Was the 1979 Pontiac Firebird Formula the Last Muscle Car?

When visiting Bruce Johnson’s impressive collection, where even a rare 1971 Pontiac “Tirebird” resides, our attention was drawn to a seemingly less ostentatious 1979 Firebird Formula. Situated among other iconic 1970s Firebirds, including a formidable 1974 Super Duty, this particular car held a special significance for Johnson. As a seasoned Muscle Car Firebird collector, his enthusiasm sparked a compelling question: Was this unassuming 1979 model potentially the last true muscle car?

Johnson, born just after the 1960s muscle car golden age, and his twin brother, Barry, both drove late 1970s Trans Ams in high school. This personal history might suggest his affection for the ’79 Formula is purely nostalgic. However, Johnson insists it’s more than just fond memories.

More Than Just Nostalgia: Real-World Performance

“I had a 1979 W72, 400, four-speed Trans Am in high school and college,” Bruce recounts. “Barry had a W72 in a 1978 Trans Am with an automatic. We would go cruising and end up in a race. The W72 would beat everything.” This included contemporary American performance rivals like Corvettes, Camaros, and Mustangs. During this period, the Plymouth Barracuda was gone (1975), and Dodge’s Challenger nameplate was briefly affixed to a four-cylinder Mitsubishi import (1978-1981), making the W72 Pontiacs standout performers. Bruce even owns a 1979 L82 Corvette now, which perhaps puts his high school victories in perspective.

Bruce and his brother were initially surprised by the performance of their W72 Trans Ams. “We wondered what was so special about this W72 Pontiac,” he admits. “It came with chrome valve covers, but why was it beating Corvettes and Z28s, handily, by a couple car lengths?”

While being the fastest rear-wheel-drive American V-8 pony car of the late 1970s is one metric, the core question remains: does the 1979 Firebird Formula, specifically with the W72 400 engine (available 1977-1979 in both Formula and Trans Am), qualify as a real muscle car? Many enthusiasts consult a classic muscle car list when debating this topic.

Unpacking the W72 Engine’s Punch

The official net power rating of 220 horsepower for the W72 might not sound like a muscle car figure compared to the gross ratings of the 1960s. However, this 220 hp is a net rating, measured with accessories and exhaust in place, unlike the earlier gross ratings. Independent testing by the NHRA reportedly dyno’d the W72 engine closer to 260 to 280 net horsepower.

Published magazine articles of the time clocked W72 cars running the quarter-mile in the mid-14-second range. Bruce notes, “The best quarter-mile e.t. [from published magazine articles] is 14.6, which I think is pretty comparable to a 1968 GTO.” [Editor’s Note: Hot Rod’s February 1968 test of a stock Ram Air GTO with a four-speed and 3.90 gears recorded a 14.70-second quarter-mile, supporting Bruce’s comparison.] This performance capability puts the 1979 W72 firmly in the territory of earlier muscle car icons.

Pontiac, almost single-handedly, carried the muscle car flame through 1979. Bruce recalls Sammy Hagar’s song “Trans Am Highway Wonderland,” which celebrated the dominance of the last Pontiac 400 on the streets with lyrics referencing racing competitors like “a big boss Ford or a 350 Chevy.” This era stands in contrast to later years, where even finding cheap muscle cars under 5 000 from the late 70s or early 80s can highlight the performance dip.

The Muscle Car Feel

Bruce makes a compelling case based on numbers and comparisons. But does the W72 Formula feel like a muscle car?

“Oh, definitely,” he asserts. “It will get away from you if you’re not careful.” He adds, “My slightly modified 1979 Trans Am, in college, could catch rubber in all four gears.” While his college car had minor modifications (open ram air scoop, super-tuned carb, catalytic converter removal for dual exhaust), the underlying W72 power was clearly potent enough to deliver that raw, tire-smoking muscle car experience. Enthusiasts seeking that kind of raw power might look into blown muscle cars for sale today, but the W72 offered significant punch straight from the factory for its time.

The engine itself, a 6.6L in late 1970s nomenclature, was a direct descendant of the legendary 400 cubic inch V8 that powered the original 1964 GTO – widely recognized as the first muscle car. For a muscle car firebird to potentially close the era, powered by an evolution of the engine that started it all, positions Pontiac uniquely as both the alpha and the omega of the segment.

Carrying the Torch: Pontiac’s Legacy

Extending the muscle car era into 1979 required special measures. Pontiac stopped building its 400 V8 engines in 1977 but strategically stockpiled them to offer the potent W72 option through the 1978 and 1979 model years. This deliberate effort highlights Pontiac’s commitment to keeping high-performance options available to enthusiasts even as emissions and fuel economy standards tightened.

A Survivor’s Story

Bruce’s specific 1979 W72 Formula boasts an impressive history, spending 95 percent of its life with its original owner. It retains its numbers-matching engine and original paint. After the first owner passed away, a nephew briefly owned the car, installing aftermarket parts like a Star Wars-themed air cleaner, a modern stereo, and oversized tires.

Fortunately, a collector named Jeff Brown recognized the rarity of this W72 Formula at a show, purchased it, and returned it to stock condition. He later traded it to a dealer, from whom Bruce acquired the car.

Key Features and Condition

The Mayan Red Formula shows 75,000 miles but is remarkably original, even down to factory markings on its suspension. It’s well-equipped with features like power windows, T-tops, and the W50 Appearance Package. While the hood had a minor key scratch that was fixed, the car remains in highly original condition.

Collectors value originality, and this car still possesses the less restrictive single-snorkel air cleaner assembly, which many owners replaced with open aftermarket filters for perceived performance gains.

At a Glance: 1979 Firebird Formula W72

• Owned by: Bruce Johnson
• Restored by: Unrestored (original condition)
• Engine: 400ci/220hp W72 V-8
• Transmission: BorgWarner T10 4-speed
• Rearend: 3.23 gears with Safe-T-Track
• Interior: Deluxe black vinyl bucket seat
• Wheels: 15×8 Snowflake
• Tires: P235/60R15 front, P275/60R15 rear Cooper Cobra
• Special parts: W72 Special Performance engine, WS6 Handling Package, Hurst shifter, rear deck spoiler, W50 Appearance Package

Formula vs. Trans Am: The Understated Performer

While a W72 Trans Am might be flashier with its prominent scoops and graphics, the Formula offers a more understated, some might say “gentleman’s muscle car,” appearance. More importantly for performance enthusiasts, the Formula is slightly lighter. Its production numbers for the 1979 W72 4-speed are also dramatically lower at a mere 367 units compared to 8,326 for the 1979 W72 Trans Am. This makes the W72 Formula significantly rarer.

Across the 1977-1979 production run, Pontiac built over 350,000 Trans Ams and Formulas, with about 20 percent receiving the W72 engine. The only other car to get the W72 was a special 1977 Pontiac Can Am. Here’s a breakdown of W72 production:

Source: John Witzke, W72 Historian *non-W72 automatics

The 1979 model year also marked the 10th anniversary of the Trans Am. Of the 7,500 special Y89 models produced, only 1,817 were equipped with the W72 engine, adding another layer of rarity to the top-performing ’79 models. While modern iterations exist, like the various 2016 muscle cars, the 1979 models represent the closing chapter of a specific era.

Real-World Proof: Beating the Competition

Bruce shares a telling anecdote from his high school days that underscores the W72’s real-world dominance:

“I remember a girl in high school bragged her dad had a Mercedes 450SL that was the fastest car in town. Barry told her to bring it to school one day and race during our lunch break. The W72 Trans Am was three car lengths ahead of the 450SL before they made it to the next light! The same thing happened with other imports, including 280ZX Turbos, RX-7s, Supras, and a brand-new Porsche 944 Turbo.” This firsthand experience solidifies the W72’s reputation as a formidable street machine in its day. A true muscle car firebird lineage often implies this kind of street credibility, stretching back to the likes of 65 muscle cars.

The End of an Era

What ultimately signaled the true end of the classic muscle car era and the W72 engine? Bruce points to the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards implemented for the 1980 model year. With stricter regulations, the high-horsepower, large-displacement V8 became increasingly difficult to produce. The hottest Pontiac engine offered for 1980 was the 301 Turbo, a V-8 available only with an automatic transmission. While it had some power when revved, its performance – estimated at a “sixteen-and-a-half-second quarter-miler” at best – lacked the brute force and visceral feel of the earlier muscle cars.

Conclusion

Considering its potent W72 engine performance, its ability to outrun contemporary competitors, and Pontiac’s deliberate efforts to extend the life of the 400 V8, the 1979 Firebird Formula makes a strong case for being the final torchbearer of the classic muscle car era. Bruce Johnson firmly believes his 1979 W72 is the last muscle car. What’s your take on this iconic Muscle Car Firebird?