatchback coupe

Trans Am Coupe 5.7L LT1 V8 4-speed automatic

Body
Two-door rear-wheel-drive hatchback coupe
Engine
5.7-liter LT1 V8
Gearbox
4-speed automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door rear-wheel-drive convertible

Firebird Convertible 3.8L 3800 Series II V6 5-speed manual

Body
Two-door rear-wheel-drive convertible
Engine
3.8-liter 3800 Series II V6
Gearbox
5-speed manual
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door rear-wheel-drive convertible

Firebird Convertible 3.8L 3800 Series II V6 4-speed automatic

Body
Two-door rear-wheel-drive convertible
Engine
3.8-liter 3800 Series II V6
Gearbox
4-speed automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door rear-wheel-drive convertible

Formula Convertible 5.7L LT1 V8 6-speed manual

Body
Two-door rear-wheel-drive convertible
Engine
5.7-liter LT1 V8
Gearbox
6-speed manual
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door rear-wheel-drive convertible

Formula Convertible 5.7L LT1 V8 4-speed automatic

Body
Two-door rear-wheel-drive convertible
Engine
5.7-liter LT1 V8
Gearbox
4-speed automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door rear-wheel-drive convertible

Trans Am Convertible 5.7L LT1 V8 6-speed manual

Body
Two-door rear-wheel-drive convertible
Engine
5.7-liter LT1 V8
Gearbox
6-speed manual
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door rear-wheel-drive convertible

Trans Am Convertible 5.7L LT1 V8 4-speed automatic

Body
Two-door rear-wheel-drive convertible
Engine
5.7-liter LT1 V8
Gearbox
4-speed automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version

The 1997 model year

Overview

Pontiac's exact-year factory literature documents 12 1997 Firebird configuration rows across 2 model, body, and powertrain combinations. This fourth-generation roster keeps Firebird, Esprit, Formula, Trans Am, engine, and transmission applicability within their supported year boundaries.

Specifications

Engines
  • 3.8-liter 3800 Series II V6
  • 5.7-liter LT1 V8
Transmissions
5-speed manual, 4-speed automatic, 6-speed manual
Body styles
Two-door rear-wheel-drive hatchback coupe, Two-door rear-wheel-drive convertible

Year over year

What changed

  • The 1997 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 12 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 1997 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 1997 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
6
Factory intervals
5
Fitment-scoped
6
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 and filter

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1997 · United States

    Published interval: 3,000 mi / 5,000 km / 3 months · Short-trip/city schedule; whichever comes first.

    Source: General Motors — 1997 Pontiac Firebird Owner's Manual · Maintenance Schedule — Short Trip/City intervals · checked

    Long-trip/highway schedule

    Applies to: 1997 · United States

    Published interval: 7,500 mi / 12,500 km / 12 months · Whichever comes first.

    Source: General Motors — 1997 Pontiac Firebird Owner's Manual · Maintenance Schedule — Long Trip/Highway intervals · checked

  • Engine air cleaner filter

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1997 · United States

    Published interval: 30,000 mi / 50,000 km · Replace; inspect at 15,000 miles under dusty conditions.

    Source: General Motors — 1997 Pontiac Firebird Owner's Manual · Maintenance Schedule — air-cleaner filter intervals · checked

  • Spark plugs

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1997 · United States

    Published interval: 100,000 mi / 166,000 km · Replace.

    Source: General Motors — 1997 Pontiac Firebird Owner's Manual · Maintenance Schedule — spark-plug replacement interval · checked

  • Automatic transmission fluid and filter

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1997 · United States

    Published interval: 100,000 mi / 166,000 km · Normal service; manual-transmission fluid has no scheduled replacement.

    Source: General Motors — 1997 Pontiac Firebird Owner's Manual · Maintenance Schedule — automatic-transmission service · checked

    Automatic transmission severe service

    Applies to: 1997 · United States

    Published interval: 15,000 mi / 25,000 km · Heavy hot-city, mountainous, trailer-towing, taxi, police, or delivery use.

    Source: General Motors — 1997 Pontiac Firebird Owner's Manual · Maintenance Schedule — severe automatic-transmission service · checked

  • Engine cooling system

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1997 · United States

    Published interval: 150,000 mi / 240,000 km / 60 months · Drain, flush, and refill; whichever comes first.

    Source: General Motors — 1997 Pontiac Firebird Owner's Manual · Maintenance Schedule — cooling-system service interval · checked

  • Engine oil filter — catalog fitment

    Exact reference available

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

    Baldwin B43-S cataloged fitment

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

    Applies to: 1997 · 3.8-liter 3800 Series II V6 · United States · Baldwin's exact 1997 Firebird V6-231 (3.8L), VIN K row assigns B43-S; confirm the engine code and installed filter before ordering.

    Source: Parker/Baldwin Filters — 2025 Automotive Applications catalog · PDF page 597, Pontiac 1997 Firebird V6-231 (3.8L), VIN K row — Lube — B43-S · checked

    Verified ordering references

    Baldwin B27 cataloged fitment

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

    Applies to: 1997 · 5.7-liter LT1 V8 · United States · Baldwin's exact 1997 Firebird V8-350 (5.7L), VIN P row assigns B27; confirm the engine code and installed filter before ordering.

    Source: Parker/Baldwin Filters — 2025 Automotive Applications catalog · PDF page 597, Pontiac 1997 Firebird V8-350 (5.7L), VIN P row — Lube — B27 · checked

    Verified ordering references

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Famous variants this year

Sources

  1. Pontiac Motor Division — 1997 Firebird factory brochure

Other Fourth generation years

Explore the LT1/LS1 F-body generation →All Fourth generation · LT1/LS1 F-body years →

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