[ACW]

Modified models: VHO, Banshees, Firefox/Twin Turbo

• Carroll VHO Formula (1988) (An aftermarket-modified Formula 350 was concocted by Greg Carroll. His Carroll Supercharging Company of Wyckoff, New Jersey produced the Very High Output (VHO) Formula for sale through selected factory dealers in the Garden State. The car's belt-driven Paxton centrifugal blower gave a 5-psi pressure boost, raising horsepower to 400 and torque to 475 ft-lbs. High Performance Pontiac featured the VHO in its June 1998 issue. The Carroll supercharging package retailed for $8,500, and Carroll's CSC-103H trunk stereo system was a $2,495 option. The conversion voided the normal factory warranty, but Carroll stood behing the powertrain for 1 year or 12,000 miles, as long as proper service was done. Few VHO 350s were built. Dealers included S & M Pontiac in Sussex, NJ and Jim Salerno Pontiac in Randolph, NJ.)
• Pontiac "Banshee II" prototype (1988) (Named after a 1964 concept car; developed as part of the design process for the fourth Firebird generation. This styling concept for the Firebird has looks (and presumably sounds) that kill. A 4.0 liter V-8 in this sleek Pontiac motivated an all-fiberglass body and tube frame with a very low center of gravity and flush glass to reduce aerodynamic drag. Some of the styling elements of the production Firebird can be seen, such as the twin low-mounted nostrils and the spade-like nose.)
• Sunset Banshee Formula (1994-1996) (Apparently the Sunset Pontiac Dealership in Clearwater Florida took factory Formulas and converted them into a Banshee look-a-like that included visual and performance changes. The standard package included: Dominator Hood Paint, Side Air Extractors, Windshear GT Rear Spoiler, Flowmaster 2 Chambered Exhaust, Chrome Exhaust Tips, High Performance Air Intake System, K&N Air Filter BF Goodrich P275/40ZR17 Tires, 17" Oz Wheels, Banshee Identification Package, Banshee Embroidered Interior, LT1 Identification, Titanium Window Tint, and Build Number ID Console Plate. Reported Production of these cars: 1994: 17, 1995: 21, 1996: 1.)
• Rob Louisell Banshee Conversion (1993-1997) (Offered as kit pieces or installed by Louisell, a package for 1993-1997 Firebirds/Formulas/TAs to make them look like the Banshee concept car which cost Pontiac $1.5 million to make.)
• Pontiac "Firefox" Trans Am GTA prototype (1989) (In the years preceding the introduction of the 1989 Turbo Trans Am, Pontiac was busy building excitement. Some of the exercises included a 3.8 liter high output Turbo Trans Am that delivered 360 hp and 412 lbs of torque. The 3.8 liter HO drivetrain consisted of a ZF six speed and a Dana 44 rear with 3.92 gears. Pontiac also examined twin turbo charging with a 5.7 liter red and black Trans Am equipped with a set of Garrett T-3 turbos. This 5.7 liter was fed by 16 fuel injectors, three GNX fuel pumps, two air meters and two GNX intercoolers. The driveline pieces were the same ZF six speed spinning 3.73 gears. The twin turbo put out 605 hp and 700 lbs of torque. It was among these factory super cars from Pontiac that the original Firefox was born. This sinister 5.7 liter black GTA came with the the ZF six speed and heavy duty Dana rear end as well as suspension modifications.)
• Pontiac "Firefox II" Trans Am prototype (1991) (The Firefox II, based on a 1991 Trans Am was built by Pontiac in conjunction with TDM Technologies. TDM is an automotive engineering support firm based in Livonia, Michigan. This incarnation of the original Firefox differs from the original in several areas. The Firefox was powered by a beefed up Tuned Port Injected 5.7 liter with aluminum heads and a bumped up compression ratio of 10.5:1. The Firefox was also given several tried and true TPI modifications. The Firefox had provisions for a catalytic convertor but this prototype was not so equipped. Horsepower levels were an impressive 328 hp at 4500 rpm and a stump pulling 395 lbs of torque at 3500 rpm. It is needless to say that these levels of performance would decimate stock driveline pieces. As was the case with the original Firefox, the shifting duties were handled by a Corvette ZF six speed tranny with power being channeled to a limited slip rear with 3.91 gears. Residing in the rear of Firefox II is a suspension that F-body owners have wanted for the last 10 years, an independent rear suspension. This all aluminum independent rear suspension required the fuel tank to be removed and replaced with a small fuel cell fitted in the luggage compartment. It also required a compact muffler mounted snuggly behind the IRS assembly. The IRS was apparently considered for the 1989 20th Anniversary Turbo Trans Am and the original Firefox but has never made it on a production F-body due to cost and complexity. The rolling stock was also upgrade to handle the increased performance. The Firefox II rode on sticky 275/40/17 Goodyear Eagle ZR40's and 17 inch BBS 3 piece rims with a honeycomb design similar to the GTA's stock WS6 rims.)
• Pontiac Twin Turbo Trans Am prototype (1992) (The only surviving example of the Firefox's era is the 1992 twin turbo Trans Am that Pontiac still shows on occasion. Whereas the Firefox was a normally-aspirated car, this 1992 T/A has some features common to the Firefox on it as well, including the complex independent rear suspension.)