Jay Leno explains why the 2002 Pontiac Firebird is an overlooked gem

Several names from the heyday of muscle cars of the 1960s have been revived in recent years, but one will likely never return: the Pontiac Firebird. This episode of “Jay Leno’s Garage” features one of the last Firebirds, a 2002 Trans Am WS6.

The Firebird was launched in 1967 as a twin of the Chevrolet Camaro, sharing General Motors’ F-Body platform. By the dawn of the 21st century, the Camaro and Firebird had passed through four generations and were on the verge of being phased out. While the Camaro was re-launched for the 2010 model year (and remains in production today), 2002 was the last year for the Firebird. The Pontiac brand followed it into oblivion a few years later.

While the styling was quite modern (for the period, at least), Pontiac relied heavily on nostalgia. The Trans Am had been the highest performance variant of the Firebird since its introduction in 1969. Pontiac no longer offered the iconic “Screaming Chicken” hood decal, replacing the domed hood scoops. The WS6 package was also a booster, having first appeared in 1979.

In 2002, the Trans Am WS6 was powered by a 5.7-liter LS1 V-8, which produced 325 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque. It was available with a 6-speed manual transmission, and the WS6 package added suspension upgrades and a bit more horsepower and torque than the base Trans Am. Leno’s car is a coupe with a T-Top, but you could also get a Trans Am convertible in the car’s final year.

Leno received his Trans Am as payment for driving the race car on the 2002 Daytona 500. This car was – you guessed it – a Trans Am, but with a stronger yellow exterior. Leno said he specifically requested the more muted dark blue color.

Watch the full video for more on Firebird’s Swan Song, and see why Leno thinks the final Firebird was “the best they’ve ever built.”