However, GM feared this would cut into Chevrolet Corvette sales, and gave Pontiac a piece of the "pony car" market through sharing the F-body platform with Chevrolet. Originally, the car was a "consolation prize" for Pontiac, which had desired to produce a two-seat sports car based on its original Banshee concept car. Both a two-door hardtop and a convertible were offered through the 1969 model year. The Firebird's rear "slit" taillights were inspired by the 1966–1967 Pontiac GTO. Announcing a Pontiac styling trend, the Firebird's bumpers were integrated into the design of the front end, giving it a more streamlined look than the Camaro. The first generation Firebird had characteristic Coke bottle styling shared with its cousin, the Chevrolet Camaro. The name "Firebird" was also previously used by GM for the General Motors Firebird in the 1950s and early 1960s concept cars. This also coincided with the release of the 1967 Mercury Cougar, Ford's upscale, platform-sharing version of the Mustang. Designed as a pony car to compete with the Ford Mustang, it was introduced on February 23, 1967, simultaneous with GM's Chevrolet division platform-sharing Camaro. Pontiac also offered an automatic with either engine.The Pontiac Firebird is an American automobile that was built and produced by Pontiac from the 1967 to 2002 model years. However, most were ordered with the Muncie M-20 wide-ratio four-speed transmission, though the M-21 was the only option with the Ram Air IV. Pontiac offered a three-speed manual for Trans Am. It also had variable-ratio power steering that communicated better to the driver the feel of the road. The Trans Am received a larger front sway bar and urethane end links which took handling beyond even the Z/28. The Camaro was updated for the 1969 model year with a new sexy look that the Firebird received as well. All Trans Ams were built in either Norwood or Van Nuys, Ohio. This started in 1967 and continued in 1969 where as far as Pontiac was concerned beating the Camaro was job one. However, GM wanted it to use the basic body structure and fenders of the Camaro, limiting the design to the front and rear of the car. It was originally to be based on the fiberglass-bodied Pontiac Banshee concept car – a two-seater sports car that could have been better than the Corvette. Everything that Pontiac did – every one of their engineering and marketing developments – was based on besting Chevrolet." They set out to make a car better than the Camaro in every way. We had to have a little more exciting interiors. Jim Wangers, an ad executive at Pontiac, recalls how GM's performance division took on its rivals: "Whatever Chevrolet did, we had to do it better. This was the beginning of a 33-year legacy and a true icon was born. All of them were cameo white with two lucerne blue racing stripes running the length of the car. That makes the 1969 one of the rarest muscle cars ever produced. It was late to market in 1969, and they only sold 697 cars, including 8 convertibles. It featured upgraded suspension and upgraded brakes to compete with the best the others had to offer. It had two engine options, including an improved 400 cubic inch Ram Air III V8 with an advertised 335 horsepower or the Ram Air IV option with 345. They went to work on an answer and the 1969 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am was born. Ford introduced the 428 Cobra Jet and took bragging rights from Pontiac, Chevrolet, and Plymouth. Pontiac had a problem during the 1968 production run. It was also only available with the stronger M-21 four-speed transmission. It was overall a sturdier and more expensive engine to produce, which helps explain why Ram Air IVs are more desirable on the used market today. Other changes from the Ram Air III include rounded port heads and an aluminum intake manifold that saved about 15 lbs. The Ram Air IV made 345 horsepower and 430 torque in the Pontiac Trans Am. It was offered as a standard option on the GTO Judge and Firebird Trans Am and optional on the Firebird Formula and the regular GTO. It continued to use Pontiac's cast-iron intake and exhaust headers and D-port heads. The vast majority of the 697 Trans Ams sold came with the combination of the 400 Ram Air III and Muncie four-speed transmission. In 1969, the 400 Ram Air III produced 335 horsepower and 430 torque. This became the first modification for most owners to have their dealers remove the restrictions for greater performance. Throttle restrictors were added from the factory to prevent the four-barrel secondaries from fully opening at wide-open throttle.
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