1973 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am SD-455

Literally the last breath from the muscle car era, the Super-Duty 455 was the dream of a few enthusiastic Pontiac engineers wanting to maintain the performance image of the brand. This was done in the face of the OPEC oil crisis and GM management that had no stomach for anything that didn’t effuse economy. So, the SD-455 was snuck in as an option for Formula and Trans-Am models. While out-the-door performance was hindered by a mild camshaft and restrictive exhaust manifolds, the SD-455 was the perfect starter kit for anyone seeking to find and unleash horsepower. Underneath the emissions-friendly components are a heavily fortified block, forged steel connecting rods, forged aluminum pistons, and modified cylinder heads. Basically this wolf just needs its sheep’s clothing to be stripped off to really roar.