When it comes to muscle car and pony car wars, history has shown us two distinct eras. Early on, the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro battled it out during the late '60s, while others like the Plymouth Barracuda, Chevy Chevelle, and Pontiac GTO all joined in the fray.

Then more modern day, we still see the Camaro battling its nemesis the Mustang, but outside those two eternal rivals, there are only a couple Chrysler cars that are keeping the muscle car flame alive - the Dodge Charger and Challenger. But nestled in between those eras, we have what might be the best muscle car of its day: the Pontiac Trans Am WS6.

1996-2002 Fourth Generation Pontiac Trans Am WS6

8.00 / 10
Key Features
  • T-Tops
  • Pop-Up Headlamps
  • Ram-Air Technology
Specifications
  • Model: Trans Am WS6
  • Engine/Motor: 5.7-liter LT4 V8 or 5.7-liter LS1 V8
  • Horsepower: 305-325
  • Torque: 335-350 pound-feet
  • Drivetrain: Front Engine, Rear Wheel Drive
  • Transmission: 4-Speed Auto Or 6-Speed Manual
Pros
  • Agressive Styling
  • Small Block V8 Power
  • Corvette Speed At A Discount
Cons
  • Plastic Interior
  • Unreliable Fog Lights
  • Solid Rear Axle

Performance Resurrected

1996-Pontiac-Trans-AM-WS6, Red, Front 3/4 view
via supercars.net

The fourth-generation Firebird debuted in 1993, and while the V6 and LT1-based Formula and Trans Am models were plenty powerful, the real fun began in 1996 when Pontiac decided to resurrect the WS6 package, which had laid dormant since 1992. Beginning with a modified version of the overhead valve 5.7-liter Gen II LT1 engine borrowed from the C4 Corvette, the WS6 package upped the ante in all the important performance categories. The most obvious change was the dual nostril hood that featured its Ram Air technology that claimed to force air into the intake to help the engine make more power, and it did. Power got bumped up from 285-horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque in the base TA to a more impressive 305-horsepower at 5,400 RPM and 335 pound-feet of torque at 3,200 RPM.

A 320 Bug Blender

Then in 1998, Pontiac decided to upgrade their top prizefighter with the ultimate hand-me-down in the form of the brand new (for 1997) C5 Corvette’s, all-aluminum 5.7-liter LS1 V8. In WS6 form, the 1998-2002 WS6, considered by many to be the most aggressive production car every made, also made a case to be not only the best muscle car Pontiac ever built. And though brand loyalists will never agree on one car being the best, the last WS6 made a strong argument for the title of 'best muscle car,' period. In 1998, the WS6’s LS1 made 320-horsepower at 5,200 RPM and 345 pound-feet of torque at 4,400 RPM (up from 305 and 335 respectively). That power was then funneled through a Tremec T56 six-speed manual or a GM built 4L60E four-speed automatic transmission. From there power got routed through a 3.42:1 axle for the manuals and a 3.23:1 for the automatics, and then on to the rear wheels where WS6-specific 17-inch high-polished rims waited shod in Goodyear Eagle F1 275/40ZR-17 tires.

Related: These Are The 10 Coolest Special Edition Pontiac Firebirds Ever Made

More Than Just Motor

2001 Pontiac Trans Am WS6, Black, Front 3/4 View
via: Lou Ruggieri

Not just content with a more powerful engine, the Trans Am WS6 became an American icon because Pontiac also gave the WS6 revolved DeCarbon shocks, stronger bushings as well as higher rate springs borrowed from the 1LE package (only for the ’98, ’99 and some 2000 models), a larger 32mm front sway bar, a power steering cooler, and a higher flowing exhaust. The hood of the WS6 for the ’98-’02 years was a 2-piece composite, trim-specific unit and made to be even more aggressive than the base Trans Am, complimenting the signature pop-up headlamps. Also included were WS6 badging strew about the cabin as well as on the wheel hubs.

Related: A Detailed Look At The Legendary Pontiac Firebird Trans AmIn 2001, all base Trans Am and WS6 models got a five horsepower bump thanks to a revised camshaft, pushing the WS6 from 320-325 horsepower and torque from 345 pound-feet to an even 350. The 2001 and 2002 models also benefited from the advent of the Corvette Z06, getting both an upgraded clutch and intake from the top-tier ‘Vette’s LS6 engine. The later models not only made the most power, but also posted the best fuel economy, netting an impressive 19/28/23 city/highway/combined MPG.

Overwhelming Performance

2002 Pontiac Trans Am Collectors Edition yellow over black
Via Mecum Auctions

In terms of performance, the WS6 was not only the most powerful 'Bird in the flock, but the fastest as well. Though it wasn’t as svelte as the Corvette, weighing in at a trim 3,477 pounds, this Pontiac had a net power to 10.7 pounds per horsepower. In its best and last iteration, the 2001-2002 WS6 was capable of running from 0-60 mph in 5.0 seconds flat, 0-100 mph in 11.6 seconds and through the quarter mile in 13.2 seconds at 108 mph, on to a top speed of 160 mph. There must have been something to the Ram Air system, or perhaps the WS6’s aerodynamics were better, but it was consistently faster (with the same driver and conditions) than its technological twin, the Camaro SS. That speed was scrubbed off by 11.9-inch front and 12.0-inch rear brakes from 60-0 mph in just 120 feet.

Underwhelming Interior

2002-pontiac-trans-am front cabin
Via Raleigh Classic Car Auction

Inside, the Pontiac was still a Pontiac and with most of the budget thrown into the drivetrain (rightly so), there wasn’t a lot leftover to make a luxurious cabin. But there were air conditioning, leather seats both front and rear, dual cup holders, a very powerful 10-speaker, 500-watt Monsoon sound system, an optional Hurst shifter, a very useable center console (replete with an auxiliary power outlet), steering wheel mounted cruise control and stereo controls, as well as optional traction control. Remote keyless entry, power windows and locks and let’s not forget the unforgettable t-tops, if you opted for the coupe. But one of the perks of the WS6 package, unlike the Corvette’s Z06 option, was that it could be had with the convertible body if you wanted even more open-air performance. Although, if you stuck with the coupe, the fold-down rear seat combined with the hatchback design allowed the WS6 to be uniquely, and unexpectedly practical, able to fit a prodigious amount of cargo compared to what you might expect from a 325-horsepower performance car.

Speed, At A Discount

1999 Pontiac Trans Am 30th Anniversary quarter front white over white
Via Mecum Auctions

In 1996 a base Trans Am would have run you just under $20,000, with the WS6 package adding another $2,995 to the bottom line. Adding in the power package, and you were looking at an MSRP of around $26,000. Fast-forward to 2002 and the base Trans Am price inflated to $27,895, while the WS6 package added another $3,290 making the last WS6 cost around $6,000 more than the ’96 model.

Related: Here's What You Need To Know About The 2002 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Collector's EditionAlthough both the forth generation Camaro SS and Trans Am WS6 disappeared after the 2002 model year, we have since seen the Camaro come back with a vengeance, yet the WS6 remains nothing more than a fond memory on showroom floors, despite the well-documented outcry for a new WS6. Auto allegiances are a lot like political affiliations, getting one side to actually complement the other is rarer than a herd of unicorns towing a wagon full of four-leaf cloves and rabbit feet, so we don’t expect any Mustang faithful to truly see the WS6 objectively. But love it or hate it, the Pontiac Trans Am WS6 was the fastest production muscle car for the better part of a decade and was able to put any stock Mustang in check. Some might point to the mighty Cobra R, which stormed onto the scene in 2000 and took back the title of the fastest pony car in the land, but the Cobra R, limited to just 300 examples, cost perspective buyers a minimum of twenty grand over what the WS6 cost.

The Best Pontiac Ever?

Fans of each side will never come to agreement on which car was truly the best, and there are sure to be even Pontiac fans that will point to Knight Rider's K.I.T.T. as the best ever, but when it came to looks, power, performance, affordability, availability and play old fun-factor, there is a very compelling argument that the fourth generation Pontiac Trans Am WS6 might very well have been not only the greatest Pontiac ever made, but possibly the best muscle car as well.