In a recent discussion with a fellow Firebird enthusiast, the topic of second-generation Trans Ams equipped with the Cordova Top option arose. Keen hobbyists are aware that 1974 Trans Ams were produced with a factory-installed padded vinyl roof.
It seems that the option was available on 1975 Trans Ams, too. While I hadn’t ever seen one, I discovered the possibility while writing my second-gen Firebird book and hope to document one someday. I’m hoping PontiacV8.com readers might be able to help me with that.
It’s well known that the Cordova Top was available on Firebird, Esprit, and Formula models beginning with the 1970 model year. It wasn’t, however, available on the Trans Am because of its roof stripe and Pontiac spelled that out in its 1970 to 1972 new-car sales materials. The Cordova Top proved popular with Firebird buyers through 1973 with volume ranging between 11,000 and 16,000 units depending upon the model year. My dad’s 1973 Formula 400 was one such example.
Once the Trans Am’s roof stripe went away in 1973, Pontiac considered removing that model’s Cordova Top restriction for the 1974 model year. On March 12, 1973, Pontiac’s Sales department initiated an internal engineering request to expand C08 Cordova Top’s availability to Trans Am reasoning that it expected to produce about 700 such cars. Since no capital investment was required, Pontiac approved the Cordova Top option for the 1974 Trans Am on March 20, 1973.
Pontiac production records indicate that C08 Cordova Top was installed onto 14,198 Firebirds during the 1974 model year. While there’s presently no known breakdown by Firebird model, I know of several 1974 Trans Ams—including a handful of SD-455 cars—that were factory-equipped with the $87 padded roof option.
Despite significant Firebird model line growth for 1975, those equipped with C09 Cordova Top had dropped to just 8,577. I cannot find any Pontiac literature stating that C09 Cordova Top was not available on the 1975 Trans Am, so we can only assume that availability was carried over from 1974
As previously noted, I’ve yet to document a 1975 Trans Am equipped with a factory-installed padded vinyl roof. However, I did locate a vintage newspaper advertisement for a near-new 1975 Trans Am reportedly equipped one.
Firebird’s padded vinyl roof treatment changed for 1976 to a CB7 canopy style (partial top positioned over the front portion). Sales literature that model year clearly states of its unavailability on Trans Am. The appearance and/or positioning of the padded vinyl roof would change in the following years, but it appears that Trans Am’s restriction carried out for the remainder of the second-gen Firebird production run.
Whether subtle by matching the body color or stark by contrasting it, a second-generation Trans Am equipped with a Cordova Top may not be in everyone’s taste—particularly on such a sleek sports car. Vinyl roofs were extremely popular during the 1960s and into the early-1970s and many aftermarket companies offered them. It’s unsurprising to find that Pontiac’s Sales department pushed to offer the Cordova Top as factory-installed option on mid-1970s Trans Am when it became conveniently possible.
Were you aware that the Cordova Top was available on 1974 and 1975 Trans Ams? And more so, have you ever seen one?