As the mid-eighties approached, modern technology in the engine compartment continued to improve, and car manufacturer's were learning how to re-invent the muscle car, with led to the Muscle car revolution we see today. Pushing the cause were performance companies like Street Legal Performance (SLP), Saleen & Callaway. Shelby & Roush were also name you might have heard of.
The Beginning: The SLP Firebird 1991-1992
SLP and Pontiac joined forces in 1991 to develop a performance option dubbed RPO code B4U, on production Firebird Formulas hence the SLP Firehawk. The Firehawk was granted the 350 cubic inch L98 V8, with porting done to the cylinder heads and other modifications to help make it a 360 horsepower, 390 pound-foot beast of an engine.
The Firehawk made its grand entrance during the final Two model years of the 3rd generation Firebird. There were only 25 production SLP's built between 1991-1992, although rumor has it that there was a 26th vehicle built that produced over 400 horsepower, but that vehicle is not officially represented in the production numbers.
1992 Firebird Firehawk
With a plethora of possible performance upgrades available for the SLP Firehawk, you could virtually get the sticker price well over $50,000.
Some, but not all options include: a 6-speed Corvette ZF manual transmission mated to an aluminum driveshaft, 275/40R17 tires, a roll bar, Recardo seats with a five point harness, a Dana 44 rear end, Some of the options were a part of the $9,995 Competition “R” package (the Brembo brakes were a part of that package, for).
Out of the 25 produced in this initial run, the first eight Firehawks were late 1991 model year cars while the remaining 17 cars built were 1992 models, although 27 had originally been ordered.
The fourth generation Firebird made it's debut in the 1993 model year, and with it came an all-new SLP Firebird Firehawk. The Firehawks benefited from the same. A sleeker, more aerodynamic and handsome body graced the Firebirds.
The second generation Firebird Firehawks would continue until the Pontiac ended the Firebird’s production run for good in 2002.
201 Firehawks were built for the 1993 model year, far more than for the 1991/1992 model years.the SLP package was more accessible and affordable to muscle car enthusiasts.
Firehawks could be had with more basic performance upgrades than the previous cars, and also allowed SLP to sell more cars profitably. The first-year 1992 Firehawks were very expensive and costly for SLP to produce.
1993-1996 model year Firehawks were all Firebird Formulas only, as the previous cars had been as well, and had to be ordered from Pontiac with the R6V RPO code. The 1993-1996 SLP Firebird Firehawks came equipped with the 5.7 liter, 300 horsepower, 330 pound-foot LT1 V8 engine.
Here are a partial list of options for the 1993-96 SLP Firebird Formula Firehawks:
1993 (201 produced):
America may have lost its muscle car groove in the 1970’s, but with the help of determined engineers, the development of better technology, and the desire performance enthusiasts had to go fast, America got its muscle car groove back, and Pontiac, along with SLP, Inc., was a big part of helping it do just that. Here are a partial list of options for the 1993-96 SLP Firebird Formula Firehawks :
- Lightweight Composite Hood with Functional Cold Air Induction Package utilizing modified Corvette Air Cleaner
- Stainless Steel Exhaust Tips
- 17″ x 8.5″ Aluminum Alloy Wheels (Ronal R-15)
- P275/40ZR17 Firestone Firehawk tires
- Firehawk graphics
1994 (500 produced):
The $1,199 Performance Exhaust Package included all stainless steel components, a 3-inch diameter intermediate pipe, a less restrictive muffler, and two left-mounted 2.5-inch tail pipes. Also available was a $1,599 Level II Bilstein Sport Suspension Package.
1995 (671produced):
Other than some minor additional options, not much else was new and notable for the 1995 SLP Firehawks, as most of the options and the horsepower ratings remained the same.
The $1,599 Level II Bilstein Sport Suspension Package was not available for the convertible model. Firehawk convertibles made their debut, with 102 of them built out of the total production run.
The Performance Exhaust Package became standard on the Firehawk.
SLP shifted production concentration to the Firebird WS6 Ram-Air and the Camaro Z28 SS. Other changed options were again minor, though the total cost of the major option package was less than in the previous model year
Here are some of the other available options for the 1996 SLP Firehawk:
- Engine Oil Cooler Package
- Performance Lubricants Package with synthetic rear axle lube, semi-synthetic power steering fluid and premium quality, synthetic media engine oil filter
- Level II Bilstein Sport Suspension Package
- SLP Hurst short throw shifter with H shift knob
- Torsen Limited Slip Differential (includes Performance Lubricants Package)
- American Racing Equipment chrome-plated aluminum wheels
The special edition LT4, was an engine sourced from the outgoing C4 Corvette Grand Sport.
Pontiac reports the official Pontiac production numbers for the Firehawk to be 116, however, if the additional 29 special edition (built only for the 1997 model year), 330 horsepower, 5.7 liter V8 LT4 Firehawks reported are counted, that would bring the total production run for the 1997 model year to 145 SLP Firehawks
It was noted that “25 to 30” would be built, so the 29 would seem to be reasonable.
Other than minor performance and appearance upgrades that were made available (and the addition of the hotter LT4 Firehawk), the standard SLP Firehawk remained status quo for 1997 model year.
1998 (none produced):
No SLP Firebird Firehawks were built, but 1999 would see quite a change for the SLP Firebird Firehawk.
1999-2002:
The Firehawk was finally available on the Trans Am, not only the Formula Firebird, and sales reflected the popularity of that change. The new Firehawk boasted a 5.7 liter, 327 horsepower, 345 pound-foot LS1 V8 engine.The SLP Firehawk received a new engine (the LS1) and a freshened body style common to all Firebirds for the 1999 model year.
The new option code to order the Firehawk through Pontiac Dealers was WU6. Of the 719 SLP Firehawks sold for the 1999 model year, 613 of them ordered from Pontiac were TransAms. That was a wise move on the part of SLP and Pontiac.
Pontiac as a GM brand would only last eight more model years, as the Pontiac brand was eliminated and would not exist after the 2010 model year.
1999-2002 would prove to be the final run of SLP Firehawks based on the Pontiac Firebird, as production of the storied nameplate would end in 2002.
The SLP Firehawk went out with a bang in 2002, with 1,505 of them created, the most Firehawks produced in a model year.
America may have lost its muscle car groove in the 1970’s, but with the help of determined engineers, the development of better technology, and the desire performance enthusiasts had to go fast, America got its muscle car groove back, and Pontiac, along with SLP, Inc., was a big part of helping it do just that.
2002 Firehawks built in August 2001 and before came equipped with the same 335 horsepower engine as the 2001 model.
540 Firehawks were built for the 2001 model year. The SLP Firebird Firehawk’s final run came for the 2002 model year.
Firehawks built after August 2001 gained a High Flow Induction System, which increased horsepower up to 345, and torque to 350 pound-feet.
Again, there were several suspension packages to choose from, allowing owners to determine the performance and handling abilities of their Firehawks.
LOOKING FOR A 2002 PONTAC SKYHAWK TRANS AM SLP WHITE COUPE OR A 2002 2002 PONTIAC TRANS AM SOM SKHAWK FOLLOW UP COMMENT CONTACT ME A jpferranti@yahoo.com
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