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 tires.
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 liter 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 carburetor 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 carburetor 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.
