Darrel's Pontiac G8 Firehawk
“There’s 4 doors for the family, and a big old, V8 up front that screams bald
eagles!”
Although it might seem like your ordinary 4 door sedan, Darrel’s car is anything but. We have seen our fair share of rare cars (Sunburst Yellow, J-Limited Eunos Roadster) and we are honored to add this 2009 Pontiac G8 Firehawk to the top of the list.
To be specific, this edition Firehawk was number 17 of 23 EVER PRODUCED.
Pontiac partnered with Street Legal Performance Company in New Jersey to create this beast, making this particular edition a factory certified performance car. What sets this edition apart from the rest is its Magnuson supercharger, 6 Liter LS engine, its beefy, Baer brake kit, and full SLP exhaust system, which included SLP headers, high flow cats, and mufflers.
The car is now hovering around 530 RWHP on PUMP GAS. Nic compares it to his 500 HP Supra Build during the ride along portion of our feature video, saying “The Supra had 500 WHP but it didn’t have nearly as much torque as this.” Which makes sense, as Darrel has her pushing nearly 500 foot pounds of torque. With all of this power you would never know that the Firehawk weighs in at just under 4000 pounds. As Darrel says in the video, “SHE PULLS HARD!”
This car is a perfect blend of precision, performance, and pleasure. As the Firehawk seamlessly caresses the bends and bows of our Willamette Valley backroads during our ride along, it showcases the modifications that have been made to improve the handling. Darrel added paddle shifters so he could shift in manual mode without lifting a hand from the steering wheel. Sub-frame bracing and BMR lower control arms help quicken the steering and reduce body roll. The adjustable coilovers let Darrel soften up the ride a bit, which makes the car ride surprisingly smooth.
For a minute, driving through wine country, we almost forget we aren’t on a wine tour in a luxury European import. But instead in an extraordinary 500+HP monster. We are reminded when the engine roars, the supercharger whines, and we are thrown back in our seats on the straight away.
When Darrel first showed up to look at this car it was definitely love at first sight. He bought it on the spot and has never looked back. Thank you to him for sharing this unique gem with us.
Want to see more? Check the video HERE
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