Pontiac Firebirds of the early 1970s

NY Times

PONTIAC, Mich. Feb. 10, 1970 - A new Firebird auto model?was unveiled today by the Pontiac division of General Motors

The latest entry in the popular personalized sports-type field has what the division describes as a European flare. This is the long hood, short deck theme that was pioneered in this country by Ford's Mustang four years ago and has become the darling of Detroit's stylists. Before that it was available only in high-priced models from overseas.

The Firebird and its Chevrolet division counterpart, the Camaro, were not changed when the 1970s bowed last fall and only now are coming to market. The both will be in dealers' showrooms on Feb. 26.

The Firebird, unofficially a 1970 ½ car, is a four passenger vehicle in one body stile - a two-door hardtop. It will be offered in four models - a standard version with a six-cylinder engine of 155 horsepower and three more powerful cars: a luxury Esprit of 250 horsepower, a Formula

400 (signifying the cubic inch displacement) of 370 hp and the extra- high performance Trans Am of more than 400 hp. The three performance vehicles have V-8 engines.

The power-packed Formula 400 has a specially molded fiberglass hood with distinctive functional air scoops. It also has dual exhausts. The engine has a build-in air cleaner to help cut pollution.

In styling, the Firebird has a front bumper that wraps around a large single headlamp. There are concealed windshield wipers at extra cost and a wide variety of other sports-type options. Prices will not be announced until the new Firebird goes on sale, F. James McDonald, general manager of the division said.