Unlike the earlier 1967-69 F-body cars, a convertible version was not offered as sales had been tumbling for drop-top cars and it was largely because of the increased popularity of the option of air conditioning. While the wheelbase remained at 108 inches, the new car platform had an entirely different look featuring all-new proportions. The "long hood, short deck" theme was incorporated in the basic shape with long doors, big side glass and no quarter windows were given to the car, and in the case of the Firebird, a lowered stance all around. The end result was a body shape that was very fluid, wild, and futuristic, while at the same time simple and clean.

Special Projects Chief Herb Adams had a great deal to do with the way the Trans Am came together, including getting the car on the skid pad during development and being able to incorporate oversized front and rear sway bars with sized 1.25" front and 7/8" rear.

In other words, when you go into a turn you know at all times where it's going to go; the more input you put in the more response you're going to get. And you don't have to worry about the thing all of a sudden switching ends on you.

• A 345-horsepower 400-cid Pontiac V8 L74 engine came standard on the Trans Am models, developing 430 lb-ft of torque and using 10.5:1 compression pistons, Rochester Quadrajet four-barrel.
• Chrome valve covers were part of the package to show it was not just a family car powerplant
• A 370-hp version called the Ram Air IV was an available special order, of which records indicate only 88 were produced.
• Three transmissions were available:
• the Turbo HydraMatic 3-speed automatic
• an M20 wide-ratio4-speed manual plus
• an M21 4-speed manual with close-ratio gearing, both of which operated via a Hurst shifter

Regardless of the transmission choice, 12-bolt differentials with beefy 8.875-inch ring gear were used. With the 400-cid engine up front, the Trans Am had a 57/43 front-to-rear weight bias and curb weight was listed at 3782 pounds.  

February 26, 1970, was the release date for the 1970 line of Firebirds, so most consider these cars "1970 1/2" models, and to help hype the release of the new Firebirds the advertising campaign read as follows: "The beginning of tomorrow" and history show that it was, in fact, an accurate statement, as the body shape lasted all the way until the release of the 1982 models, making a record 11 model years in all for that basic 1970 body shape.    

Enhance the car with mild modifications

A Southern California couple purchased this 1970 Trans Am brand new in early 1970 and the car was driven as a daily driver for many years since. They chose the automatic transmission so to make it easier for his wife to operate. The car was always well maintained and taken good care of, albeit was slightly abused once their teenage sons got their driver's licenses and did a bit of street racing with it.

The family Trans Am was always just left stock, then parked in storage in the later years. A few years back the idea came to him to revive the Pontiac, give it a lot of attention, but not necessarily to completely 100-percent restore it.

His thought process was to enhance the car with a few mild modifications, first and foremost to take the stock wheel flares and mold them into the body of the car (something he felt Pontiac should have done in the first place) and also to put a set of larger-diameter wheels on the car for a contemporary look. A lowered stance was accomplished via four RideTech air-adjustable shocks on each corner and the stock 400-cid engine, which was pretty tired and worn out from all the years, was replaced with a fresh 455 Pontiac engine, using pump-gas friendly 9.5:1 compression ratio.

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When the story is told to bystanders, that they are in fact the original owners, it makes for a very surprised audience when they learn this car has never left the hands of these owners!