1977 Pontiac Kammback (Type K)

The original Firebird Type K was done in 1977 under the direction of GM executive designer David Holls. Studio stylist Jerry Brockstein did much of the detail work. The first Type K (for Kammback) was conceived on the base Firebird, not the Trans Am. Early prototypes were built of fiberglass. GM Design VP met with Italian builder Pininfarina and arranged to have two metal-bodied Type K’s constructed for show purposes. In late 1977, Pininfarina delivered the twin wagons - a silver one with a red interior and a gold one with natural beige interior. These were 1978 cars, later converted to look like 1979-80 models.

General Motors caught people’s imagination when it displayed the hot-looking Firebird Trans Am Type K wagon. The Type K (Kammback) roof extended to the vertical rear end. Curved side windows served as lift-up hatch covers, but the back window was fixed in place. Pininfarina construct two versions of the two-door wagon, one that was silver with red interior, and another painted gold with beige cabin. Stock Trans Am power train consisted of a 400 cubic inch V-8 with four-barrel carburetor, and standard automatic tranny.