The legendary Pontiac Firebird is a sports/muscle car that is built between 1967 and 2002 by the Pontiac division of General Motors. 1967 was the year of introduction for the Pontiac Firebird, a variant of the Chevrolet Camaro that was the brand's needed answer to the best-selling Ford Mustang.
These high performance auto mobiles were, for the most part, powered by various V8 motors of different GM divisions. They where primarily Pontiac-powered until 1977, when the Firebirds were built with several different engines from nearly every General Motors division. In 1982 all Pontiac motors were dropped in favour of corporate motors.
Pontiac Trans-Am Engine Summary
Pontiac Trans-Am Engine Summary (with corresponding RPO code):
| Year | Fuel Supply System | Engine Specifications |
| 1982-1983 | LU5 5.0L V8 | 165-175 hp and 240-250 ft·lbff |
| 1982-1984 | LC1 2.8L V6 | 102-107 hp and 142-145 ft·lbff |
| 1982-1985 | LQ8 2.5L I4 | 88-92 hp and 132-134 ft·lbff |
| 1982-1987 | LG4 5.0L V8 | 145-170 hp and 240-250 ft·lbff |
| 1983-1984 | LL1 2.8L V6 | 125 hp and 145 ft·lbff |
| 1983-1986 | L69 5.0L V8 | 190 hp and 240 ft·lbff |
| 1985-1989 | LB8 2.8L V6 | 135 hp and 165 ft·lbff |
| 1985-1992 | LB9 5.0L V8 | 190-230 hp and 275-300 ft·lbff |
| 1987-1992 | L98 5.7L V8 | 225-245 hp and 330-345 ft·lbff |
| 1988-1992 | L03 5.0L V8 | 170 hp and 255 ft·lbff |
| 1989-1989 | LD5 3.8L V6 | 250 hp and 340 ft·lbff (turbocharged engine) |
| 1990-1992 | LH0 3.1L V6 | 140 hp and 180 ft·lbff |
Who doesn't know him, the very famous Pontiac Trans Am 1982? Of course that is KITT, from the legendary TV series Knight Rider. In that television series appeared a modified black 1982 Firebird Trans Am, named KITT.
The SCCA created the Trans Am Racing Series in 1966, as the Trans American Sedan Championship. Originally derived from the SCCA's A Production class, it today features purpose-built tube-frame race cars competing on road courses. The series is known for competition of muscle cars like the Ford Mustang, Chevy Camaro, Plymouth Barracuda, AMC Javelin and Dodge Challenger in the late 1960s and early 1970s, though marques from many different countries have competed in the series.
De Pontiac Firebird Trans Am is named after the Trans-Am Series, the name was used without permission of the SCCA and they threatened to sue GM. But GM settled the deal by paying US$5 to the SCCA for every car sold. The Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) is the sanctioning body for the series and holds the rights to the "Trans Am" name. The series was most recently operated by the Champ Car World Series and ran the majority of its races in support of the parent open-wheel championship.
Due to a lack of participants and interest, the series ceased operations after the 2005 season. However the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) continued to own the name and permitted Heartland Park Topeka to run two races in September and October 2006 using Trans Am rules and the Trans Am name.