Thank you!! When I was just a little kid in the 80’s my dad had the coolest ever 74 Trans Am 455. And after that he traded it for the all black 82 Trans Am that looked like Knight Rider. I used to run outside when he got home from work to watch him flip down the headlights. So many good memories. Thank you!!!!
Down memory lane, I was lucky enough to have owned quite a few 1st, 2nd and 3rd generation Firebirds, Esprits, Formulas and Trans Ams, lived some cool adventures with them.:) Everyone speaks of Smokey and The Bandit, as for me it's the 1974 movie Thunderbolt and Lightfoot that made me want to ride a Trans Am!!!🎸🎼👍
Well Done! I really enjoyed the memories and how well you presented them. I ordered and owned a 1973 Firebird 350 and and ordered and owned a 1979 Fornula with the TA6.6 engine,, WS6 suspension, 4 speed Hurst shifted Muncie transmission, and 4 wheel disc brakes (first time they were available. Truly an awesome vehicle! I wish I still had it...
Beautifully made content. Hats off to you sir. Even if it was a pony car it became of one of the last muscle cars of the 70's if not the last one. The second gen Firebird overcame the 1970's malaise years with style.
Well done. Im currently building a 1975 Esprit with a 1972 455HO, M -21 4 speed. It has a 1973 formula front clip with the ram air hood. I call it the Frankinbird. The engine is a LS5 bored 60 over , trw L2394 pistons and a fat bump stick. 7f6 heads with a torker 1 intake and 850 holley. Hooker 2 1/8 inch long tube headers. It pulls like a freight train and sounds like a B-29. Pontiac are torque monsters.
It's sad how Pontiac was so innovative and GM and Chevy conspired to keep them down, especially with the banning of engines not supplied by Chevrolet and Buick.
Dude, buy the latest car and driver with tesla an the cover and go to the last page. I'll say two things "make some noise" and an image of a hood bird....637 hp hybrid....nice little Easter egg
@@TofersCarTalesDude, buy the latest car and driver with tesla an the cover and go to the last page. I'll say two things "make some noise" and an image of a hood bird....637 hp hybrid....nice little Easter egg
I've owned 1-3 gens, but look at the prices today for Trans Ams and Camaros. Now the 3rd gens are still affordable and starting to come up in value. The body style of Firebird especially the Trans Am look the best and also the interiors!
Ive built the 1/18 Ertl 77 Bandit Trans Am model kit,1/24 Revell 77 Bandit Trans Am model kit,and the Revell 70 Trans Am model kits... all are in ky collection...
I always loved Pontiac for pushing the mandate and innovating, I’m 24 so I never got to live the golden era of these cars but that didn’t stop me from experiencing what it was like, currently building an 81 turbo T/A, a childhood dream car of mine that became a reality!
I hope you enjoy this one! I learned some new skills and tried some new things. Thanks as always for watching and please comment, like and subscribe if you enjoy. The support means the world to me. :)
Modern cars really are boring looking even though they ride better.Child of the Seventies/Eighties and i miss the variety of cars available,plus the affordability of second hand cars for young families and teenagers.Enjoyed this one Tofer,cheers.
...it makes me kind of sad. Born in the wrong country and time - a car I've always loved its looks and idealism; but will never get to drive - let alone own.... Still i admire and with it in spirit.
I really miss Pontiac!!! I remember when I was growing up my grandfather would get a new Pontiac Bonneville every two or three years. I always thought that they got fancier with each new model!!! Thanks for sharing this exciting video on the Pontiac Firebird!!! 👍👍🙂
your presentation brought so much life back into a defunct brand that i had the impulse to visit my local Pontiac dealer, then i realized it was only a day dream. thanks for the memories Tofer.
I never conceived Pontiac would be terminated! And per Bob Lutz, there were plans to return the division to an all rear-wheel-drive based lineup. GM needs a Bob Lutz type for CEO, to make them great again. It seldom happens, but sometimes, marques return. I'd like to see Pontiac revived.
Great video!! Really takes me back my first car was a 75 Firebird back in 85. And back in the 80s us poor kids those 2nd gens Firebird Tram AM Camaro Z28 were the car to have . They were affordable and there was some much you could do with them .
Great video forgotten is that James garner drove a 1974 thru 1978 firebird ,s on the tv show the Rockford files the 76 and 77 and 78 firebird were actually converted formula 400 firebirds into firebird esprit the 77 and 78 firebird was said too be his favorite off all the ones he used .so much sow that he used the 78 until the show ended in 1980 because he didn’t like the new front end on the 1979.✌🏿👍
Great video, well done. 70-73 the best looking Firebird ever produced. My first car was a 72 Base Firebird, silver with black vinyl top,350 automatic. Surprised you didn't mention the 73-74 Super Duty Trans Am and Formula. Other than the 69 Trans Am convertible, the Super Duty T/A and Formula are the most valuable Firebirds.
I've had a few Pontiacs & many Chevys The Pontiacs included 4 Grand Prix's (1 each '69-'72) and Firebirds a '69 & a '74 Formula & a "72 HO, a '73 SD and 2 '77 T/A's. Every vehicle I've owned was special to me in one way or another
Not a bad presentation. Amazingly liked the computer graphics, instead of the photos. My favorite is the 73 SD, (not mentioned), bucky red, hood bird, and stick shift. My most favorite T/A, Altho a 70 car (with compression), is still super performance orientated. Thanx for posting.
Thanks for the kind words. The images are all from scanned brochure ads that I restore and convert into a semblance of 3D to try to add a bit more depth and interest.
I just got done watching your Allante Post and again, WOW..I am trying to save an 89 Allante at this moment and I have a 81 Turbo Trans Am which is a daily driver. They are on my car channel. You are so professional in your video work, it blows my mind. Your video brought tears to my eyes, it reminds me of my high school days when I had these cars back than too. Have you ever thought of doing a video on the supercharged X308 Jaguars XJR's ? They are rare and they were one of the most expensive cars in the 90"s. I have a 98 XJR@@TofersCarTales
The firebird was pontiac's bread and butter model, when it died in 2004 pontiac basically died with it. One of my cousins was a teenager in the 80's and his first car was a '77 Firebird with the big block V8 that he bought from a neighbour for $800, he's since owned 10 of them and is currently trying to find himself an early 00's Firehawk WS6 but he's having a hard time doing it because all the really nice ones are going for low six figures right now.
Love the video. Only other thing I wish was in there was the other famous firebird of the decade that was updated yearly on the small screen from 1974-78. That is of course Jim Rockford's bronze esprit.
Nicely done! :) I actually own a real -77 Trans Am "Bandit", with the Y82 and W72 Performance package. I really wish you had touched a bit more on the Performance versions of each model year. Otherwise, a very good video. Big Thanks from Sweden! :)
How could you not mention the Rockford files. It was James Garner who drove the Espirit on his show from 1974 to 1980. He chose that car for the suspension and power.
Super nice production again, as usual. Great music also at around 11 minute mark! One small tidbit though. The 250 6 cylinder was an inline, or I 6, not a v6 as stated
I STILL consider the second-generation (1970-'81) Camaro/Firebird to be one of the most beautiful designs of the 1970's/early 1980's. I mean, just look at those lines!!!!!
What a good overall car the Gen 2 was..... People like to dump on the late 70s cars, but they forget that even the 911 only had 180bhp. I'd take a TA/6.6 4spd over the German machine any day.
Firebird and Trans Am are the best car ever offered by GM. In it's history there were no ugly ones. The 82 was the least impressive of all but still better than most I cursed GM the day the axxed Pontiac. Truly sad. I will always love the screaming chicken.
The best car ever. Notable mention that the endura front bumper was the first car to have "no" bumper. This has endured until today on almost all cars. I still cannot believe gm discontinued Pontiac. Morons. Buick stays? What the hell is wrong with you ppl? The 79 thru 81 models are just absolutely gorgeous from every angle. Little goofy in the back without the spoiler i do admit.
The first two Bandits were great. There actually was a third one, but that one was about as good as "Porky's Revenge" (The third Porky's movie). And, Burt Reynolds was just barely a cameo in the final one.
5 месяцев назад+1
IMO, my 1968 drop-Formula 400, was their pinacle. The 1970s versions were oversized road pigs.
The 1976 Formula in yellow and black was my fav Firebird version of them all,had my favourite look favourite front end(i hated the 1977 banshee from end..ugh)
whatever effects or enhancements have been applied to movie scenes (and the stills too i think) for whatever reason, i find to be disturbing and unsettling. i love these cars tho and thank you for the video otherwise :)
17:47 : Did I hear V-6? I think you meant inline 6; that was still the standard engine for Firebird in '76. The Buick 231 V-6 replaced the inline 6 for 1977. _(5/30/2023)_
The 82 firebird looked cheap compared to the second gen. I think the 85 version finally made the car look a little more special. Although they had to use plastic to do so.
I have a 73 Brewsrter Green Formula with the HO hood and Im happy to say I just picked up a 77TA with 18k on the clock. It is Mayan Red with white interior all original survivor automatic. What a ride when I drive these cars. I could never afford these cars when I was young now Im living my twilight years saying I won!!!
Very well put together video. I would love to see you make one on the 4th gen Firebirds, including all the V6 to V8 packages. Many people don't know about the Y87 V6 performance package. The Firebird legend is actually Slavic folklore. What's interesting too is the Firebird legend can be found in a few cultural stories from around the world.
Too bad you didn't grab some clips from Thunderbolt and Lightfoot starring Clint Eastwood and Jeff Bridges. They used a 1973 white Trans Am in the movie that was supposed to be Clint Eastwood's personal car, it had blue accents/stripes and the shaker was red which is very unique and attractive. The car was used in some great sequences in the movie. It was one of my late father and my favorite movies.
Thanks for your support and please do consider becoming a supporter of my efforts... www.patreon.com/TofersCarTales
Thank you!! When I was just a little kid in the 80’s my dad had the coolest ever 74 Trans Am 455. And after that he traded it for the all black 82 Trans Am that looked like Knight Rider. I used to run outside when he got home from work to watch him flip down the headlights.
So many good memories. Thank you!!!!
Thanks for sharing your memories! Glad you enjoyed.
same mny dad owned a 1982 yellow with honey comb rimbs
There's no way I could trade a '74 455 catalyst free car for a 305 SBC smogger car...one is worth $20-50k the other is worth $2-6k today.
LETS GO! A new Car Tale? I’m grabbing my popcorn.
Happy Memorial day my friend! I hope you enjoy.
Down memory lane, I was lucky enough to have owned quite a few 1st, 2nd and 3rd generation Firebirds, Esprits, Formulas and Trans Ams, lived some cool adventures with them.:) Everyone speaks of Smokey and The Bandit, as for me it's the 1974 movie Thunderbolt and Lightfoot that made me want to ride a Trans Am!!!🎸🎼👍
Well Done! I really enjoyed the memories and how well you presented them. I ordered and owned a 1973 Firebird 350 and and ordered and owned a 1979 Fornula with the TA6.6 engine,, WS6 suspension, 4 speed Hurst shifted Muncie transmission, and 4 wheel disc brakes (first time they were available. Truly an awesome vehicle! I wish I still had it...
Beautifully made content. Hats off to you sir. Even if it was a pony car it became of one of the last muscle cars of the 70's if not the last one. The second gen Firebird overcame the 1970's malaise years with style.
Well done. Im currently building a 1975 Esprit with a 1972 455HO, M -21 4 speed. It has a 1973 formula front clip with the ram air hood. I call it the Frankinbird. The engine is a LS5 bored 60 over , trw L2394 pistons and a fat bump stick. 7f6 heads with a torker 1 intake and 850 holley. Hooker 2 1/8 inch long tube headers. It pulls like a freight train and sounds like a B-29. Pontiac are torque monsters.
What a fabulous video! Fantastic! I loved it.
2nd gen Firebirds are my all-time fave classic cars. Anyone who has ever owned one is blessed.
Currently working on my 1973 Pontiac firebird esprit street freak, got a 1970 400 V8 under the hood with a tunnel ram and duel quads
It's sad how Pontiac was so innovative and GM and Chevy conspired to keep them down, especially with the banning of engines not supplied by Chevrolet and Buick.
Agreed, I truly miss Pontiac.
Hiya all can anyone remember the k wagon by Pontiac never became a production model because of cost from what I've read online
Dude, buy the latest car and driver with tesla an the cover and go to the last page. I'll say two things "make some noise" and an image of a hood bird....637 hp hybrid....nice little Easter egg
@@TofersCarTalesDude, buy the latest car and driver with tesla an the cover and go to the last page. I'll say two things "make some noise" and an image of a hood bird....637 hp hybrid....nice little Easter egg
I've owned 1-3 gens, but look at the prices today for Trans Ams and Camaros. Now the 3rd gens are still affordable and starting to come up in value. The body style of Firebird especially the Trans Am look the best and also the interiors!
Hands down my favorite car ever!
This was a trip down memory lane for me. Loved this video!!!! Great job Tofer!
Ive built the 1/18 Ertl 77 Bandit Trans Am model kit,1/24 Revell 77 Bandit Trans Am model kit,and the Revell 70 Trans Am model kits... all are in ky collection...
I had the 1/8 scale 79 I think I know it was the latest front end. Monogram in black.
I always loved Pontiac for pushing the mandate and innovating, I’m 24 so I never got to live the golden era of these cars but that didn’t stop me from experiencing what it was like, currently building an 81 turbo T/A, a childhood dream car of mine that became a reality!
First thing I'm doing when I get home from work. Cracking a beer and watching this!
Thanks as always for the support! Hope you like this one. I tried some new things.
Wonderful as always Tofer!
I hope you enjoy this one! I learned some new skills and tried some new things. Thanks as always for watching and please comment, like and subscribe if you enjoy. The support means the world to me. :)
Nicely Done. Sure to be a classic presentation for future generations to see.
Modern cars really are boring looking even though they ride better.Child of the Seventies/Eighties and i miss the variety of cars available,plus the affordability of second hand cars for young families and teenagers.Enjoyed this one Tofer,cheers.
So glad to hear you enjoyed! Appreciate the support.
...it makes me kind of sad.
Born in the wrong country and time - a car I've always loved its looks and idealism; but will never get to drive - let alone own....
Still i admire and with it in spirit.
I feel exactly this way about the Vanden Plas 1500. lol
I really miss Pontiac!!! I remember when I was growing up my grandfather would get a new Pontiac Bonneville every two or three years. I always thought that they got fancier with each new model!!! Thanks for sharing this exciting video on the Pontiac Firebird!!! 👍👍🙂
Your car tales intro has made me want to buy that Kim Carnes album. Another awesome tale! Keep up the great work Tofer!
Thanks so much my friend! Hope all is well!
@@TofersCarTales doing well here! Hope you are as well!
"Crazy In The Night" 👍
your presentation brought so much life back into a defunct brand that i had the impulse to visit my local Pontiac dealer, then i realized it was only a day dream. thanks for the memories Tofer.
I love the final facelift (quad box headlights) trans am! One of my favorite yank mobiles, especially with that trademark phoenix decals!
I never conceived Pontiac would be terminated! And per Bob Lutz, there were plans to return the division to an all rear-wheel-drive based lineup. GM needs a Bob Lutz type for CEO, to make them great again. It seldom happens, but sometimes, marques return. I'd like to see Pontiac revived.
Great video!! Really takes me back my first car was a 75 Firebird back in 85. And back in the 80s us poor kids those 2nd gens Firebird Tram AM Camaro Z28 were the car to have . They were affordable and there was some much you could do with them .
Oh man I miss hearing that woo hoo jingle! 🥹
I hope to be able to upload more frequently soon. Thanks for the support! :)
Another awesome tofer tale! ❤ trans am is special. Can’t wait for the third gen tales
Glad you enjoyed! A 3rd gen is definitely in the plans.
Great video forgotten is that James garner drove a 1974 thru 1978 firebird ,s on the tv show the Rockford files the 76 and 77 and 78 firebird were actually converted formula 400 firebirds into firebird esprit the 77 and 78 firebird was said too be his favorite off all the ones he used .so much sow that he used the 78 until the show ended in 1980 because he didn’t like the new front end on the 1979.✌🏿👍
- never realised how the rear really looks reminiscent of the toranado 1st gen...
Nice video! I bought a 1979 Firebird when I was 17 years old & souped it up. Thanks for the trip down memory lane. These cars are classics!
Great video, well done. 70-73 the best looking Firebird ever produced. My first car was a 72 Base Firebird, silver with black vinyl top,350 automatic. Surprised you didn't mention the 73-74 Super Duty Trans Am and Formula. Other than the 69 Trans Am convertible, the Super Duty T/A and Formula are the most valuable Firebirds.
I've had a few Pontiacs & many Chevys The Pontiacs included 4 Grand Prix's (1 each '69-'72) and Firebirds a '69 & a '74 Formula & a "72 HO, a '73 SD and 2 '77 T/A's. Every vehicle I've owned was special to me in one way or another
25:20 I have a camaro from 1980 and was very suprised with the handling, much better than expected coming from my 2002 mustang.
nice video and good explications. Cheers fromFrance
Not a bad presentation. Amazingly liked the computer graphics, instead of the photos. My favorite is the 73 SD, (not mentioned), bucky red, hood bird, and stick shift. My most favorite T/A, Altho a 70 car (with compression), is still super performance orientated. Thanx for posting.
Thanks for the kind words. The images are all from scanned brochure ads that I restore and convert into a semblance of 3D to try to add a bit more depth and interest.
This is so well done, WOW..
So glad you enjoyed! This was a passion project. One of my favorite cars of all time.
I just got done watching your Allante Post and again, WOW..I am trying to save an 89 Allante at this moment and I have a 81 Turbo Trans Am which is a daily driver. They are on my car channel. You are so professional in your video work, it blows my mind. Your video brought tears to my eyes, it reminds me of my high school days when I had these cars back than too. Have you ever thought of doing a video on the supercharged X308 Jaguars XJR's ? They are rare and they were one of the most expensive cars in the 90"s. I have a 98 XJR@@TofersCarTales
The firebird was pontiac's bread and butter model, when it died in 2004 pontiac basically died with it.
One of my cousins was a teenager in the 80's and his first car was a '77 Firebird with the big block V8 that he bought from a neighbour for $800, he's since owned 10 of them and is currently trying to find himself an early 00's Firehawk WS6 but he's having a hard time doing it because all the really nice ones are going for low six figures right now.
Those were great times!
Love the video. Only other thing I wish was in there was the other famous firebird of the decade that was updated yearly on the small screen from 1974-78. That is of course Jim Rockford's bronze esprit.
Thank you Tofer Awesome video
Glad you liked it!
My cousin got a ‘79 TA for her birthday. A year older than her, I bought a ‘79 280ZX instead. Two different takes on sports cars of the time.
Nicely done! :) I actually own a real -77 Trans Am "Bandit", with the Y82 and W72 Performance package. I really wish you had touched a bit more on the Performance versions of each model year. Otherwise, a very good video.
Big Thanks from Sweden! :)
Thak you for this I am stress out there a forest fire ned my home this video is helping me out Thak you , I love your videos
So glad the video helped! Please stay safe! That is scary.
How could you not mention the Rockford files. It was James Garner who drove the Espirit on his show from 1974 to 1980. He chose that car for the suspension and power.
I may have to buy one of these before I’m dead.
You and me both. Maybe a Yellow Bird just to be different lol
Super nice production again, as usual. Great music also at around 11 minute mark! One small tidbit though. The 250 6 cylinder was an inline, or I 6, not a v6 as stated
Thanks! Yeah I flubbed that line and didn't realize it until after it was live.
I STILL consider the second-generation (1970-'81) Camaro/Firebird to be one of the most beautiful designs of the 1970's/early 1980's. I mean, just look at those lines!!!!!
I really do agree. I've appreciated the styling more and more over the years.
Pontiac had the coolest cars.
What a good overall car the Gen 2 was.....
People like to dump on the late 70s cars, but they forget that even the 911 only had 180bhp.
I'd take a TA/6.6 4spd over the German machine any day.
Firebird and Trans Am are the best car ever offered by GM. In it's history there were no ugly ones. The 82 was the least impressive of all but still better than most I cursed GM the day the axxed Pontiac. Truly sad. I will always love the screaming chicken.
The best car ever. Notable mention that the endura front bumper was the first car to have "no" bumper. This has endured until today on almost all cars. I still cannot believe gm discontinued Pontiac. Morons. Buick stays? What the hell is wrong with you ppl? The 79 thru 81 models are just absolutely gorgeous from every angle. Little goofy in the back without the spoiler i do admit.
The first two Bandits were great. There actually was a third one, but that one was about as good as "Porky's Revenge" (The third Porky's movie). And, Burt Reynolds was just barely a cameo in the final one.
IMO, my 1968 drop-Formula 400, was their pinacle. The 1970s versions were oversized road pigs.
I see ya Tina!
The 1976 Formula in yellow and black was my fav Firebird version of them all,had my favourite look favourite front end(i hated the 1977 banshee from end..ugh)
whatever effects or enhancements have been applied to movie scenes (and the stills too i think) for whatever reason, i find to be disturbing and unsettling. i love these cars tho and thank you for the video otherwise :)
17:47 : Did I hear V-6? I think you meant inline 6; that was still the standard engine for Firebird in '76. The Buick 231 V-6 replaced the inline 6 for 1977. _(5/30/2023)_
I caught that AFTER posting. Thanks for commenting. I'll wait a few days to see what other details I flubbed and pin a comment with corrections.
Buddy had a 1980 turbo T/A it wasn't really too fast but it was a nice ride all the same.
The 82 firebird looked cheap compared to the second gen. I think the 85 version finally made the car look a little more special. Although they had to use plastic to do so.
I know a guy with a 81 trans am it has a hurst 4 speed manual with a 5.0.
Was it a conversion, or factory?
not a single image of jim rockford? for shame!
You would be surprised at how many similar references I started with that triggered the copyright trolls.
Pontiac died in 2002 to me T/A was gone.
I have a 73 Brewsrter Green Formula with the HO hood and Im happy to say I just picked up a 77TA with 18k on the clock. It is Mayan Red with white interior all original survivor automatic. What a ride when I drive these cars. I could never afford these cars when I was young now Im living my twilight years saying I won!!!
Why am I 😢 for a car? 30:54
Burt Reynolds is the first thought the Firebird that would come to mind? Not a good actor and not a good movie at all. 76 Formula Cars 1st on 8 track!
GM bring pontiac back firebird not a Camaro their ugly!
All I can say is 74 Z28
Very well put together video. I would love to see you make one on the 4th gen Firebirds, including all the V6 to V8 packages. Many people don't know about the Y87 V6 performance package.
The Firebird legend is actually Slavic folklore. What's interesting too is the Firebird legend can be found in a few cultural stories from around the world.
If you could do the Chrysler Cordoba that would be great!
Too bad you didn't grab some clips from Thunderbolt and Lightfoot starring Clint Eastwood and Jeff Bridges. They used a 1973 white Trans Am in the movie that was supposed to be Clint Eastwood's personal car, it had blue accents/stripes and the shaker was red which is very unique and attractive. The car was used in some great sequences in the movie. It was one of my late father and my favorite movies.
I have this movie on VHS, "specifically" for that car. Saw the movie at the drive-in about 1975.Thanks for the reminder. :)
Nice tribute to Burt Reynolds aka The Bandit... RIP Burt Reynolds...
Burt was awesome, truly do miss him.
Another triumph; your videos are a great mix of information and entertainment! Thank you!!
Thank you!!!