So the GM Car Was Named After A Guitar?

The Ford Pinto.


... 🤔

And while you can say the GM car was named after the guitar, that is true from the perspective of time and history: the guitar was named first, the car was named second.

But there's no implication in the article that states the car got its name from the guitar. The article is really about Dietrich's design consulting with Gibson (and his association with the auto industry) because Fender was in the process of beating Gibson at their own game. The Firebird was essentially a Strat--25.5" scale, six-on-a-side tuners, custom car colors, three-pickup option--but with a set neck. And just like the Explorer and Flying V, it failed in the market because guitar players expected Gibson to produce guitars a certain way. The company strayed too far from their known-quantity production.

In an identical manner, all of Fender's attempts to lure in jazz players failed; the Jazzmaster was adopted by punks instead, when used Jazzmasters were so cheap you couldn't give them away. All of Fender's attempts at building a hollowbody jazz box were unsuccessful because guitar players expected a certain kind of guitar from them.

What Gibson am I thinking of? This is a quiz.

For me!

Just as an aside, Aussie guitar makers Maton released a guitar called the Fyrbyrd at about the same time ('62 or '63).
A fine looking instrument in my opinion.