Always the performance opportunist, Pontiac developed the Firehawk in 1991 as an option on the Firebird Formula. These would be low production, specially equipped pony cars that were available through the 2002 model year, coinciding with the end of the road for the Firebird. This 1999 edition is said to be a one-of-one car based on how it was assembled. Needing nothing, this Pontiac is in Fort Myers, Florida, and offered here on craigslist for $25,000. Another great find from Pat L.!
By the 1990s, the muscle car game wasn’t what it used to be, if at all. To generate more excitement for its 15-year run of the Firebird, Pontiac partnered with Specialty Vehicle Engineering (SLP), a performance firm founded by racer Ed Hamburger. They created RPO B4U, the SLP Firehawk. It was built around the Firebird Formula instead of the Trans Am (initially) which already had its own reputation. All Firebirds received a facelift in 1999, including the Firehawks, whose LS1 engine would then generate 327 horsepower and 345 lbs.-ft of torque.
A total of 719 Firehawks were built in 1999 and a string of documentation provided by the seller shows that it should have been the only one with the window sticker this one has. It’s even been verified on the Firehawk Registry. The car presents very well, wearing its original red paint of 23 years that seems to have no issues. Its 63,500 miles come across as having been babied every step of the way.
According to the seller, this is the only Formula-based Firehawk to have an automatic transmission, chrome wheels, Bilstein suspension, a special car cover, and a “lube option,” whatever that means. Everything on the car is said to work exactly as it should. While cash is always good, the seller says he/she’s willing to consider an interesting trade and lists several categories, such as other muscle cars, hot rods, street rods, and the like. Call me crazy, but this sounds like a lot of car for what you’ll get.
Thumbs down, autotragic!
Thumbs down unless you can’t physically drive the holy and venerated (and overrated in these) manual transmission.
Nothing better than beating someone with your Automagic while drinking a nice cold Sonic Vanilla Coke in one hand and the steering wheel in the other.
Autos also didn’t come with the “i missed a shift” excuse…..
Automatic autoloader a nice feature uf your in rush hour traffic on a regular basis
Actually the facelift came in 1998, the 99s were carryovers.
True story, right here! 1998 brought the more rounded features that lasted till the end in 2002.
Outside of the slushbox auto, this is a sweet car. I’ve always loved the Pontiac cars over their Camaro siblings in this generation. Where the Camaro fell short with the dustbuster look and then the awful catfish face, the Pontiac cars always looked sleek. Unfortunately, the trans in this one is a no go.
LS swap donor
You could go to Chevrolet and buy a brand new LS crate engine for much less than 25 grand, and it wouldn’t be 23 years old.
https://www.chevrolet.com/performance-parts/crate-engines/ls/ls376-525
Always disappointing to see these 4th gen F bodies with that lame 4L60 slush pump. The thing that gets me is you had to pay MORE for the automatic.
Ever since General Motors first offered the automatic transmission to the general public in the 1940 model year, it was always marketed as an extra cost option.
Pontiac probably did it the same way Chevy did it in this generation of F bodies: The car came stock with an automatic and the sweet 6 speed was a no-cost option.
I’m not sure if the Firehawk model did it differently.
Always disappointing to see these 4th gen F bodies with that lame 4L60 slush pump. The thing that gets me is you had to pay MORE for the automatic.
Out of the 719 Firehawks built in ’99, 301 had the autotragic. It wasn’t the majority but it was a significant percentage.
Ahhh this beautiful relic of another century has truly made my morning. That money shot from the right quarter makes red blood sing! SLP always did a great job on the Pontiacs they were given and this hearkens back to the days when GM still had innovative car guys in positions of power. It’s always sad and laughable when companies forget what they are and start blathering about mobility and people.
Anyway this is a wonderful car. The oddness for today comes from the mentally challenged comments. But everywhere there are.crackpots!