Early promotional cars were marked "T/A" as an alternative, however it was decided that doing so might cause more problems than it was worth and the "Trans Am" nameplate remained. Pontiac had also hoped to drop the "Trans Am" moniker from the redesigned cars to save royalties paid to the SCCA for use of the name. The Firebird would retain hidden headlamps until the end of all production in 2002. Electronically controlled retractable headlamps, and a rounded hoodline and front fenders were the primary characteristics that distinguished the Firebird from its Camaro sibling and its previous Firebird incarnations.
For 1982, the new Firebird had been completely restyled, with the windshield slope set at a dramatic, more aerodynamic 62 degrees, (about 3 degrees steeper than anything GM had ever tried before), flush-mounted side glass, and for the first time, a large, glass-dominated rear hatchback. The Firebird was the base model, equivalent to the Camaro Sport Coupe the Firebird S/E was the luxury version and the Trans Am, the high-performance version. The third generation of Firebirds consisted of three models: Firebird, Firebird S/E, and Firebird Trans Am.
These were also the first Firebirds with factory fuel injection, four-speed automatic transmissions, five-speed manual transmissions, four-cylinder engines, 16-inch wheels, and hatchback bodies. Additional photos of the underside are provided in the image gallery.The third generation Pontiac Firebird was introduced in late 1981 by Pontiac alongside its corporate cousin, the Chevrolet Camaro for the 1982 model year. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a four-speed manual transmission. Stamping “197” is also present on the cylinder head and shown up-close in the gallery below. Stamping “102462” is shown on the engine block which matches the last six digits of the chassis number. Stampings of the period-correct carburetor are also provided in the gallery below.
The 455ci High Output V8 is topped with a rebuilt carburetor and produced 335 horsepower and 480 lb-ft of torque when new. The five-digit odometer shows 50k miles, 500 of which were added by the current owner. Rally instrumentation is housed in an engine-turned dash panel and includes a 160-mph speedometer, an 8k-rpm tachometer with an inset clock, and auxiliary gauges. Equipment includes a Formula steering wheel, heater, safety belts, Firebird-branded floor mats, center console, and push-button AM/FM radio. The interior is trimmed in blue vinyl with a matching dashboard, door panels, and carpets. The car is equipped with power steering and power-assisted front disc brakes. The wheel date codes stampings are provided in the gallery below. Refinished 15″ Rallye II wheels wear PMD center caps and 235/60 BFGoodrich Radial T/A white letter tires. Features include a black and white over-the-top stripe, endura front bumper, a shaker hood, front and rear spoilers, fender vents, chrome drip rails, a chrome rear bumper, and dual exhaust outlets. The car is said to have been refinished in factory Lucerne Blue during previous ownership by Restore a Muscle Car in Lincoln, Nebraska. This Firebird Trans Am 455 is now offered on behalf of the current owner in California with a clean Montana title. The car is said to have been refurbished in Nebraska before moving to California where it was acquired by the current owner in 2020.
The car is finished in Lucerne Blue over blue vinyl, and equipment includes 15″ Rallye II wheels, a shaker hood, power front disc brakes, power steering, a Hurst shifter, and an AM radio. V8 and is reportedly one of 885 examples equipped with a four-speed manual transmission for the model year.
This 1971 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am is powered by a numbers-matching 455ci H.O.