2002 Pontiac Firebird

Evaluation: Represented as a one-owner car with 16,700 miles. Number 732 of 1300 Firehawks built in 2002, the Firebird’s final year. Good but not immaculate original paint. The wheels and brakes look aged. Significant scratching on the rear glass. Significant wrinkling to the leather but otherwise perfect interior. Not as well-preserved as the mileage and single owner suggest but still a cool, lightly used Firehawk.

Bottom Line: Built by SLP Engineering (who also did the fourth generation Camaro SS) but sold at Pontiac dealerships, the SLP Firehawk was based on the Firebird Formula from 1991-97, and from 1999 on could be had in either Formula or Trans Am trim. Engine and handling upgrades were significant and Firehawks are quite rare compared to the mass-produced Firebirds they’re based on, but you’d only have to stretch the budget a few grand and exercise a little more patience to snag a Firehawk over a regular old Trans Am. This car in Vegas was a great buy at this price, with a ton of performance per dollar and in collector-grade condition.