Second-generation Firebird (1970–1981)
1970–1981
The second-generation Firebird (1970–1981) is the iconic one — the long, swoopy F-body that became a 1970s pop-culture fixture. It is the home of the 'screaming chicken' hood decal, the rare Super Duty 455 (SD-455) of 1973–1974, and the black-and-gold 1977 Special Edition Trans Am made famous by Smokey and the Bandit. Trans Am sales peaked during this generation at 117,108 units in 1979, making it the best-known era of the entire nameplate.
Photo: “1979–1981 Pontiac Firebird” by Alexander Migl / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
1970–1981
Overview
The second-generation Firebird (1970–1981) is the iconic one — the long, swoopy F-body that became a 1970s pop-culture fixture. It is the home of the 'screaming chicken' hood decal, the rare Super Duty 455 (SD-455) of 1973–1974, and the black-and-gold 1977 Special Edition Trans Am made famous by Smokey and the Bandit. Trans Am sales peaked during this generation at 117,108 units in 1979, making it the best-known era of the entire nameplate.
Milestones
Highlights
- The longest-running Firebird generation, spanning 1970–1981.
- Home of the 'screaming chicken' hood decal and the 1973–1974 SD-455.
- The 1977 black-and-gold 'Bandit' Trans Am made the car a pop-culture icon.
- Trans Am sales peaked at 117,108 units in 1979.
Model years in this generation
Browse scale models for this generation. Check each listing for its actual year, trim and scale.