1982 PONTIAC Firebird 5.0i V8 5MT RWD (208 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Pontiac introduced the Firebird Trans-Am in 1982 as a 1983 model and shared most of its components with the Chevrolet Camaro but styled differently.

It was the car from the Night Rider movie, and that “KITT” made it famous worldwide. At the beginning of the ’80s, the former glorious muscle cars were stripped by their big V-8 engines due to pollution regulations, and their powers were down to two-digits figures. But that didn’t mean that the carmakers couldn’t make them look hot, such as the 1982 Firebird.

The pop-up headlights were something that everybody craved for, and the Firebird had them. Its narrow front end with a plastic, wrapped-around bumper featured fog lights as an option. When the headlights were shut, they left a small gap. From its sides, the raked windshield was typical for a sports car. Its greenhouse was extended in the back with a huge, curved rear window.

Inside, it wasn’t that high-tech, futuristic cabin such as the one from the Night Rider. Inside, the Firebird featured large, round dials on the instrument panel. Its dashboard was straight, with a center stack for the radio and the air-conditioning unit. Depending on the trim level, the center console sported the automatic gear-selector or the gear-stick for the manual gearbox. The car featured power-adjustable front seats on the upper trim levels, while a folding bench was standard for the rear passengers.

Under the hood, Pontiac installed a 2.5-liter engine for the base model and V-8s for the rest of the range.