Following the successful launch of the Ford Mustang in 1964, General Motors rushed to introduce their entry into the emerging Pony Car category. In 1967, the Chevrolet Camaro and Pontiac Firebird made their debut, sharing a platform while boasting unique styles and characters.
The pinnacle of the Firebird lineup was the Trans Am, named after the popular SCCA production-class road racing series. The Trans Am featured Pontiac’s finest engines and a specially designed handling package, making it one of the most agile cars in its class.
The second-generation Firebird/Camaro, which arrived in mid-1970, followed the trend of accommodating larger engines, much like the Mustang, evolving from Pony Cars to high-performance muscle cars. Starting in 1970, Pontiac squeezed the massive 455 cubic-inch big block engine into the Trans Am, creating one of the most coveted performance cars of its time.
The ’73 models continued with some styling refinements and introduced the iconic Firebird graphic on the hood, often referred to as the “Flaming Chicken,” a lasting symbol of Pontiac’s legendary pony car during the wild performance car era.
