![]() When it comes to late second-gen Firebirds, the Smokey and the Bandit Tans-Ams steal all the attention. Probably for the best, since in this writer’s opinion, butter-yellow interiors really only work on Lincolns, Cadillacs, and Imperials. Unlike its predecessors, the Yellowbird’s cockpit was tan instead of color-keyed. The Yellowbird that followed in 1980 would be the last of the series. Red Birds also featured color-keyed wheels and interior trim and special striping but were otherwise just like other Firebird Esprits. Building on the Sky Birds’ success, a Red Bird replaced it in 1978 and it ran through till the following year. The exterior was enhanced with optimistic-looking striping specific to the car. Sky Birds were a lovely pale blue hue and had color-keyed interiors and snowflake wheels. Gender equity aside, the cars were very attractive. However, the 1970s were a very different time. From today’s vantage point, it’s very easy to dismiss Pontiac’s marketing of a pastel-colored, not very fast, car to women as misogynistic and patronizing – and it was. These would be the so-called “Color Birds,” the first of which, the Sky Bird, was shown in 1977 and sold well. They could also be specified with that most 1970s of options, T-tops.Ĭapitalizing on the fashion-forward mood of the day, Pontiac designed special versions of the Firebird aimed specifically at women, who it was estimated made up 30 percent of Firebird buyers. They were usually bedecked with creature comforts like tilt-wheel, air conditioning, and other luxuries like extra sound insulation. Given their role, Esprit’s powertrains varied depending on the year, but they couldn’t be ordered with Trans-Am level engines. The Firebird lineup had its own personal luxury touring car, the Esprit. ![]() The 1970s were glory days for personal luxury coupes, even the humble Pontiac Sunbird (sibling to the Chevrolet Monza) could be ordered with a quarter-vinyl roof and other broughamizations. ![]() Secondly, the clean coupe shape of the cars responded better than most to the installation of federal impact bumpers by using a molded one-piece bumper-cum-nosecone. Handling was good across the lineup, too, thanks to “Radial Tuned Suspension,” as betokened by a plaque on the dash of Firebirds and Trans-Ams. First, even though power was down, a 6.6-liter Trans Am was still among the quickest cars of its day. The car is fully optioned with the removeable hardtop and the folding convertible top along with driving comforts including power steering, brakes and seat.Pontiac countered this assault in several ways. The final touch was the addition of Thunderbird wire wheels. Father and son removed the body from the frame and completed a ground up show quality restoration on the Thunderbird. Bob Houston’s son was a body man and painter. The Thunderbird had been purchased by Al Brett’s co-worker at the Harmac Pulp Mill in Nanaimo. ![]() Two daughters and a son and a career in the paper mill saw the years fly by. A year later, Gerry sold the car to buy the lot where he and his contractor father would build the couple’s first home. The Thunderbird became the wedding car when Gerry married LaFern in 1985. Al Brett convinced Gerry to repaint the car in its original Torch Red colour. The two-seat Thunderbird convertible made quite a statement at the local high school where Gerry would pick up his girlfriend LaFern. Gerry and LaFern Francoeur with their 1955 Thunderbird on their wedding day 38 years ago. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |