[thefirebirdm@n]

So there are a couple of different accounts on how the hood bird came about. Michael Lamm tells one version of the story in his book, "The Fabulous Firebird". Jeff Denison wrote an article for NFTAC and told a slightly different story.

Some version of the bird graphics was presented by the design team in 1970 but Bill Porter hated it and rejected it. He was replaced by John Schinella in 1971. I've never seen anything documented about the design team continuing with the bird concept until 1973 but I doubt they waited that long. I wonder if, after John came in, they continued with the concept to, as someone else mentioned here gauge the public's reaction. The hood bird on this car is much smaller and that may have been on purpose to not overwhelm anyone with a larger graphic or maybe at the time in 71 that was the size they were considering.

I heard John talked about the bird evolution at a POCI event a few years back. Anyone attend that?

[transam1972]

well it was a thought!...thanks 2MANYTAs for posting the link and thankyou JUDGE273 for the supersize photo!..I was desperate to figure out how to save it??!!when you think of the end of the 60s and the start of the 70s and all of the cool cars and just popping your hood and being able to tune your own engine and no 5mph bumpers and the cars styling...hard to imagine how the car could have evolved had emissions and the safety had not been involved...SD -455 in 115,000 production TRANS AMs!!......by the way, I still do not think that's a production paint job...also notice the slight difference in paint from the endura bumper to the rest of the car....Mitchells shows the same non matching colours...what throws me is the unique blue dash and other blue accents on the Mitchel car and this car has some definite non production blue interior....does anyone think that is some sort of nonCameo white?...is it pearl??

[bird72]

With the later Mitchell car and this seemingly earlier one, it is starting to look like possible cumulative evidence that the hood bird evolved from this smaller design initially done on two cars. I can see where the final size big version may have been too outlandish to come to even their minds initially.

[SD73]

Originally Posted by bird72

With the later Mitchell car and this seemingly earlier one, it is starting to look like possible cumulative evidence that the hood bird evolved from this smaller design initially done on two cars. I can see where the final size big version may have been too outlandish to come to even their minds initially.

I think it was limitations 3M had on the size of the graphics they could produce at that time. Of course, Pontiac pushed the bleeding edge again and when they got the technology to make them bigger, Pontiac jumped on board head first.

[transam1972]

20 years ago I would have been more into the model, now its all about the car..damn testosterone..that problem aside..before this hits page 2 can anyone determine if that is non Cameo white?...is that pearl?...I must know...and in over 40 + years of following these cars, this is the coolest photo ever..because of the car!!!..if I had an extra, and extra $, I would build a tribute!..how cool is that paint and undersized bird on a 71??...any way, thoughts on the paint??

[2manyT/A'S]

Originally Posted by transam1972

20 years ago I would have been more into the model, now its all about the car..damn testosterone..that problem aside..before this hits page 2 can anyone determine if that is non Cameo white?...is that pearl?...I must know...and in over 40 + years of following these cars, this is the coolest photo ever..because of the car!!!..if I had an extra, and extra $, I would build a tribute!..how cool is that paint and undersized bird on a 71??...any way, thoughts on the paint??

I STILL want the GIRL..................

[Judge273]

My guess its not Cameo White as it would be more yellow....

[bossbirdta]

without question, the paint IS a Pearl White......

[transam1972]

I suppose that's why I thought it the Mitchell car...and remember 2MANY, cars don't talk back, there just 4 wheeled friends

[165th]

I just noticed one more small detail in this picture. There is a closure strip between the lower front valance and the bumper. I wonder if that was added just to dress the gap up for show, or if it was some way a precursor to the plastic lower valance?

[transam1972]

Originally Posted by 165th

I just noticed one more small detail in this picture. There is a closure strip between the lower front valance and the bumper. I wonder if that was added just to dress the gap up for show, or if it was some way a precursor to the plastic lower valance?

..most definitely..my 72 had an SR metal valance and I opted for the fiberglass replacement, that by the way fits and mounts perfect...and I do prefer the look as it is a more finished off appearance...the lip on the bottom of the bumper was painted black at the factory for a reason..alot of guys repaint the front bumper and forget to do that and it really draws attemtion and an unfinished look..this show car and how they finished the gap white really works best when the car would be viewed head on...I wonder how many 1970 to 73 factory Trans Am show cars hit the circuit?

[2manyT/A'S]

Originally Posted by Judge273

My guess its not Cameo White as it would be more yellow....

It looks like Polar White....which does lean toward blue anyways......likely WHY it was chosen for the 70 T/A.

Add a dash of blue pearl........70's vintage "arena lighting" and a digitally converted Ecktachrome transparency.......LOTS of variables in this equation....

Can anybody see what color nailpolish she's wearing?

[RamAir]

quote:Can anybody see what color nailpolish she's wearing?

looks to be an acrylic clearcoat finish

[transam1972]

definitely early 70s outfit, perhaps PONTIAC picked her accessories to match the pearl paint..shes got a pearl bracelet, pearl earings just missing a pearl necklace..I cannot tell on the nailpolish though

[Lloyd-TX]

Originally Posted by transam1972

just missing a pearl necklace

[Judge273]

Enter ZZ top.....

[Lloyd-TX]

Originally Posted by Judge273

Enter ZZ top.....

Yup.

[transam1972]

who doesn't remember ZZ TOP and those songs with that car..every video was a sequel to the next..I can say that I am not familiar with all of ZZ TOPs songs so I did a search..they have a song Pearl Necklace and at the end of the song she gets her pearl necklace, really what woman doesn't like jewelry?..the worst is when you break up and they keep it...Ive had that happen

[Lloyd-TX]

Originally Posted by transam1972

who doesn't remember ZZ TOP and those songs with that car..every video was a sequel to the next..I can say that I am not familiar with all of ZZ TOPs songs so I did a search..they have a song Pearl Necklace and at the end of the song she gets her pearl necklace, really what woman doesn't like jewelry?..the worst is when you break up and they keep it...Ive had that happen

Well now, that wasn't exactly the kind of pearl necklace I was thinking about . . .

Wikipedia explains the lyric's true meaning least offensively . . .

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pearl_Necklace_%28song%29

[RamAir]

Am I the only one with a dirty mind?