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The 75' year model saw only subtle changes from the 74's. The most noticeable
was the parking lamps on the front end were moved from the lower half of the
front end in the valance panel to just inside the grilles in the upper half of
the front end. The lights were positioned at the far right and left of the
grilles to position them near the headlight. Color options for the Trans
Am grew once again in 75' with the addition of Sterling Silver. Admiralty Blue
was replaced with Stellar Blue and Cameo White and Buccaneer Red continued as
regulars. Another new color option for 75' came with the rally IIs. They could
now be ordered "painted" to match the body color. The addition of a wraparound rear window
and new colors freshened things somewhat for the 1975
model year the firebird was showing its age by 1977, when a new quad-headlight
front end was added.
Engine options
also changed markedly, signaling the beginning of the end for division-specific
engines. Replacing the Chevrolet-built straight six used since 1970 was a new
Buick-built V-6, producing 105 bhp in the base and Esprit models.
Reflecting the full impact of America’s new energy awareness was a
301-cu-in. V-8, still Pontiac-built. Optional on both base and Formula were
350-cu-in. V-8s sourced from
either Pontiac or Oldsmobile. Even the Trans Am wasn’t sacred. As the decade
closed, Pontiac-built 400s were used with the 4-speed manual transmission;
automatic-equipped models-including California and high-altitude T/A’s used an
Oldsmobile-based 403-cu-in. engine.
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