Pontiac Firebird

[HarleyEarl]

Another of my favorite GM cars from the past:

[Nick]

I love 67's...I would take one of those over any f-body I think...I jsut always loved the look of them...

[HarleyEarl]

Nick, the '67 is my favorite as well. Pontiac got that signature front end just perfect. It is my favorite front of any car anytime.

[Cory Wolfe]

First gens aren't my favorite. The '67s aren't bad, but '69s are. I just don't like them that much. My absolute favorite is the '98-'02 4th gen followed by all 3rd gens and '74-'76 2nd gens.

[HarleyEarl]

I'm liking the redwalls:

[mustang84]

I love those first gens too! My dad had a '73 Firbird back in high school. The grille on that '69 that Harley posted is a classic...that is one of my favorite Firebirds. I also like the '79-'81 ones with the square headlights, third gens, and fourth gen Formulas. Edited August 30, 2005 by mustang84

[HarleyEarl]

While I love V8 Firebirds the best, like the 400 with 325 hp, this car was introduced with a very interesting 6 cyl engine as well. It was very unusual for Detroit at the time. It was an overhead cam and had an industry first: belt-drive instead of chain. It made it a very quiet and mellow sounding car. It was rated at 215 hp and because of the less weight at the front reportedly was a very nice handling and responsive car.

[bowtie_dude]

How is it that the first gen Firebird and Camaro are the best? *puts on flame suit* I hate the late model Firebirds, Camaros, and Mustangs.

[Carguy]

How is it that the first gen Firebird and Camaro are the best?  *puts on flame suit*  I hate the late model Firebirds, Camaros, and Mustangs.

[post="6555"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

Because 60's styling was superior to todays styling! http://www.cheersandgears.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/AH-HA_wink.gif

[balthazar]

My brother has a '68 coupe that's been quaranteened to the drag strip. Body is completely stock: medium blue, flat hood, painted roof. Only non-factory exterior items are a battery shut off in the rear fascia and no wipers. Oh, and the wheels don't appear stock either (Auto Drags). I have always liked the shape of the 1st gen way mroe than any subsequent gen, tho most all are appealing. There's something so pure & elemental about the '67-68; timeless.

[Northstar]

'67s and '68s are ok, but I don't much care for the '69s. It's funny because I like the '69 Camaro the best of the first gen, followed by the '68 then the '67; it's completely opposite.

[mjdecker]

I love the 67-68s the best..I love the one from Matrix Reloaded...

[HarleyEarl]

It was the same for me, the '69 wasn't my favorite. I think it was that black rubber insert around the front grill. Slightly offputting. But in a darker color would make that disappear a bit.

[HarleyEarl]

I always liked the linear horizontal look of Pontiac grills with the divider in the middle...I hope they go back to this. The current Pontiac and BMW grills are too similar.

Edited August 31, 2005 by HarleyEarl

[ocnblu]

A friend I had in Maryland had a '67 coupe. The color could best be described as "Majestic Amethyst", the new-for-'06 purple haze color on the GMs. I know GM had a similar color back then... dag, what was it called? Something "orchid"? I forget now. :unsure: Edited August 31, 2005 by ocnblu

[balthazar]

ocnblu: check this link:

http://autocolorlibrary.com/cgi-bin/search...ontiac-pg01.jpg

Fantastic site to look up the proper name for that babyshitbrown Gremlin you had back in the '80s! ;)

[bobo]

I always liked the linear horizontal look of Pontiac grills with the divider in the middle...I hope they go back to this.  The current Pontiac and BMW grills are too similar.

[post="6742"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

I agree with your comment on the grille. A modernized version of this grille is exactly what I think should be on the next GTO instead of yet another tired rehash of the twin kidneys. And I also prefer the '67 and '68 look over the '69.

If and when the F-body comes back, I wish they could bring back a Firebird version that's positioned just slightly upmarket to the Camaro. Firebirds always had more style than the Camaro, though the later versions were a bit overstyled.

[HarleyEarl]

Balthazar, that paint link is a great resource.

[Turbojett]

[post="6549"][/post]

that black '68 is PRETTY! I'd have to say '68 is my favorite first gen f-bodies. they're a little cleaner than '67's.
those '69's though are gorgeous, too.

[Turbojett]

However, my favorite Firebirds are the first three years of the second generation.

[HarleyEarl]

The first first Trans Am, the '69:

[Sixty8panther]

When it comes to Camaros 1969 will ALWAYS be my favorite year. It's my favorite car of all time. I'd take a '69 Yenko over any Ferrari, Lamborghini or Viper or whatever... I simply love the '69. I like my '68 only a fraction less than a '69 but I bought it cause it was too good of a deal to pass up.

Now as far as Firebirds go the '68 is my favorite year. The '69 nose was too beak-heavy and the chrome on the front just never looks as nice IMHO. That being said I'd take a '69 Tarns Am over any HemiCuda or Challenger or soem other unoriginal GM ponycar rippoff.

Also don't forget the '67-'69 base-model Firebirds were powerred by a OHC inline-six that was pretty damn modern for it's day... I'd love a 68 hi-output OHC-6, 4-speed ragtop for a summer car. :wub:

[HarleyEarl]

I agree, Sixty8, that OHC 6 is a great engine. It was very innovative and very different for an American automaker.