What year did Pontiac make the Turbo Trans Am?
1979
The Turbo Trans Am was first added to the Pontiac model lineup in 1979 as a 1980 model year, and was the first production Pontiac V8 engine to utilize forced induction; in this case through an exhaust-driven turbocharging system.
What was the 1980 Pontiac Trans Am Turbo?
The ultimate Trans Am Turbo was the 1980 Indianapolis 500 Pace Car replica. There were originally supposed to be 6,300 of these (eventually cut to 5,700). The Pace Car replicas were essentially Trans Ams with the turbo engine and every available Firebird option, including a T-top roof, air conditioning,…
What was the first turbocharged Pontiac car?
It was Pontiac’s first turbocharged production car, but it also brought down the curtain on a storied era of unique Pontiac engines. This is the story of the little-loved, often-forgotten Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Turbo.
What was the rear axle ratio of a 1979 Pontiac Trans Am?
The 1979 W72 was mandatory with a 4-speed manual transmission with a factory Hurst shifter and 3.23 rear axle ratio. For those Trans Am owners who were used to the more powerful Trans Ams of the 1970s, the Turbo Trans Am was a letdown.
What kind of V8 did Pontiac have in 1980?
For 1980, the only V8s left in Pontiac’s inventory were the 301 and 265 cubic-inch V8s. The 301 was the best choice for Trans Am duty starting in 1980. However even with a semi-performance engine tune, a free-flow dual outlet exhaust system, and a 4-bbl carburetor the most horsepower the 301 V8 could produce for 1980 was 155.
The ultimate Trans Am Turbo was the 1980 Indianapolis 500 Pace Car replica. There were originally supposed to be 6,300 of these (eventually cut to 5,700). The Pace Car replicas were essentially Trans Ams with the turbo engine and every available Firebird option, including a T-top roof, air conditioning,…
What was the displacement of the Pontiac 301 Turbo?
The Pontiac 301 Turbo is an engine that Pontiac produced for the 1980 and 1981 Trans Ams. It was a V8 engine with a displacement of 301 cubic inch which produced an officially factory rated 210 hp (157 kW) and 345 ft·lb (468 N·m) of torque in 1980.
It was Pontiac’s first turbocharged production car, but it also brought down the curtain on a storied era of unique Pontiac engines. This is the story of the little-loved, often-forgotten Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Turbo.
What kind of car was the 1980 Pontiac Firebird?
Special-edition models, such as the 1980 Indy/Daytona pace cars, usually command a premium. Just 9604 turbo Trans Ams were built for 1980 and 1981. Cooked turbo bearings, cars that have been driven hard and put away wet.