1969

Production Figures & Information:

Base Firebird
The base Firebird came with an OHC V6 (250ci) and 1bbl carburetor rated at 175hp. This model can be identified by the "Overhead Cam: 4.1liter" badge that appears on the rear edge of the bulge on the hood. Two versions were offered:
Coupe                  $2,831
Convertible           $3,045

Firebird Sprint
The Sprint package added a Rochester 4BBL carburetor and 10.5:1 compression which produced 230hp with a manual tranny and 235hp with an automatic tranny. This model can be identified by a set of "Sprint" badges that appear on the forward edge of the rocker panels. Cost: $121

Firebird 350
This model was the first in the line of V-8s. The 350 replaced the previous years 326.  Equipped with a 2BBL carburetor the new mill made 265hp. This model can be identified by the "350" badges located on the rear edge of the hood bulge. Interestingly this option was cheaper than the Sprint 6 package. Cost: $111

Firebird 350 HO
This model featured a high output version of the original 350. It featured a 4BBL carburetor, newly designed cylinder heads with higher lift and larger valves, and a longer duration cam. The upgrades were good for 325hp @ 3600rpm. This model is very difficult to identify from the Firebird 350. Decals on the 350 HO engine were the primary method of identification. Package cost: $186

Firebird 400
The Firebird 400 was again the most desirable model of the bunch. For 1969 three different 400 mill options were available: the standard 400, the 400 HO (RAIII) and the legendary RAIV. The standard powerplant, equipped with a 4bbl carburetor remained relatively unchanged from 1968 producing 330hp. Firebirds carrying the standard 400 received non-functional hood scoops, a floor-mounted shifter and dual exhaust. The 400 HO added a high-output cam and a freer flowing exhaust system for an increase to 335hp. This engine was also called the Ram Air III and the hood scoops were made functional. The final option was the RAIV. The pinnacle of Pontiac engineering this engine added a high-output cam and springs, oversize valves, and flat-top pistons with valve indents. It was rated at 345hp. This model is most easily recognized by the twin-scoop hood with "400" emblems located on the rear edge of the hood bulge.
Cost for the standard 400 option: $275 with manual tranny and $358 with automatic
Cost for the 400 HO: $77
Cost for the RAIV: $832

Trans Am
 Coded WS4 "The Trans Am Convenience and Performance Package" the Trans Am made its debut in March of 1969. The Trans Am option included a base Firebird equipment plus a special hood, blacked out grille, three spoke woodgrain steering wheel, three speed heavy duty manual transmission with floor shifter, chrome engine parts, free-flowing dual exhaust, rear deck airfoil, heavy duty springs and shocks, front and rear stabilizers, Power Flex Fan, Safe-T-Trac differential, full length body stripes, front wheel disc brakes, variable ratio power steering, F70-14 whitewall glass-belted tires and functional front-fender air extractors. Two 400c.i. powerplants were available, the base Ram Air III and the optional Ram Air IV. This model only came in white with blue striping and included "Trans Am" decals on the fenders and rear making it easily identifiable.
Cost for the Trans Am option: $1100 

VIN Number Decoding:
Location: Attached to the left side of the top side of the dash.

Sample: 223379N100001

22337 is the model number.
1st digit is the GM division number. 2 = Pontiac
2nd digit is the series number. 2 = Firebird
3rd digit is the model/engine number. 3 = All firebirds manufactured in 1967.
4th and 5th digits are the body type and number:
37 = 2dr coupe
67 = 2dr convertible
6th digit is the last number in the model year i.e. 1969
7th digit is a letter indicating the assembly plant:
U = Lordstown, OH  N = Norwood, OH  L = Van Nuys, CA

100001 is the sequential production number. These numbers fell into two ranges to differentiate between V-6s and V-8s as show in the table below.

Specifications:

General specifications

Shipping Weight

Transmission Ratios

Rear Axle Ratios

Codes:

Exterior Color Codes

Interior Trim Codes

Door Panels

Seats    

Convertible and Vinyl Top Color Codes

Manifest Engine Codes (col. 75-76)

********Part Numbers and Casting Numbers

Engine Block
     Location: Early to mid 1967 the block casting number was located on the distributor pad. In mid 1967 it was
     moved to the rear of the block just behind the #8 cylinder.

     326 = 9786339
     400 = 9786133

Intake Manifold
     230 (OHC)
       1-BBL = 9782098
       4-BBL = 9787541

     326/400/428
       2-BBL = 9784438
       4-BBL = 9782896

Distributor
     326 (250hp)
       1111164, 1111199

     326 (285hp)
       1111165, 1111238

     400 (325hp)
       1111250, 1111252, 1111253, 1111254

Carburetor

Identification information specific to the year model

• 1967 Firebirds can be identified by three exterior features:

  1. The 1967 Firebird was built with door windows that featured 1/4 glass up front. This resulted in pillar posts. This was changed for 1968 to a one piece window.

  2. The front parking lamps were located inside the space in the middle of the valance panel. In 1968 the parking lamp would be moved to the corner of the front end to "wrap-around" fender.

  3. The 1967 Firebird had no external marking on rear 1/4 panels. In 1968 to meet Federal Safety standards parking lamps were added to the rear 1/4 panels and took the shape of the Pontiac Arrowhead emblem.

• Firebirds built in 1967 used the Chevy managed "five group" accessory code system. These codes were the same as used with the Camaro with only a few exceptions. These codes can provide very useful information as they will define any body shell alterations that may have occurred at the factory as it was being built. These codes appear on the data plate and are grouped behind 5 digits. A common list of these codes is as follows:
  
  1st Group (this digit does not appear on the data plate)
  D = Power Top / Convertible
  E = Tinted Glass all Windows
  L =  Folding Rear Seat
  S = Rear Mounted Antenna
  W = Tinted Glass Windshield
  X = Power Windows
  
  2nd Group (digit 2 appears on data plate preceding codes)
  B = 3-Speed Floor Shift
  E = A/C
  G = Console
  L = 4-Speed Floor Shift
  R = Rear Seat Speaker
  T = Rear Power Antenna
  U= Stereo Tape Player
  W = 2-Speed Automatic Tranny
  Z = 3-Speed Automatic Tranny
  
  3rd Group (digit 3 appears on data plate preceding codes)
  B = Rear Window Defogger
  F = 400 option
  J = Custom Option
  
  4th Group (digit 4 appears on data plate preceding codes)
  F = Outside Remote Mirror
  Q = Mounting / Full Size Spare
  
  5th Group (digit 5 appears on data plate preceding codes)
  Y = Deluxe Seats
  
  An example of these codes appearing on a data plate might look like this:
  LS  2ERU  3F  5Y

Interesting facts

• 65 Ram Air Firebirds were built in 1967, 63 coupes and 2 convertibles both of which were automatics. Engine breakdown:
  WQ = 3
  WI = 42
  XN = 20
  Of the 65 built only 13 had 4.33 rear end ratios.

• None of the 400s built in 1967 were 4-bolt mains, not even the Ram Air 400s.

• The 1967 Firebird was released for sale to the public 6 months after the Camaro.

• The Ram Air package did not increase the hp rating, instead it increased the engine's rpm peak to 5200. The package added a hotter cam with more overlap and longer valve duration, different valve springs with flat metal dampers, functional hood scoops ducted to the air cleaner, free-flowing cast-iron exhaust manifolds from the 428ci, plus different calibrations on the Q-jet 4bbl. 

• The Firebird was originally to be named "Banshee" (after a jet fighter of the same name used during the Korean War) until Pontiac executives learned the name described a wailing spirit of death.

• GM had a standing rule during the 60s that no production car could produce more than 1hp per 10lbs of body weight. This meant that the Firebird 400 (at 3,250 lbs) could only produce 325hp, while the same engine in the GTO was rated at 350hp. To meet the requirement Pontiac actually modified the link between the primary and secondary barrels of the Q-jet. A metal tab was added that only allowed the secondaries to open 90% at full throttle. New owners could spend about 10 minutes removing this tab and instantly add 25hp to their new Firebird!!

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