![]() Pontiac sold 500 Daytona pace car replicas thru their dealerships. The Trans Am was selected as the DAYTONA 500 pace car. Instead of the Camaro's dual snorkle aircleaner, the L69 Trans Am received yet another functional cold air intake designed to utilize the bulged hood. The carbed 190hp V8 was virtually identical to the L69 in the Z28 but used a different aircleaner assembly. Midyear the L69 high output 305 was introduced. Shift indicator changes for the Automatic Overdrive 700-R4. All '83 Firebird models were switched to a T-handle automatic gearshift knob. The 1983 Pontiac Firebird remained basically unchanged from the previous years 1982 Pontiac Firebird. Windshield slope is 60 degrees, about 3 degrees steeper than anything GM ever tried before. 1st time a 4 cylinder was available in a Firebird. It won Best Sports GT category in the $11,000 to $14,000 range with the Camaro. Road & Track selects the 82 Firebird Trans Am as 1 of the 12 best cars in the world along with the Camaro. It is also the closest in size to the 67 yet. Its dimesions were reduced, wheel base is shorter, and is a lighter car. The WS6 option available on the SE's and Trans Am's included 4 wheel disc brakes, P215/65R15 Goodyear Eagle GT radials with 15" cast aluminum wheels, stiffer springs, thicker front and rear sway bars, a high ratio 12.7:1 steering box, and limited slip rear differential. Early promotional cars were marked "T/A" as an alternative, however the production cars came marked as Trans Am regardless. Pontiac had also hoped to drop all the "Trans Am" badges from the new cars to save royalties paid to the SCCA for use of the name. 14" aluminum and 15" aluminum wheels were available on the SE and Trans Am. The base model Firebird came standard with 14" steel wheels. The other was a new fuel injected 305 using a fuel injection system similar to the 82 Corvette's 5.7L and producing 165hp. The first and most common was the LG4, a basic carburetor equiped 305 producing 145hp. The standard fuel injected 90hp 2.5L 4 cylinder Pontiac Iron Duke, a 102hp 2.8L V6, and two 5.0L V8's. Firebirds were available several engines. Leather seating was also availble on all models. The 1982 Pontiac Firebird SE could be had with every option the Trans Am could have but didn't use the bulged hood. The hood remained and was made fuctional for the Cross-fire injected 305. Plans had originally been made to use the Pontiac 4.9 turbo, but it was scrapped at the last minute. ![]() Trans Am received a turbo bulge hood styled loosely off the earlier turbo Trans Am. The aerodynamic developements extended to the finned aluminum wheels with smooth caps and a functional spoiler. Wind tunnels were used to form the body shape. In addition to being 500lbs lighter, the new 1982 Pontiac Firebird was the most aerodynamic production Firebird to date. The Trans Am was the highest performance level for the Firebird. The '82 Firebird was the base model, equivelant to the Camaro Sport Coupe, the '82 Firebird SE was a higher option level which could be loaded with more options than the Trans Am. 3rd Generation Firebirds introduced: '82 Firebird, Firebird SE, and 1982 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |