5 of 7: The final year of the 2nd-gen cars, the 1981 Firebird had the looks but tightening emissions and sky-rocketing gas prices hurt sales. That said, the styling aged better than these skaters' fashion choices.
Correct a known fact Pontiac promised to give burt a new Pontiac every year til one a new employee failed to deliver burt a new firebird for that year true fact
Performance may not have been great in a straight line but these were beautiful cars with loads style, flair and personality, something that is totally lacking today!
hey, Jimmy Rockford sure liked his Firebirds LOL he sure wrecked a bunch of them!! never had Firebirds but some of my friends did I always ran Camaros and the odd Corvette
Nice! While the emissions and regulations continued to choke on the performance, the 81 Firebirds and Trans Ams still looked really nice. Another reason for the sales drop was due to the new 3rd gen Firebirds release in Fall of 81. Actually GM ended the 81 F-bodies in summer of 81 so that both the Norwood and Van Nuys plants would have time to receive the new 3rd gen tooling. The 2nd gens are my favorite generation of the Firebirds and IMO way better than the 3rd gens both in build quality, styling, and especially performance. Ironically, Pontiac was planning to put their 301 and turbo 301 into the Trans Am in 82, but GM implemented a new corporate engine policy in late 81 and the Pontiac V8 was killed off completely. To me 82 was the beginning of the downfall for GM and Pontiac would be gone in 2010. RIP Pontiac. At least Pontiac would not face the new GM where they want to solely build EVs.
Some of the Firebirds during 1981 model year were equipped with Chevrolet 5.0 V-8 or Oldsmobile 5.0 V-8. GM had some issues regarding engines. For years, each GM division had the freedom to design their own powertrain. But during the 1970s, there were too many engines amongst the GM car divisions. For example: Chevrolet, Pontiac, Buick, and Oldsmobile each designed thier own 350 V-8 engine. Very few parts would interchange between the engines. That resulted in confusion for customers. Customers even sued GM. Also, production and certification of the engines were too costly for GM. So, in 1984 GM had to consolidate its powertrain engineering and design to create a new corporate division called GM Powertrain.
Could you imagine driving a turbo V8 with only 200 hp. Lol. It sounds good on paper, till you are over 8 seconds 0 to 60. I mean I guess they tried lol
@@SelfReflective If you think traffic is bad now, wait until all the 2 million migrants we got just this year hit the highways in hoopties with no license or insurance.
That turbo 301 was a torque monster. As much as 345 lb/feet. More torque then the 1979 400, and 20 hp less. The main issue with the 301 turbo was the lousy gas of the time. With modern gas and a few bolt ons, they will easily outrun a 79 W72 4 speed.
But can you imagine if Pontiac kept refining and held on to the turbo 301 through the 80's? Imagine if it was built to the same potent and sophisticated standard as the Buick Grand National turbo 3.8? That imo would've been excellent.
The fashion choices for the ladies was fine and I like the cut of their shorts. But the dude with suspenders on cutoffs, well he looked like the chicks let him hang out with them because they were sure he wouldn't try anything.
@@dutchylt With a small amount of work, the 400 will run circles around the 301. But russ is right. the demon-rats have been destroying this country for many decades. And not just the automotive industry.
I test drove a new 81' TA with the turbo at Livingston Pontiac in Woodland Hills, CA in the summer of 81', it stuttered and spit when you punched it and when it did kick in it was "yawn"..... I could in no way afford that car then and I left the lot in my 70' Esprit kind of happy about that.
