Pontiac’s GTO and Firebird/Trans Am are legendary models from another era, nameplates that ceased in the early-to-mid 00s.
You might point to the Firebird Trans Am and its related variants as the most iconic performance Pontiacs, but the SLP Firehawk not only has a cool name, it was a great limited-run special model.
Even better, this render from JLord8 on Instagram fuses the Firehawk with a practical wagon body style that turns it into possibly one of the best all-round sports cars ever.
It’s ok to use hyperbole when this version of the Firebird is all about standing out and pushing the boundaries of what a sports car can be.
The Pontiac SLP Firehawk Is A Limited-Run Special Edition Firebird
As is customary, a little background - the SLP Firehawk was a joint venture by Pontiac and the engineers at SLP, built by the latter and sold at Pontiac dealerships, to upgrade the Firebird both visually and in its capability.
Just as all Trans Ams are Firebirds but not all Firebirds are Trans Ams, the Trans Am could be a Firehawk but not all Firehawks were Trans Ams. The Firehawk initially started as the Firebird Formula and later was available as a Trans Am. Under the hood was a 5.7-liter V8 with 300 hp – 350 hp, and there were significant upgrades including to the suspension.
This Firehawk by JLord8 takes the distinctive 1991-1992 Firehawk, with its characteristic nose and hood that didn’t yet feature the inlets from the 1993-onwards model. From there, the iconic red color and the memorable silver 5-spoke alloys.
Firehawk VS Firebird: Rarer And Better But Surprisingly Cheap
From the windshield back to the front door, the render is stock, but the digital wizardry of JLord8 adds the second set of doors and the wagon rear for a massive increase in practicality, resulting in a surprisingly-good looking machine.
Under 2000 examples got made of the SLP Firehawk, and despite their rarity and upgrades over the standard Firebird, the average value of the Firehawk at auction is only $21,000 according to Classic.com.
SUVs are the new normal when it comes to practical and utilitarian modes of transport, but back when the station wagon ruled, there was the possibility of cargo space and elegant design, unhindered by the high-ride heights of today.
In fact, the body style is so liked by many that wagons and ‘shooting breaks’ have gotten made of many iconic sports cars and supercars, and the appeal of vehicles like the Audi RS6 Avant will likely never die, even if they remain a small niche on the Venn diagram of car types sold in 2023.