Pontiac Firebird Series 1

Introduction

There is an interesting story behind the creation of the 1967 Pontiac Firebird. At the time of its creation, the head of the Pontiac Division was John Delorean. Delorean had envisioned a much sportier car to compete with the Ford Mustang.

The original Delorean had designed was a two seat sports car with a body style very similar to what was to later become the Corvette body shape. Because the management of General Motors wanted to compete with the Ford Mustang and the arrival of the Chevrolet Camaro, the two seater was scrapped.

In an effort to have a sports car available as soon as possible, Pontiac used the existing F body of the Chevrolet Camaro. Design changes included a distinctive Pontiac split nose piece, a modified hood and changes in the rear end. The drivetrains were existing stock from the G.T.O., Tempest and LeMans with minor alterations. The Pontiac Firebird was introduced to the public on February 23, 1967. Two body styles were available: a two-door coupe and a two-door convertible.

The Pontiac offered the Firebird with a choice of five different engines. At the end of the 1967 production cycle, Pontiac produced 67,032 two door coupes and 15,528 convertibles. The total production of the 1967 Firebird was 82,560. Standard equipment on all 1967 Firebirds included manual steering and brakes, monoleaf rear suspension and standard E70X14 tyres.

Optional included power steering, power brakes, power front disc brakes, 2 speed automatic transmission (except the 400 which received the 3 speed) and several choices of wheels (Both styled steel wheels and slotted Rally wheels were available). The convertibles offered additional options of a power top and fold down rear seat. Pontiac offered 5 different engine choices.


The standard 230 cubic inch OHC six-cylinder was rated at 165 hp. The Pontiac six featured an overhead camshaft. Firebirds so equipped got 3.8 litre overhead cam lettering on both sides of the hood bulge. Pontiac offered an optional 215 hp engine on the Firebird Sprint models. The Sprint models a four-barrel Quadrajet carburettor and a hotter cam. The Sprint models got OHC 6 emblems on the front part of the rocker panels. The Firebird 326 models got a two-barrel version of Pontiac's 326 cubic inch V-8 rated 250 hp.

Body markings included the number 326 on the hood and trunk lid. Firebird 326 HO was rated at 285 hp. The engine had a higher compression, a four barrel Rochester Quadrajet carburettor and dual exhaust system. The Firebird received a HO stripe along the sides of the car for identification. The biggest Firebird engine, the 400 cubic inch was rated at 325 hp.

The 400's hood came with a unique air tunnels. The 400 Firebird offered the optional Ram Air Package. This made hood scoops functional. Included in the Ram Air Package was low-restriction cast-iron exhaust manifolds and a hotter cam.