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400/4-Speed: 1967 Pontiac Firebird 400

By 1967, the pony car war was in full swing. Ford had the market to itself until the General Motors pair from Chevrolet and Pontiac took the fight up to the Mustang. This 1967 Firebird 400 is a stunning driver with no apparent needs. It isn’t a trailer queen, but its above-average presentation will surely attract crowds wherever it goes. Its next trip could be to a new home, with the seller listing it here on eBay in Short Hills, New Jersey. Bidding sits below the reserve at $28,100, but plenty of time remains for those wishing to stake their claim on this classic.

Ford stole a march on the opposition with the Mustang, but the response from General Motors was worth the wait. Pontiac released the Firebird for the 1967 model year, and although it didn’t sell in the stratospheric numbers enjoyed by the Blue-Oval ground-breaker. It proved a worthy adversary. This 1967 Firebird presents beautifully, although the Red paint cloaking its panels isn’t original. The Build Sheet confirms it rolled off the line wearing attractive Mariner Turquoise, meaning a purist might consider reversing the change. However, if their goal is to own a tidy driver, they could leave it untouched. It shines beautifully, with no significant issue with it or the panels. Rust is not a problem, with the Pontiac appearing rock-solid. The exterior trim shines as impressively as the paint, while the glass looks flawless.

Lifting the Firebird’s hood reveals its numbers-matching 400ci V8 that produced 325hp and 410 ft/lbs of torque the day the original owner drove the car off the lot. That feeds to a 3.36 Posi rear end via a four-speed manual transmission, with power assistance for the steering and brakes part of the package. Was it fast? Does a ¼-mile ET of 14.3 seconds sound okay? Some recent work means this classic might be able to better that figure. The seller treated the engine to a rebuild in 2021, having the block boiled and honed. They added Clevite bearings, forged pistons, and an upgraded camshaft. They say the Firebird runs and drives perfectly, with no issues or problems. They supply this YouTube video of the 400 running, and it sounds as tough as its specifications suggest.

I’m usually not a fan of aftermarket additions to desirable classics, but the extra gauges and column-mounted tach make perfect sense to monitor the beast under this Firebird’s hood. The only other visible changes are a sturdy Hurst shifter for the four-speed and a wheel wrap for grip and comfort. The Black vinyl upholstered surfaces look great for a vehicle of this vintage, with only some slight stretching on the seatcovers to signify use. The carpet is excellent, as are the dash and pad. The headliner is slightly wrinkled near the outer edge in a couple of spots, but I suspect the winning bidder will have no trouble rectifying this in a home workshop. The interior is pretty purposeful, although the AM radio should relieve boredom if the occupants tire of the sweet music emanating from the engine bay.

For an enthusiast seeking a classic where total originality is not a priority, this 1967 Pontiac Firebird 400 shows enormous promise. Its presentation is hard to fault, and the numbers-matching powerhouse under the hood should offer performance that satisfies most people. It has already attracted thirty-seven bids, suggesting I am not the only one who likes what they see. If a driver-quality pony car is on your wish list, would you consider joining the bidding war on this one?

Comments

  1. Avatar Maggy

    The 400 4 speed is an awesome combination in this car.If it was only the original Turquoise it would be awesome. I’m not a fan of red paint but that’s just me. This is a nice car from what I can see by the pics.Need more underbody chassis pics.

    Like 8
    • Avatar Louis

      I had 3477 off production line of the 1967 Firebird with the 326-2! It was an everyday driver and during winter! Had no place to store it and body started to go. Wish I b be ever got rid of it but I’ll find a new one! HAS to be 1967 and a firebird as Camaro but s more common. I’m not common! Lol!!

      Like 3
    • Avatar Scott

      This was mine about 22 years ago 🤦🏼‍♂️

      Like 0
  2. Avatar Doone

    Sounds bad and I don’t mean good bad. Too much lifter clacking tells me something wasn’t quite right with the rebuild. Nice unit tho, that’s just my opinion

    Like 2
    • Avatar Fred

      I don’t hear lifter clacking, I hear normal Pontiac header exhaust

      Like 7
      • Avatar Doone

        If they’re solid lifters ok, but if they are hydraulics no way.

        Like 1
  3. Avatar BA

    I’m on board with love this car with everything the way it is except no A/C which if I had the desire to own this car the A/C treatment would be about the only change made that and it would be driven a lot!

    Like 3
    • Avatar Tom Lyons

      If u bought a muscle car in 67 with a c they would haul you off to a physcopharmacologist

      Like 4
      • Avatar 2015 2SS

        Oddly enough, Psychology, as construced and practiced, is the textbook clinical example of a Mass Formation Psychosis Narcissistic Pathology Paradigm. This is at minimum by own rules out of the box. The mind of Psychology becomes transparent using the Objective Hypocrisy Test.

        Like 0
  4. Avatar Eric Kam

    Either there is photo chopping going on causing odd features to appear on the car’s body. Or there is some body work done to driver’s door and driver’s rear qtr panel. Because that area.

    Like 0
  5. Avatar jimkwriter

    Where do you get your quarter-mile times? Hot Rod tested a ’67 Firebird 400 H.O. (which this car is not) with a 3-speed manual and 3.26 rear and got 15.4 at 93 mph. And that would have been with a media fleet car massaged by Pontiac to put down good numbers. This car, with the “base” 400, 4-speed and 3.36 rear might have done it in 15.5 seconds… maybe. It was a very long way to get down to 14.3 with a stock production car — much, much lower axle ratio, headers, a trip to Nunzi’s for more engine tweaking (Poncho people know that reference), slicks, etc.

    Like 2
  6. Avatar JCH841

    If I’m not mistaken, the 400 was limited to 325 hp in the Firebird due to GM’s 10 pound/hp mandate. It was not difficult to reverse the limitation and have the same 366 hp as the heavier GTO.

    Like 0
  7. Avatar Rod Lustila

    Original? Car guys,hot roders could care less

    Like 1
  8. Avatar johnmloghry

    Beautiful car. I’m with the a/c guy and I miss the walnut veneer floor consul that my 69 had. Surely this car will bring the bucks asked for and maybe more. The cost of insurance these days has stale mated my buying more cars. Insurance companies give discounts for being married so when your spouse passes away like mine did you lose that discount=higher cost. You get a multiple vehicle discount so if you sell all but one car it costs you more money for insurance. What a racket. All holes are plugged, they have figured out how to keep consumers from saving money. Just venting.

    God Bless America

    Like 4
  9. Avatar RacerDave

    Had a H.O. like this, motor was really built. Car got rear ended, body totaled, went to junkyard & bought a 68 Camaro that had been wrecked in front & stripped of most everything, rolled subframe with motor, trans under Camaro. Put Firebird everything into Camaro. Added a set of American 200S mags. Presto, running car for about $600 bucks. This was around the mid 70’s. Still have car, has Camaro Clip now & awaiting another motor. Maybe a LS3?

    Like 2
    • Avatar 2015 2SS

      Awesome 👍

      Like 0
  10. Avatar Ron Sprinkle

    Scary coming from New Jersey. Could be Rust Bucket.

    Like 0
    • Avatar Scott

      This was mine about 28 years ago 🤦🏼‍♂️… not a rust bucket I can assure u

      Like 0
  11. Avatar rob fournier

    Hi, had a68′ 400..live in maine..vedoro green. bought it in maine. .was a texas car! no rust..but, the kid got pass. side fender replaced poorly. needed serious front end. no longer have this car after an S and a 1/2…skipped the 1st turn all together..round & round sometimes the other way..saw the splinters on pole just as the curve sign (pass side fender and hood) around again..probably again. ended up on front lawn facing the street no trees mail box pole…just a curve for the other side. I knew how to steer the rear end, if you didn’t know how to do a 360…instead of braking which gives you less control. I practiced this stuff!. still my guardian angel had a hand on this…because nobody is that good.

    Like 0

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