Pontiac Firebird - The Auto-Biography: New 3rd Edition

Over a 40-year period, the Pontiac Firebird has earned a unique place among speedy American domestic cars. What started out as another contender in the ‘me too’ Mustang pony car race, ended up a classic. This updated and enlarged third edition of Pontiac Firebird - The Auto-Biography chronicles the definitive history of the Pontiac Firebird. Close attention is paid to both regular and high-level model variants (Formula & Trans Am), and how Pontiac made its Firebird unique.

The Firebird’s tale reflects the development of the mainstream domestic car in the modern era: V8s, turbo V8s, turbo V6s, HO V6s, overhead cam I6s, and even a Super Duty four banger. If there’s a performance avenue to be explored, then the Firebird has been there.

Popular with car fans and in the sales charts, the Firebird has had a high profile both in television and at the movies, ensuring the Firebird legend just gets bigger and bigger. From the go-faster 1960s, gas mileage- and pollution-controlled 1970s, performance renaissance of the 1980s, through to the indifference of the 1990s, the Firebird was always there. This is its story.

Cutting edge research and over 350 colour photos – including over 80 new images for this third edition – bring this in-depth, incredibly detailed legend to life. Through formal study of the postwar American car market, Marc Cranswick brings valuable insight to the subject.

Marc Cranswick has had a lifelong interest in cars and all things mechanical, and has written about and drawn the cars that he loves for many years; these include a variety of European, Japanese and American marques. Formal study of the postwar American car market has led to a series of books about the cars and trucks of the Big 3 and independent automakers. He writes enthusiast-directed model history books, and has involvement with many specialist car clubs. His reference book The Cars of American Motors – An Illustrated History, was featured on NBC’s business channel CNBC. His other books include Ford Mustang II & Pinto (as seen on channel PBS' MotorWeek); Ford Midsize Muscle - Fairlane, Torino & Ranchero; BMW Classic 5 Series 1972 to 2003; MOPAR Muscle - Barracuda, Dart & Valiant 1960-1980; Mazda Rotary-Engined Cars, and Pontiac Firebird - The Auto-Biography.