Welcome to the PONTIAC HEAVEN ID Guide!
This page covers Firebirds and Ventura IIs
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1967
First year for the Firebird and the only year with vent windows
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1968
’68 ‘Birds now had wrap around park lamps to meet federal mandates and Pontiac arrow side marker lights on 1/4 panels. (400 model shown)
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1969
FFirst year of the Trans Am (right), last year of Firebird 400
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1970
tFormula 400(shown) replaces Firebird 400 and gets gets its own twin scooped fiberglass hood (this hood would be used through 1975)
Firebird interior for 1970. Note- separate headrests is a ’70 exclusive
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1971
11970 and 1971 use the same grilles. One unique feature to all 1971 Firebirds ( except Trans Am ) was the rectangualr air extractor at the center rear of the front fender. This was used for one years only. Also, this was the first year for the 455 in the Firebird, available in the Formula and standard in Trans Am.
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1972
All ’72 ‘Birds had “stretched” Honeycomb grille pattern, last year for T/A stripe style and standard round port, top of the line 455HO engine
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Ventura II
Ventura II introduced as the new entry level Pontiac, replacing the T-37. Based on the chev Nova, this model was a “generic” body and Olds and Buick would also get their own version. Most were powered by either chev 230 6cyl or 307 8cyl engines. Never before had GM made the 4 main divisions share an almost identical car, the beginning of what was to come as most GM cars within 10 years would be “generic” or as they call it “Corporate”. Few parts, even sheetmetal, were unique to Pontiac. Some Venturas came equipped with the 350 Pontiac engine.
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Here is a ’72 Ventura II with the very rare sun roof option
also 71 and 72 tail lights are the same
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1973
All Firebirds this year had large egg crate style silver grilles (Trans Ams were black)
Trans Am below
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1974
Base Firebird
Firebird Formula
Trans Am
This was the last year of the small rear window. ’70-4 left, ’75-’81 right below
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1975
Trans Am (above) and Formula (below) both shown in Admirilty blue
AAll ‘birds for ’75 had park lamps moved to in the grilles. First year for the larger, wrap around rear window, HEI ignitions and cat converters.
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1976
Base Firebird
Formula shown below with newly offered Appearance package
Trans Am
This This is the last year for the 455 engine
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1977
Special Edition “Black Bird”
Trans Am
TThe Phoenix, new for ’77, was a high end version of the Ventura
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1978
Trans Am Special Edition
For 1978, the special Edition Trans Am went to a Gold color for most of the year. Paint fading problems forced Pontiac to switch back to Black for SEs late in the year.
Trans Am
1978 was the first year that the WS-6 package was available on Trans Am only
Firebird Formula
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1979
Base model below
Formula in Atlantis blue with appearance package and WS-6 wheels
Trans Am 10th silver anniversary edition
Trans Am After 5 years of increasing sales, Trans Am sales peaked in 1979. This was also the first year that the WS-6 package was available on the Formula
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1980
Pontiac paced the Indy 500 this year
Turbo 301 Formula w/WS-6 handling package
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1981
Pontiac bowed out of the V-8 engine this year and paced the Daytona 500 with this special Pace Car above with 301 Turbo engine (All Turbo cars had their own hood without Shaker).
Standard power for ’81 Trans Ams was the same as in ’80. 4bbl 301 (used the standard “Shaker” hood assy)
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1981 is the only year that uses the Firebird emblem on the rear gas filler
Base Firebird and Esprit tail lights shown below
Base Firebird
’81 deluxe int is unique with vertical pattern cloth
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Dash on Esprit with delux st wheel
