2000 Pontiac Trans Am WS6 Ram Air Convertible �€" LS1 V8, Silver
over Black Why This Car Is Special The 2000 Pontiac Trans Am WS6
Ram Air Convertible represents the final chapter of one of the
longest-running performance nameplates in American automotive
history. Pontiac discontinued the Firebird and Trans Am after the
2002 model year, making the last-generation cars �€" especially the
WS6-equipped ones �€" increasingly sought after by collectors who
understand what the platform delivered. This particular car checks
the most desirable boxes: it carries the WS6 Performance Package,
the functional Ram Air induction system, the LS1 5.7-liter V8, and
the open-air convertible body. That is a combination that, even by
today's performance standards, commands respect. The
fourth-generation F-body platform, which underpinned both the Trans
Am and the Camaro from 1993 through 2002, reached its performance
peak in the late 1990s when General Motors installed the
all-aluminum LS1 V8. The engine came directly out of the C5
Corvette program and brought that car's technology �€" aluminum
block and heads, composite intake manifold, returnless fuel system,
and coil-near-plug ignition �€" into a Pontiac that sold for
considerably less money. The WS6 package, which Pontiac offered on
the Trans Am starting in 1996, layered on top of that a sport-tuned
suspension, limited-slip differential, functional Ram Air hood, and
a specific tire and wheel package. When the Ram Air induction
system was paired with the LS1, Pontiac rated the combination at
325 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque. Independent testing by
automotive publications at the time put the WS6 Trans Am in the low
13-second quarter-mile range at around 104 mph �€" figures that
embarrassed cars costing significantly more. The convertible body
style adds another layer of desirability. Pontiac built far fewer
Firebird and Trans Am convertibles than coupes in any given year,
and pairing the open-top body with the WS6 package was a
combination that not every buyer chose. The result is a car that
offers the full performance specification of the WS6 coupe with the
added appeal of open-air driving �€" and the structural
reinforcements Pontiac built into the convertible platform to
compensate for the absent roof. Features List - LS1 5.7L V8 with
functional Ram Air induction - WS6 Performance Package - 4-Speed
Automatic Transmission (4L60-E) - Functional Ram Air Hood - Black
Convertible Soft Top - WS6 5-Spoke Polished Alloy Wheels -
BFGoodrich G-Force Tires - Dual Exhaust with Rear Outlets - Black
Leather Interior - Center Console with Floor Shifter - Tachometer -
Power Windows and Locks - Air Conditioning - Clean Undercarriage
Mechanical The heart of this 2000 Pontiac Trans Am WS6 is the LS1
5.7-liter V8, an all-aluminum small-block that General Motors
introduced with the 1997 C5 Corvette. On the WS6 Trans Am, this
engine is paired with the functional Ram Air system, which uses a
sealed airbox that draws outside air through the twin hood scoops
directly into the intake. At speed, this creates a positive
pressure effect that increases charge density beyond what a
conventional open-element intake produces. Pontiac rated this
combination at 325 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque, though many
enthusiasts and publications of the era noted the engine
consistently outperformed those conservative factory figures on the
dyno. The transmission is the 4L60-E 4-speed automatic, a unit that
was well-suited to the LS1's torque curve and capable of handling
the power reliably when properly maintained. The WS6 package also
included a Torsen-style limited-slip rear differential, which helps
put the power down under hard acceleration without the
tire-spinning drama of an open differential. The suspension tuning
that comes with the WS6 package is noticeably firmer than the base
Trans Am setup, with stiffer springs, recalibrated shock valving,
and a larger rear stabilizer bar. The undercarriage photos tell a
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