In February of 1967, the Pontiac division of General Motors joined the red-hot ponycar wars with the Firebird. Here’s the sales pitch in an original Pontiac promotional clip.
When he was promoted from chief engineer to general manager of the Pontiac division in the spring of 1965, John Z. DeLorean (pictured above) was but 40 years old—the youngest executive to ever head a General Motors division. Following the path cut by his predecessors at Pontiac, Bunkie Knudsen and Pete Estes, DeLorean continued to sharpen the brand’s focus as the GM youth, style, and performance division. So when the ponycar market exploded into existence with the Mustang in 1964, it was only natural that Pontiac would have a ponycar, too. It was virtually preordained.
Closely based on the Chevrolet Camaro and sharing GM’s F-body corporate platform, the Firebird was rolled out on February 23, 1967—the mid-year debut was timed to provide a discreet interval from the Camaro’s debut the previous September. And as a Pontiac, naturally, the Firebird carried fancier trim and appointments, more standard features, and a slightly taller base price than the Camaro: $2,666 versus $2,466. Following the standard ponycar template, the Firebird boasted a mile-long option list, too: Powertrain choices included Pontiac’s single-overhead-cam 6, not to mention the 326 and 400 CID V8s, the latter offered with a Ram Air package.
Like everything Pontiac touched in those days, the Firebird was gold. Sales zoomed to more than 82,500 units in that first half year, an impressive figure given the Camaro’s full-year volume of 220,000. With these and other achievements in his portfolio, DeLorean was soon appointed to head Chevrolet, a plum promotion as Chevrolet was then larger than the other GM brands combined. Meanwhile, the Firebird had its own successful 35-year run from 1967 to 2002, starting here with this 1967 promotional spot. Video follows.
The real designer of this car was Bill Porter
I’ve always prefered the Firebird’s styling over the Camaro. Have owned several over the years, but never lucky enough to have a first gen 67-69. Have a 3rd gen 88 model Formula 350 currently, nice car but nowhere near the car my 77 Formula 400 was.
I have never understood why on the early promos they always show cars negotiating a dirt trail better suited for 4×4 trucks. Even in the 60’s dirt roads were on the decline nationwide, unless you lived on one you seldom drove on one, you’d take the new paved roads. Did you catch the optional hood mounted tach on the white one on the off road course? Fairly rare option, I’ve only seen one, it was on a 67 that I put an engine in for a fellow.
I often wonder if John DeLorean liked that picture of himself next to the Firebird. The Firebird; the car DeLorean DIDN’T want to build.
The car in the link below is one of the cars he wanted to build but the Corporation wouldn’t let him.
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In the past I was never much for first gen cars. 70 and on were me. These days I prefer the first gen, but the Camaro is still poverty inside. The Firebird a little heavy in the front styling is however a LOT better inside. I do though prefer the Chev engine, though not much wrong with the Poncho V8 except it is heavier and far more expensive to work on.
There is a surprising number of both here in South Oz, many of the Camaros modded whereas the Firebirds seem largely standard