1 of 58! This Ultra Rare 1974 Pontiac SD 455 Formula Firebird is The Last Real Muscle Car

While there's always room for debate, many car experts and historians put the Muscle Car era between 1964 and 1974 - ushered in with the 1964 Pontiac GTO, and ushered out with the last of the 1974 Pontiac Firebird SD 455 cars. This was a car that really shouldn't have existed - global forces and political pressures had conspired to bring an end to the horsepower race of the 1960s, and most makers were toning down their engines, bolting on emissions and safety controls, and bidding farewell to unfettered performance.

Only Pontiac would hold on - and not because of their top brass, which was devoid of car guys in 73-74, replaced by corporate types looking to keep the boat steady. Joh Z Delorean had moved on.

But some engineers at Pontiac kept the candle burning later than everyone else - they put to work the lessons learned in supporting factory and independent teams in the SCCA Trans-Am racing series, and created an engine that could produce gobs of horsepower while holding together beautifully - the SD (Super Duty) 455.
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Forces did conspire to keep this engine rare, however - only 1296 were made across 1973-1974, with only 58 Formulas (like the one in the video) made in 1974. This is an incredibly rare number for a GM product.

Whether you agree that the SD cars were the last muscle cars, it is indisputable that this was a very special engine and very special cars - once 1975 hit, it was pretty much over for the horsepower wars, and they would not start up again until almost a decade later.

Full review and test drive of this 1974 Pontiac Firebird Formula SD 455 by Bill of Curious Cars. Vehicle is part of a private collection, and not for sale at this time.