Pontiac’s Firebird left behind its roots as one of GM’s first Pony Cars in the late 1960s to become an automotive icon, famous for its starring roles in Smokey and the Bandit and Knight Rider .

The second-generation model introduced in 1970 maintained the Firebird’s performance image whilst adding a European-inspired level of sophistication.

The Oil Crisis may have stolen some of the muscle car’s 'mojo' by the 1970s, but Pontiac made up for the lack of horsepower in other ways, adding bold new graphics (including the famous 'Screaming Chicken' bonnet decal) and popular options like the T-bar roof.

The Firebird was extensively restyled for 1977, and featured an aggressive new front end with a recessed black grille and four rectangular headlamps.

Four models were available, ranging from the entry-level Firebird to the more upmarket Esprit and Formula variants, but the legendary Trans Am remained the most popular by far, accounting for almost half the total sales.

Fitted with a new s...