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Pontiac Sunbird
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The Pontiac Sunbird is an automobile produced by the Pontiac division of General Motors. First introduced as part of Pontiac's subcompact offering for the 1976 model year. The Sunbird model ran for 18 years (with a hiatus during the 1981 & 1982 model years, when the 1982 model was called J2000) until it was replaced in 1995 by the Pontiac Sunfire. Through its years the Sunbird was available in various body styles including hatchback, station wagon, coupe and convertible.
1976-1980
The first generation Pontiac Sunbird was a rear-wheel drive subcompact car, H-body varient of the Chevrolet Monza, based on the Chevrolet Vega.
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Encyclopedia
The Pontiac Sunbird is an automobile produced by the Pontiac division of General Motors. First introduced as part of Pontiac's subcompact offering for the 1976 model year. The Sunbird model ran for 18 years (with a hiatus during the 1981 & 1982 model years, when the 1982 model was called J2000) until it was replaced in 1995 by the Pontiac Sunfire. Through its years the Sunbird was available in various body styles including hatchback, station wagon, coupe and convertible.
1976-1980
The first generation Pontiac Sunbird was a rear-wheel drive subcompact car, H-body varient of the Chevrolet Monza, based on the Chevrolet Vega. Its intended competitors were other small sporty two-door vehicles of the time, such as the Toyota Celica, Ford Capri, and the Ford Mustang II
The Sunbird was introduced in the fall of 1975 as a 1976 model sharing the notchback coupe body of the Monza Towne Coupe. The standard engine was the same all-aluminum 2.3 L (140 cid) inline four-cylinder engine used in the Vega, Monza and Astre. Equipped with a single barrel carburetor, it generated a peak power output of at 4200 rpm. Also standard was a 4-speed manual transmission, with a 5-speed manual or a 3-speed automatic transmission available as options.
This engine was also available optionally with a 2-barrel carburetor that increased peak power to at 4400 rpm, as well as Buick's 3.8 L (231 cid) V6 engine rated at at 4000 rpm.
For the 1977 model year the Sunbird added the same hatchback coupe bodystyle as the Monza, as well as a new standard engine: Pontiac's then-new 2.5 L (151 cid) "Iron Duke" inline four-cylinder engine using a 2-barrel Holley carburetor and generating at 4400 rpm. The previous 2.3 L engine was still available as an option (with either a one- or two-barrel carburetor), as was the Buick powerful V6.
In the 1978 model year the hatchback coupe and two-door station wagon (Kammback) bodies used by the Astre were added to the Sunbird lines. They continued to use the same front fascias as the old Astre models with Sunbird badging. The 2.3 L engine was simultaneously dropped from the list of options.
For the 1979 model year, the Chevrolet's 5.0 L (305 cid) V8 engine was available as an option in the notchback coupe and Monza-based hatchback, while the Astre-based hatchback coupe was discontinued.
1980 was the final production year of the H-bodied Sunbird. By this time the station wagon body-style and the optional V8 engine were dropped. This year featured an unusually long production run in order to provide sufficient inventory to carry dealers into the 1981 model year, in anticipation of the Sunbird's replacement.
1982-1988 (second generation)
For 1982, the rear-wheel-drive Sunbird was replaced by a new front-wheel-drive compact called the J2000. Appearing as a sedan, coupe, wagon or hatchback, the J2000 was powered by either a 1.8L or 2.0L four cylinder engine. The J2000 shared GM's J-Body platform with the Chevrolet Cavalier, Oldsmobile Firenza, Buick Skyhawk and Cadillac Cimarron, Holden Camira.
For 1983, the "J" prefix was dropped. This was in an effort to market the J2000 as a smaller version of the Pontiac 6000, which had a similar appearance. Both engines were replaced by a new SOHC 1.8L four, imported from GM of Brazil. This engine used throttle-body electronic fuel injection, in contrast to the carburetor that was used in the 1982 engines, making . A 5-speed manual was newly optional. A convertible called the 2000 Sunbird was also new for 1983.
1984 brought a new front fascia for a smoother, less angular look. Also, the lineup was renamed "2000 Sunbird", a title used only on the convertible the previous year. A new turbocharged four-cylinder was available. Based on the standard 1.8L inline-four that powered other 2000 Sunbirds, it used multi-port fuel injection, for a total output of . This engine was popular, and more powerful than many V6 engines in competing brands. 1985 was a carryover year, except for the "2000" prefix being dropped. A GT model arrived in 1986. It featured fender flares, hidden headlamps, and the Turbo engine standard. It was available in sedan, coupe or convertible. The GT sedan is very rare, with less than 5000 sold.
A redesigned gauge cluster and new engines made news for the 1987 model year. The gauge cluster featured different graphics, and featured a speedometer on Turbo equipped models, where 1984-86 Turbo models had just an speedometer. The new engines were "punched out" versions of the 1.8L, displacing 2.0L. The base engine still used throttle-body injection, for a new total of , and the turbo still used port-injection, for a new total of . Also, the convertible could only be ordered in GT trim. The rear fascia was redesigned in 1988, and the 4-speed manual was discontinued. Sunbird underwent a redesign mid-way through the year.
1988.5-1994 (third generation)
1988.5
The Sunbird was redesigned in 1988 as a 1988.5 model. Production under the Sunbird name was continued until 1994. The trim levels on both the sedan and coupe were base, SE and GT. The Sunbird SE coupe, SE sedan and the GT coupe and convertible had hidden retractable headlamps where the base model initially had the 1984-87 front fascia with exposed sealed beam headlamps. The engines were both the carryover 2.0L I4 and the turbocharged 165 horsepower 2.0L four.
1989
In 1989, the base model received a smoother, more aerodynamic front fascia and the model was renamed "LE". An LE coupe joined the lineup also, with the same features as the LE sedan, but for a slightly lower price. The SE sedan was discontinued. In all models, however, a new dashboard was added. It somewhat resembled that of the Pontiac Grand Prix, redesigned for 1988. The most notable change from the previous dashboard is the placement of the stereo. A redesigned AM/FM stereo unit was placed high in the dash. If a cassette player or compact disc player were ordered, they were relocated at the bottom of the dash. The Safari wagon was dropped.
1990
For 1990, the GT and SE coupes received a smoother front fascia with hidden headlamps. The GT covertible is discontinued, replaced by a turbocharged LE convertible, which also retains the GT suspension and steering. In all models, GM's passive seatbelt system was introduced. The seatbelts were mounted on the doors and would stretch out when latched.
1991
The rough and noisy turbo four was deleted for 1991, replaced by the Cavalier's 3.1L V6. With Multi-Port Fuel Injection, it produced at 5200 rpm, and of torque at 4800 rpm. Although there was less horsepower under the hood, power came much quicker and smoother than the Turbo, with about the same fuel economy. The V6 engine could be ordered in any model, save than the new-for 1991 base value model. The SE coupe received the LE coupe front fascia, but the GT's fascia could still be ordered with a sport package exclusive to SE coupes.
1992
The largest change for the '92 model year was a revision of the base engine. The 2.0L four traded in its throttle body injection for multi-point injection, resulting in a fuel economy increase and power increase. Power was increased from to and torque increased from 118 to . An SE sedan was once again available, and the base models were dropped and the convertible moved from LE to SE. A glass rear window with optional defroster was added to the convertibles.
1993
The only change for 1993 was the addition of
1994
As the Sunbird came to a close, the trims were pared down. The SE sedan, SE convertible and GT coupe were dropped for 1994. The LE sedan, LE coupe and LE convertible (moved from SE to LE), and SE coupe stood pat for one more year. The SE coupe was essentially the '93 GT coupe with a lower price.
Most Sunbirds were built in Lordstown, Ohio and Ramos Arizpe, Mexico.
The Sunbird was replaced by the Pontiac Sunfire in 1995.
GT
The Sunbird GT model was introduced in 1986 as a coupe, sedan or convertible, with the 1.8L turbocharged, port fuel injected four cylinder engine standard. This was changed to the , 2.0L Turbo for 1987. All GTs featured semi-concealed headlamps and fender flares and "Turbo GT" Badging replacing "Sunbird" Badging. The Sedan was dropped for 1988, and the interior was redesigned for 1989. The convertible was dropped for 1990, the turbo for 1991. Replacing the turbo four-cylinder for 1991 was GMs venerable 3.1L V6 that produced , but is much quieter than the turbo. After 1993, the GT coupe became the SE coupe when the lineup was consolidated prior to the new model to arrive for 1995.
Sunbird in Mexico
The Sunbird was first sold in Mexico in 1992; prior to this, the Sunbird had been badged as the Chevrolet Cavalier there.
Engines
The Sunbird, depending on the model year, came with one of these engines:
- 1982: 1.8 L carbureted OHV I4
- 1982: 2.0 L carbureted OHV I4
- 1983-1986: 1.8 L TBI SOHC I4
- 1983-1986: 1.8 L turbocharged MPFI SOHC I4
- 1987-1991: 2.0 L TBI SOHC I4
- 1987-1990: 2.0 L turbocharged MPFI SOHC I4
- 1991-1994: 3.1 L (191 CID) 60° V6
- 1992-1994: 2.0 L MPFI SOHC I4
External links
- J-body FAQ at
- Dedicated Forum to the J-Body platform.
- J-body Ontario
Sources
- Flammang, James M. & Kowlake, Ron, Standard Catalog of American Cars: 1976-199, 3rd Edition (Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 1999)
- Gunnell, John, Standard Catalog of American Cars: 1946-1975, Revised 4th Edition (Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2002)
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