1979 FIREBIRD

  • 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 LocationOn top of dash at left, viewable through windshield
PositionCharacterDescription
12General Motors: Pontiac Division
2SBasic Firebird
TFirebird Esprit
UFirebird Formula
WTrans Am
3 & 487hardtop coupe
5Engine code
  • A = 231-cid two-barrel V-6
  • Y = 301-cid two-barrel V-8
  • W = 301-cid four-barrel V-8
  • H = 305-cid four-barrel V-8
  • L = 350-cid four-barrel V-8
  • X = 350-cid four-barrel V-8
  • R = 350-cid four-barrel V-8
  • Z = 400-cid four-barrel V-8
  • K = 403-cid four-barrel V-8
69Year: 1979
7_Assembly plant
8 to 13100001 and upproduction sequence

IDENTIFICATION

Model NumberStyle NumberBody TypeSeatingFactory PriceShipping WeightProduction Total
2FS872-door Hardtop Base Firebird - V64$4825325738,642
both 6 & V8
2FS872-door Hardtop Base Firebird - V84$50203330
2FT872-door Hardtop Esprit - V64$5193328730,853
2FT872-door Hardtop Esprit - V84$53883360
2FV872-door Hardtop Formula4$6018345224,346
2FW872-door Hardtop Trans Am4$5799351193,341

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 & Stroke3.80 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 ratio8.0 : 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 M2ME2-barrel Rochester M2MC 4-barrel Rochester M4MC4-barrel Rochester M4MC4-barrel Rochester M4MC4-barrel Rochester M4MC4-barrel Rochester M4MC4-barrel Rochester M4MC4-barrel Rochester M4MC

TRANSMISSION

Three-speed manual floor shift
Four-speed manual shift
Three-speed automatic

CHASSIS

FeatureFirebirdEspritFormulaTrans Am
Wheelbase108.1 in.108.1 in.108.1 in.108.1 in.
Overall length196.8 in.196.8 in.196.8 in.196.8 in.
Height49.3 in.49.349.549.5
Width73.473.473.473.4
Front tread60.960.961.361.2
Rear tread60.060.060.460.3
TiresFR78x15FR78x15P225/70R15 SBRP225/70R15 SBR
SteeringRecirculating ball
Front suspensioncoil springs with lower trailing links and anti-sway bar
Rear suspensionsemi-elliptic leaf springs with anti-sway bar
BrakesFront disc, rear drumsFront disc, rear disc
IgnitionElectronic
Body constructionUnit with separate partial frame
Fuel tank21 gal

OPTIONS

301-cid two-barrel V8$195
301-cid four-barrel V8 (Firebird)$280
301-cid four-barrel V8 (Formula)$85
301-cid four-barrel V8 (Trans Am)$165 credit
305-cid two-barrel V8 (Firebird)$195
350-cid four-barrel V8 (Firebird)$320
350-cid four-barrel V8 (Formula)$125
400-cid four-barrel V8 (Formula)$340
400-cid four-barrel V8 (Trans Am)$90
403-cid four-barrel V8 (Firebird)$250
403-cid four-barrel V8 (Formula)$250
4-speed manual floor shift transmission (Firebird)$135
Turbo-Hydra-Matic transmission (Firebird)$335
Turbo-Hydra-Matic transmission (Trans Am)N/C
Power brakes (Firebird)$76
Power four-wheel disc brakes (Formula/Trans Am)$150
Heavy-duty alternator$23 - $55
Esprit Red Bird appearance package$449 - $491
Trans Am special edition$674
Trans Am special edition with hatch roof$1329
Formula appearance package$92
Trans Am special performance package$250 - $434
Air conditioning$496 - $605
Cruise control$103 - $108
Hatch roof (Firebird)$655
Canopy top$116

HISTORICAL 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 FIREBIRD PHOTOS


1979 Firebird Esprit
1979 Firebird Formula
1979 Firebird Formula
1979 Firebird Formula
1979 Firebird Formula
1979 Firebird Formula
1979 Trans Am
1979 Trans Am
1979 Trans Am
1979 Trans Am
1979 Trans Am
1979 Trans Am
1979 Trans Am
1979 Trans Am
1979 Trans Am
1979 Trans Am
1979 Trans Am
1979 Trans Am
1979 Trans Am

LITERATURE & LINKS




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