Car buyers today are treated to vehicles that are generally reliable, well sorted, and relatively efficient, but they rarely get many color options. Those who came to a Pontiac showroom to order a Firebird in 1970 were given a veritable crayon-box of color options — 22 to be specific — all with names that rival the names of paint products found at a local hardware store. With titles like Orbit Orange, Castilian Gold, Goldenrod Yellow, Palisade Green, Bermuda Blue, Palomino Copper, Mint Turquoise, and Starlight Black, a Firebird customer was limited only by their imagination and good taste.
Unlike lower trim levels of the Firebird, the 1970 Trans Am was available in only two different liveries: white with blue stripes, or blue with white stripes. Other Trans Am-identifying design elements included a shaker hood scoop to feed the Ram Air intake, front and rear spoilers, and wheel flares that added to its ready-to-race look.
With its limited production numbers, status as a transitional model between the first two generations, unique interior and exterior design elements, and Ram Air engine options, the 1970 Pontiac Firebird series is most definitely a collectible classic and a milestone in the badge’s heritage.
