Of the 82,560 Pontiac Firebirds produced in 1967, only 15,528 were convertibles, and of those, only 2,641 had the OHC 6-cylinder engine. This example, here on Craigslist, located in Londonderry, New Hampshire, is available now for $30,000. There is a clean title in the owner’s name. Thanks to Tony Primo for the tip.
The interior looks a tad faded but is in good overall shape. It has a ’67 Pontiac Hurst shifter and console, plus a ’67 326 HO Muncie 4-speed. The convertible top is new and has a clear rear window, which is normally faded and yellow. The owner claims a previous owner did the bodywork and calls it a “5 footer”!
The overhead cam engine was a 250 cubic inch (4.1L) inline-six that produced up to 215 horsepower with a Quadrajet 4-barrel carb. This example has 6-into-2 cast-iron headers, a custom Sprint exhaust, an aluminum radiator, an SS flex fan, and an Edelbrock AVS2 4-barrel. A new alternator and chrome 4-barrel Sprint Air cleaner are also present. The power booster and master cylinder are updated. All drum brake parts and front-to-rear lines are new, as are all emergency brake cables.
The owner says that all lights, horn, wipers, and directional signals work. The only disclaimer is that the rear main seal or oil pan drips after a drive, and the fuel gauge works only intermittently. The odometer shows 86,000 miles, but there is no claim it hasn’t turned over. Market value for this particular car ranges from $18,995 to $82,500, so this could be a very worthwhile endeavor. Are you ready to bring this bird home to roost?
25k car. Tops. I had a 6 banger 68 Camaro that won Camaro Nationals in mild-modified. It sold for 16k in 2017. These things have gone up but not that much and, sadly, the birds dont sell for Camaro money even if its a convertible.
The Firebird OHC 6 is a very different animal than the Camaro 6, so I do not think the pricing comparo is valid here.
It says cocktail shakers still in the car, what is that?
They are vibration dampers designed to quell chassis vibration inherent in F-Body convertibles. There are 4 per vehicle and weigh approximately 20-25 Lbs each.
The cocktail shakers were installed in the furthest corners of the car. They were also used in 65-69 Corvair convertibles, same units with different mounting tabs. If this was mine, I would strongly consider dying the interior to blue. White interiors look great, but they are a nightmare to own. Maybe a tad bit on the pricey side… but if it was a factory Sprint, the asking price would be in the ballpark, assuming of course, that rust isn’t an issue. I’d add a set of Rally l wheels, Rally ll’s are nice, but they are everywhere.
They are two sealed can like devices secured to each side of the trunk,near the rear bumper,that have a spring inside.They’re filled with oil and absorb the vibrations that would usually travel along the roof.
Someone who is more knowledgeable will explain them better than I can.
I had two full size Buick convertibles,a ’69 and ’70,that did not have them. The convertibles I owned each had a full strengthened chassis,the Camaro and Firebird have sub frames.
The “shakers’ weigh about 25 lbs. each. They contain a viscous fluid two springs and a weight. The springs are located above and below the center weight and act as vibration dampeners to reduce torsional vibrations and cowl shake, common on the F body cars. I remember when the Camaro/Firebirds first came out, the un-informed “kids” would rip them out for weight reduction. They were also used on the 65-69 Corvair converts.
This car should of had that ridiculous 6 cylinder replaced with a V8 in 1969.
You are ridiculous.
Why… these with a V8 are on every corner… yawn. That 6 makes it interesting…
This would be a ride for people that can drive around corners quickly and with control.
A OHC I-6 vs a 326 with equal drivers would leave the V8 in the dust on a track or windy road, depending on the number of laps/length of the course or road. Near 200# difference in the weight of the engines means front to rear weight distribution; 7-10 MPG difference for every day use is nice on the wallet too.
Look elsewhere if you’re trying to impress with just doing burnouts and straight line driving. Buy this and fix it up if you appreciate a machine capable of being otherwise driven.
Every machine has its limitations and accolades based on how it’s engineered. Appreciate it for what’s its designed function was intended.
I agree with what Nevadahalfrack said. I had read that John DeLorean wanted something more European. The Sprint 6 with a 4 barrel is actually a pretty good performer. Even in the ’66 Lemans it gave ample performance and good balance. A good driver behind the wheel could definitely get one of these around a track pretty quickly. I’d be happy to have one. (Actually there are a lot vehicles I’d be happy to have come to think of it.)
Or just own a Lotus, BMW, Porsche, Alfa, etc.
Or buy something at a better price that you can more readably get replacement parts at a better price.
Suum Cuique.
Something about a five footer with fresh paint on a car from New Hampshire that is a bit unsettling, especially when you consider the $30,000 asking price.
Steve R
Looks pretty similar to Jay Leno’s OHC Firebird!
https://youtu.be/S5gWSWH053Y
back in the day a 6cyl. firechicken or camero ,you could hardly give one away
Love a straight six, especially with a manwell. Poverty caps and plain Jane exterior really do it for me. This is a fantastic body design too.
My first car was a Sprint 6 67 Firebird. The motor had been replaced (before I owned it), with a 69 Sprint6. Had 230 HP instead of 215. I had a blast driving that car (had a 3 speed manual), and yes, it could carve corners! I used to race people on back roads and won way more than I lost. For a six, it could accelerate pretty quickly as well. Mine was a red convertible, wish I still had it. For those who want to get rid of the 6 cylinder, drive one of these and see if it won’t change your mind! Yes a V8 will go faster, but get into the corners and you will leave the 8 behind! Whoever buys this one should enjoy it for what it is!
nice looking bird but you can have the ohc 6. i had a 67 lemans convert with that motor but the factory Q jet on it. what a P O S engine. never again. pulled out and replaced it with a 455. much better.
I always thought that the Nova-cloned 71-74 Pontiac Ventura would have been really cool with this as an engine option…
The non-Sprint version was a real dog !
Based on the pictures in the ad, they don’t get much better than this.
I think the 70s could have been very different if Pontiac had kept building and developing that engine…
I think I’d prefer this engine and transmission setup in any older firebird. Great colors too, but I also would fear rust.
$30k can buy you a much better car but a topless sprint firebird with a stick is a very rare sight , for me , the only thing that could make this better would be a 1969 !
As i wrote , $30k can buy you a much better car but this is lovely !
Since i live in canukstan and the integration hasn’t been done yet , it would cost me about twice the asking and that would be a stupid move