David Newhardt. The Pontiac Firebird was originally overshadowed by the popular Chevrolet Camaro, but the Firebird developed a loyal following and a reputation for true high-performance to earn a high-profile spot in muscle car history. It also had a role in pop culture as Burt Reynolds drove a Trans Am in Smokey and the Bandit and young David Hasselhoff took direction from his talking Trans Am in Knight Rider. While 1970s environmental and insurance interests emasculated most muscle cars, the Trans Am made a defiant last stand. In 1973, Pontiac introduced the mighty Trans Am Super Duty 455, one of the fastest muscle cars ever. The high-performance, high-profile history of the Firebird Trans Am is presented here along with stunning color photos of choice models.