Pontiac Firebird (1970) – Ultimate Guide
Introduction
Four models of the Firebird were available:
- Base Firebird, series 2S
- Firebird Esprit, series 2T
- Firebird Formula, series 2U
- Trans Am, series 2V
BASE FIREBIRD
- A new honeycomb mesh grill insert
- New interior trim
- Redesigned hubcaps and wheel covers
- Front and rear bucket seats with all-vinyl trim, solid foam seat cushions with integral springs
- Loop-pile carpet
- Deluxe steering wheel
- Upper-level ventilation
- Woodgrain dash accents
- Ashtray light
- Endura front bumper
- Small full-width front air dam
- Radio antenna embedded in windshield
- Bright moldings on windshield, rear window, and grille
- Thin body sill moldings
- Front disc brakes
- Three-speed manual column shift transmission
- E78-14 black sidewall tires
FIREBIRD ESPRIT
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FIREBIRD FORMULA
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FIREBIRD TRANS AM
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I.D. NUMBERS
VIN Location | On top of dash at left, viewable through windshield | |
---|---|---|
Position | Character | Description |
1 | 2 | General Motors: Pontiac Division |
2 | S | Basic Firebird |
T | Firebird Esprit | |
U | Firebird Formula | |
V | Trans Am | |
3 & 4 | 87 | hardtop coupe |
5 | _ | Engine code (see listing in engine section) |
6 | 2 | Year: 1972 |
7 | _ | Assembly plant |
8 to 13 | 100001 and up | production sequence |
IDENTIFICATION
Model Number | Style Number | Body Type | Seating | Factory Price | Shipping Weight | Production Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2S | 2S87 | 2-door Hardtop Base Firebird – 6 cyl | 4 | $2838 | 3357 | 12,000 both 6 & V8 |
2S | 2S87 | 2-door Hardtop Base Firebird – V8 | 4 | $2956 | 3359 | |
2T | 2T87 | 2-door Hardtop Esprit | 4 | $3194 | 3359 | 11,415 |
2U | 2U87 | 2-door Hardtop Formula | 4 | $3221 | 3424 | 5,250 |
2V | 2V87 | 2-door Hardtop Trans Am | 4 | $4256 | 3564 | 1,286 |
ENGINE
MODEL | Code | Type | Displacement | Carb | Compression | Net HP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Base Firebird | D | 6-cyl | 250 cid | 1-V | 8.5:1 | 110 @ 4200 rpm |
Base Firebird | M | V-8 | 350 cid | 2-V | 8.0:1 | 160 @ 4400 rpm |
Espirt (std) | M | V-8 | 350 cid | 2-V | 8.0:1 | 160 @ 4400 rpm |
Espirt (opt) | N | V-8 | 350 cid | 2-V | 8.0:1 | 175 @ 4400 rpm |
Espirt (opt) | R | V-8 | 400 cid | 2-V | 8.2:1 | 175 @ 4000 rpm |
Formula (std) | M | V-8 | 350 cid | 2-V | 8.0:1 | 160 @ 4400 rpm |
Formula (opt) | N | V-8 | 350 cid | 2-V | 8.0:1 | 175 @ 4400 rpm |
Formula (opt) | T | V-8 | 400 cid | 4-V | 8.2:1 | 250 @ 4000 rpm |
Formula (opt) | X | V-8 | 455 cid | 4-V | 8.4:1 | 300 @ 4000 rpm |
Trans Am | X | V-8 | 455 cid | 4-V | 8.4:1 | 300 @ 4000 rpm |
TRANSMISSION
N/A |
CHASSIS
Wheelbase | Overall length | Front tread | Rear tread |
---|---|---|---|
108 in. | 191.6 in. | 60 in. | 60 in. |
OPTIONS
PERFORMANCE
MODEL | 0-to-60 MPH | QUARTER MILE |
---|---|---|
Firebird Esprit | 9.9 seconds | 17.6 seconds |
Trans Am | 5.4 seconds |
HISTORICAL NOTES
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
1. General Motors4,837,449
2. Ford2,783,087
3. Chrysler1,554,983
4. AMC258,134
5. Others1,042
- Top model year production for 1972
Chevrolet 2,420,564
Ford 2,246,563
Oldsmobile 762,199
Plymouth 756,605
Pontiac 706,978
Buick 679,921
Skylark 225,346
LeSabre 183,322
Estate Wagon 28,968
Centurion 36,435
Electra 225172,122
Riviera 33,728
Dodge 577,870
Mercury 441,964
Cadillac 267,787
Calais 7,775
DeVille 194,811
Eldorado 40,074
Fleetwood Brougham 20,750
Series Seventy-Five 4,377
AMC 258,134
Gremlin 61,500
Hornet SST 72,000
Javelin 26,184
Ambassador 14,617
Ambassador DPL 26,035
Ambassador SST 35,542
Chrysler 204,704
Lincoln 94,560
Imperial 15,804
Checker 850
Avanti II 127
Excalibur 65