Pontiac Firebird Will Return For 2009 Year

Recently some news that General Motors will bring back a retro-styled Camaro for the 2008 model year was announced. But now it seems a few months later that Pontiac will bring back a new retro-styled Firebird that looks somewhat similar to the very popular Tran Am models of the 1970's, including hood graphics strikingly similar to the 70's Trans Am hood graphics.

No doubt this model will feature some sort of high perfmance V8, and despite rapidly increasing gas prices, aging baby boomer types who grew up with the Camaro and Firebird as young guys will want to own one in high enough numbers that these retro cars will prove popular enough to be profitable sellers for the struggling GM.

The retro-styled Ford Mustang has already proven iteself as a big hit among the public. High gas prices will not deter a determined market for fun retro cars. As bank accounts grow from aging baby boomers, the cash flow necessary to buy such higher dollar fun cars is there and these retro cars generally prove themselves to be a big hit with buyers. But a few recent retro styled cars such as the Ford Thunderbird never really ignited the public interest as well as it should of and was eventually dropped.

Other interesting retro or special interest cars such as the Chevy SSR are lower selling models due to a steep $39,000+ price range. The SSR looks like a 1950's styled truck in a retro sort of way but with a 390hp V8 and other awesome features.

Original 70's cars, especially the high performance models are gaining a higher and higher price on Ebay recently. Late 60's and 70's high performance cars like AMX, Javelin, Mustang, Challenger, Camaro, Firebird, Baracuda and others are gaining high prices. Some 426 Hemi powered Roadrunner models have even gone for absurd levels in private and Ebay auctions, including over $120,000.

Sometimes famous automoble names appear in a retro way on other items. Schwinn bicycles has a 2006 Gremlin model, which comes in green and is priced at $139.99. But the defunct American Motors Corporation whose assets were assimilated into Daimler-Chrysler is not likely to produce any retro Gremlin in the near future, however on Ebay the prices of 1970's Gremlins have taken a steep upward tun in the last few years. In fact just this year alone, three new diecast toy car replicas of 1970's AMC Gremlins have hit the market. Johnny Lightning has produced a super detailed 1/64 scale 1972 V8 model in silver and Motor Max has produced two beautiful 1974 Gremlin models in beautiful colors including a highly detailed 1/24 one with opening hood and doors. The smaller 1/64 model is also a real prize as well. So far the Johnny Lightning model has proven to draw the highest market values, although both Motor Max models should not be ignored. The 1/24 scale model is nearly the quality of Franklin Mint cars for a bargain prive of around $14.99.

But the American love affair with all things 70's seem to be manifesting itself in a robust market for retro automobiles as baby boomers with large portfolios seek out these fun automobile products either by a purchase of the restored or good condition original 70's cars or through the purchase of the new retro-styled models.