Pontiac Firebird (1973) – Ultimate Guide
Introduction
Four models of the Firebird were available:
- Base Firebird, series 2F2
- Firebird Esprit, series 2FT
- Firebird Formula, series 2FU
- Trans Am, series 2FV
BASE FIREBIRD
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FIREBIRD ESPRIT
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FIREBIRD FORMULA
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FIREBIRD TRANS AM
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I.D. NUMBERS
| VIN Location | On top of dash at left, viewable through windshield | |
|---|---|---|
| Position | Character | Description |
| 1 | 2 | General Motors: Pontiac Division |
| 2 | S | Basic Firebird |
| T | Firebird Esprit | |
| U | Firebird Formula | |
| V | Trans Am | |
| 3 & 4 | 87 | hardtop coupe |
| 5 | _ | Engine code (see listing in engine section) |
| 6 | 3 | Year: 1973 |
| 7 | _ | Assembly plant |
| 8 to 13 | 100001 and up | production sequence |
IDENTIFICATION
| Model Number | Style Number | Body Type | Seating | Factory Price | Shipping Weight | Production Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2FS | S87 | 2-door Hardtop Base Firebird – 6 cyl | 4 | $2895 | 3159 | 14,096 both 6 & V8 |
| 2FS | S87 | 2-door Hardtop Base Firebird – V8 | 4 | $3013 | 3380 | |
| 2FT | T87 | 2-door Hardtop Esprit | 4 | $3249 | 3309 | 17,249 |
| 2FU | U87 | 2-door Hardtop Formula | 4 | $3276 | 3318 | 10,166 |
| 2FV | V87 | 2-door Hardtop Trans Am | 4 | $4204 | 3504 | 4,802 |
ENGINE
| MODEL | Code | Type | Displacement | Carb | Compression | Net HP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base Firebird | D | 6-cyl | 250 cid | 1-V | 8.25:1 | 100 @ 3600 rpm |
| Base Firebird | M | V-8 | 350 cid | 2-V | 7.6:1 | 150 @ 4000 rpm |
| Espirt (std) | M | V-8 | 350 cid | 2-V | 7.6:1 | 150 @ 4000 rpm |
| Espirt (opt) | R | V-8 | 400 cid | 2-V | 8.0:1 | 170 @ 3600 rpm |
| Formula (std) | M | V-8 | 350 cid | 2-V | 7.6:1 | 150 @ 4000 rpm |
| Formula (opt) | R | V-8 | 400 cid | 2-V | 8.0:1 | 170 @ 3600 rpm |
| Formula (opt) | Y | V-8 | 455 cid | 4-V | 8.0:1 | 250 @ 4000 rpm |
| Formula (opt) | X | V-8 | 455 cid | 4-V | 8.4:1 | 310 @ 4000 rpm |
| Trans Am | X | V-8 | 455 cid | 4-V | 8.4:1 | 310 @ 4000 rpm |
TRANSMISSION
| N/A |
CHASSIS
| Wheelbase | Overall length | Front tread | Rear tread |
|---|---|---|---|
| 108 in. | 192.1 in. | 60 in. | 60 in. |
OPTIONS
PERFORMANCE
| MODEL | 0-to-60 MPH | QUARTER MILE |
|---|---|---|
| SD-455 Trans Am | 7.3 seconds | 15 seconds |
HISTORICAL NOTES
1973 Firebird Notes
- Production of SD-455 Trans Ams totaled 252 cars, of which 180 had automatic transmission and the rest had manual transmission
- Fifty Formula Firebirds also had the SD-455 muscle engine
1973 Automotive Notes
- After being phased out in the late 1960’s, vent windows appear as an extra-cost option
- All engines get an EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) valve to cut emissions of nitrogen oxide
- All new cars must have a 5-mph front “crash” bumpers and 2½-mph rear bumpers.
- Cars built after January 1 must incorporate side beams in the doors
- Hardtop (i.e., no center pillar) cars are being phased out
- Horsepower and torque figures are lower again
- More than 72% of new cars have air conditioning.
- The OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) oil embargo on Oct. 19 leads to fuel shortages, long lines at the pumps, and price hikes. It lasted for five months
- US Federal law bans odometer “roll-back” and force dealers to disclose mileage before selling a used car
- GM news:
- Edward N. Cole was president of GM
- Richard C. Gerstenberg was chairman of the board at GM
- Rebodied mid-size lines feature “Colonnade” hardtops with fixed center pillars
- GM experiments with a device that requires the driver to pass a sobriety test before the car will start
- Chevrolet surpasses Ford by almost 230,000 units
- 1000 Impalas get air bags
- Chevelle and Monte Carlo coupes get swing-out bucket seats
- Last year for Chevelle 454 V-8, SS option departs
- Camaro SS label and big-block engines are gone, but Type LT (Luxury Touring) remains
- Hatchback versions of the Nova, Ventura, Omega, and Apollo appear
- Pontiac introduces Grand Am based on the Le Mans but with the luxury of the Grand Prix and performance of the Trans Am
- Firebird Trans Am retains the 455-cid V8 (7.4 litre) and sports a large hood-mounted wing decal which some called the “Chicken”
- Oldsmobile retains third spot followed by Pontiac and Plymouth
- Oldsmobile introduces the Omega compact, a re-badged Nova
- Buick introduces the Apollo compact, a re-badged Nova
- Buick names its mid-size model “Century”
- Ford news:
- Again, Ford sells another half-million Pintos
- Last year for the Cougar
- Chrysler news:
- Plymouth drops from fourth place to fifth after Pontiac
- Electronic ignition is standard on all Chrysler engines
- Dart Demon is renamed Sport because of objection to devil logo
- Dodge “Convertriple” and Plymouth “Space Duster” feature fold-down rear seat
- AMC news:
- Hornet gets a sporty hatchback coupe with optional 304 V-8
- Gremlin offers a “Levi’s” option where the interior fabric resembles that of blue jeans with red piping
- Other makes news:
- Beginning in 1970, the Series II Excalibur was a hand-built “neoclassic” evolved from Brooks Steven’ original Studebaker-based 1965-69 design.
- All Excaliburs had GM chassis and 350-cid (5.7 litre)(later had big-block 454 Corvette (7.4 litre)) V-8s
- Only 72 two-seat Roadsters and 270 four-seat Phaetons were built through 1974
- Top American Automobile Corporations for 1973
1. General Motors5,548,154
2. Ford2,964,358
3. Chrysler1,798,684
4. AMC392,105
5. Others1,128
- Top model year production for 1973
Chevrolet 2,579,509
Ford 2,349,815
Oldsmobile 922,771
Pontiac 919,870
Plymouth 882,196
Buick 821,165
Apollo 32,793
Century 298,468
LeSabre 197,281
Centurion 44,976
Estate Wagon 12,282
Electra 225177,772
Riviera 34,080
Dodge 665,536
Mercury 486,470
AMC 392,105
Javelin 27,536
Cadillac 304,839
Calais 8,073
DeVille 216,243
Eldorado 51,451
Fleetwood Brougham 24,800
Series Seventy-Five 4,272
Chrysler 234,223
Lincoln1 28,073
Imperial 16,729
Checker 900
Excalibur 122
Avanti II 106
Alfa-Romeo 204,902
U.S. Alfa-Romeo sales 2,595
Aston-Martin 250
1968 FIREBIRD Photo Gallery
