I’m not certain that a vehicle from any model year with a VIN 350+ after onset would/could be considered a pilot vehicle. Generally speaking, pilot vehicles were assembled before typical production of preceding model years ended. The exception, obviously, would be specialty models introduced midyear such as the 1969 Judge or Trans Am.
We must remember that the 1970 F-car was delayed and Pontiac chose the opening of the Chicago Auto Show for Firebird’s official release. Firebird’s official “Announcement Day” (public release) was February 26, 1970, which loosely coincided with the opening of the Chicago Auto Show a few days earlier. Interested consumers could venture to select local Pontiac dealers and see a new 1970 Firebird on that same day as attendees of the Chicago Auto Show. The Firebird models placed at local dealers for Announcement Day was not always—and apparently rarely—a Trans Am.
To ensure new 1970 Firebirds placement throughout the country for the February 26th Announcement Day, regular production began in very early January 1970. According to internal memos in my collection, Pontiac produced more than 2,500 1970 Firebirds in January and more than 5,000 in February (through 2/20/70). The Trans Am accounted for roughly 300 of them.
Pontiac shipped these Firebirds to dealers on a consignment basis under a bulletin agreement dated December 23, 1969. The division stipulated that the cars were Pontiac property and couldn’t be sold without title, to which Pontiac held transfer of until (roughly) Announcement Day.
Included in the pre-introduction production ramp-up were media cars intended for press previews, which were mostly located on the east and west coast for magazine and newspapers writers. Most media days were held in mid-to-late January 1970. Detailed Firebird info was released to the press on February 10, 1970. I don’t know if these cars were sold to dealers/the public at a discount or returned to Pontiac and destroyed. However, we do know that (5) “pilot” cars were built. They include:
Polar White Trans Am (R/A IV 4-speed)
Lucerne Blue Formula 400 (R/A III 4-speed)
Cardinal Red Formula 400 (standard L78 auto)
Castilian Bronze Esprit
Keylime Green Firebird
It’s quite possible that these particular Firebirds were those campaigned at various new-car shows across the country.
And as it relates to the Trans Am sold new through Andy Klein Pontiac in Kansas City (subject of this post) as well as Paul K’s, which was sold new through Peoples Pontiac in Chicago, if an early Firebird is sold as a discount (like the subject car’s invoice shows), they were likely little more than standard production Firebird—albeit very early built—that could used as Zone displays/demonstrators to introduce the model to dealers and/or public and not likely “brass hat” cars. Without documentation, however, it’s anyone’s guess!
|