1972 Pontiac Firebird

Introduction

BASE FIREBIRD

FIREBIRD ESPRIT

1972 Firebird Notes

• Introduced Sept. 23, 1971.
• Pontiac considered dropping the Firebird so changes were minimal.
• On Oct. 1, 1972, Martin J. Caserio became Pontiac’s general manager
• 1263 base Firebirds had synchromesh and 10,738 had automatic
• 504 Esprits had synchromesh and 10,911 had automatic
• 1082 Formula Firebirds had synchromesh and 4167 had automatic
• 458 Trans Ams had synchromesh and 828 had automatic

1972 Automotive Notes

• Sales for 1972 topped 8.6 million cars
• US Congress revokes the price freeze and auto excise tax
• Buzzers and warning lights remind occupants to fasten seatbelts
• Almost all engines run on low-lead regular gasoline
• Advertized horsepower and torque are published as “net” instead of “gross.” Although the much lower figure is a more accurate measurement, most people erroneously suppose that pollution equipment attributed to the lower figures.
• As convertible sales declines, most automakers offer a powered or manually operated sunroof
• The Automobile Manufacturers Association (AMA) in Detroit changes its name to the Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Association (MVMA)
• Eaton Corp. tests air bags with human passengers
• Prestolite introduces a maintenance-free battery
• Fiberglass radial-ply tires are big sellers
• GM news:
  • Edward N. Cole was president of GM
  • Richard C. Gerstenberg was chairman of the board at GM
  • GM cars get energy-absorbing bumpers — a year ahead of government requirements
  • Chevrolet takes back the lead over Ford by 174,000 units
  • Chevelle and Monte Carlo still offer the big 454 V-8, but the Monte Carlo SS departs
  • Last year for Chevelle SS option
  • Last year for Camaro SS and big block engine
  • Two Corvette show cars — the GT 2-Rotor and the Aero-Vette 4-Rotor — carry experimental Wankel rotary engines
  • Pontiac offers solid-state ignition systems to replace breaker points
  • Pontiac’s GTO is now a Le Mans option package
  • Firebird and Camaro sales continue to drop and GM worries about the future of performance cars
  • Oldsmobile moves from fifth to third followed by Plymouth and Pontiac
  • Last year for the Cutlass convertible, the 4-4-2 is just an appearance and handling option
  • Buick Skylark hardtop offered an optional sliding fabric sunroof
  • Buick GS455 returns, but the GSX is only an appearance package
  • GM tests an OBD (on-board diagnostic) system which will later become common
  • GM plans to install a Wankel rotary engine in the Vega for 1975, but it doesn’t materialize
• Ford news:
  • Ford is the only automaker to offer new models: Torino/Montego, Thunderbird, and Continental Mark IV
  • 200 Mercurys with air bags go to Allstate Insurance as part of a pilot project
  • Ford adds a 3-door wagon to Pintos with a woody-look Squire option
  • The larger Torino gets body-on-frame construction
  • Ford sells nearly half a million Pintos
  • The Cobra muscle car is dropped
  • Mustang loses the big-block V-8s and discontinues the Boss 351
  • Thunderbird shares the structure with Continental Mark IV, but there is no sedan
  • Thunderbird has four-wheel disc brakes available with “Sure-Track” anti-lock braking
  • The White House gets an armor-plated 34-inch stretch Lincoln Continental
  • Ford signs an agreement to develop a Sterling external-combustion engine, but it doesn’t materialize
• Chrysler news:
  • Chrysler offers solid-state ignition systems to replace breaker points
  • An electronic digital clock is standard on Imperials and optional on other Chryslers
  • Chrysler replaces the 383-cid (6.3 litre) with a 400-cid (6.6 litre)
  • Dodge and Plymouth replace the 426-cid with the 400-cid (6.6 litre), but keeps the 440-cid (7.2 litre)
  • Charger R/T and Super Bee are dropped
  • There are no more Plymouth convertibles or the GTX or big-block Barracudas
• AMC news:
  • Ambassador offered only the SST and Brougham
• Top American Automobile Corporations for 1972

• Top model year production for 1972