Words and Photos: Clive Branson
In 1966, GM’s Chevrolet Camaro, referred to as the F-car, came close to becoming a Pontiac. Due to the late start in making this transition, it was reneged upon and instead, using the same F-frame from the Camaro, the Pontiac Firebird 400 was produced separately and introduced six months later in January 1967.
If it weren’t for the cosmetic front eagle-beak grille, side window, integrated bumpers and GTO-slit taillights, the difference between the two models, with their matching Coke-bottle sweeping curves, was impossible to detect. Initially, the plan was much more ambitious, for Pontiac wanted to manufacture a two-seater sports car along the lines of the Banshee concept car – a kindred spirit to the existing Corvette. GM was apprehensive and balked at such an undertaking, assuming it would cut into Corvette’s sales. Instead, GM compromised and gave Pontiac a piece of the ‘Pony Car’ market by sharing their F-body platform with Chevrolet.
The most obvious difference between the two cars was under the hood. By the time Pontiac unveiled the 400, the public was offered four engine variations that came from the Tempest line. They ranged from the sedate Bambi temperament (326 V8) to the Herculean blockbuster (400 V8), a discrepancy of 2,000 rpms. The 400 was equipped with 350 horsepower, twenty-five horsepower too much based on GM’s horsepower guidelines, so Pontiac deviously listed the engine at the desired 325 hp by installing a device that did not allow full throttle. Nevertheless, it is not a sports car, nor for that matter a muscle car, unless it has speed - and gearheads quickly learned how the device could be removed to enjoy the full tire-smoldering impact.
Everything on the Firebird 400 was reinforced for high-performance: dual exhaust, heavy-duty transmissions and suspensions, floor shift 3-speed, twin-nostril scoops (operational only if you purchased the RAM Air package), heavy duty starter motor, heavy duty radiator, and to finish it off, chromium armour for the rocker covers and the oil filler cap. It was a sports car in sheep’s clothing. Best of all, it out-muscled the GTO and the Camaro, much to the chagrin of GM.
“The ‘67 Firebird has always been one of my favourite cars,” declares Jim Leslie as he and I admire his car. “When I got married in 1970, I had a Firebird 400, but I’ve always regretted selling it. The car was in very good condition with 176,000 miles clicked on. The body was good, drive-train good, everything worked. It had the original manual steering, manual brakes and monoleaf rear suspension. The original engine was modified (for safety reasons), but the paint was still original. There were more authentic parts on that car than on Pamela Anderson. I’ve always wanted another Firebird 400.”
On all Firebird convertibles, to dampen body vibration, canisters (called ‘Cocktail shakers’) were supplied for the rear trunk and up front. These canisters contained spring-mounted weights suspended in oil. Convertibles also came from the factory with a special bolt-on underbody reinforcement plate that often went missing if a car had transmission or exhaust work. An interesting side note is that when decoding the VIN number on 1967-'68 Firebirds, the first five digits should read 22337 for coupes or 22367 for convertibles. The sixth digit is the year, and the seventh digit is the assembly plant: Lordstown, Ohio, (U) in 1967 and 1968; or Van Nuys, California, (L) in 1968.
It was purely coincidental that Jim’s wish was granted. “In 1992, a friend asked me to accompany him to Rhode Island to pick up a motorcycle he had bought from a friend of his cousin’s. Lo and behold, there in the owner’s garage was this 1967 Firebird - my dream car, but it was not for sale. After much discussion and a few beers - actually, quite a few beers - the car was mine. At least I thought it was. Before my money exchanged hands, the guy changed his mind. A few months later, I got a call from him to see if I was still interested. The rest is history. I went back to Rhode Island in September and drove the car back to Ottawa (Ontario). I couldn’t stop grinning.”
Others have certainly come to appreciate Jim’s car. Besides getting the ubiquitous thumbs up from the public, Jim has shown at car shows in Eastern Ontario as well as in New York State, winning numerous awards. “The pleasure in owning my Firebird is just driving it and appreciating people admiring it. It makes me feel very proud. Before I began restoration on it in 2006, my 16-year old daughter learned how to drive standard on this car. Not many kids get to learn how to drive standard on a ‘67 Firebird!”
