21. Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
In 1969, Pontiac wanted to present a model they could homologate for Trans Am racing. As a part of GM, the factory was still under the racing ban. But their fans and private teams used many Pontiac products. So, the factory wanted to introduce a version they could easily modify for racing. And that is how the Firebird Trans Am came to be. However, to mask its intentions, Pontiac introduced the Firebird Trans Am as a loaded version. It featured big-block power from the famous 400 V8 engine with the Ram Air III or IV intake system.
The difference between those engines was significant since the Ram Air IV featured a lot of improved engine internals and components. Yet, they rated both at 366 HP, which was underrated. Sadly, this special version with its signature white paint, blue stripes, Rally II wheels, and other equipment proved to be a tough seller. In fact, Pontiac only sold 634 Firebird Trans Ams and among those, only eight were convertibles. The significance of the 1969 Trans Am is this limited production model influenced Pontiac to produce Trans Am models for almost all the model years after that. And it was the top-of-the-line version of the regular Firebird.