![]() ![]() Also available was a $1,599 Level II Bilstein Sport Suspension Package.įirehawk convertibles made their debut, with 102 of them built out of the total production run. The $1,199 Performance Exhaust Package included all stainless steel components, a 3-inch diameter intermediate pipe, a less restrictive muffler, and two left-mounted 2.5-inch tail pipes. In addition to the 1993 options, a Performance Exhaust Package increased engine horsepower by 15 to 315 and torque was increased by 5 to 330 pound-feet. 17″ x 8.5″ Aluminum Alloy Wheels (Ronal R-15).Lightweight Composite Hood with Functional Cold Air Induction Package utilizing modified Corvette Air Cleaner.Here are a partial list of options for the 1993-96 SLP Firebird Formula Firehawks, which came with GM’s standard 3-year, 36,000 mile warranty: 1993-1996 model year Firehawks were all Firebird Formulas only, as the previous cars had been as well, and had to be ordered from Pontiac with the R6V RPO code. The 1993-1996 SLP Firebird Firehawks came equipped with the 5.7 liter, 300 horsepower, 330 pound-foot LT1 V8 engine. ![]() According to, out of the 25 produced in this initial run, the first eight Firehawks were late 1991 model year cars while the remaining 17 cars built were 1992 models, although 27 had originally been ordered. The Firehawk was a performance tour de force for the time, although it was more track-worthy than street-friendly, with a Car and Driver test drive review describing it as “unrefined.” It was not cheap, either the SLP Formula Firehawk tested for the Car and Driver test was $51,989 – not inexpensive, even in the early 1990’s. Some of the options were a part of the $9,995 Competition “R” package (the previously mentioned Brembo brakes were a part of that package, for example). Several Firehawks were even sold with an optional fuel cell. The SLP Firehawk also had other performance upgrades (some optional): a Corvette 6-speed ZF manual transmission mated to an aluminum driveshaft, four-piston Brembo brakes (the 1LE brake system was standard for the Firehawk – buyers had to move up to the Competition package to get the Brembo brakes), a Dana 44 rear end, 275/40-17 tires, Recaro seats, a roll bar, five-point harnesses, and stiffer bushings in the rear control arms. Helping to lead the cause were performance car companies like Callaway, Saleen, and SLP (Street Legal Performance), Inc.ġ992 SLP Firehawk. However, this sad state of affairs gradually began to change for the better in the early-to-mid 1980’s as modern engine technology improved and automakers were figuring out how to revitalize muscle cars, which in due time ushered in an all-new muscle car era that continues today. Most could argue with a great deal of validity that they were gaudily-styled cars made to look the part of a muscle car, but in reality had no engine performance to match the styling or the nameplates of the cars. Sure, some muscle car nameplates lived on – the Camaro Z/28, the Pontiac Firebird Trans Am, even the Mustang II Mach 1 – but they were mostly trim packages (especially the widely-despised Mustang II, with a 108 horsepower V6 in 1974). No more ‘Cudas, Boss 429 Mustangs, or high-horsepower Camaros or Firebirds were to be found on the road. High insurance rates, emission controls, plus fuel shortages and higher prices cooked the goose of the muscle car. Let’s face it from the early portion of the 1970’s until the early 1980’s, the Muscle Car Era was, for all intents and purposes, done. SLP produced Firehawk models from 1991 all the way through the end of 4th Gen F-body production. ![]()
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