The Pontiac GTO is arguably one of the most iconic muscle cars in history. This car is considered by many the pioneer of muscle cars. However, after the new EPA emission regulations and the tragic oil crisis, this icon was discontinued.
However, before and after its rule, a number of amazing Pontiac cars went into production. These cars have since then shaped the muscle car industry and the entire American car manufacturing industry. The Pontic Trans Am was one of these icons that came after the GTO.
The Trans AM was built to go up against the “big boys” – Ford and Dodge. The first Pontiac Trans Am was the 1967 Firebird that shared the same platform with the Chevrolet Camaro. This ride set Pontiac up for success.
10 1969 Trans Am
The 1969 Trans Am starts us off. This ride was unveiled in 1969 as the first-ever Trans AM. This 1969 model did not come as an independent model but rather as an optional package for the Firebird. The Firebird had gained its notoriety from taking part in the SCCA racing series.
697 units of the ’69 Trans Am were built and all of them were painted white with blue stripes. This beauty was powered by a 400-cid V8 engine that pushed 335 brake horsepower. This car marked the beginning of a muscle car that would end up becoming Pontiac’s flagship performance car.
9 1970 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
After the debut of the first generation of the Trans Am in the mid-1960s, the market was ready for the second generation Trans Am. The 1970 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am was the best way to usher in the new generation.
This muscle car is an upgrade of the previous Trans Ams. The ’70 Firebird Trans Am featured new details and design elements, which included a new color scheme and a new spoiler. This ride also had two engine options, which varied in output. These engines include a 400-cid V8 engine and a Ram Air induction system.
8 1971 Trans Am 455 H.O.
The ‘70s era did not start off on a high note for American car manufacturers. This saw a decline in the number of muscle cars that were going to production. This was the same time that Pontiac was introducing the second-generation F-Body platform.
This move saw the Pontiac Trans Am build an identity for itself. It gave the company confidence to go against the rules that were put in place to govern engine compression ratio. The 1971 Trans AM 445 H.O was fitted with a massive 455-ci V8 engine. While this engine didn’t match the peak ratings of the other 400 motors, it did have an abundance of torque at the slightest touch of the throttle. This earned it a spot among the greatest muscle cars of all time.
7 1974 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am SD 455
By 1974, muscle cars were either on the brink of extinction or already extinct. The few that survived were stripped of their power and style.
However, there was one car that stood its ground and survived through all the tribulations. This car was the 1974 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Super Duty 455. While this car was not new in the market, it did undergo a number of upgrades. These upgrades included a new front and rear end, new details on the bodywork, and an improved interior. Its 455 V8 engine pushed 215 horsepower.
6 1977 "Bandit" Trans Am
While muscle cars were built for power, this was not to imply that all of them had to be fast. The 1977 Trans Am or as it was popularly known as, “The Bandit”, was a car that didn’t make a name for itself on the track, but it found a home in Hollywood.
The 1977 Trans Am starring in the Hollywood Film Smokey & The Bandit alongside Burt Reynolds received the nickname “Bandit”. This icon was powered by a 6.6-liter engine that produced an output of just 200 horsepower. Despite its lack of power, the Bandit is the most iconic Pontiac Trans Am in history.
5 1978 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Special Edition
Although Pontiac showed that it was ready to defy the set rules and regulations set by the EPA, at some point, they were bound to throw in the towel. When they did, it was clear that they were hit as hard as all the other American car manufacturers.
Nonetheless, Pontiac was still able to build some of the most iconic cars in history. The 1978 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Special Edition is one of their best works that was achieved during the hardest times. This street icon had two engine options - a 400 NA V8 engine and a 4.9-liter turbo engine. Both of these engines recorded an output rating of more than 220 horsepower.
4 1980 Pontiac Trans Am Turbo
Since the introduction of the F-Body Pontiac in 1970, it quickly gained popularity and by the late ‘70s, it was one of the most dominant muscle cars in the market.
However, the era of huge cube motors and high horsepower was quickly becoming a thing of the past, and Pontiac, just like its competition, had to think of a new powertrain. The 1980 Pontiac Trans Am Turbo was the best car to try on the new power train. This muscle car was powered by a turbocharged 301 V8 engine whose output ranged between 200 and 210 horsepower, with a torque delivery of 340 lb-ft.
3 1982 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
By 1982, it had already been 11 years since the second-generation Pontiac Trans Am was unveiled. Thus, it was about time for something new.
Pontiac redesigned the Trans Am, giving it a much more advanced aerodynamically designed body, improved handling, and suspension. The 1982 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am featured a 305 V8 engine that was also found in the Camaro and delivered 165 horsepower.
2 1989 Turbo Trans Am
Another Hollywood star – the 1989 Turbo Trans Am. This ride was featured in the Hollywood film Knight Rider as well as the popular video game Grand Theft Auto (GTA). The Turbo Trans Am was built as a limited edition model to represent the line’s third-generation peak.
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Trans Am model, Pontiac replaced the engine in a number of Turbo Trans Am cars with a 3.8-liter turbocharged V6 engine. This was the same engine that was used in the Buick GNX. This upgrade saw the power output boosted up to 250 horsepower, making this one of the fastest cars in 1989.
1 2002 Trans Am WS6
The 2002 Trans AM WS6 is the last Trans Am that went into production before GM shut down the Pontiac brand in 2009.
The WS6 is, by all means, the best all-round performing Trans Am ever made. This car featured a dialed-in suspension and a 5.7-liter LS1 V8 engine that had an output of 325 horsepower. However, with tuning, this Pontiac is capable of pushing 500 horsepower and 600 lb-ft of torque. The 2002 Trans Am WS6 makes for an amazing daily driver that can easily switch to a beast on the track.