Pontiac Firebird

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The Pontiac Firebird was introduced in February, 1967, 5 months after its Chevrolet Camaro corporate twin was introduced. The Firebird, along with the Camaro, was GM's answer to the astoundingly successful Ford Mustang, and were known as F-bodies. The Firebird would ultimately be offered in a few different variants, not the least of which was the successful and iconic Trans Am model. Although the Firebird would span 36 model years, it would only see 4 different variations until GM decided to throw in the towel on it after 2002. The Firebird, like its corporate twin, the Camaro, would throughout its lifetime ___ a very enthusiastic and loyal fanbase, one that still remains strong today despite it no longer being in existence.

This will briefly cover all four generations:

1st Generation (1967-1969)

1967

Firebird's premier year, it differed from its Camaro twin by having a different nose and tail, and used its own Pontiac-produced drivetrains. The Firebird had quad headlights surrounded by a split, protruding-center chrome loop bumper and 2 long, thin vertical taillights with the reverse lights in the center in the rear. Bodystyles included a 2-door hardtop coupe and a convertible. Pontiac offered no fastback versions of the Firebird, unlike Ford and Plymouth, which offered fastback versions of the Mustang and Barracuda. Base engine was a 3.8L (230 cid) OHC I6 in 1bbl and 4bbl versions for the Sprint model (an overhead cam being a Pontiac-exclusive). Optional was the 5.3L (326 cid) V8 (in base and "H.O." versions), with the top engine being the 6.6L (400 cid) V8, borrowed from the GTO. The 400 could have a "ram air" option which included a larger-overlap, longer-duration cam, a beefed-up valvetrain for 6000 rpm operation - and functional dual hood scoops. All engines could have a 3- or 4-speed manual or a 2- or 3-speed automatic (the 3-speed automatic was the only automatic available with the 400 engine).

1968

The 1968 Firebird used the same body as in 1967, but there were noticeable visual differences. Front side vent windows were eliminated, and the front parking lamps were moved outboard of the front valance and doubled as side-marker lights, which had been federally mandated this year. The rear side markers were in the shape of the Pontiac arrowhead symbol. There were substantial drivetrain changes, however: the base 3.8L I6 was enlarged to a 4.1L (250 cid) unit, and still had the unique overhead-cam design, and again available in 1- or 4-bbl guises. The 326 V8 had been discontinued in favor of the 5.7L (350 cid) V8, in 2- or 4-bbl versions. Both versions of the 400 V8 continued as before, as the previous year's transmission choices. Firebird's sales were not as strong as its Camaro twin (or Ford's Mustang), but it was definitely making an indelible impression among pony-car fans and was proving to be a solid contender. And as the years would progress, it would only get stronger.

1969

The Firebird received a restyle this year, the basic body was slightly enlarged, the fender and wheel wells would become more pronounced and in line with the popular "coke-bottle" and "longer-lower-wider" styling themes. The hood had become longer, and the chrome loop grille no longer surrounded the headlights - they were now in their own separate individual openings (a look the GTO would copy a year later). Drivetrain choices would remain the same as in the previous year, but this year, an all-new Firebird model would appear, and one that would leave a permanent impression in Firebird history: the Trans Am. Trans Ams differed from the rest of the Firebird line by having the 400 V8 standard, in either standard or ram-air guise, 3- or 4-speed manual transmission or 3-speed automatic. The 1969 Trans Am would be a very limited-edition model, with only 697 coupes and 8 convertibles - making the '69 Trans Am one of the most coveted and collectible Pontiacs of all time. All Trans Ams shared a white body with blue hood and deck stripes paint scheme with a raised spoiler and blue taillight panel. It is believed that Trans Am convertibles all had blue convertible tops. There would be an all new Firebird planned for 1970, and since it would not debut until February 1970, the 1969 Firebird was offered through the end of December, 1969 as an extended model year.

To be continued...