Pontiac Firebird (1979) – Ultimate Guide
Introduction
- Front ends of the new Firebirds were far different from predecessors.
- Quad rectangular headlamps now stood in separate recessed housings, in a sharply sloped center panel that had a peak and an emblem — but no grille.
- Instead, horizontally ribbed lower grilles went into twin slots below the bumper area, with clear park/signal lamps at outer ends
- At the rear was a full-width horizontally ribbed panel
- Base Firebird equipment included
- Buick’s 231-cid (3.8-liter) V-6
- three-speed manual shift
- power steering
- FR78 x 15 steel-belted radials.
- Esprit added
- wheel covers
- sport mirrors (driver’s remote)
- extra body moldings
- Formula had
- a 301-cid V-8
- automatic transmission
- power brakes
- black-accented grille
- non-functional twin hood scoop
- Rally II wheels with trim rings
- console
- P225/70R15 black sidewall SBR tires
- Trans Am had
- a 403-cid four-barrel V-8
- four-speed manual transmission
- power brakes
- air dam
- rear spoiler
- “shaker” hood
- chrome side-splitter tailpipe extensions
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 | |
W | Trans Am | |
3 & 4 | 87 | hardtop coupe |
5 | Engine code |
|
6 | 9 | Year: 1979 |
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2F | S87 | 2-door Hardtop Base Firebird – V6 | 4 | $4825 | 3257 | 38,642 both 6 & V8 |
2F | S87 | 2-door Hardtop Base Firebird – V8 | 4 | $5020 | 3330 | |
2F | T87 | 2-door Hardtop Esprit – V6 | 4 | $5193 | 3287 | 30,853 |
2F | T87 | 2-door Hardtop Esprit – V8 | 4 | $5388 | 3360 | |
2F | V87 | 2-door Hardtop Formula | 4 | $6018 | 3452 | 24,346 |
2F | W87 | 2-door Hardtop Trans Am | 4 | $5799 | 3511 | 93,341 |
ENGINE
VIN Code | A (Buick) | Y | W | H | X (Buick) | R (Olds) | L (LM1) (Chev) | Z (Olds) | K (Olds) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cylinders | 90° V-6 | 90° V-8 | 90° V-8 | 90° V-8 | 90° V-8 | 90° V-8 | 90° V-8 | 90° V-8 | 90° V-8 |
Valving | Overhead valve | Overhead valve | Overhead valve | Overhead valve | Overhead valve | Overhead valve | Overhead valve | Overhead valve | Overhead valve |
Block | Cast-iron | Cast-iron | Cast-iron | Cast-iron | Cast-iron | Cast-iron | Cast-iron | Cast-iron | Cast-iron |
Head | Cast-iron | Cast-iron | Cast-iron | Cast-iron | Cast-iron | Cast-iron | Cast-iron | Cast-iron | Cast-iron |
Bore & Stroke | 3.80 x 3.40 in. | 4.06 x 3.04 in. | 4.06 x 3.04 in. | 3.74 x 3.48 in. | 3.80 x 3.85 in. | 4.06 x 3.38 | 4.00 x 3.48 | 4.35 x 3.38 | 4.35 x 3.38 |
Displacement | 231 cid (3.8 liters) | 301 cid (5.0 liters) | 301 cid (5.0 liters) | 305 cid (5.0 liters) | 350 cid (5.7 liters) | 350 cid (5.7 liters) | 350 cid (5.7 liters) | 403 cid (6.6 liters) | 403 cid (6.6 liters) |
Compression ratio | 8.0 : 1 | 8.1 : 1 | 8.1 : 1 | 8.4 : 1 | 8.0 : 1 | 7.9 : 1 | 8.2 : 1 | 7.9 : 1 (opt: 8.1 : 1) | 7.9 : 1 |
Brake H.P. | 105 @ 3200 rpm | 140 @ 3600 | 150 @ 3800 rpm | 133 @ 4000 rpm | 155 @ 3400 rpm | 160 @ 3600 rpm | 160 @ 3800 rpm | 185 @ 3600 rpm | 185 @ 3600 rpm |
Torque (lb-ft) | 185 @ 2000 rpm | 235 @ 2000 rpm | 240 @ 2400 rpm | 244 @ 2000 rpm | 280 @ 1800 rpm | 270 @ 2000 rpm | 260 @ 2400 rpm | 320 @ 2000 rpm | 320 @ 2200 rpm |
Main bearings | Four | Five | Five | Five | Five | Five | Five | Five | Five |
Valve lifters | Hydraulic | ||||||||
Carburetor | 2-barrel Rochester M2ME | 2-barrel Rochester M2MC | 4-barrel Rochester M4MC | 4-barrel Rochester M4MC | 4-barrel Rochester M4MC | 4-barrel Rochester M4MC | 4-barrel Rochester M4MC | 4-barrel Rochester M4MC | 4-barrel Rochester M4MC |
TRANSMISSION
Three-speed manual floor shift |
Four-speed manual shift |
Three-speed automatic |
CHASSIS
FEATURE | Firebird | Esprit | Formula | Trans Am |
---|---|---|---|---|
Wheelbase | 108.1 in. | 108.1 in. | 108.1 in. | 108.1 in. |
Overall length | 196.8 in. | 196.8 in. | 196.8 in. | 196.8 in. |
Height | 49.3 in. | 49.3 | 49.5 | 49.5 |
Width | 73.4 | 73.4 | 73.4 | 73.4 |
Front tread | 60.9 | 60.9 | 61.3 | 61.2 |
Rear tread | 60.0 | 60.0 | 60.4 | 60.3 |
Tires | FR78x15 | FR78x15 | P225/70R15 SBR | P225/70R15 SBR |
Steering | Recirculating ball | |||
Front suspension | coil springs with lower trailing links and anti-sway bar | |||
Rear suspension | semi-elliptic leaf springs with anti-sway bar | |||
Brakes | Front disc, rear drums | Front disc, rear disc | ||
Ignition | Electronic | |||
Body construction | Unit with separate partial frame | |||
Fuel tank | 21 gal |
OPTIONS
HISTORICAL NOTES
1979 Firebird Notes
- Introduced Sept. 28, 1978
- Robert C. Stempel was named Pontiac’s general manager
- High sales of the Trans Am of 1977-79 was certainly due to the 1977 movie Smokey and the Bandit starring Burt Reynolds, Sally Fields, and Jackie Gleason. It was a cops-and-robbers chase spectacular. The “bandit” was the unstoppable black Trans Am.
1979 Automotive Notes
- Elliott M. Estes was president of GM
- Thomas A. Murphy was chairman of the board at GM
- GM news:
- Ford news:
- Chrysler news:
- AMC news:
- Other makes news:
- Top American Automobile Corporations for 1979
1. General Motors 5,370,750
2. Ford 2,694,621
3. Chrysler 1,126,165
4. AMC 169,439
5. Others 709
- Top model year production for 1979
Chevrolet 2,284,749
Ford 1,835,937
Oldsmobile 1,068,154
Pontiac 907,434
Buick 727,275
Skyhawk 23,139
Skylark 29,026
Century 60,183
Regal 273,365
LeSabre 150,784
Estate Wagon 21,312
Electra 225121,631
Riviera 52,181
Mercury 669,138
Dodge 404,266
Cadillac 383,138
Seville 53,487
DeVille 215,101
Eldorado 67,436
Fleetwood Brougham 42,200
Fleetwood Limousine 4,914
Plymouth 372,449
Chrysler 349,450
Lincoln 189,546
AMC 169,439
Spirit 52,478
Concord 96,498
Pacer 1,934
AMX 3,657
Excalibur 367
Checker 200
Avanti II 142