Using the standard Trans Am transmissions was also a certification issue. Production was not feasible, because the car would have to be re-certified at great expense to meet government crash standards.
But for the engine package to fit, the passenger-side fame rail was modified to make room for the exhaust downpipe. Pontiac built two Trans Ams in 1986 with the Buick Turbo 3.8-liter engine. 1989 Turbo Trans AmĪs an added bonus the author devotes several pages to the development of the 1989 Turbo Trans Am, the fastest four-seat American car of the 1980s. The V-12 was shoehorned in by taking up the space occupied by the stock fan and fan shroud. However, you can clearly see that there were no modifications made to the interior or the wheelbase of the Pegasus. The motor was a tight fit, and the author states that the firewall was moved back nine inches to accommodate the longer engine. In the mid-seventies, everything was going against the Firebird, and I’ll put he case forward that the Trans Am bird saved it.” Mitchell’s PegasusĮnzo Ferrari gave Bill Mitchell a 347 horsepower V-12 from a Ferrari Daytona 365 GT/B4 for his customized Firebird, Pegasus. Porter recently commented, “I think it may have saved the car. After a flaming initial rejection by Bill Michell, it finally became an option beginning in 1973. Norm Inouye drew the famous flaming bird graphic based on a sketch by Pontiac Studio Chief Bill Porter. The book quotes many designers and engineers who had something to do with the Trans Am. Tom reveals many inside details about the making of the films, how the cars were procured, and what became of them.
#Pontiac firebird trans am series
In the early ’80s David Hasselhoff starred in the TV series Knight Rider that featured KITT, the talking Trans Am. Steve died four months after the film was released. “Ain’t nobody can fly a car like Hooper.” Steve McQueen drove a ’80 TA in Hunter. 1977 introduced Burt Reynolds driving a black TA “Bullet” in Smokey and the Bandit, and later in Hooper. Clint Eastwood in Thunderbolt and Lightfoot drove a Cameo white ’73 John Wayne’s Brewster Green ’73 in McQ and David Carradine’s red ’73 in Cannonball. Tom Glatch tells the inside story of the Trans Am’s impact on the culture (and sales) through it’s starring role in several motion pictures and TV shows. Movies made the Trans Am an American legend. Seconds later, the Trans Am is flying through the western countryside, stolen. He eyes up a Cameo White ’73 Trans Am with a red “shaker.” “It’s a repo. Privacy Policy.“I don’t think You’re man enough to take on a car like this.” Lightfoot (Jeff Bridges) has just walked into Pete’s Dependable Used Cars somewhere in Idaho. Under which this service is provided to you. All content of the Dow Jones branded indices © S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC 2018Ĭable News Network.
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