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The Birth of the Pony Car and Pontiac's Ambitions
Once upon a time in the late 1960s, the automotive world was ignited by the birth of the pony car. Ford's Mustang, that sleek, accessible stallion, stormed the market in 1964 and left everyone scrambling to launch their own competitor. Pontiac, ever the dreamers, had their eyes on something special—a two-seater based on their radical Banshee concept car. But GM wasn’t having it. Worried it would cannibalize their precious Corvette, they told Pontiac to take a step back. Not deterred, Pontiac had another card up their sleeve: take the humble Camaro and twist it into something distinctly Pontiac. Enter the Firebird.
The Wagon That Almost Was
By the time the '70s rolled around, the Firebird was a respected player in the pony car derby. But, as any good petrolhead knows, standing still is the fastest way to get overtaken. So, Pontiac’s designers were back at it, looking to re-imagine their fiery steed for the next generation. Enter the Type K—Pontiac’s wild and somewhat forgotten attempt to create a sports car/wagon hybrid. Yes, you read that right.
Italian Flair Meets American Muscle
The project fell into the hands of David R. Holls, GM’s executive design chief, and Jerry Brockstein, one of the studio's stylists. Their vision? A Firebird-based wagon with a sharper, more usable design. Initial prototypes were crude fiberglass models that looked like something out of a design school project, but they caught the eye of William L. Mitchell, GM's VP of Design. Mitchell had the connections and the vision to make this dream a reality, so he reached out to none other than Sergio Pininfarina—yes, the same Pininfarina whose name is synonymous with Ferrari—to help bring the Type K to life.
Too Cool, Too Costly
By late 1977, two hand-crafted Type Ks were ready, courtesy of the Italian maestro. One came in silver with a racy red interior, and the other shimmered in gold with a natural beige interior. Imagine a Trans Am with a bit of Ferrari flair—a wagon that looked fast standing still, and unlike anything else on the road. They were essentially showpieces, with the design hinting at the future Firebirds of 1979 and beyond.
The concept was a hit, but production, as always, was the stumbling block. Pontiac realized that if they actually put these Kammback beauties into production, the cost would be astronomical. Built in Italy or a custom plant in the U.S., they would have cost twice as much as a standard Firebird coupe. So, with a sigh of resignation, Pontiac shelved the Type K project, and the two original prototypes became little more than footnotes in the brand's history. Or so it seemed.
A Hollywood Comeback
In a twist worthy of Hollywood, the Type K idea didn’t die—it just went underground. Deco International Corp. in North Hollywood picked up the torch in 1980, producing replica Type Ks with fiberglass bodies mounted over a steel framework. At $15,000 a pop for the conversion (quite a sum for the time), these replicas had a niche market, appealing to those with deep pockets and a taste for something truly unique.
The Survivor: A Rare Bird in Private Hands
But what about the original Type Ks? That’s where this story gets juicy. One of the originals, the very same gold-bodied beauty, found its way into private hands. By the early '80s, Pontiac had sold it off to a lucky Texan, who then passed it through various owners until it landed with a certain Mr. McMullen in 1993. McMullen, clearly a man of fine taste, realized the importance of this rarest of rare Firebirds and commissioned a full restoration by the legendary Scott Tieman. The result? A no-expense-spared masterpiece, restored to concours standards.
In 1995, this meticulously restored Type K strutted its stuff at the Pontiac Nationals, taking home first prize. And why wouldn’t it? It was one of only two ever made, and the only one in private hands. With just 36,540 original miles on the clock and having seen little action since its restoration, this Firebird was not just a showstopper—it was a piece of automotive history.
The Specifications: Performance Meets Practicality
As it stands today, the Type K remains a unicorn—a nearly mythical car that was ahead of its time, a wagon with the heart of a muscle car. With its 403 cu. in. V8 delivering a respectable 185 horsepower, a three-speed automatic, and a platform that still featured Pontiac’s signature independent front suspension and live rear axle, the Type K wasn’t just about looks—it had the performance credentials to back it up. Not that you’d ever want to push it too hard; this “wagon” is more suited to concours lawns than quarter-mile drag strips.
The Legacy of the Type K
Ultimately, the 1978 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Type K remains one of the most intriguing “what ifs” in American automotive history. What if Pontiac had gone all in? What if it had caught on? We’ll never know, but for one lucky collector, this rare bird has already spread its wings.
