'THE' Pontiac Firebird book – updated AND enlarged!
John Schinella and daughter Elli with a 1974 bumper study '73 SD 455 Trans Am. (Courtesy John Schinella)
This fourth edition of Marc Cranswick’s complete model history of General Motor's upmarket F body variant features a new foreword – and five new sections – written by none other than the legendary designer of the Firebird, John Schinella. Also included are 128 new photos and 24 additional pages, bringing the Firebird legend to life in even more glorious detail.
Twin origins
The Firebird's origin is framed by two factors: performance and style. Near the end of the 60s, new auto models were created that stepped outside of GM's perceived 'anti-performance' mindset, just as customers were beginning to demand more practical, stylish vehicles. This new – and commercially successful – trend for fast, good looking cars led to an entire new category of sporty coupes, and heralded the Pony car era.
The Firebird reflected the development of the mainstream domestic car in the modern era: V8s, turbo V8s, turbo V6s, HO V6s, overhead cam I6s, and even a Super Duty four banger — if there was a performance avenue to explore, the Firebird has been there. Over a 40-year period the Pontiac Firebird earned a unique place amongst speedy American domestic cars, and what began as just another contender in the pony car race, ended up a true American classic.
This Firebird featured in 1977's second biggest hit at the box office, Smokey and the Bandit. (Courtesy Richard Beer)
From street to screen
Popular in the sales charts, the Firebird has also been high profile both in television and movies, cementing its legendary status in pop culture and beyond. From the go-faster 1960s, gas mileage- and pollution-controlled 1970s, performance renaissance of the 1980s, through to the indifference of the 1990s, the Firebird was always there.
Beginning with a foreword from John Schinella, Pontiac Firebird takes you through the full history of the Firebird. From the origin of the pony car, to Firebird design and engineering, and featuring the models that made the car famous, the entire history of Pontiac's 'Screamin Chicken' is presented, illustrated with photos of notable models, unusual variations, and contemporary adverts and literature. How it came to be, to how it evolved over the decades, to its use in motorsport, and final retirement, the Firebird is revealed in its entirety.
Features reproductions of original marketing and sales literature.
Marc Cranswick pays close attention to both regular models and high level variants such as Formula and Trans Am. Included is an appendix detailing the specifications and statistics of sixteen notable Firebird models, from the 19671/2 Firebird 400 Coupé, to the 1999 30th Anniversary Firebird Trans Am Convertible.
As with Marc's other books on American cars, you'll find extensive details of the Firebird's importance and popularity in pop culture, including its many notable film and TV appearances, and all aspects of the Firebird story — social, economic and beyond — are examined, revealing how Pontiac made the Firebird truly unique.
Enlarged and updated fourth edition of the definitive Firebird book
Foreword and five new sections by Firebird designer John Schinella
Features 128 new images and 24 additional pages
Tells the 'twin origins' of the Firebird story – performance and style
Charts model development and appeal over its lifetime
Detailed model and variant descriptions throughout
Stunning photography, plus reproductions of advertising and marketing literature
Reveals the Firebird’s popularity in culture, TV and movies
Motorsport and series appearances and sporting success
Appendices cover model highlights, Firebird clubs, and resources for specific models
The full Firebird story in one volume
Pontiac Firebird: The Auto-Biography spans the period 1967 to 2002, and covers everything from the Firebird's pre-origins and the beginning of the pony car era, to film and tv appearances, development and change over its lifetime, and notable models and variations, from street level to high level. It contains details of a wide rage of models covering the cars entire production history, including, but not limited to: Trans Am, Ram Air, Formula, Pegasus concept, Super Duty 455, L75 455 V8 export, W50 Formula package, W72 400, Y code cars, Silverbird, Tojan GT Coupe, Formula WS6, 30th Anniversary model, and much more.
