Pontiac Firebird Sky Bird : 1978

The 1978 Firebird Sky Birds were essentially direct copies of the show car, but the Blue Bird Body Company of Georgia refused to allow use of the original name. The number of Sky Birds isn't available, but the package has some extra appeal to modern Firebird collectors and seem to be getting scarce.

New for 1977, and based on a 1976 show car called the Blue Bird, was a W60 Sky Bird option package for the Esprits. The decals on the Skybird were also unique and a BIG departure from normal Firebird practice. These decals included royal blue double pinstripes, two-tone bird decals, "Sky Bird" scripts, and a two-tone border around the bottom accent color and tail panel.

With no reason to mess with success, the 1978 Firebird and Trans Am basically carried over from the '77 except that there were a lot more "special editions" like a gold Trans Am with brown accents and blue "Sky Bird" and red "Red Bird" Firebirds. America snatched up 93,341 Trans Ams and 93,944 other Firebirds for an astounding total of 187,285 - the best sales year ever.

The Sky bird package contained many unique featurs such as:
- Two-tone blue finish, medium blue upper - dark blue lower
- Blue trimmed snowflake wheels
- Medium blue grille liners
- Blue-accendted taillights bezels
- Sky Bird sail panel decals
- Bodyside tape stripes, in graduating tones of blue
- Blue Custom interior
- Blue Formula steering wheels
- Blue Custom seat belts

(source: pontiacpower)

This featured 1978 Sky Bird is essentaily the same as the pervious year but with the updated interior for 1978. This car was found on Ebay a few months ago. It sold for over $12,500. The special edition Firebird had only 4,000 actual miles and had never been titled.

The car was still on the original factory M.S.O. (Manufacturer's Statement of Origin). Dingman-Hatch Pontiac in Ocala Florida sold this car on January 13th 1978 to Polly Jane Burris who kept the car for 21 years. Polly and her husband owned Cardinal Motors in Ocala and therefore simply reassigned the M.S.O. and never titled or registered the car, on the rare occasion when the car was driven they did so on their dealer plate.

The car also had all the original documents like the window sticker, bill of sale, packet of books and owners manual, dealer inspection sheet, sales brochure and Manufacturer's Statement of Origin. (interior shown).

When the Skybird debuted in 1977, it had a ton of unique features. First among these were the colors. The top color, Code 21 Lombard Blue, was borrowed from the Astre (translation: Vega). This color wasn't used on other Firebirds.

The lower color wasn't used on anything else. Its paint code in 1977 is obscure, but was 58 in 1978 (shown). It's the same color in 1977 as evidenced by the listing of accent colors on the 1977 chips. (The gold color given in the table is for "Bandit" Trans Ams.) These are both really beautiful colors. The lower color is so bold it might look strange on a whole car.

This 1978 advertisement at right shows all three Pontiac Firebird Sky Bird packages together (the gold T/A shown is not quite a special edition). These are the Sky/Red/Yellowbirds.

James Maass2949 days ago

I have this car. It has been garaged since 1977, it was originally my mom's car, and I received it from her after she passed away. It is cosmetically perfect, but the engine needs some tlc as it has not really been driven since 1990. Any thoughts from anyone? And no I don't want to sell the wheels or car, but would love to get it going and toss it into some shows in honor of my deceased mother.

Gerard Kila2686 days ago

Whe have a very beautifull skybird for sale. Whe buy it from a guy and shipped it to the Netherlands. It whas better to let the car in the us because in the us are more collectors than in europe. Iff someone is interested see my website www.jurger-usa.nl
Whe have a hobby company and sales only camaros and firebirds and whe have always 20 a 25 cars in stock.
Greets Gerard

Melly2584 days ago

We have one for sale, in central NYS. $33k miles. $5000, included original window sticker and vintage NYS plates. Pics available upon request.

Bob2392 days ago

Melly,

How can I contact you about your Skybird?

I am in Buffalo, NY

michael a collinssr2116 days ago

we have a 77 skybird with only 18,000 miles on it it was the feature car in march 2010 high performance mag 1 won big at trans an nationals been offered 2 times $50.000 for it !! trying to find a red bird, a yellow bird to complete the collection!

Tammy Alexander1883 days ago

im very interested in buying this car or any car like it that is in good condition. please contact me if you have one for sale
tammy

John n Dee1823 days ago

Bay Shore, NY - we have a beautiful 77 white Fire Bird Espirit - it does not have the snow flake rims- it was ordered with petal rims, deluxe fire-red velour interior, power windows, A/C, formula hood, 301 V8, matching numbers everything, TLC by ASE master mechanic Frank Molina included re-building the bottom & top of the engine to that Pontiac hum- when it starts is purrs. Its in storage and I hardly get to drive it. The car deserves to be driven and shown, I just do not have the time tween kids, work etc.. Any one interested, send inquires to johnfamig93@optiumum.net - and let him know Dee posted about the 77 Fire Bird.

jenyanity1802 days ago

Looking for any light blue firebird...model year 1977 or 1978...if you have one for sale give me a shout!

willie 1422 days ago

Mother in law just gave me her 1977 sky bird Pontiac with 32k miles on it still in great shape. She had a pop up sunroof put in it but how much is the car really worth? NO I DONT WANT TO SELL... FAMILY CAR..

Shelley trampnau1171 days ago

My first car was a 1978 blue sky bird Firebird. I am looking to find one back again. If anyone has one please give me a call 404-376-1948.

Jerry1125 days ago

Shelley, I have a 77 Skybird and I am in your area. The car is not for sale though. I am in the process of restoring it.

MICHAEL COLLINSSR1108 days ago

We still have the skybird ! We went to the trans am nationals this year, we got beat by would you believe by 2 redbirds there were 3 redbirds there they all have a 305 chevy motors in them, ours has the pontiac 350 in it.

Pontiac high performance magazine will have a feature `write up on all the redbirds and our skybird they said it should be out by march or april 2014. That makes our skybird will be the 5th time in the magazine including the 5 page feature article, oh yes i forgot, our 69 firebird took 2 nd place there this year and was in the magazine too same time as the skybird.

Jana Hensley927 days ago

I bought one of these brand new in 1977 and sold it. I am looking to buy another in good condition, good paint, wheels, and motor. Please message me at the email address provided!

ryan delicato840 days ago

i have a 78 firebird skybird with 305 and 74,000 miles and i am in the process of restoring it now

James guthrie402 days ago

This was my first car in 2004, bought from original owner still have it and ready to part ways with it, not the best looking but still origanl exterior and I have an extra set of rims. Email for pictures.

ryan delicato369 days ago

how much james