Another first for the Gallery! The first 1980 Yellow Bird. This was a special package offered from 1977 to 1980 on the Firebird Esprit. Each year featured a different color scheme. Ray Strickland owns this all original mint example of the offering in 1980. Ray writes:

     "Hi! Attached is a photo of my 1980 "Yellowbird", which I purchased in May of 1998. At the time of purchase, it was a one-owner vehicle with 47000 actual miles. It was a "pleasure vehicle" for the owners. They only took it out on weekends when the weather was good. In the winter, they stored it in a barn. Up until the '98-'99 season, it had never seen snow or road salt. The body is in immaculate condition. It is an Esprit model, with the original 4.9L engine. Four-barrel carb, no turbo, but still beats the pants off any 6-cylinder sport utility vehicle, which has turned my yuppie neighbors yellow with envy. The paint and decals are all original equipment. I have changed the alternator and fuel pump, and the previous owner had recently changed the starter and the brake master cylinder. Most of the interior vinyl and upholstery is original. The carpet is a little worn and needs replacement... big deal. Note the matching cast-aluminum wheels. I have only heard of one other Yellowbird here in Indy; a T-top model suffering from rust damage."

Here's some information on the special "Yellowbird" package installed on Ray's Firebird Esprit:

Special two-tone yellow paint (code 56); included gold striping and yellow bird decals for the sail panels and rear spoiler
Velour interior
Black lens taillights with yellow horizontal ribs
Gold front panel crest
Yellow snowflake wheels
Black grilles
Camel tan interior trim
Camel seat belts
Gold engine-turned instrument panel
Camel tan Formula steering wheel with gold spokes (changed to black spokes later in the year)

Sticker price on this car was in the neighborhood of $5,967. Engine options were:
Buick 3.8L V6 115hp
Pontiac 4.9L V8 140hp
Chevy 5.0L V8 150hp