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...