Until 1967, Ford’s Mustang had the pony car market all to itself. Well, almost, as the Plymouth Barracuda debuted 17 days earlier in 1964, but quickly got lost in the Mustang’s dust. General Motors landed a 1-2 punch by introducing both the Chevrolet Camaro and Pontiac Firebird. The “Poncho” did quite well in its first year and would prove to be a capable adversary (more to the Mercury Cougar that also arrived in ’67). This first-year Firebird wears older custom paint and has a big 455 V8 under the hood. Located in Fairmont, Oklahoma, this Pontiac is available here on eBay where the bidding stands at an even $10,000.
Engine choices in the new Firebird included the Pontiac OHC inline-6, two 326 cubic inch V8s, and two 400 8’s, the biggest engine you could get in the car for the next couple of years. The seller says this Pontiac came with a 400, which would have been one of 18,697 cars so equipped. However, the VIN the seller provides identifies it as a six-cylinder auto. Since the original motor has been pulled, it may not matter if the front suspension was properly beefed to handle the bigger, heavier powerplant.
We’re told the 455 is strong and performs as it should. The car has an automatic transmission, but has it been replaced, too (we don’t know)? The front brakes, carburetor, and distributor have all been renewed. A higher-rise intake manifold resides on top of the engine and a 9-inch Ford rear end with posi-traction handles things out back. Wonder what the horsepower output could be?
The paint is extremely tired and no mention is made of any real problem areas with the body. This vehicle was treated to some custom paint work, but that looks to have been done several years ago. The interior is going to need attention, too, as the upholstery appears original but torn up with use and age. If the 455 arrangement isn’t to your liking, the 400 that supposedly came out of the car will come with the deal, and it’s in pieces.
I believe the VIN comes back as a V8, not a 6.
Bart, you are right, it’s a factory V8 car. It also has 400 grills (you can tell by the trim extending forward towards the beak). It also has some good options such as a tilt column and deluxe interior. Someone, at some point put some though into this build. If it were mine, I’d buff out the paint as best I could, make it mechanically sound, go through the interior, replace any modern speed parts with vintage pieces then drive it. It represents a point in time and does so well.
Steve R
By the looks of this car, I can see why Oklahoma was part of the Dust Bowl. Take a hose to her!
Buffing ain’t gonna fix this—will that deep scratch along the bottom of the passenger door buff out? How about those rust spots? This favors the setup of the Cougar that Clooney and Terrantino drove in Dusk To Dawn. Strip and paint to original color, buy an upholstery, carpet and trim kit. Go through the 400 engine and if it can be saved then you have yourself at least an engine numbers matching car here. If you wish to take it further get the correct transmission and rearend back into the car. Finish it off with a set of Pontiac Rally rims. This car deserves better.
Nice! A car you can drive hard all over anytime enjoying life in your old hot rod.remember? We have enough no touch museum cars.stupid thing restore a car ,then just sit there and look at it.those are not car guys.
Nice! A car you can drive hard all over anytime enjoying life in your old hot rod.remember? We have enough no touch museum cars.stupid thing restore a car ,then just sit there and look at it.those are not car guys.post it
My father had a 67 Bad to the Bone 400 full speed it would rock keep me informed on Pontiacs Plymouth Dodgers no no Chevys I had 67 Mustang Fastback too I did bringing back to me hard memories of the Mustang so don’t want to see any of those LOL thank you God bless you all
400 front bumper as well. May very well be a a 400 car.
Interesting comment, Rod. There are a lot of cars out there (like Edsels, for instance) that need preservation, and a certain percentage of them become part of history. A car like this I would want to dress to the nines and drive it every day! So depends on your yearning.