While many fear the last muscle car died in 1974 with the end of the SD 455 Trans Am and Formulas. Pontiac continued to dominate withg excitement, while admittedly more tame than that of the early 70's.
Government regulations via the EPA and CAFE standards along with the shortage of oil made it all but imposible for any car maker to introduce any vehicle that was advertised as a muscle car. Yet Pontiac continued to do so very creatively and maintained the performance edge over it's Chevy sibling and cousin the corvette. By 1981 the great corvette was lucky to produce 180 HP with the L82, a meager 155 HP was standard in the L48. The camaro didn't fare much better than the vettes 180 HP and lacked significantly in it's handling characteristics.
But the top dog, the Trans Am made one last hurrah with the Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Turbo. Modestly rated at 210 HP, NHRA rate's this engine at 250+, the Trans Am Turbo bested them all including the mighty Ferrari 308. Not only did the Turbo TA outperform in a straight line, it also out maneuvered them all through the twisty's and with ease.
It would take six more years for the domestic automakers to produce even a Mighty Corvette that could muster this kind of Horsepower to be able to perform as strongly and as well all around as the 1981 Turbo Trans Am.
It would take until the advent of the 1989 Turbo Trans Am powered by a Buick derived,but Pontiac engineering massaged 231 cu in V6 to surpass the Trans Am Turbo of 1981
Besides it was the last of the true Pontiac Engines and it not only went out in Pontiac Excitement Style being turbo charged, but it erily predicted the future of High Performance to come.
