Firebird 2015 A.D. 1981

Year 2015: Civilian gasoline bans

The government outlaws the distribution of gasoline to the public and bars civilians from owning or using motor vehicles. Burners, as rebels, are monitored and harshly punished by the DVC, the Department of Vehicle Control. The ban is framed as a shortage remedy, though dialogue later hints gasoline is abundant. This sets the dystopian backdrop for the story.

Red, a middle-aged Burner, and his son Cameron

Red pilots a 1980 Pontiac Firebird Turbo Trans Am to defy the ban and keep mobility alive. His teenage son Cameron questions why his father keeps breaking the law, illustrating the generation gap in attitudes toward rebellion. The father-son dynamic grounds the film’s personal stakes in a harsh world.

A Burner plans to ferry a senator to a conference

Another Burner schemes to chauffeur a senator to a conference that aims to restore civilian motor-vehicle use. The mission hints at political change while underscoring how dangerous it is to move around with a vehicle. The plan intensifies the stakes for everyone involved.

McVain’s squad ambushes the burner

While en route to pick up his passenger, the Burner is intercepted by a DVC squad led by McVain. Dolan kills the Burner with a grenade launcher, demonstrating the ruthlessness of the DVC. Shana, a member of McVain’s team, is appalled by the killing and questions her superior’s choices.

Red takes Cameron for a ride; Indy joins

Red decides to take Cameron for a ride to rekindle his interest in cars. They meet Indy, Red’s Burner friend who drives a Plymouth Barracuda, and the two pair up as they plan a route to test their machines. Cameron begins to connect with the underground car culture.

Desert race and Jill’s flirtations

Red and Indy race through the desert to see whose car is fastest while Cameron watches. Jill, Indy's free-spirited daughter, flirts with Cameron and teaches him how to drive her dune buggy, sparking a romance and generating tension with Cameron’s father.

DVC ambush interrupts their escape

The desert outing leads to an ambush by the DVC, but an over-eager crew member fires too soon and the racers manage to escape. The confrontation raises the stakes and confirms the danger Burners face from the DVC. Red and Indy push to live another day.

Jill and Cameron are captured in a barn

Red, Cameron, and Jill seek cover in a barn, where McVain’s subordinates catch them. They rough up Cameron and assault Jill before taking Jill away. Cameron returns home injured and traumatized, prompting Red and Indy to plan a rescue.

Race-bred plan to raid the DVC campsite

Cameron recounts the incident to Red and Indy, who modify their cars for a raid on the DVC campsite to free Jill. The plan leverages the kinship of Burners and their vehicles as a weapon against the DVC. The raid marks a decisive shift from escape to direct action.

Shana frees Jill and DVC is overrun

Shana, moved by Jill’s mistreatment, frees Jill as Burners close in on the DVC. The Burners overwhelm the DVC, and the escape completes their rescue of Jill. The event demonstrates Shana’s moral stance and the burners’ commitment to their own.

The next day: a new plan to escort the senator

In the aftermath, Cameron and Jill decide to chauffeur the senator themselves in the Firebird. Red begins to form an uneasy alliance with Shana, sharing a sense of purpose and risk. The plan signals a shift from individual rebellion to a coordinated political act.