High Output Survivor: 1967 Pontiac Firebird

In 1967, General Motors finally unleashed its Ford Mustang competitors, the Pontiac Firebird and Chevrolet Camaro. Pontiac sold 82,500 Firebirds that first year, less than half the nearly 221,000 Camaros, despite comparable starting prices. Chevrolet was still a sales monster in the late 1960s: Pontiac moved 782,734 cars in 1967, while Chevrolet handed over the keys to more than 1.9 million buyers. The first-generation GM pony cars lasted just three model years before the swoopier, progressively longer second-generation F-body arrived in 1970, beginning a remarkable 12-year run. Those first-generation cars are increasingly valuable, particularly when found in largely original condition. This attractive 1967 Firebird is listed here on Craigslist for $46,500 by a seller in Eugene, Oregon, and looks to be the real deal: an original, driver-quality example. A warm thanks to Curvette for this find.

The Firebird came exclusively with Pontiac power, starting with a pair of overhead-cam inline sixes, including the sportier Sprint, before moving up to three V8 choices. This car has the 326 HO (High Output), which primarily meant a four-barrel carburetor in place of the standard two-barrel (boosting horsepower from 250 to 285), plus cool stripes running from wheel well to wheel well on both sides, telling the world you’d ponied up for the bigger carb. Best of all, the High-Output power gets put to the ground via a four-speed manual transmission.

Some good photography informs your decision whether to travel to Eugene and see the Vendoro Green over black car, talk with the local mechanic who worked on the car (encouraged!), and take the four-speed out for a test drive. Do a few push-ups first, though, as while they upgraded to the High Output motor, the steering and brakes are manual. He’s got PHS (Pontiac Historical Society) documentation, and claims the car was a resident of Oregon for all its 44k miles. There’s an under-dash cassette stereo and speakers in the door panels, which appear to be the only modifications from stock, but thankfully the original radio remains. Returning it to factory condition shouldn’t be particularly difficult, given the availability of parts for these cars.

The seller only purchased the car this past summer from the original owner’s family (I always question how far the family tree can go for you to still legitimately make that claim), but he reveals early a bias for someone in the dry western states, who would get to drive it year-round. If you’re flying in from east of the Rockies, you’d be best to take him up on his offer to email him first so you can make your case. Apparently, having the $46500 might not be quite enough to qualify you for ownership.