1982 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am

Throughout the late 1970s, General Motors had been downsizing many of their vehicles, and by 1982, the Firebird followed suit. The vehicle’s overall length was reduced by over eight inches, with a 101-inch wheelbase, and it became one inch narrower and 500 pounds lighter.

The Firebird's front end featured split grilles nestled within air slots in its ultra-low nose, equipped with quartz-halogen headlamps that opened electrically. Every coupe also came with a frameless, all-glass hatch. The front suspension utilized MacPherson struts with inboard coil springs, while the rear suspension saw an upgrade with coils mounted by twin trailing links, replacing the outdated leaf springs. A large torque arm was added to reduce axle "windup."

Trans Am buyers could choose between two 305-cid V-8 engines: the 145-horsepower carbureted version, or an upgraded model featuring Cross-Fire fuel injection that added 20 additional horsepower. The base price was $9,658, compared to $7,996 for the entry-level four-cylinder model and $9,624 for the V-6 S/E, which was ready for touring.

Inside, a newly designed full-length console was integrated with the dashboard. Around 2000 Trans Ams came with a new Recaro interior option, which featured Parella cloth front bucket seats, a hatch roof, and a performance package. All of these models were painted black with gold accents.

Pontiac Firebird Image Gallery

Both Trans Am and S/E models were equipped with full-width, black-lens taillamps. However, only Trans Ams featured the traditional front-fender air extractors, flared wheel openings, and turbo-cast aluminum wheels. Trans Ams were even more aerodynamic than their Firebird counterparts, achieving a 0.32 coefficient of drag. While the '82s were less flashy than the final second-generation Trans Ams, they still maintained a formidable presence despite the removal of their large hood decals.

If you're interested in learning more about muscle cars and Firebirds, explore these pages: