| Pontiac's second-generation ponycar was a little | | | | diameter front stabilizer bar, and a rear stabilizer |
| late for the party in 1970, but it was worth the | | | | bar. It could also be special ordered with the same |
| wait! The 1970 Firebird was a completely new | | | | suspension as the Trans Am, and you could even |
| design from the ground up, not sharing any major | | | | get a Ram Air III (also called Ram Air HO) 335 HP |
| suspension or body components with the previous | | | | 400 V8 in it. |
| model. The car was praised by the car magazines | | | | The 1970 Trans Am was all about performance. |
| for its bold new styling, sports-car like handling, | | | | It came with the Ram Air III engine above, but |
| and excellent acceleration abilities when equipped | | | | an optional Ram Air IV engine was available that |
| with the right engine. It had been improved | | | | produced 345 (370 according to some sources) |
| immensely over the first generation cars in almost | | | | horsepower. The base transmission in the Trans |
| every way. | | | | Am was a wide ratio Muncie four speed with a |
| The 1970 Pontiac Firebird rode on a 108" | | | | Hurst shifter. It came with 15" wheels, larger front |
| wheelbase, the same as the new Camaro. It was | | | | and rear stabilizer bars than the Formula, the |
| only available as a two door coupe; the | | | | stiffer springs from the Esprit, and the |
| convertible had been dropped from the lineup, and | | | | heavier-duty shocks from the Formula. The 1970 |
| would not return as a factory option until 24 | | | | Trans Am also had a shaker hood, which means |
| years later. The 70 Firebird came with bucket | | | | that there was a rear-facing air intake scoop |
| seats, front disc brakes, and a front stabilizer bar. | | | | mounted atop the carburetor, and that scoop |
| There were four trim levels available: the base | | | | protruded through an opening in the hood to draw |
| Firebird, the Esprit, the Formula, and the Trans | | | | fresh, cool air into the engine. It had front and |
| Am. | | | | rear spoilers, and air extractors on both front |
| The base car came with a 250 CID inline six | | | | fenders to allow hot air to escape from the |
| cylinder engine and a three-speed manual | | | | engine compartment. The 70 Trans Am was only |
| transmission, but a 255 horsepower Pontiac 350 | | | | available in two color schemes, either white with |
| V8 and an automatic transmission were available | | | | blue stripes or blue with white stripes. |
| options. The Esprit came standard with the same | | | | There were a total of 48,739 Pontiac Firebirds |
| 350 V8 and three speed manual transmission, and | | | | produced in 1970, including only 7,708 Formulas |
| an optional automatic transmission was also | | | | and 3,196 Trans Ams. The Formulas and Trans |
| available. It had stiffer spring rates than the base | | | | Ams were excellent performers due to the 400 |
| car. The 1970 Firebird Formula can be easily | | | | cubic inch engine, with 0-60 MPH times in the six |
| identified by the dual forward-facing hood scoops, | | | | second range. When you combine the improved |
| and it came with a 330 horsepower Pontiac 400 | | | | handling characteristics of the new platform with |
| V8 (NOW we're talking!) and a three speed | | | | the power of the Pontiac 400 engine, the 1970 |
| manual transmission. A four speed manual or an | | | | Pontiac Firebird was one of the best all around |
| automatic transmission were available options. The | | | | musclecars of the era. It is one of my favorite |
| Formula came with the same springs as the base | | | | cars of all time. |
| car, but with heavier duty shocks, a larger | | | | |