The 4th-generation Pontiac Firebird Trans Am represented a dramatic re-styling of the classic GM muscle car. It seemed like a Batmobile available in your local Pontiac showroom; in higher-spec trims like this one, with the WS6 package, the requisite hood scoops and body cladding transform a basic “sporty” car into a highly-aggressive muscle machine. This convertible Trans Am also comes with the rarely-spec’d 6-speed manual transmission. Aside from some wheels and a modest lowering kit, it remains mostly stock. Find it here on craigslist for $16,000.
Some might say the wild styling is too much. Most of the Euro-car snobs I associate with would never consider the Firebird based on the styling alone. But if you get stuck on the snout or the wing, you’re missing the point. While the third-generation cars began to chip away at some of the damage done by the so-called Malaise era, the 4th-gen models truly unleashed the performance that muscle car enthusiasts had been missing since the early 70s. With Pontiac requisitioning a version of the Corvette LT1 for the Trans Am, real horsepower was finally flowing back into the General’s attainable performance cars.
Heck, the legendary ram air induction even made its return with the arrival of the 4th-generation cars, along with a host of other available performance upgrades, straight from the factory. We don’t celebrate this enough with these special cars, likely because we’re awash in high-performance offerings at the moment. The interiors were still typical GM fare of the late 90s, but that really didn’t matter to anyone who was waiting for Pontiac to make its return to greatness. The 1997 model shown here with the WS6 package got all the goodies, from the ram air hood system to suspension upgrades to the aforementioned ground effects kit.
While stock is always best for commanding top dollar, this Trans Am has been modified in the best ways possible. The slight lowering augments the body kit greatly, and while I don’t love the Corvette wheels the seller swapped on, the originals are available. A mild aftermarket muffler has been installed which will certainly give some added bark to the factory exhaust system. With other 300 b.h.p. and 335 lb.-ft. of torque, this 6-speed Trans Am will be loads of fun to play with, and for far less cash than a new Corvette. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Curvette for the tip.
Leave A Comment