1967 FIREBIRD

• The first Firebird was made at Lordstown, Ohio, in early January 1967.
• Pontiac offered both a coupe and a convertible on February 23, 1967.
• The basic structure of the 1967 Firebird was based on the Camaro.
• The sheet metal of the front fenders, door skins, and rear quarters were borrowed from the Camaro.
• Pontiac added the split front grille, a beaked hood, and taillights patterned after the GTO.
• External features included:
  • sculptured body styling
  • twin grilles of a bumper-integral design
  • front vent windows
  • three vertical air slots on the leading edge of the rear body panels
• Although the frame and shell was borrowed from the Camaro, the engines were built by Pontiac.
• Some think that the overhead cam engine was the exclusive choice of European and Japanese cars while American cars favored only the pushrod overhead valve engines.
• However, Pontiac fielded an overhead cam (OHC) inline six cylinder engine with 230 cid (3.8-liter) producing 165 horsepower (gross rating) fueled through a one-barrel carburetor.
• The OHC engine could be beefed up with a four-barrel carburetor and an increased compression ratio (from 9:1 to 10.5:1) and thus produce 215 hp.
• The six cylinder engine could be mated to one of three transmission options:
  • Three-speed manual
  • Four-speed manual
  • Two-speed Powerglide automatic
• Because the horsepower pony race was on, many buyers chose the V8 engine to compete with Mustang and Camaro.
• Again there were four V8 engine options:
  • 250-hp two-barrel 326 cid
  • 285-hp four-barrel 326 cid
  • 325-hp four-barrel 400 cid
  • 335-hp ram air four-barrel 400 cid
• Four transmission options were available:
  • Three-speed manual
  • Four-speed manual
  • Two-speed Powerglide automatic
  • Three-speed Turbo-hydramatic automatic
• Bucket seats were standard.
• Two body styles (coupe and convertible) were offered and came with any of the Tempest or GTO power trains.
• However, the two body styles were marketed in five "model-options" created by adding RPOs in specific combinations.
• Production records were not kept according to the RPO packages, but by the number of sixes and V-8s built with standard or deluxe appointments.
• The model-option such as Sprint, H.O., and 400 are described in the optional equipment section below.

1967 Firebird Notes

• The Firebird debuted Feb. 23, 1967.
• A "Fitchbird" (a performance-oriented package for Firebirds) was marketed by racing car builder and driver John Fitch.
• It had a 400-cid or 428-cid V-8 and the so-called "His-And-Her" transmission that allowed conventional shifting of the automatic gear selector.