General Motors created the Pontiac Firebird to compete directly with Ford’s Mustangs, establishing it as a competitor for decades. This generation introduced the iconic “hood bird” in 1973 ...

If you find a second-generation Firebird with a V6 engine under the hood, it's most likely the 3. ... carburetor and a low-octane-friendly 8.5:1 compression ratio good for only 145 horsepower.