can somebody tell me the differences? the only difference i could find is the rims :/

 

Firebirds were the starting point to them all, from there a formula would add performance, always guaranteed a V8, different ones were available different years, think they dropped the base V8 off later on in production and just made them TPI 305s and 350s. Also they had the best suspension offered to a Firebird, among a different set of 16" wheels. Trans Am added ground effects standard, with a better than base suspension, with the best suspension (WS6) as an option. Fog lights were standard, among the same back wing the Formula's shared. GTA was more of a touring car, I believe WS6 suspension was standard (don't quote me on that) and TPI V8 was standard. Trans Ams also had lumbar support assisted seats that I do not believe Formula's could have. Everything is swappable from one model to the next, and there is nothing really different about them. Start with what you want though because making it what you want can get costly...you can ask me and many others...start with what you want.

 

Goto the home page and click on Firebird tech data....

 

The differences between Firebird, Firebird Formula, Trans Am, and GTA are essentially trim levels, options packages, and available engines.

Firebird -Typically a 4 or 6 cylinder engine. Later on it featured the LO3 305CID V8 engine with Throttle body injection. This is the basic car for which all others in the family are based.

Firebird Formula - Trans Am performance in a Firebird body. Almost a no frills, no BS performance car. However it could be ordered with most options found on the Trans Am and GTA with a few exceptions.

Firebird Trans Am - Trans Am offers more performance and luxury oriented options than the basic Firebird did.

GTA or "Trans Am GTA" - Fully loaded trim level with most options standard. These cars also came standard with most of the performance oriented options.

Firehawk - Formula Firebird's enhanced with SLP "packages" which raised the bar of performance substantially at a substantial cost. These are rare and highly sought after. That is if you can afford one. (Only 25 produced.)

 

Don't forget the Firebird S/E

 

I bought my 1983 Pontiac Firebird S/E in 1988 and owned it for 24 years. I drove it all year long [summer, winter] in Minnesota. I had Sams Auto Body in Fridley, Minnesota paint it for $2500 and installed all new upholstery for $600. My friend Kelly Kitzman owned Sound Waves, Inc. and installed the custom stereo system [I made him a website for his business in return for his labor installing that stereo system including the custom door panels he made for the bass, mid, and treble speakers]. It was a fun car to own and drive; All my friends enjoyed it with me. If I had the money to afford gas and repairs I'd get another one; I do not like how newer cars look, but I do like the newer technology used in newer cars; I prefer how 1950 to 1980 cars look. I'm a fan of the Knight Rider tv show which is why I bought my 1983 Pontiac Firebird S/E [I really liked the dark gray metallic paint job on my car].


1983 Pontiac Firebird S/E - I had vinyl graphics that said "Top Jimmy" installed at the top of both front-fenders near the doors to personalize my car [I used the nickname Top Jimmy back then being a musician and an Eddie Van Halen fan; Van Halen has a song titled Top Jimmy]. My friend Joe Berg installed the PIAA 959 Ion Projector Series Fog Lamps. I had the windows tinted a dark gray color. I use to use GoodYear Eagle GT tires; Then I switched to BF Goodrich Radial T/A tires.


1983 Pontiac Firebird S/E - Custom stereo system installed by Kelly Kitzman who owned Sound Waves, Inc. in Minnesota. He installed custom door panels for the bass, mid, treble speakers. In front of the passenger on the dash he custom installed my Sony CDX-T60 Mobile ES 6-Disc CD Changer [I made a cover out of cardboard and shipping tape and covered that cover with images I printed on my printer to hide the cd player from people looking into the car].


1983 Pontiac Firebird S/E - MTX amps with 8 inch MTX subwoofers custom installed by Kelly Kitzman who owned Sound Waves, Inc. in Minnesota.