Bill Mitchell's V-12 1971 Trans Am

TransAmer99 · Joined: 21 Jun 2008 Posts: 97 Location: 281 Spring, TX

A rare 'Bird indeed! Note the early iteration of the wrap-around rear glass. Sharp viewers may notice inconsistancies between the earlier black & white images and the later color ones. This car was specially commissioned for GM President Bill Mitchell in 1970. He was fascinated by Ferarri's V-12 engines, along with the late-'50's Testa Rosa styling, and wanted to see how one would perform in an F-body. He wrecked the car by losing control on icy roads (this was his daily driver for a time) and during the rebuild, requested that the split front grill be eliminated.
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poncholvr · Joined: 29 Feb 2008 Posts: 104

looks like a ford,jaguar,and camero all crapped together
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my T.A has more horses than Budweiser

HotWings · Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 6:00 am Post subject:

That's an interesting looking car. I wonder how much flak somebody would get for doing that to a 71 Bird nowadays though. Wink

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1978 Firebird
12.80@104.5mph

Raptor · Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 30

I really like it, that's a very cool idea. Though he pinstriping doesn't suit the car at all IMO.
The V12 motor comes from a Ferrari 365GT4 Daytona.
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François Martinez
- 1979 Pontiac Firebird Esprit "Solar Gold" (resto project)

Nate · Joined: 29 Feb 2008 Posts: 416 Location: Owensboro, KY

Quite a peculiar car...wasn't expecting that at all. Very interesting...
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1979 Pontiac Firebird Redbird

http://www.cardomain.com/id/oldblue1981

sir english firebird · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 2:29 am Post subject:

Where do you keep finding these mate?

i had no idea that anything like this existed?? Is there more?
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The V8 made me do it officer!

TransAmer99 · Joined: 21 Jun 2008 Posts: 97 Location: 281 Spring, TX

There were a bunch of one-offs, prototypes and limited editions. Not to mention third party tuners like Dennis Mecham's (DKM) 'Macho T/As', Herb Adams' 'Fire Ams' and many others. Many had factory blessings; others merely received tacit aproval.

The link between Firebird and Banshee is pretty unique. Pontiac made several Banshees as test vehicles to gauge public reception to proposed design changes to the Firebird lineup. They would go out on the show circuit for a year or so and then came back in for cosmetic (and sometimes mechanical) updates.

GM has had a few flamboyant leaders in its storied past. Unfortunately, the stuffed suits generally win out over time. But for brief periods, visionaries could be found at the helm and they could order just about anything they wanted in the way of a concept or a personal vehicle. Many times, such cars started as a Firebird. Such was the case with Bill Mitchell and the Pegasus.

The history of the Firebird is one of the aspects of the hobby that keeps me digging for more. Here's another 'Mitchell Bird' I think you'll find amazing:

For more about this car (it's the concept car from 1974 that led to the production of the 50th Anniversary '76 TA), click the link below:

http://www.78ta.com/73le.htm
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