(This is not my car, but looks like my car. This is from Pontiac's website. Picts of my car to follow)
During the summer of 2002, I decided that I wanted to start looking for a new car. I wasn't trusting my car any longer, especially having to drive in Washington DC. I knew I wanted a car with pickup and power. After looking at various cars online, I settled on either a Mustang GT, or a Pontiac Formula, or Pontiac Trans Am. Basically, a V8 American Sports/Muscle car. So at the beginning of July, I test drove a used black Pontiac Trans Am. Left the dealership that day, wasn't sure if I wanted to pay that much per month on a car, but I did find out, I could actually get a new Trans Am for not much more than the used one. If I was going to get a new Trans Am or Formula, I would have to get it soon as it was the last year Pontiac was going to manufacturer them. (2002 was the last model year for the Chevy Camaro, Pontiac Firebird, Pontiac Trans Am, and lesser known Pontiac Formula). The next day I went to test drive a Mustang GT. After talking with the Ford dealer, I still wasn't sure what I wanted to do. Went back to the Pontiac dealer as soon as we left the Ford dealer, and test drove a brand new black Trans Am Ram Air. When I left the lot for the test drive, it had 8 miles on it. After the test drive, I knew the car was for me. It would cost me more than a Mustang each month, but I liked how the car drove better than the Mustang. I also can't complete about 0% interest for 60 months. On July 6, 2002 I was the owner of a new Pontiac Trans Am Ram Air.
Info about the car:
Purchased: July 6, 2002 from Swanson Pontiac, Glen Burnie, MD
Sticker
Price: ~$33,000 (I'll check the exact sticker when I get a chance)
Engine:
5.7 liter V8 LS1 block*
4 speed automatic transmission with overdrive, 3.23
gears
325HP, 340TQ (she has not been to the dyno, so I don't know actual
numbers, these are Pontiacs numbers, which are underrated)
12 CD changer in
trunk
T-tops
WS6 package (Ram Air package) includes:
ASC
Information:
-ASC Final 2002
Production #'s
She has not been to the track yet either, but a good average is around 13.5 seconds in the 1/4. Some have been as fast as 13.1 stock, while others are 13.9.
Here are pictures of her after only owning her for a day or two, she didn't even have temporary tags yet, just dealer tags:
Here are pictures from a month or so later. I've added the decals to fill in the Pontiac letters on the back, and the Trans Am badges on the side. I also have a nose bra on the car most of time, but it is only on in one picture. I also have a clear front license plate cover. It is exactly the same as the solid colored plastic ones that come with our cars from the factory, but it is made from clear plastic. I also have embroidered headrests. They are similar to the headrests seen in the 2002 Collectors Edition, except mine were custom done and only feature the "screaming chicken":
Taken July 27, 2003.
Links to F-Body related sites:
Eastern F-Body Association
LS1.com
LS1tech.com
F-Body Central
Billy Graham's
Camaro/Firebird Salvage
Afterthoughts Auto
SunCoast Creations
And
here's an interesting tidbit of information I found on another website, I don't
know if it is accurate or not but here it is:
In 2000, The Ram Air Firebird is rated the 5th fastest production vehicle for the Model Year 2000. The test incorporated 2000 Model Year production vehicles on 0 to 60 MPH runs and also the 1/4 mile. The vehicles that placed a quicker time were as follows....
(5th Best) Ram Air Firebird
(4th Best) Ferrari F355
(3rd Best) Corvette
(2nd Best) Lotus
(Fastest) Dodge Viper
The tests were performed by Scott Oldham. The sister car to the Ram Air, the SS Camaro, placed 9th. The competition from Ford placed 11th with the Mustang Cobra.
* In the February (or maybe it was March) 2003 issue of GM High Performance Pontiac (GMHPP), there was an article stating the following:
Apparently there have always been two version of the LS1: One built in Montupet, and one built in Nemak, Mexico. They use two different methods in creating the block, and apparently the Nemak block is a stronger, more performance oriented block. (The material properties were about 10% higher/stronger. Nemak uses a low-pressure precision fan process, more high performance oriented.). When the Z06 Corvette came out, GM decided to use the Nemak plant to build the LS6 block, since they built stronger blocks. So Nemak built LS6's, while Montupet built LS1's. Since there were so many LS6 blocks made, several made it into F-bodies. Numbers from GM are that about 10-15% of 2001 cars had LS6 blocks, and 25% of 2002 cars did. To confirm if your 2001-2002 F-body has an LS6 block, grab a mirror and a flashlight. Open the hood and head over to the driver's side to try and see the back of the left-hand deck, above the transmission flange. A cast-in #12561168 denotes the LS6 block. And if you aren't able to see the number, you may be able to tell by the block's luster-the Montupet plant cast a shinier block, the Nemak plant made the duller block. The Z06 block (LS6 block) is not only much stronger, it also has 87% better ventilation between bays, which equates to less pumping losses at high RPM's. I have not had the opportunity yet to determine which block is in my car.
