In 1988, the Pontiac Banshee was unveiled as a prototype of a high-performance sports car that embodied the future of driving. This name had been previously used in the 60s as a codename for the upcoming ’67 Pontiac Firebird, which would be a sibling to the ’67 Chevrolet Camaro.
The Banshee served as a study in style for the upcoming Firebird, and was named after a mythical creature that, according to legend, predicted a person’s demise through screams and wails. The concept car featured a 4.0-liter V-8 engine that produced 230 horsepower, paired with a 5-speed manual transmission that made the car take off from the line.
The Banshee had a fiberglass body and a tube frame that kept its center of gravity low, reducing air resistance with flush glass. The design of the 1993 Firebird was influenced by the Banshee, particularly the low-mounted twin nostrils and the spade-shaped nose.
