#firebird 400

[stone-cold-groove]

From the car files: ad for the 1968 Pontiac Firebird 400.

[untouchvbles]

Pontiac GTO at Hot Rods On Hampton (2023) in Butler, WI.

[kaitropoli]

1967 Pontiac Firebird 400

Pontiac Motor Division (GM)

Magazine Ad, 1967.

Intro (Information Ahead, Don't Worry)

Believe it or not, I'm a Pontiac fanatic. My first two cars were Pontiacs (rip to my G6, and right now, I'm trying to revive my Formula🙏), and I still cry over any Pontiac I see on the streets or rotting away in random neighboring yards. I go to car shows often to see if I can spot the crown, the firebird. A lot of times, yes, but more than most times, it's always the Smokey and the Bandit classic (hey, I'm not complaining; the screaming chicken is a beaut).

I figured that, for my first car feature on this page, it'd be one of my favorites... from one of my favorite body decades.

Information

1967 was the first time we saw the Firebirds roll out, and thus, four generations ('67-'02) and four models (Firebird, Esprit, Formula, Trans Am) were born. A competitor to the Ford Mustang after the Chevrolet Corvair restyling f*cked up GM's wanting pony car victory, the Pontiac Firebird originally had a coke-bottle style (which later faded once Gen 2 was designed -- it's the '70s now, what can I say?) and the "Magnificent Five" (Firebird, Sprint, 326, HO, and 400) featured many different customizations. Interior colors featured Blue, Gold, Red, Black, and Parchment (not including seat colors, which are the same but differ seat choice), while the exterior had Starlight Black, Cameo Ivory, Montreux - Fathom - and Tyrol Blues, Signet Gold, Linden Green, Gulf - and Mariner Turquoises, Plum Mist, Burgundy, Silverglaze, Regimental Red, Champagne, and Montego Cream (not including top colors, which are the same but differ top choice).

Three of the "Magnificent Five" (326, HO, and 400) included a V8. The 400 had the highest horsepower, at 325hp / 4800rpm (Ram Air = 5200rpm) (400in3), and the max torque of 556nm / 3400rpm. Along with the Sprint and HO, it had the four-barrel carburetor. All were RWD and had hardtop or convertible options.

The car depicted above is a Firebird 400 convertible (if you brighten the photo, you can tell by the red oval-lined tires), which appears to be Regimental Red with a red Strato bucket seat interior.

Links 'n' References

"1967 Pontiac Firebird Selling Facts" - PDF

"1967 Pontiac Firebird 400 Build Information" - PDF

"Pontiac Firebird" (yes, I used Wikipedia. What about it?).

"Pontiac Firebird 400, 1967" - Carfolio

"1967 Pontiac Firebird 1st-gen. 400 Coupe" - Automobile Catalogue

"Vintage Pontiac Car Ads From the 1960s" - ClickAmericana (Photo source link).

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General Motors Corp, 1967

[purepontiac]

Aimed straight at those in the 20-something crowd who are ready to step up to a Firebird 400, the ad copy for the “The Graduate” is loaded with specifications to educate the reader, while letting the lines of the car speak for themselves by using dramatic lighting on the body and a dark background. The helmet is a not-so-subtle implication of the Firebird 400’s dual purpose. Even though the motorcycle is being sold, there are activities that can be enjoyed with the Pontiac that require a helmet, too.

words and photo via Hemmings

[stone-cold-groove]

From the car files: a 1968 Pontiac Firebird 400 ad.

[untouchvbles]

Pontiac GTO at Waukesha Cars & Coffee (2023) - Meet 6 in Waukesha, WI.  

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Pontiac G8 at Cassandra's Motorsports Open House (2023) in Pewaukee, WI.