Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
1969–2002
The Trans Am is the most famous Firebird of all — a performance-and-appearance package that became more iconic than the base car. Introduced mid-1969 and offered through the Firebird's final 2002 year, it is defined by the 'screaming chicken' hood decal, shaker hood scoops, and the black-and-gold 1977 'Bandit' car from Smokey and the Bandit. It spanned all four Firebird generations and remains the definitive Pontiac muscle/pony car.
1969–2002
Overview
The Trans Am is the most famous Firebird of all — a performance-and-appearance package that became more iconic than the base car. Introduced mid-1969 and offered through the Firebird's final 2002 year, it is defined by the 'screaming chicken' hood decal, shaker hood scoops, and the black-and-gold 1977 'Bandit' car from Smokey and the Bandit. It spanned all four Firebird generations and remains the definitive Pontiac muscle/pony car.
Collectibility
The Trans Am is the most collectible Firebird across the board: the 1969 first-year cars, the 1973–1974 SD-455, the 1977 black-and-gold Bandit Special Editions, and the WS6 fourth-generation cars all command premiums. Originality and matching-numbers drivetrains drive value. Figures are qualitative here by design.
Every production run
Years & eras
| Years | Engine | HP | Production | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | — | — | — |
|
| 1970–1981 | — | — | — |
|
| 1982–1992 | — | — | — |
|
| 1993–2002 | LS1 5.7L V8 (1998–2002) | 310 | — |
|
1969
The first Trans Am, introduced mid-1969 as a low-volume performance package on the first-generation Firebird — the rarest and most collectible Trans Am.
1970–1981
The second-generation Trans Am is the cultural icon: the 'screaming chicken' hood decal, the SD-455 Super Duty engine early in the run, and the black-and-gold 1977 Special Edition made famous by Smokey and the Bandit. Trans Am sales peaked at 117,108 units in 1979.
1982–1992
The third-generation Trans Am moved to the lighter aero F-body, gained the GTA flagship trim (1987–1992) and the limited 1989 turbocharged 20th Anniversary Trans Am — itself the Indy 500 pace car that year.
1993–2002
The fourth-generation Trans Am used the LT1 (1993–1997) and then the LS1 (1998–2002) V8, with the WS6 Ram Air package the performance pinnacle. The line ended with the 2002 cars and a 35th-anniversary Collector Edition.
Worth knowing
Notable
- The Trans Am spanned all four Firebird generations (1969–2002).
- The black-and-gold 1977 'Bandit' car is the most iconic Trans Am.
- Named for the SCCA Trans-Am racing series.
Model years featuring the Trans Am