Check out the tread on these Firestone Firehawk tires from 2002, I really wish they still made them.
I found this one on Ebay. It was sitting in the first owners garage in Santa Maria for almost 6 years, with only 1,198 miles, this Hawk is nearly identical to when it was driven off the showroom floor. As of mid February, it is at almost 2400 miles. over 1,000 miles in 6 months, I gotta stop driving this thing. (not!!)
For a History lesson and overview of the Pontiac Firehawk, check out page 5.
Built in August of 2001, this is 2002 SLP Firehawk #199
My Daughter ran up the street to meet me when I drove it home. She wanted to be the first to get a ride.
After a quick trip around the block, she gets out for a second, and then she jumped back in as I offered to give the rest of my family rides. It took nearly an hour to get her out. (ice cream is a good bribe)
I don't think any of them were ready for the second gear BARK or third gear chirp as I roared through the gears.
Why a Firehawk?
It all started two years ago when I saw a program about Firehawks. Having grown up with musclecars, (see my "other rides" page on my Chevelle pages) I realized it was the Modern Musclecar I had always wanted.
I missed out on buying a new one, so I started looking for a nearly new one.
As I researched them, I decided that I wanted:
2002 - last year of production
Convertible - always wanted a ragtop
Black - they look sweet when clean
Manual 6 speed transmission - I want to choose what gear to drive in
Low miles - as close to new as possible
The obstacle: only 45 Black Convertible M6 Firehawks were made in 2002. What are the odds someone would have bought one and never driven it? (see page 3 - production numbers)
After looking for over a year, I saw a few that came close, but never a match. Then I found an ad for this one at half the original sticker price, and two weeks later flew down to Santa Maria to become the second owner, and drive it 350 miles to it's new home.
New Muscle and Old Muscle
They are both fun, it's a toss up, which one is better?
Below, a photo documentary of the major features. Leave me a comment on anything else you want to see.
Then engine bay was so clean and unmolested that it still has the factory chalk marks and "like new" looking stickers.
Page 1 - Overview - You Are Here
Page 2 - Factory RPO codes
Page 3 - 2002 SLP Productions numbers
Page 4 - Mods, updates and engine specs
Page 5 - Firehawk History Lesson
And don't forget to check out the Chevelle, a bunch of haters dropped my ratings down, help me bring them back up!
