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
| 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
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
1979 FIREBIRD Photo Gallery
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Keyword: 1979 Pontiac Firebird