1969 Pontiac Firebird/Trans Am

The 1969 Firebird is when Pontiac's pony car came into its own. While the Camaro got more aggressive styling, the Firebird went racing. The Trans Am was born this year — a homologation special named after the SCCA racing series Pontiac wanted to dominate. Only 697 were built, all painted Cameo White with blue stripes. The Ram Air IV engine was Pontiac's masterpiece: round-port heads, radical cam timing, and performance that the factory underrated for insurance purposes. The '69 Firebird is GM's pony car for people who wanted more than a rebadged Camaro.

First-gen Firebirds are beautiful cars that wear age well. The split grille design is distinctive. Original Carousel Red, Warwick Blue, and Verdoro Green have the right period character. Watch for rust in the same places as the Camaro — floor pans, trunk, and subframe. Trans Ams are so rare and valuable that fakes are common. Documentation is critical. Regular Firebirds and Formula 400s offer similar performance at a fraction of the cost.

The Firebird shares most of its parts with the Camaro, but some Pontiac-specific pieces are harder to find. The Ram Air engines have unique intakes and exhaust manifolds that are expensive to replace. The Pontiac enthusiast community is extremely knowledgeable and welcoming. PHS documentation can verify any Pontiac built after 1960. The car is surprisingly comfortable for long distances. Power steering and air conditioning were common options.