Vehicle Description
While the mighty Trans Am is regarded as one of Detroit's most
legendary pony car powerhouses, you certainly didn't need stripes
and Screamin' Chicken decals to have a crazy cool, and crazy fast,
Pontiac performer. The brand's 'basic' Firebirds were quick and
comfortable cruisers that tastefully tempered old school Pontiac
Excitement into something a bit less, shall we say, ostentatious?
And that agreeable intersection of form and function was exactly
the inspiration for this awesome Firebird pro-touring build; except
with the function dial twisted all the way to 11! Draping familiar
Buccaneer Red two-stage over proven Detroit Speed bones and a hot
Mast Motorsports Black Label LS7, this professionally built beast
is the kind of classic that delivers on EVERY level. And if you're
a hardcore muscle car enthusiast who's searching for an excellent
combination of show and go, well, to borrow a line from Pontiac,
'it's the beginning of your tomorrow'!
'RED BIRD'
The product of a professional, no-expense-spared build, this
factory Firebird Esprit is founded on solid sheetmetal that was
completely stripped, carefully massaged and married to fresh
Detroit Speed mini tubs. Not surprisingly, every seam on this Main
Street king has been aligned to better-than-factory fit. Its panels
reflect a vivid barrage of Buccaneer Red two-stage that was
borrowed straight from the excitement division's 1973 Trans Am
palette. And today, 'Red Bird' rolls as one very impressive classic
that looks right at home reflecting summertime car shows!
The early 1970s were a defining period for Pontiac's fabled
Firebird. Sales were slow and new 'low speed' crash mandates
required that the car either be completely redesigned or jump on
the bandwagon of hideous and hastily done nose jobs that were
creeping into every automaker's showroom. GM adamantly refused to
spend money on a redesign because of low sales. So, Pontiac
assembled a talented engineering staff that managed to blend both
functionality and style into the now iconic profile you see here.
At the front of that profile, a shaved Endura Bumper hangs a
dramatic rendition of Pontiac's familiar two-piece grille between
stainless-trimmed headlights, a small spoiler and stylish
'gunsight' parking lamps. Behind that grille, an attractive Formula
Hood flies subtle "RAM AIR VII" banners that hint at the car's
beastly Mast Motorsports small block. A stainless-trimmed
greenhouse, cleared by Detroit Speed wipers, casts smoked
reflections in factory mirrors. Second-generation Firebird specific
side panels center polished door handles between crisp markers,
1970 Trans Am wheel spoilers and 1969 Trans Am fender louvers. And
at the back of the car, a mirrored bumper bends under a fourth
spoiler, bright "PONTIAC" lettering and stainless-trimmed
taillights.
RAM AIR VII
Hoist this coupe's vented hood and you'll find a full seven liters
of legendary LS glory! Bolted together by the good folks at Texas's
Mast Motorsports, that brutal mill utilizes a lightweight LS7 block
to twist stout 11.4 to 1 compression into an impressive 644
horsepower and a stout 550 lb./ft. of torque. At the top of the
all-aluminum beast, a remote Spectre filter feeds a polished air
tube, which fronts a proven GM throttle body. That box, cinched to
a trick Holley elbow by way of a custom adaptor plate, drops breeze
through a Chevrolet Performance LS7 4-Barrel Intake that's lined
with Mast Black Label fuel rails. That lightweight intake feeds
CNC-ed Mast Black Label heads that are finished with stainless
valves, nitrided springs and smooth roller rockers. Beneath those
heads, a forged Callies crank spins Callies H-beam rods and Mahle
alloy pistons at the sides of a hot Mast LS7 427 SS cam. Factory
coils, artfully relocated to resemble and old school distributor,
fire loomed and sleeved MSD Super Conductor plug wires. Cooling
comes courtesy of a big C&R Racing radiator and dual electric
puller fans. A billet serpentine drive spins GM power steering
beneath a Sanden AC compressor and a GM alternator. A rhythmic
symphony of octane-fueled growls pulses through Detroit Speed
custom stainless headers. And details like polished caps, polished
valve covers, a trick dipstick and a quality Summit Racing fuel
pressure gauge add both form and function.
TRANS AM TENDENCIES
Park this Poncho on a lift and you'll find solid floorpans that
frame modern aftermarket components in a subdued coat of Satin
Black skin. A proven TCI 6x 4L80E 6-speed, propped on a tough G
Force Performance crossmember, spins power through a carbon fiber
Driveshaft Shop driveshaft. That tube twists a Moser 9-inch
pumpkin, which cages big, 3.89 gears and a Wavetrac limited-slip
differential between billet ends and 35-spline axles. Those axles
push a Detroit Speed QUADRALink rear-clip. Detroit Speed power
rack-and-pinion steering leads a Detroit Speed hydroformed
front-clip. Quick stops are a cinch thanks to big Baer binders,
which squeeze 20 pistons around a quartet of drilled and slotted
rotors. Exhaust tone stays joyfully aggressive thanks to custom
stainless pipes, which join an X-shaped crossover with polished
MagnaFlow mufflers and polished stainless dumps. A Detroit Speed
Super 1000 fuel tank plays well with VaporWorx delivery. Bolt-on
subframe connectors add strength and stability. And at the corners,
retro looking US Mags Bandits, cut to custom widths by the folks at
MHT, spin 275/35ZR18 Nitto NT555 Extreme ZRs in front of 335/30ZR18
Nitto NT555R Extreme Drags.
ESPRIT PLUS
Open this F-Body's long doors and you'll find an attractive Black
interior that's blessed with just the right amount of modification.
Slender Recaro buckets stretch three-piece seatbelts in front of
factory rears that have been upholstered to match. A factory dash
hangs a full array of AutoMeter Sport-Comp telemetry above Vintage
Air conditioning and an Antique Automobile AM/FM stereo. Pick-free
side panels parallel a factory console, which ratchets a serious
TCI Outlaw Shifter in front of switches for quick power windows.
The driver spins a requisite Formula Steering Wheel. A carpeted
trunk frames a billet-cased Optima battery. And the cockpit stays
relatively isolated thanks to quality Dynamat insulation.
In summary, this first class Firebird is a legendary Pontiac
performer that's been enhanced in almost every way imaginable. It's
the kind of car that you can parade to the show on Saturday and
cruise to work on a sunny Monday morning. And with its modern
drivetrain and professional, top-notch build, this classic is set
to provide one lucky owner with years of fun times and great
memories. In the market for a timeless pro-tourer that's the
quintessential American muscle car? Here it is!
HIGHLIGHTS
Exceptional Firebird pro-tourer that's the product of a
professional, no-expense-spared build
Authentic Firebird Esprit
7.0 liter Mast Motorsports LS7 with 644 horsepower
TCI 6x 4L80E 6-speed automatic transmission
Moser 9-inch rear axle with a Wavetrac limited-slip differential
and 3.89 gears
Modern air conditioning
Detroit Speed power rack-and-pinion steering
Baer 4-wheel power disc brakes
Detroit Speed hydroformed front suspension
Detroit Speed QUADRALink rear suspension
Customized leather interior with Recaro seats
Antique Automobile audio
Pontiac Buccaneer Red paint
Custom 18-inch US Mags Bandit wheels
Custom stainless exhaust with MagnaFlow mufflers
Build photos
All RK Motors vehicles receive a comprehensive, multi-point
inspection
We can arrange shipment of your purchase anywhere in the world
