He humbly replied, "Somehow, and this is a theory of mine, a car design, like any work of art, embodies the feelings and emotions of the designers who create it. When the chemistry of talent, experience, intelligence, and enthusiasm all come together at the right time, the car begins to take on a life of its own and emits certain vibes. Some designs are like fads-their vibes are transient, but others continue to have appeal over a long period of time and become classics. Needless to say, I am very grateful that I was at the right place at the right time to contribute to a car that still gives enjoyment to people many years after it was created."
 The rear-end treatment begins...  The rear-end treatment begins to take shape. The bumper is inset and indexed with the body's character line. A sharp crease defines the turndown of the deck-lid and rear quarters. Some of this may have been lost when GM upper management required that the Firebird and Camaro share a common rear-end inner structure. The exhaust cutouts in the valance were deemed too costly for production. |  Here is a production model....  Here is a production model. A reflow process was used on assembly lines to correct paint blemishes by warming the exterior finish. Rich red colors apparently didn't reflow well, which likely led to the use of light and darker shades of red, such as Buccaneer and Cardinal on production models in different years. |  A group of Firebirds and Camaros...  A group of Firebirds and Camaros is in the final stages of production and nearing the trek from the assembly line to a dealer for delivery. Notice the Trans Am in the foreground is missing its nose bird and roof stripe. |
Conclusion
In an age where some consider late-model auto styling rather mundane, only now are we gaining an even greater appreciation for the efforts of Porter and his entire design team. Nothing today bears even the remotest resemblance to the Second-Gen Firebird or its timeless styling and, when on the road, its flowing body lines still command the attention of enthusiasts and the general public alike-a true testament to its beauty and classic looks. So the next time you have an opportunity to view a Second-Gen Firebird model up close, step back and take in its entire shape. You, too, might realize how lucky we are to have had Bill Porter and his design team on our side!
Special Thanks To Jeff Denison, Robert Tate and Brian Baker of GM Design for going above and beyond the call of duty to provide most of the design photos shown in this story.