1997 Hurst Firebird - original TV road test

Please visit MuscleCarFilms.... for Musclecar DVD's!
This is a road test of of the super rare 1997 Hurst Firebird.

[@chrisdooley6468]

I came from the SLP Firehawk G8 which did 0-60 4.0 flat - I can't believe the level of performance for the time. Very impressive :)

[@thetwistofcain]

R.I.P. John. Still remember that moment in class, when I learned of his death.

[@marioiacolucci]

I know it's so sad he was awesome

[@ztwntyn8]

Such a bummer

[@phoenixashes1371]

Worst move GM ever made was dropping Pontiac and then they sold the Trans Am brand. I wonder which exec lined their pockets with that deal while backstabbing their loyal base.

[@patientmental875]

The Trans Am we would have today would be that horrible looking Camaro badged as a Pontiac!

[@William1987GTA1]

@@patientmental875 Agreed. The new Camaro is butt ugly. I do miss the old F bodies. :,(

[@extremedrivr]

Pontiac was not makin money. Thats why they dropped it.

[@jerrywright8882]

@@extremedrivr nope buick was the one that really was dying in sales.The reason they saved Buick was because of asia,they are real popular in china and korea and build a couple of models over there.

[@Firebird1968]

They never sold off the trans am brand or anything pontiac. GM still owns the trademarks.

[@samright4661]

I have never seen this Firebird WOW Awesome car..

[@system87music]

Super AWESOME car!! Miss these road test/review shows back on "Speed"...before all the ridiculous "reality" TV ruined everything. We used to learn stuff and then go build cars instead of watching some people with all their made-up drama...thanks for sharing this!! Jim Scoutten was the DUDE!

[@phoenixblack1220]

Never heard of this car. Awesome!

[@raptorman2666]

One badass bird! These are super rare, I haven't even been able to find one online.

[@richardmalone4721]

NO LIE/READ: I met my mother-in-laws boyfriend for the first time on 11/5/97. It was my birthday. A week before I read in Hemings about these LPE Firebirds saying they made either 7 or 9. --HE PULLS IN TO THE RESTAURANT PARKING LOT WITH ONE OF THESE!! In my head I was like: •It’s a rainy November night! •DAD? Which I actually said after shaking his hand trying to contain myself telling him I KNOW WHAT THIS IS, to which he didn’t really give a crap, lol. Over the years he’s let me take the wheel with him in it. He still has it. 3-4K mileage. Apparently he knew John because he owns a International Tool Company and a Ingersol Rand License. He still talks to Johns Brother Bob. Neat car. Of course I babied it, but didn’t experience the Stupid Skip Shift like I did in the 30th Anniversary LT-4 Camaro I owned, (I’m assuming LPE fixed or jumped that device). TMI, sry… 👍🏻

[@johnnybarrett7006]

RIP John! Back in the day I thought that was the coolest car in world and then I saw his 200mph plus Corvette in cars his was the coolest.

[@spazzman90]

RIP John, Sure hope to drive one of your babies someday!

[@kupidzheart]

i wanted one of these sooooo bad but at the time i was 15 lol

[@CamaroAmx]

i paid $1500 for my 93 Z28 hard-top auto w/ 140,000 miles 3 years ago. they wanted $2K for it but i talked them down cause it needed an optispark. replaced it with an MSD unit, high flow exhaust and a K&N air filter and its still running good with 170,000 on the clock. its my daily driver (along with my dakota for when there's alot of snow).

[@VF1Skullangel]

RIP John Lingenfelter

[@Alpha_Marketing_Boss]

Hell ya love that ending gotta love American muscle

[@HAMMER8181]

Car was made in quebec canada...

[@redfire281GT]

@@HAMMER8181 Canada isn't a foreign country to the USA

[@HAMMER8181]

@@redfire281GT very true. Lets just hope the borders stay closed. They can keep there problems

[@drobson8004]

Braking is world class..... even today.

[@fleetfeet2004]

0-60 in 4.6 holy shit that is like a c6.

[@timothythomas2685]

The 1992 Firehawk and this 1997 Trans Am I believe at the times were faster than the Corvette..

[@billyfoster3223]

Moving Bird!😀 I want one!😀

[@Sinn0100]

Oh wow...where was I when this car first hit the streets?! I was a huge F-Body guy back in the 1990's and I had two of my very own. My first was a 1994 25th Anniversary Trans-Am LT1 w/6-speed that I got in 1997 at 17. I thought she was the fastest production F-Body of that year with 330hp. My second was a 2002 Firehawk Trans-Am LS1 w/6-speed that I got in 02. That car was absolutely mean but couldn't take this one. I have never seen a Hurst F-Body before in my life but wow is this car amazing. It would give newer cars a run for their money with track times like that.

[@thescramble4309]

Dude right! Don’t remember hearing about this one. I also owned 2 TA’s. However my first one was an 89 GTA with the 350 and all the SLP goodies that I purchased in 99 with 23k miles. Few years later bought the 02 WS6 automatic, seemed to be a little quicker than the 6spd. Believe it or not the GTA was a more comfortable car to cruise around in, the seating was for some reason perfectly balanced. Miss those days. Sold my GTA to a good friend , 2 weeks later he wrecked it into a tree.

[@Sinn0100]

@@thescramble4309 Very nice cars man. I'm sorry to hear about the last one. Unfortunately, many F-Body's met their end when people who didn't know how to drive them lost control but I digress.. It seems like you're no longer into the fast muscle car scene any longer which if true, is a shame. I myself actually stopped driving GM's recently because they broke my heart. I wound up replacing my 2012 SS Camaro for a Stinger Yellow Dodge Challenger and man do I love it. I still can't believe how fast stock cars are these days.

[@thescramble4309]

@@Sinn0100 yea I now have a family and muscle cars aren’t as big an interest as they once were. I have an 20 Accord Touring 2.0 turbo. It’s actually really quick and would beat both my GTA and Ws6. Newer cars are just designed better , and with technology a simple tune and even 93 octane can get my accord moving quickly, I suprise a lot of cars and trucks alike from stop light to stop light . If I could , I would try and find a C6 Z06 which is my all time favorite vette.

[@Sinn0100]

@@thescramble4309 I have a fiancee but we don't want kids which is likely why I am still able to rock said cars. As far as a Corvette C6...oh yes, they are amazing. I almost bought one after the Camaro SS and LT1 (did you know they bought that back) let me down. I didn't like the way the Camaros looked and I couldn't see out of the car. It was like driving with blinders on. I didn't even consider Dodge because I was raised on GM vs. Ford. I went online (buying cars is a joke now) and started looking at Challengers because I really wanted another muscle car. At the time Carmax was the only one that had anything. They had 5 Challengers with V8's and when I saw my 2018 Stinger Yellow Dodge Challenger RT+P SCAT Classic (yes, that many) I took the chance. When I got it I expected it would be fast...but oh my God! The word quick, fast, she will pass anything but a gas station does not reach the level of extremes this car gets. I have driven, ridden in, and owned quite a few fast cars in my day and the only car that comes even remotely close was my 2002 ZO6 Corvette. There is no gradual increase of speed, it is a violent transaction between you and the car as it slams you into the seat. If you ever get the chance drive one and I know it will put a huge smile on your face.

[@thescramble4309]

@@Sinn0100 yes sir I know , driven both the C5 Z and the C6 Z. The Ls6 definitely pulls , but nothing like the Ls7. But they’re relatively cheap nowadays, so I’d take a C5z in a heartbeat. Mileage and maintenance is also important for me. I’ve purchased a truck 07 Z71 that looked great and drove great until I got home. The next day there was oil all over my driveway and transmission was leaking as well as the front boots leaking and the transfer case starting whirring while driving. That truck became a nightmare, needless to say I always take my brother in law who is Technician and knows his stuff, so he’s pretty good about advising me on what shape a car/truck is in before purchasing it. Lol

[@richiesspeedshop82]

im a mustang guy.....but man this firebird is fucking bad ass!!!!

[@ttuggle31]

me too I only like the trans am and mustangs

[@seeleys442]

Speechless, I'm without speech...

[@DimitriosChannel]

Put some larger tires and it will drop to 4.0sec from 0-60

[@pontiacmaniac7772]

I want to mod my Firebird some more now

[@ronaldarchibald2506]

At the time these came out they were already all.sold. rumor was all were sold to gm engineers.

[@sj7624]

Rest in Peace Jim Scoutten

[@MaliciousSRT]

Taped this segment off TNN way back then - The car is pretty much worthless against the modern muscle, but what an entry from the garbage that was being made back then. John, you were a historical car guy and I can't imagine the vehicles you'd be putting out today had you not died while enjoying the early 2000's import drag racing era (in a turbo 4cyl Cavalier). God bless and you wont be forgotten! You need a lot more recognition for your accomplishments my friend.

[@SubieandFriends]

I'm sorry to disagree with you man but I think many people will take my side that this were some of the best muscle cars ever made. their performance are even better and faster then most of today's muscle cars just look at 0-60 times of today's muscle cars and all the extra power they have yet the times ain't better then this 1997 f body car.

[@yunggaucho3534]

+Jorge Lopez right on bro I feel the same I have a 97 firebird formula and I love it

[@whozthatdude2320]

no these cars are far from worthless keep in mind that these are not as heavy as many of the modern muscle cars and any cars performance can be upgraded

[@stephenn6657]

Speaking of Garbage? Remember the awful 1995- 5.0, and 1996 4.6L. Can you say 15sec e.t.

[@MaliciousSRT]

Stephen N Remember Ford had to buy back the 98? Cobra - it was supposed to have IIRC 320 HP but didn't lol The 4.6L was a big step backwards compared to the 5.0L - it was a mess until the Camaro showed up again and Ford brought out the Coyote.

[@jessemess7598]

Glad to say my dads trans am or almost as fast as this thing, it’s a modded 1995 silver coupe that makes around 312rwhp and 335rwtq

[@BornToBeFamed]

Good ol lt1 power! Imagine it on nitrous

[@whozthatdude2320]

beautiful car I always favored the lt1 formula body style Ive owned 2 now

[@GlycerinZ]

I just bought a 97 Trans Am WS6 yesterday!

[@whozthatdude2320]

+Glycerin nice if you go to ls1tech.com youll probably find all the online help you ever need to fix any problems it has and places like hawksthirdgen.com has all kinds of parts for sale just about anything you can think of

[@GlycerinZ]

whoz thatdude Thanks! I've actually been to that site many times! (I used to own a 94 Camaro V6 but ended up on that site looking for info). Does it still pertain to me even though my engine is an LT1?

[@whozthatdude2320]

+Glycerin I think they have something for all types I know ls1 tech has forums for everything from camaro to corvettes

[@GlycerinZ]

Damn I love my Trans Am!!

[@95blckfirebird1]

Car is awesome

[@danwatne4481]

I'm sorry but I have to call bullshit on this one.Those quarter mile times don't equate with the trap speed at all.If you're running a 12.9 your trap speed should be 115 minimum,103 trap speed equals about 14 seconds.Did anybody else notice this?

[@whozthatdude2320]

they actually only made 9 of these and 10 ls1 body style

[@ztwntyn8]

I saw one at the Trans Am Nationals Dayton Ohio several years ago. I think it was LT1. Got a pic somewhere... a physical one.

[@Hosshoggbossdogg]

one badass LT1

[@Savineyard3]

I want to see this 1997 firebird race a 1997 LT4 SS camaro or a 97 LT4 firehawk. One thing that i contest is this guy said the car's 1/4 mile time will drop another 3 tenths with a stick shift. That's bullshit. Stock for Stock all LT1's run the same in the 1/4. Auto's run more consistant because you can't miss a shift or bog down at the launch...

[@stephenn6657]

this is really a firebird formula. the lightest of 4th gen fbodys

[@Savineyard3]

Yeah I wonder how much difference in weight the formula is compared to the trans-am version. Probably like around a hundred or so I'm guessing. I like hard top F-body's. I'm not a fan of T-tops even when there off the roof and stored away. To me it looks cheap. But on the internet most 94-95 f-body's that have the OBD1 computer for sale I find have them. Back in 2010 I crashed my LT4 swaped 355 hard top Camaro. I had a moser 12 bolt with 4.10 gears carbon fiber driveshaft performabuilt stage 3 tranny with 2800 stall with headers and Corsa exhaust. Ran 12.1s at 110 mph. I still have the damaged car but I'm lookin for a 94-94 Camaro hard top to swap my stuff over to and rip it up once again.

[@stephenn6657]

+steve v That was damn fast for a Lt1 I remember when they were brand new.

[@ztwntyn8]

No, not at all... smh

[@Savineyard3]

@@ztwntyn8 Here's my new 383 LT4. kzbin.info/www/bejne/f5arlGSXpJt-o6s

[@BornToBeFamed]

I want that hurst auto shifter lol

[@LateNightCable]

@kelin818 Very chunky cars, not sleek at all. And the high belt line makes the interior feel like a tomb. Even T-tops would have a hard time helping the new cars.

[@patientmental875]

6-speed manual with stock shifter on a special Hurst vehicle WTF!

[@pepene93]

@Argedis uh, not really. most ls1s will dyno between 340 and 350 on an engine dyno. a good exhaust will get you to 360 if youre one of the luckier ones.

[@ztwntyn8]

Whatever bro

[@slasher7555]

@raceready79 Well the car is a 1997... they're reviewing it and saying how to order one.. so I'd say late 96 to mid 97..

[@rodguitarezz3482]

Lustworthy automobile

[@pepene93]

@musicofthesoul85 for its day, this car was faster than the zl1 will be today.

[@wolfzero85]

the 93 to 97 TA AND Z28 are some of the fastest cars you can get for cheap now of days

[@raceready79]

What year was this video made??

[@pepene93]

@wolfzero85 its changing to the 98-02 ones. quite a bit faster, and prices are dropping. i got an 02 z28 with all options and 43k miles for 12 grand. while searching, i found less well equipped and higher mileage cars for as low as 5 grand.

[@greghuckeba9382]

Need to know the vacuum line stamantice on 1996 Z28/5.7 Camaro

[@Rogalsfist]

I agree, the new ones look horrible and caricatured. F-bodies should be sleek and low, not chunky like the new ones.

[@LateNightCable]

@kelin818 It's not so much my opinion as it is my observation. Not to undermine yours, but I agree, the average person on the street probably would think it looks good. That's all Chevy needs to impress, so that's all the effort they gave it.

[@ProvenPerformancez28]

Damn that car is badass is it a formula??

[@linksdeath123]

these cars brake better than s2000 and nsx HA!

[@austinfrazier7325]

He didn’t say “hot one” this video

[@ribrufus3344]

It turned out that the fourth-generation Firebird was the first car we ever dared to discipline. The fourth-generation was so remarkably streamlined and given far too much curve, and so we simply could not just leave it alone. You can read all about it at the following link: drive.google.com/file/d/0B6NvzUZVlbePTUhmclJsUUpBazQ/view?usp=sharing More stories like this can be found at : www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=rib+rufus

[@daleon96]

cool car, but $42000 bucks? in 1997? come on man...

[@sidefx996]

daleon96 please tell us what else were you going to buy for that price in 1997 that would run with this thing? I'm going to say these have probably held their value pretty well too

[@karlsmith4160]

I wish they offered it in the trans am trim the formula just looks cheap and watered down

[@Argedis]

wtf i never knew they made a factory 360hp LT1!! thats pretty insane if you think about it, thats what a full bolton ls1 makes

[@kmzoilus2486]

wrong! stock LS1 regardless of what car it's in or year... makes 340-350hp same in torque. And with full bolt ons and a proper tune.. you can get them to 450hp-ish. don't know where you're getting your crazy misinformation from but it's beyond wrong.

[@Argedis]

​@@kmzoilus2486 Crazy misinformation? I used to own a full bolt on LS1 with a beefy street cam professionally tuned by Late Model Racecraft, it dynoed just below 400RWHP. Stock LS1's dyno at 310ish at the wheels and 340ish with full bolt ons. 100HP+ at the crank with just bolt ons you're the one spreading misinformation. 30-40rwhp gains are attainable with just bolt ons. I sold the LS1 around 7 years ago but I still know alot of about these cars. You can also go to the forums and see for yourself.

[@kmzoilus2486]

@@Argedis so you owned an LS1 and now you're an expert!!?? That's like saying I watch an episode of "house" so now I'm a doctor. I've had 3 4th gens fbodies: 94 Z28, 2000 WS6 and an 02 Z, now I only have the 02 Z and an 04 Vette Z06. Not to mentioned I've worked on about 30 of them with friends, lived at the track on weekends years ago, in Laredo, San Antonio, Houston and Dallas. Your issue is lack of comprehension, knowledge of the subject and math. Here are the FACTS: * You stated you didn't know the firebirds in videos made 360hp and thats what bolt on LS1's make, but then you say that stock LS1's make 310 at the wheels. Ummmmmm wheel hp and engine/brake/flywheel hp (whatever you want to call it) are NOT the same thing. Stock LS1's lose about 50 to 60 hp from engine to wheels. LS1's stock rwhp ranged from about 290 to 310 with SOME factory freaks making up to 320! It depends on year, auto/manual etc. YOu saying they all make 310ish at the wheels shows how little you know. ALL stock Fbodies of ANY year made 340 to 360 engine hp ...stock! which pretty much equals what the firebird does stock and that's BEFORE any bolt ons! *Also "bolt ons" generally means anything that does not require disassembly and or removal of the engine block anything internal, clutch, tranny, rear end.. etc -Long tube headers like Kooks, easily by themselves add around 20rwhp just by themselves! More depending on set up. -an X or H pipe (true dual set up) with straight flow adds easily another 10 all day long -A ported intake (like the ones tony mamo offered on LS1tech.com) easily another 10rwhp more if there are more mods. -A good tune easily another 20rwhp ... all day! -electric water pump another 5-10 -Heads ... lots of options but depending on quality, options/features and price, can have rwhp gains range from about 30-40ish and maybe more depending. I'm going to stop there because just using the smallest numbers of everything I mentioned above, we're at gains in total of 90rwhp! *If you get all of the above done*. and thats minimum! Even if you remove the heads , the minimum is still like 60+rwhp, and I haven't even covered the under drive pulley and some other knick knacks that add a few more here and there. At just +60rwhp the ls1 engine hp would be around 400 to 420. At +90rwhp it would be 430 - 490 engine hp. It has been documented over and over again, that bolt ons on LS1's (including heads) top out at around 420ish rwhp. And with CAM, quality heads and all of the above plus some other little things, getting close to (or going over) 500rwhp is VERY attainable. How you got 400rwhp out of a "full bolt on" LS1 with a cam means you're lying and or you didn't get the parts you ordered installed (somebody swapped them for crappier ones) and or something else was put in, maybe the tune sucked...etc My 00 WS6 with ALL of the above and an aggressive custom cam from tsp (and PRC heads), electric pump and a Tune from Patrick G of LS1Tech fame (who is located in Victoria TX and has tuned 3 cars for me and about 12 others for friends) made 491rwhp. How yours made such lousy numbers is beyond me. Hell, My 02 Z28 has an LQ9 stroked to 421ci with all of the pretty much the exact same parts, except slightly bigger cam and THAT makes 557rwhp NA! Go to ls1tech.com and post up that you have full bolt on's (list ALL of them) and a cam and that you got only 400rwhp with tune and they're gonna tell you why the hell is it so low!

[@kmzoilus2486]

Oh and if you just want to get the facts or confirm anything I said here, simply go to the source, contact Patrick G on LS1Tech or even the people at Texas Speed & Performance and tell HIM or them, your set up and what you got out of it and he's gonna tell you immediately, something's not adding up.

[@ztwntyn8]

@@kmzoilus2486 go away

[@whozthatdude2320]

mines much faster though but not stock

[@sexysexy7]

shit ill sell my 01 trans amws6 4 it it got computer clutch and motor work dun

[@geronimorubio559]

Shit I sold my 99 ws6 and kept my 97 ws6 love that torque. And it sounds better than the 99 ws6

[@LateNightCable]

I'd take one of these old WS-6 Birds over any of the new gay and ugly Camaros, including the ZL1. Speed isn't everything.

[@miataman89]

*lists mods* .. so..bolts ons.

[@outdoorsman767]

lingenfelter has fulfilled the prophecy, jesus drove a trans am, then he gave life to lingenfelter to up the horse power, now jesus owns 2

[@SKitles888]

@garrittpwl lol yea can u tell im dying from bordom its boring times these days

[@dodge69874]

@81TransAmJunkie $75k for a replica? Jesus Christ, I'll turn my '94 T/A into a nicer more powerful looking replica for only $20k. What do you say?

[@SKitles888]

my rims look way better, an my short shifter does to, mine has true WS.6 package also, if only some ppl took care of it an cept it mint but nooo it went from owner to owner fucking it all up, but i know someone had it wen it was clean an didnt keep it that way, shame on them, now im looking at a good 8 or 9 gran to get it cherry (blown head gasket so it needs a overhaul)

[@WheresMyXR8]

hahahah not even a hurst shifter..

[@garrittpwl]

@SKitles888 cool! noone cares.

[@taewoongyoon3659]

1997 firebird style is Aero body GT kit Lambo style but Peformonce is Hmm not Good

[@nonnormman]

This is pointless. Have fun driving your boyfriend's jetta.