Spirit of 76

The 'Spirit of 76' pinball machine, released by Gottlieb in 1975, was perfectly timed to capitalize on America's upcoming bicentennial celebrations. This patriotic-themed machine captured the zeitgeist of the era, when the United States was preparing for its 200th anniversary of independence in 1976.

The machine featured classic Americana artwork including imagery inspired by the famous 'Spirit of '76' painting by Archibald Willard, with revolutionary war drummers and fifers prominently displayed. The playfield incorporated red, white, and blue color schemes, patriotic symbols, and bicentennial-themed targets. As one of the last electro-mechanical machines produced before the solid-state revolution, it represented the pinnacle of EM engineering with reliable mechanisms and engaging gameplay features.

Gameplay focused on hitting drop targets and rollovers that spelled out '1776' and 'USA,' with special scoring modes activated by completing these patriotic combinations. The machine's success was helped by its timing, as it remained on location during the height of bicentennial fever in 1976. Approximately 4,000 units were manufactured, making it a moderately common machine for its era, though well-maintained examples are now considered desirable by collectors of historical pinball machines.

The 'Spirit of 76' holds a special place in pinball history as one of the most memorable themed machines of the bicentennial era, bridging the gap between classic electro-mechanical design and the solid-state revolution that would transform the industry just a few years later.