Junkyard Gem: 1999 Pontiac Firebird Coupe

When Chevrolet launched the Camaro for the 1967 mannequin yr, Pontiac received its personal model on the similar time (in distinction to Mercury, which needed to wait just a few years to begin promoting Mustang-sibling Cougars). This was the Firebird, which stayed in manufacturing till each it and the Camaro have been discontinued after the 2002 mannequin yr. Immediately’s Junkyard Gem is a base Firebird coupe from the ultimate fourth technology, present in a Colorado automotive graveyard not too long ago.

Lately, first- and second-generation (1967-1969 and 1970-1981) Firebirds are all however inconceivable to seek out within the large self-service wrecking yards, whereas the 1982-1992 third-generation automobiles nonetheless present up every now and then. These on the lookout for discarded 1994-2002 Firebirds have a considerably simpler time, although gross sales numbers have been by no means nice in comparison with these of the sooner automobiles.

The fourth-generation Camaros and Firebirds have been very fast with V8 engines, however the base powerplants within the cheaper variations have been all the time V6s. For 1996 via 2002, that engine was the great outdated 3.8-liter Buick pushrod V6, with ancestry extending all the best way again to the 215-cubic-inch aluminum V8 that had its debut in 1961. That is what’s on this automotive.

This one was rated at a reasonably sturdy 200 horsepower and 225 pound-feet, which was extra highly effective than the beefiest non-obligatory V8s obtainable within the 1982-1984 Firebirds. If you happen to purchased a 1999 System or Trans Am, you bought a real 5.7-liter LS V8, rated at 305 (320 with Ram Air) horsepower and 335 pound-feet.

A five-speed handbook was commonplace gear within the 1999 Firebird with V6 (patrons of the V8-equipped automobiles may select between a six-speed handbook or four-speed automated), and that is what’s on this automotive.