![]() And details like polished caps, polished valve covers, a trick dipstick and a quality Summit Racing fuel pressure gauge add both form and function. A rhythmic symphony of octane-fueled growls pulses through Detroit Speed custom stainless headers. A billet serpentine drive spins GM power steering beneath a Sanden AC compressor and a GM alternator. Cooling comes courtesy of a big C&R Racing radiator and dual electric puller fans. Factory coils, artfully relocated to resemble and old school distributor, fire loomed and sleeved MSD Super Conductor plug wires. Beneath those heads, a forged Callies crank spins Callies H-beam rods and Mahle alloy pistons at the sides of a hot Mast LS7 427 SS cam. That lightweight intake feeds CNC-ed Mast Black Label heads that are finished with stainless valves, nitrided springs and smooth roller rockers. That box, cinched to a trick Holley elbow by way of a custom adaptor plate, drops breeze through a Chevrolet Performance LS7 4-Barrel Intake that's lined with Mast Black Label fuel rails. At the top of the all-aluminum beast, a remote Spectre filter feeds a polished air tube, which fronts a proven GM throttle body. Hoist this coupe's vented hood and you'll find a full seven liters of legendary LS glory! Bolted together by the good folks at Texas's Mast Motorsports, that brutal mill utilizes a lightweight LS7 block to twist stout 11.4 to 1 compression into an impressive 644 horsepower and a stout 550 lb./ft. And at the back of the car, a mirrored bumper bends under a fourth spoiler, bright “PONTIAC” lettering and stainless-trimmed taillights. Second-generation Firebird specific side panels center polished door handles between crisp markers, 1970 Trans Am wheel spoilers and 1969 Trans Am fender louvers. A stainless-trimmed greenhouse, cleared by Detroit Speed wipers, casts smoked reflections in factory mirrors. Behind that grille, an attractive Formula Hood flies subtle “RAM AIR VII” banners that hint at the car's beastly Mast Motorsports small block. At the front of that profile, a shaved Endura Bumper hangs a dramatic rendition of Pontiac's familiar two-piece grille between stainless-trimmed headlights, a small spoiler and stylish 'gunsight' parking lamps. So, Pontiac assembled a talented engineering staff that managed to blend both functionality and style into the now iconic profile you see here. GM adamantly refused to spend money on a redesign because of low sales. Sales were slow and new 'low speed' crash mandates required that the car either be completely redesigned or jump on the bandwagon of hideous and hastily done nose jobs that were creeping into every automaker's showroom. The early 1970s were a defining period for Pontiac's fabled Firebird. And today, 'Red Bird' rolls as one very impressive classic that looks right at home reflecting summertime car shows! Its panels reflect a vivid barrage of Buccaneer Red two-stage that was borrowed straight from the excitement division's 1973 Trans Am palette. ![]() Not surprisingly, every seam on this Main Street king has been aligned to better-than-factory fit. ![]() The product of a professional, no-expense-spared build, this factory Firebird Esprit is founded on solid sheetmetal that was completely stripped, carefully massaged and married to fresh Detroit Speed mini tubs. And if you're a hardcore muscle car enthusiast who's searching for an excellent combination of show and go, well, to borrow a line from Pontiac, 'it's the beginning of your tomorrow'! The brand's 'basic' Firebirds were quick and comfortable cruisers that tastefully tempered old school Pontiac Excitement into something a bit less, shall we say, ostentatious? And that agreeable intersection of form and function was exactly the inspiration for this awesome Firebird pro-touring build except with the function dial twisted all the way to 11! Draping familiar Buccaneer Red two-stage over proven Detroit Speed bones and a hot Mast Motorsports Black Label LS7, this professionally built beast is the kind of classic that delivers on EVERY level. While the mighty Trans Am is regarded as one of Detroit's most legendary pony car powerhouses, you certainly didn't need stripes and Screamin' Chicken decals to have a crazy cool, and crazy fast, Pontiac performer. Ground Up Built Pro-Touring Firebird 644hp 427ci LS7 V8 Auto Detroit Speed Susp. ![]()
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