Most car buffs think the Pontiac Firebird was just a Pontiac version of the Chevy Camera, but they are wrong. In the very beginning the two cars did share most of the sheet metal but that is where almost all shared parts ended. The powerplants were always and until the end of 1982 maintained a distinctive Pontiac low end torque source of propulsion.
The 1967 Firebird set a trend all to its own with its distinctive styling and appeal to car enthusiast. The 1967 came with 5 options for engines and each one had its own special modification that could not be found in any other GM made engine. The smallest was the 230 cu. in. line six overhead cam that produced 165 horsepower with a one barrel carburetor. Not to mention the V-8 400 cu. in. that produced 325 horsepower. This could be ordered with the cold-ram air functional hood scope.
In 1970 the world saw its first Trans Am with a standard Ram Air III shaker on the hood and under was a monster V-8 400 that put out 335 horsepower. For those that wanted more power the optional Ram Air IV could be fitted on the hood and this helped the engine produce an additional 10 horsepower making the overall horsepower equal to 345. The front fenders were the first of the body work to differ from the Camera this year along with the fender wells.
There was talk in the mid 70’s of making a station wagon version out of the Firebirds and Camera’s but by this time there was not enough shares sheet metal left to make it economically feasible. But by 1981 saw the end of Pontiac only powerplants in the Firebirds and for most the end of an era. The Firebird continued production until 2002 when the model was canceled by Pontiac. 35 years this fabulous muscle car lasted. But unfortunately the Pontiac Firebird is no more.
