After the extremely successful debut of the first-generation Firebirds
and Camaros, General Motors had a tall task ahead. It had to create an
equally popular yet radically different version of the groundbreaking
pony car it was replacing. Enthusiasts picked up on the “radically
different” part as soon as they saw these cars. Over time, we have come
to appreciate how successful these second-generation cars were. They
include the early models that had an emphasis on performance along with
the continued development of the Trans Am, the 455 Super Duty cars of
1973 and 1974, and the lightning-in-a-bottle popularity of the Smokey
and the Bandit editions. During their production run, these Firebirds
and Trans Ams were truly the only real performance cars out of Detroit,
and for many of the model years, they eclipsed even the mighty Corvette.
In The Definitive Firebird & Trans Am Guide 1970½– 1981, Pontiac expert
and historian Rocky Rotella examines each production year of the second
generation of Firebirds. Production figures, option codes, running
changes, model-year changes and variances, rarity, collectability,
interviews with engineers, and more are thoroughly covered. This is sure
to become the ultimate second-generation Firebird reference book.
Complementing the detail and year-by-year analysis is a combination of
archival photography from the development of these cars as well as
beautiful color photos of original and restored examples today.
This book tells the entire story of these immensely popular cars,
whether you are into the second generation of F-Body regular models,
Formula 400 performance models, the Super Duty Trans Ams, or the cars of
Smokey and the Bandit fame. It is an excellent addition to any pony car,
muscle car, or any enthusiast’s library.
• Only book of its kind specifically dedicated to second-generation
Firebirds
• Covers all the rare data, including option codes, production numbers,
running changes, etc.
• Key interviews and access to GM archives and engineering blueprints
round out the story
About the Author
Pontiac muscle cars have been the driving passion for James “Rocky”
Rotella and his family. He has owned and modified a number of Pontiacs
including a 1976 Trans- Am 455 HO. He has contributed scores of articles
to High-Performance Pontiac and Smoke Signals. He is also the author of
CarTech’s best-selling Pontiac titles, How to Rebuild Pontiac V-8s and
How to Build Max Performance Pontiac V-8s.
Author: Rocky Rotella
Author Bio: NA
ISBN: 9781613253212
Publisher: CarTech
Binding Type: Paperback
Illustrations: 500 color photos
Language: NA
Pages: 224
Printing Status: In Print
Edition: NA
Country Made: NA