In 1980, the Pontiac Firebird came with an engine that hasn’t been replicated at any other point in the history of the American muscle car segment – a turbocharged V8. While we have seen smaller turbocharged engines and supercharged V8s, the 1980 and 1981 Firebird Trans Am and Formula Firebird are the only muscle cars to ever come with a turbocharged 8-cylinder engine.
This 4.9L V8 delivered 210 horsepower and 345 lb-ft of torque in the 1980 Firebird in both Trans Am and Formula trim, which is mild by today’s standards, but in 1980, the most powerful V8 in the Ford Mustang had just 120 horsepower – which shows how powerful the turbo V8 was at the time.
This week’s Throwback video is the first television ad for that 1980 turbo V8 Firebird and it is done with the type of flare that you would expect from a 1980s Firebird ad – cheesy visual effects and all. Crank up your speakers and enjoy!
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
