1972 Pontiac Firebird

Pontiac Firebird (1970) – Ultimate Guide

Introduction

Four models of the Firebird were available:

• Base Firebird, series 2S
• Firebird Esprit, series 2T
• Firebird Formula, series 2U
• Trans Am, series 2V

BASE FIREBIRD

• A new honeycomb mesh grill insert
• New interior trim
• Redesigned hubcaps and wheel covers
• Front and rear bucket seats with all-vinyl trim, solid foam seat cushions with integral springs
• Loop-pile carpet
• Deluxe steering wheel
• Upper-level ventilation
• Woodgrain dash accents
• Ashtray light
• Endura front bumper
• Small full-width front air dam
• Radio antenna embedded in windshield
• Bright moldings on windshield, rear window, and grille
• Thin body sill moldings
• Front disc brakes
• Three-speed manual column shift transmission
• E78-14 black sidewall tires

FIREBIRD ESPRIT

FIREBIRD FORMULA

FIREBIRD TRANS AM

I.D. NUMBERS

IDENTIFICATION

ENGINE

TRANSMISSION

CHASSIS

OPTIONS

PERFORMANCE

HISTORICAL NOTES

1972 Firebird Notes

• Introduced Sept. 23, 1971.
• Pontiac considered dropping the Firebird so changes were minimal.
• On Oct. 1, 1972, Martin J. Caserio became Pontiac’s general manager
• 1263 base Firebirds had synchromesh and 10,738 had automatic
• 504 Esprits had synchromesh and 10,911 had automatic
• 1082 Formula Firebirds had synchromesh and 4167 had automatic
• 458 Trans Ams had synchromesh and 828 had automatic

1972 Automotive Notes

• Sales for 1972 topped 8.6 million cars
• US Congress revokes the price freeze and auto excise tax
• Buzzers and warning lights remind occupants to fasten seatbelts
• Almost all engines run on low-lead regular gasoline
• Advertized horsepower and torque are published as “net” instead of “gross.” Although the much lower figure is a more accurate measurement, most people erroneously suppose that pollution equipment attributed to the lower figures.
• As convertible sales declines, most automakers offer a powered or manually operated sunroof
• The Automobile Manufacturers Association (AMA) in Detroit changes its name to the Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Association (MVMA)
• Eaton Corp. tests air bags with human passengers
• Prestolite introduces a maintenance-free battery
• Fiberglass radial-ply tires are big sellers
• GM news:
  • Edward N. Cole was president of GM
  • Richard C. Gerstenberg was chairman of the board at GM
  • GM cars get energy-absorbing bumpers — a year ahead of government requirements
  • Chevrolet takes back the lead over Ford by 174,000 units
  • Chevelle and Monte Carlo still offer the big 454 V-8, but the Monte Carlo SS departs
  • Last year for Chevelle SS option
  • Last year for Camaro SS and big block engine
  • Two Corvette show cars — the GT 2-Rotor and the Aero-Vette 4-Rotor — carry experimental Wankel rotary engines
  • Pontiac offers solid-state ignition systems to replace breaker points
  • Pontiac’s GTO is now a Le Mans option package
  • Firebird and Camaro sales continue to drop and GM worries about the future of performance cars
  • Oldsmobile moves from fifth to third followed by Plymouth and Pontiac
  • Last year for the Cutlass convertible, the 4-4-2 is just an appearance and handling option
  • Buick Skylark hardtop offered an optional sliding fabric sunroof
  • Buick GS455 returns, but the GSX is only an appearance package
  • GM tests an OBD (on-board diagnostic) system which will later become common
  • GM plans to install a Wankel rotary engine in the Vega for 1975, but it doesn’t materialize
• Ford news:
  • Ford is the only automaker to offer new models: Torino/Montego, Thunderbird, and Continental Mark IV
  • 200 Mercurys with air bags go to Allstate Insurance as part of a pilot project
  • Ford adds a 3-door wagon to Pintos with a woody-look Squire option
  • The larger Torino gets body-on-frame construction
  • Ford sells nearly half a million Pintos
  • The Cobra muscle car is dropped
  • Mustang loses the big-block V-8s and discontinues the Boss 351
  • Thunderbird shares the structure with Continental Mark IV, but there is no sedan
  • Thunderbird has four-wheel disc brakes available with “Sure-Track” anti-lock braking
  • The White House gets an armor-plated 34-inch stretch Lincoln Continental
  • Ford signs an agreement to develop a Sterling external-combustion engine, but it doesn’t materialize
• Chrysler news:
  • Chrysler offers solid-state ignition systems to replace breaker points
  • An electronic digital clock is standard on Imperials and optional on other Chryslers
  • Chrysler replaces the 383-cid (6.3 litre) with a 400-cid (6.6 litre)
  • Dodge and Plymouth replace the 426-cid with the 400-cid (6.6 litre), but keeps the 440-cid (7.2 litre)
  • Charger R/T and Super Bee are dropped
  • There are no more Plymouth convertibles or the GTX or big-block Barracudas
• AMC news:
  • Ambassador offered only the SST and Brougham
• Top American Automobile Corporations for 1972

1. General Motors4,837,449 2. Ford2,783,087 3. Chrysler1,554,983 4. AMC258,134 5. Others1,042

• Top model year production for 1972

Chevrolet   2,420,564 Ford  2,246,563 Oldsmobile  762,199 Plymouth  756,605 Pontiac   706,978 Buick   679,921 Skylark   225,346 LeSabre   183,322 Estate Wagon  28,968 Centurion   36,435 Electra   225172,122 Riviera  33,728 Dodge   577,870 Mercury   441,964 Cadillac  267,787 Calais  7,775 DeVille  194,811 Eldorado    40,074 Fleetwood Brougham  20,750 Series Seventy-Five  4,377 AMC   258,134 Gremlin   61,500 Hornet SST    72,000 Javelin   26,184 Ambassador   14,617 Ambassador DPL   26,035 Ambassador SST   35,542 Chrysler  204,704 Lincoln  94,560 Imperial   15,804 Checker   850 Avanti II   127 Excalibur   65

1968 FIREBIRD Photo Gallery

Keyword: 1972 Pontiac Firebird