Second Generation 1970 to 1980

The second generation Firebird promos were introduced along with the real car in 1970 and continued through 1980. Colors were again limited to two or three per year. The Formula 400 was chosen as the model for the promo and continued through 1976. Starting in 1977 the Trans Am became the model picked to represent the promo and continued through 1980. The 1974 model would be the last factory assembled second-generation Firebird promo made. From 1975 through 1980 all Firebird promos were unassembled promos called "Promo Kit". There were no 1981 Firebird promos made. The second generation is considered a good starting point for those getting started collecting Firebird promos. They are generally easier to find than the first generation models and are valued from around $35.00 for the 1976-1980 cars to $150.00 to $175.00 for the early 1970’s cars. These prices represent cars in near mint to mint condition. The following is a detailed look at the second-generation 1970-80 Firebird promos.

 


 

1970
Castillian Bronze '70 Formula

Lucerne Blue '70 Formula
Coupe –  Colors known to exist: Castellian Metallic and Lucerne Blue. It was a Formula 400 with twin hood scoops, white-wall or black-wall tires, Rally II wheels and a blacked out grill. A small molded bird emblem adorns the front bumper. The 1970 model is the only second generation Firebird known to come with either "black-wall" or "white-wall" tires. The interior was correct in appearance with low back bucket seats, headrest, formula steering wheel and automatic transmission shift lever. An interesting detail on the chassis is the use of twin resonators ahead of the rear axle and a single cross flow muffler behind the axle. I don’t believe the real 1970 car had this type of set up. Value is around $150.00 - $170.00 for a mint condition model.

 


 

1971
71frpro10.jpg (28369 bytes)

Lucerne Blue '71 Formula (24547 bytes)

Coupe Colors known to exist: Lucerne Blue, Castellian Metallic and Carousel Red (Hobby Store version). It was a Formula 400 with twin hood scoops, a blacked out grill, and side front fender vents. A small molded bird emblem adorns the front bumper. The interior featured the all new high back bucket seat design with Formula steering wheel and automatic transmission shift lever. Gone was the resonator exhaust system. It now featured the correct dual pipe exhaust system with one cross flow muffler and dual tail pipes. The tires changed this year and now were raised letter Goodyear F60-15 Polyglass GT with Rally II wheels. This style of tire would continue through 1980. Value for the model is similar to the 1970. A mint example should bring around $150.00 – $180.00.

 


 

1972
Revere Silver Metallic '72 Formula (32824 bytes)



Coupe Colors known to exist: Revere Silver Metallic, Sundance Orange Metallic and Cameo White. It was a Formula 400 with twin hood scoops and blacked out honeycomb style grill. The front fender vents and the small front bumper bird emblem from the 1971 model were deleted in 1972. In 1972 a lower front chin spoiler appeared under the front bumper valance panel and a small bird emblem was added to the front fender next to Formula 400. The interior design was the same as the 1971 model with a Formula steering wheel and automatic transmission shift lever. The chassis detail was the same as the previous year. The tires were raised letter Goodyear F60-15 Polyglass GT with Rally II wheels. All 1972 promos had problems with Metallic paint adhesion. The paint had a tendency to scratch and rub off easily. Value for this model is in the $150.00 - $180.00 range for a mint example.

 


 

1973
Buccaneer Red '73 Formula (42341 bytes)

Porcelain Blue '73 Formula (34161 bytes)

Cameo White '73 Formula (28116 bytes)

Sunlight Yellow '73 Formula (26635 bytes)

Coupe – Colors known to exist: Buccaneer Red, Sunlight Yellow, Porcelain Blue, and Cameo White. It was a Formula 400 with twin hood scoops and a blacked out grill. The chassis detail was the same as the previous year. The exterior detail including the lower front chin spoiler was the same as the 1972 model. With the exception of a new interior door panel design the interior detail was the same as the 1972 model with a Formula steering wheel and automatic transmission shift lever. The tires were Goodyear F60-15 Polyglass GT with Rally II wheels. This was the last year for the chrome rear bumper. Value for a mint example is in the $150.00 - $170.00 range.

 


 

1974
Gulfmist Aqua '74 Formula

Buccaneer Red '74 Formula

Sunstorm Yellow '74 Formula
Coupe – Colors known to exist: Gulfmist Aqua, Buccaneer Red and Sunstorm Yellow. It was a Formula 400 with twin hood scoops and highlighted by the new front and rear styling for 1974. The front fender bird emblem was deleted in 1974. The chassis detail was the same as the previous year. The interior design was the same as the 1973 model with a Formula steering wheel and automatic transmission shift lever. The tires were Goodyear F60-15 Polyglass GT with Rally II wheels. Gone were the chrome rear bumper and the one-piece front endura bumper. In their place were black bumper strips. The grill was now all chrome instead of the two-piece black and chrome grills from 1970-1973. This was the final year for the second-generation factory assembled promos. Value for a mint condition example is in the $150.00 - $170.00 range.

 


1975 - 1980 Promotional Kits

Starting in 1975 and continuing through 1980 all Firebird promotional models were unassembled promotional models known as "Promo Kits". The promo kit was the same as the previous assembled promos only now you had to assemble the approximately 25 parts using an easy to follow instruction sheet. These promo kits were molded in authentic factory colors and packaged in colorful boxes depicting pictures of the real car. The value of promo kits are generally in the $30.00 to $60.00 range for factory sealed unbuilt kits, while built kits are worth less. The following is a detailed look at Promo Kits.

 


 

1975








Coupe – Colors known to exist: Sunstorm Yellow, Buccaneer Red, and Silver. This was the first year for the "Promo Kit". It was a Formula 400 with twin hood scoops and was basically identical to the 1974 model except the parking lights were now located in the all chrome grill and the rear window had the new wrap around design. The interior design was unchanged from the 1974 model and included a Formula steering wheel and automatic transmission shift lever. The promo kit wheels and tires were now like the regular 1/25th model kit that included three pieces, a front chrome Rally II wheel, a raised letter Polyglass GT F60-15 tire, and a body colored back wheel. The Polyglass GT style tire was no longer used on the real car and should not have been used on the promo. The chassis now featured a single exhaust system with a single catalytic converter connected to a single cross flow muffler and dual tail pipes. This kit came packaged in attractive model kit style box showing a red with white interior Formula in a garage setting next to a silver Trans Am. The sides of the box showed other pictures of the car and some of its features. These pictures were illustrated in the 1975 dealer brochure. Value for a factory sealed unbuilt kit is in the $50.00 range.

 


 

1976








Coupe – Colors known to exist: Goldenrod Yellow, Carousel Red and Athena Blue. It was a Formula with newly revised twin hood scoops, grill, and front and rear bumper styling. The motor designation was no longer on the side of the front fender and now just said "Formula". This was the last year for the Formula promotional model and the round headlight design. The interior seat design was new for 1976 and came with a Formula steering wheel and automatic transmission shift lever. Chassis detail was the same as the 1975 model. The tires were still the incorrect raised letter Goodyear F60-15 Polyglass GT, with Rally II wheels. Box art was again colorful and showed a yellow Formula with the Formula Appearance Package. The sides of the box had different pictures of the car and its features. These illustrations were featured in the 1976 dealer sales brochure. Value for a factory sealed unbuilt kit is around $50.00.

 


 

1977
Sterling Silver '77 Trans Am

Cameo White '77 Trans Am

1977 Firebird Promo Kit

1977 Firebird Promo Kit

Trans Am Coupe – Colors known to exist: Sterling Silver and Cameo White. This was the first year for the Trans Am promotional model and the new quad square headlight design. It included all the Trans Am spoilers, air extractors and shaker hood. A set of decals were also included with the kit and featured; nose, fender, rear spoiler "Trans Am" decals and the hood bird. The decals were printed in gray, red and black. The only inaccuracy on the decal sheet was the "400" shaker scoop decal. Beginning in 1977 Pontiac used Litres to identify engine displacement, so it should have read either 6.6 Litre for the standard motor or T/A 6.6 for the optional motor. This kit also included a set of Rally II wheels, chrome left and right grills, standard Firebird interior design with a Formula steering wheel and an automatic transmission shift lever. The tires were still the incorrect raised letter Goodyear Polyglass GT style and the chassis detail was the same as the 1976 model. The cover of the box depicted a Black and Gold Special Edition Trans Am and the sides highlighted the different features. Value for a factory sealed unbuilt kit is in the $35.00 range.

 


 

1978
Starlight Black '78 Trans Am

Platinum '78 Trans Am

1978 Firebird Promo Kit

1978 Firebird Promo Kit

Trans Am Coupe – Colors known to exist: Starlight Black and Platinum. Changes from the 1977 kit included a set of snowflake wheels, chrome exhaust splitters and a "Hurst" designed T-Top roof. The black cars came with gold chrome parts and a complete set of gold Special Edition decals. The platinum car came with silver chrome parts and the same red, gray and black decal sheet from the 1977 kit. A couple of errors with the decal sheet were the l973 – 1977 style lettering and the 6.6 Litre shaker scoop decal. For 1978 Pontiac didn’t use decals on the shaker for the standard engine Trans Am and the optional Hi-Performance motor used the T/A 6.6 decal. The interior door panels were redesigned, however the seat design, Formula steering wheel and automatic transmission shift lever were the same as the 1977 model. The chassis detail and tire style remained unchanged from the 1975-1977 kit. The colorful box featured a Solar Gold Trans Am on the cover and different Trans Am features on the sides. These pictures were featured in the 1978 dealer brochure. Value for a factory sealed unbuilt kit in near mint condition is in the $30.00 – $40.00 range.

 


 

1979
Starlight Black '79 Trans Am

1979 Firebird Promo Kit

1979 Firebird Promo Kit

Trans Am Coupe – Colors known to exist: Starlight Black and Platinum. New front and rear-end styling and larger Fisher designed T-Tops highlighted the 1979 kit. The chassis detail, interior design, snowflake wheels, tires and exhaust splitters remained the same as the 1978 kit. The decal sheet had gold Trans Am and T/A 6.6 lettering, gold Special Edition striping, black, gray and silver hood birds and sail panel birds were used in both kits. This time the lettering is correct for a 1979 car. The black car had gold chrome plated parts and the platinum car came with silver chrome plated parts. The cover of the box highlighted a dark blue Trans Am with camel interior and T-Tops. Value for an unbuilt factory sealed kit in mint condition is in the $25.00 - $35.00 range.

 


 

1980
Starlight Black '80 Trans Am

1980 Firebird Promo Kit

1980 Firebird Promo Kit

1980 Firebird Promo Kit
Trans Am Coupe – Colors known to exist: Starlight Black and Francisco Red. This model marked the final year for the second-generation Firebird promotional models and the "Promo Kit". With the exception of the new custom interior design, this kit remained identical to the 1979 kit in all areas of detail. The decal sheet was very colorful this year with the "Trans Am" lettering and hood bird decal depicted in red, yellow and orange. These colors on the black car made for a visually striking model. Since all 1980 Trans Ams came with either the 301 4.9 litre or the 305 5.0 litre motor the use of the T/A 6.6 shaker scoop decals would be inaccurate. The black cars still came with gold chrome plated parts and the red car had silver chrome plated parts. The box cover was the same as the 1979 kit however the information on the sides was changed to reflect the 1980 features. Value for an unbuilt factory sealed kit in mint condition is in the $25.00-$35.00 range.

 


Firebird Promotional Models continued...

 

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