1974 Pontiac Firebird - Amazing Classic Cars

Pontiac Firebird (1974) – Ultimate Guide

Introduction

Four models of the Firebird were available:

Base Firebird, series 2FS
Firebird Esprit, series 2FT
Firebird Formula, series 2FU
Trans Am, series 2FV

BASE FIREBIRD

New shovel-nosed Endura front end
New horizontal slotted taillight
Lowered rear fender line
Twin horizontal rectangular grille inserts with vertical blades
Ashtray lamps
Nylon carpeting
High/low ventilation

Standard engine was 250 cid 6-cyl
Endura styling
Radio antenna in the windshield glass
Deluxe two-spoke steering wheel
Single buckle seat and shoulder belt arrangement
Narrow rocker panel moldings
E78-14 tires
Optional engine was 155 hp 350 cid V-8

FIREBIRD ESPRIT

Identified by a model badge on the rear roof pillar
Custom cushion steering wheel
Custom interior package
Body-color door handle inserts
Concealed wipers with articulated left arm
Deluxe wheel covers
Dual horns
Body-color mirrors (both sides)
Remote control left mirror
Roof drip molding

Wheel opening molding
Wide body sill molding
Window sill and rear hood opening molding
Three-speed manual floor shift (with base engine only)
Safety belt warning system
E78-14 tires
Standard engine was 155 hp 350 cid V-8
Optional engine was 175 hp 400 cid V-8

FIREBIRD FORMULA

All the equipment standard on the Esprit
Dual-scoop fiberglass hoods
Special heavy-duty suspension
Black-textured grilles
Dual exhausts
F70-14 tires

Standard engine was 155 hp 350 cid V-8
Optional engine: 175 hp 400 cid V-8
Optional engine: 225 hp 400 cid V-8 with dual exhausts
Optional engine: 250 hp 455 cid V-8 with dual exhausts
Optional engine: 290 hp 455 cid V-8

FIREBIRD TRANS AM

Formula steering wheel
Rally gauges with clock and dash panel tachometer
Swirl grain dash trim
Full-width rear deck lid spoiler
Power steering
Power front disc brakes
Limited-slip differential
Wheel opening air deflectors (flares)
Front fender air extractors
Dual exhausts with chrome extensions

Rally II wheels with trim rings
Special heavy-duty suspension
Four-speed manual transmission (or M40 Turbo-Hydra-Matic)
Dual outside racing mirrors
F60-15 wheel-lettered tires
Standard engine was 225 hp 400 cid V-8
Optional engine: 250 hp 455 cid V-8
Optional engine: 290 hp 455 cid V-8 which was called the LS2 option

I.D. NUMBERS

VIN Location		On top of dash at left, viewable through windshield
Position	Character	Description
1	2	General Motors: Pontiac Division
2	S	Basic Firebird
	T	Firebird Esprit
	U	Firebird Formula
	V	Trans Am
3 & 4	87	hardtop coupe
5	_	Engine code (see listing in engine section)
6	4	Year: 1974
7	_	Assembly plant
8 to 13	100001 and up	production sequence

IDENTIFICATION

Model Number	Style Number	Body Type	Seating	Factory Price	Shipping Weight	Production Total
2FS	S87	2-door Hardtop Base Firebird – 6 cyl	4	$3335	3283	26,372 both 6 & V8
2FS	S87	2-door Hardtop Base Firebird – V8	4	$3460	3504	26,372 both 6 & V8
2FT	T87	2-door Hardtop Esprit	4	$3687	3540	22,583
2FU	U87	2-door Hardtop Formula	4	$3659	3548	14,510
2FV	V87	2-door Hardtop Trans Am	4	$4446	3655	10,255

ENGINE

MODEL	Code	Type	Displacement	Carb	Compression	Net HP
Base Firebird (std)	D	6-cyl	250 cid	1-V	8.2:1	100 @ 3600 rpm
Base Firebird (opt)	M	V-8	350 cid	2-V	7.6:1	155 @ 4000 rpm
Esprit (std)	M	V-8	350 cid	2-V	7.6:1	155 @ 4000 rpm
Esprit (opt)	R	V-8	400 cid	2-V	7.6:1	175 @ 3600 rpm
Formula (std)	M	V-8	350 cid	2-V	7.6:1	155 @ 4000 rpm
Formula (opt)	R	V-8	400 cid	2-V	7.6:1	175 @ 3600 rpm
Formula (opt)	T	V-8	400 cid	4-V	8.0:1	255 @ 4000 rpm
Formula (opt)	Y	V-8	455 cid	4-V	8.0:1	250 @ 4000 rpm
Formula (opt)	X (LS2)	V-8	455 cid	4-V	8.4:1	290 @ 4000 rpm
Trans Am (std)	T	V-8	400 cid	4-V	8.0:1	255 @ 4000 rpm
Trans Am (opt)	Y	V-8	455 cid	4-V	8.0:1	250 @ 4000 rpm
Trans Am (opt)	X (LS2)	V-8	455 cid	4-V	8.4:1	290 @ 4000 rpm

TRANSMISSION

3-speed manual

4-speed manual

M38 Turbo-Hydra-Matic

M40 Turbo-Hydra-Matic

CHASSIS

Wheelbase	Overall length	Front tread	Rear tread
108 in.	196 in.	60 in.	60 in.

OPTIONS

Air Conditioning	$412
Clock and Rally gauge cluster	$29 to $49
Clock, Tachometer, and Rally gauge cluster	$51 to $100
Rear seat console	$26
Front seat console	$58
Cruise control	$69 to $70
Rear window defogger	$33 to $38
Trans Am hood decals	$55
Formula RAM AIR hood	$56
Radial tuned suspension with FR78-14 whitewall tires (Firebird)	$107 to $145
Radial tuned suspension with FR78-14 whitewall tires (Formula)	$24 to $36
Custom finned wheel covers	$24 to $50
Honeycomb wheels	$54 to $123
Rally II rims	$37 to $87
Firebird Four-speed transmission	$207
Turbo-Hydra-Matic	$221
M40 Turbo-Hydra-Matic (Esprit & Formula)	$242
M40 Turbo-Hydra-Matic (Trans Am)	n/c

HISTORICAL NOTES

1974 Firebird Notes

Introduced on Sept. 20, 1973
212 Firebirds were built with the LS2 SD-455 engines with syncromesh transmission
731 Firebirds with the LS2 engine option had the Turbo-Hydra-Matic transmission
All Firebirds sold in California required automatic transmission

1974 Automotive Notes

Lower US traffic fatalities are credited to the national 55-mph speed limit, but others attribute it to the reduction in available fuel and high prices
OPEC oil embargo ends March 18
All cars are required to have energy absorbing bumpers front and rear
US federal government wants an interlock that prevents a car from being started until the seatbelts are fastened. Public objection forces the cancelling of the idea.
More emission controls are introduced and fuel consumption ratings increase.
GM news:
- Edward N. Cole was president of GM until October when Elliott M. Estes took over
- Richard C. Gerstenberg was chairman of the board at GM until December when Thomas A. Murphy took over
- Chevrolet continues to outsell Ford by over 154,000 units
- Oldsmobile and Pontiac drop to fourth and fifth place respectively
- Firebird and some other models get fiberglass reinforced plastic noses
- The Vega plant in Ohio had a two-month strike
- Buick buys back the old tooling it sold to AMC in 1968 so it can again build the 231-cid V-6 (3.8 litre)
- Laguna Type S-3 replaces Chevelle SS
- Camaro Z28 is temporarily dropped at the end of the year and replaced by the Rally Sport option
- Corvette gets the last big-block and LT-1 engines, yet sales increase by 23%
Ford news:
- Mustang II subcompact specialty car linked to the Pinto is a disappointment to previous Mustang owners
- Mustang II gets new overhead-cam 2.3 liter four cylinder built to metric measurements
- Gran Torino Elite hardtop coupe introduced to match Chevy’s Monte Carlo
- Cougar XR-7 now on Montego platform
Chrysler news:
- Full-size cars are not selling during the oil embargo so Dodge offers rebates on the Monaco
- Plymouth rises from fifth place to third based on the sale of its compacts
- Imperials get four-wheel disc brakes standard on its new 124-inch wheelbase chassis
- Last Dodge Challenger until the next century
- Dodge discontinues the Polara series. Full-size cars are simply Monaco
- Last of Barracuda
AMC news:
- AMC sells back to Buick the tooling for the V-6
- Last year for Ambassador and Javelin
- Matador has a new fastback coupe, but sales are poor for AMC
Other makes news:
- Checker builds its last station wagon
- Ed Cole retires from GM but joins Checker
- CitiCar, a 2-passenger, Cycolac-body, is best selling electric car
Top American Automobile Corporations for 1974