Saturday, August 8, 2026

1975 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am


The Malaise Era was well and truly underway by the 1975 model year. At least initially, the 455 V-8 disappeared from the Firebird option list, leaving the 400 cubic inch L78 V-8 as the sole motive source for the Trans Am.

Compression had been reduced to 7.6:1 which slashed output to a dismal 185 SAE net horsepower. Standard transmission was a wide-ratio four-speed manual, with optional close ratio four-speed or a Turbo 350 three-speed slushbox.


When Road Test magazine clocked a three-speed auto car with a nosebleed-tall 2.56 rear end, the two-ton 'Bird dawdled down the quarter mile in 17.99 seconds, oozing through the traps at 79mph.

While the 455 was brought back halfway through the model year, it may have been labeled "HO" in the ad copy, but it was just a low-compression station wagon motor that only managed an output of 200 ponies.

'74 and '75 models are easily identified by the black rubber bumper strips, with the 1975 model having a larger, wraparound rear window.

The Cameo White one in the photos was captured in August of 2026 using a Canon EOS RP and an RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS zoom lens.

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1975 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am

The Malaise Era was well and truly underway by the 1975 model year. At least initially, the 455 V-8 disappeared from the Firebird option lis...