Think rare, desirable, and fast muscle cars, and your mind will likely drift back to the '60s. This time in muscle cars isn't called "the golden era" for nothing. With Pontiac kicking off the world of two-door V8 performance machines with the GTO, there was an avalanche of incredible metal coming out of the dealers Stateside. The Mustang, the Camaro, and the Charger – these models were the new face of the American sports car market, and nothing could go wrong. Except it did, with the oil crisis and fuel prices stopping these powerful machines in their tracks.By the '90s, things had picked up a little, but the game had changed. The influx of incredible JDM rally cars for the road had given fast car fans another option, and the Dodge Viper, with its bonkers V10, was taking the US muscle car idea in a different direction. It would be easy to think, then, that the '90s were slim pickings for low production, collectible models, but one stands out above the rest. This is the rarest Firebird of this era, with a proper thumping V8 up front that had been sourced from a no-nonsense sports car. If the '60s muscle car times could be embodied in one '90s model, then this was probably it – but not many people will even remember this car.HotCars used experts Classic.com and Hagerty for prices of the model featured in this article. This article is not designed as buying or investment advice. The 1997 Firebird Firehawk Is One Of The Rawest '90s Muscle Cars Bring A Trailer The Firebird was born in 1967 to a world of legendary muscle cars. This was Pontiac's pony car answer to the Mustang, sharing some parts with the Chevrolet Camaro, but offering a slightly more carefree vibe. Interestingly, however, it wasn't the '60s that defined the Firebird; it was the decade following, which most people would remember as the hangover from the muscle car party, with models losing their power along with buyers.The late '70s Firebird managed to capture the zeitgeist of the disco era, with the Screaming Chicken on the hood and gold and black everywhere. If a car could be John Travolta strutting into the club, it was the Firebird Trans Am. After that, the Firebird made do with four-pot motors and traded off its rich history rather than offering much to get excited about, aside from the likes of the 20th Anniversary Trans Am. The Fourth-Generation Firebird Had A More Pebble-Like Appearance Bring A Trailer The fourth-gen Firebird arrived in 1993, replacing the squared-off macho looks with a more rounded aesthetic. This model was treated to a Corvette LT1 V8 under the hood in ’93, which gave it some potential, but it was the beginning of the end for the Firebird, with the model being the last of the line, phased out in 2002. But it wasn't all doom and gloom. This Firebird was the one that went back to its roots, with ever-increasing performance, which culminated in the glorious WS6. But there was another ultra-rare Firebird that a lot of people might not remember, that had a special engine, and all the right bits to make it a legit muscle car. Was this the true return of the golden era? There Was A Very Special Firehawk For 1997 Bring A Trailer Pontiac dabbled with a few special edition versions of the fourth-gen Firebird, such as the Trans Am GT, but it was the Firehawk that showed the company was serious about reviving the muscle car. These cars were made by SLP Engineering but sold through Pontiac's official dealer network – and boy, were they refreshing.SLP took Firebird Formulas and fitted them with a range of goodies. Earlier LT1 cars got a lightweight composite hood with functional ram air scoops, plus Corvette cold air induction, which apparently lifted power by 25 horsepower. Later, a Level II Bilstein Sport Suspension Package and Torsen Limited Slip Differential were added, as well as parts to make the Firehawks stand out. These cars weren't big sellers, with Pontiac shifting (according to Newgmparts.com) never more than around 100. The company soldiered on, however, and by 1997 decided to offer a radically upgraded Firehawk. SLP's 1997 Firehawk Borrowed The V8 Out Of The Corvette Grand Sport The 1997 models came fitted with the LT4 V8 out of the Corvette Grand Sport, which makes it extra special. The fast-revving LT4 in the Firehawk has 330 horsepower. These engines have reworked ports, increased-flow-rate injectors, a high-lift cam, larger valves, plus the benefit of higher-compression pistons. SLP Engineering managed to get hold of the last 150 of these blueprint units, says Motor Trend, fitting them to a few 30th-anniversary Camaros, and keeping the rest for Firehawks. The fitment of a Borg-Warner six-speed is the cherry on the cake for this '90s modern classic muscle car.It's worth noting that all 29 LT4 Firebird Firehawks were outfitted with the Six-Speed manual. The same is true for all 100+ Camaros rolling with the LT4 engine that year. This is an interesting detail because SLP was never exclusive to stick-shift cars, building plenty of automatics in its time. While autos do have their place in the world, this factor does make these special edition cars feel even more like muscle car royalty. The LT4 Firehawk Is Ultra Rare Bring A TrailerIn the end, just 29 Firehawks were built in 1997 with the LT4 engine, otherwise known as the 'Alteration Package'. These cars also came with grippy low-profile tires and a tweaked suspension. The following year, there were no Firehawks, and when the car returned in 1999, it was fitted with an LS1 – meaning the LT4 Firehawk could just be the rarest Firebird ever sold by Pontiac dealers.Motor Trend tested one of the LT4 Firehawks when it was launched, and came away impressed. The car reached 60 mph in 5.2 seconds, which was impressive for the '90s, and covered a quarter mile in 13.4 seconds. Ford's top-end Mustang SVT Cobra of the late '90s has 320 horsepower and 317 lb-ft of torque, and hits 60 mph in 5.5 seconds. What About The Other Ultra-Rare Firehawk? Bring a Trailer The LT4 Firehawk is an extremely rare car, but some experts may point out that there is another that’s just barely more scarce. SLP built just 25 Firebird Firehawks for the 1992 model year, which technically makes it more rare than the star of this article. However, it was powered by the L98 engine,the L98 engine, which was commonplace for the third-gen Firebird. The only Firebirds to ever feature the LT4 engine were the Firehawk models produced in 1997, which is why we consider it to be the rarer of the two. The WS6 Is A Close Second Mecum A common question among collectors and car enthusiasts is whether they should invest in a Firehawk or WS6 Firebird Trans Am. The two are comparable in that they’re both performance-oriented variants of the Firebird, but they aren’t exactly the same, and the answer depends on what you’re after.The WS6 was a factory-available package for the Trans Am or Formula models, featuring handling upgrades and a Ram Air hood. While factory-backed, SLP did ultimately use a few aftermarket upgrades for the Firehawk that Pontiac didn’t have access to. Performance-wise, that does give the Firehawk a slight edge, though, its exclusivity makes it the kind of car better-suited for collectors, while the WS6 is the way to go if you want a car you can drive and enjoy guilt-free. While you can’t get a 1997 WS6 with an LT4, it's still a great car that has a lot to offer. Buying A 1997 Pontiac Firehawk In 2025 Hagerty says that despite the Firebird continuing until 2002, it is the 1997 Firehawk that remains the most desirable and valuable for collectors, thanks mainly to its exotic and rare engine designation. These cars very rarely come up for sale, and when they do, they tend to get a lot of interest. To begin with, it's worth mentioning that early fourth-generation Firehawks, which had fewer modifications, are fairly affordable. A 1994 model will set you back on average $22,575, according to Classic.com. Models from 1995 go for a little more at £26,217, although 1996 cars sell for as little as $12,500. The Super Rare LT4 Firehawks Sell For Almost Double What Standard Cars Go For For the 1997 model year, standard Firehawks still go for around the same money, although LT4 models often sell for double that, with one reaching $43,900 in 2024. Hagerty puts the price of good condition examples of the hottest Firehawks at $42,700, although it states that cars in excellent condition have an average value of $59,600. By contrast, a desirable 2001 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am WS6 with 325 horsepower has a good condition value of $28,500, and a coupe from 2002 goes for just $19,000. For such a rare car, the LT4 Firehawk for around 40 grand seems like a steal, but it's hard to know where the market will go. Could this be a great classic Pontiac muscle car investment for the future? Only time will tell...Sources: Classic.com; Hagerty.com.
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