FIREBIRD (1968) – Ultimate Guide
Introduction
The base Firebird equipment included the following:
- The standard GM safety features
- Front bucket seats
- Vinyl upholstery
- Simulated burl woodgrain dashboard
- Outside left mirror
- Side marker lights
- E70 x 14 black sidewall wide-oval tires with Space Saver spare
- 175-hp overhead cam six-cylinder engine
The styling was nearly identical to the 1967 Firebirds except the vent windows were replaced with a one-piece side door glass.
Technical changes included bias-mounted rear shock absorbers and multi-leaf rear springs.
I.D. NUMBERS
VIN Location | Left front door post | |
---|---|---|
Position | Character | Description |
1 | 2 | General Motors: Pontiac Division |
2 & 3 | 23 | Body series: Firebird |
4 & 5 | 67 | convertible |
37 | hardtop | |
6 | 8 | 1968 |
7 | V | Assembled in Lordstown, Ohio |
8 to 13 | 100001 and up | production sequence |
PRODUCTION NOTES
Model | Synchromesh Transmission | Automatic Transmission | Total |
---|---|---|---|
Standard ohc six Firebirds | 7528 | 8441 | 15,969 |
Standard V-8 Firebirds | 16,632 | 39,250 | 55,882 |
Deluxe ohc six Firebirds | 1216 | 1309 | 2525 |
Deluxe V-8 Firebirds | 7534 | 25,202 | 32,736 |
Totals | 32,910 | 74,202 | 107,112 |
IDENTIFICATION
Model Number | Style Number | Body Type | Seating | Factory Price | Shipping Weight | Production Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
223 | 22337 | 2-door Hardtop |
5 | $2781 | 3061 | 90,152 |
223 | 22367 | 2-door Convertible |
5 | $2996 | 3346 | 16,960 |
ENGINE
FEATURE | Base 6 | Sprint 6 | Tempest 8 | GTO 8 | HO 8 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Configuration | Inline | Inline | Vee | Vee | Vee |
Cylinders | Six | Six | 8 | 8 | 8 |
Valves | Overhead | Overhead | Overhead | Overhead | Overhead |
Camshaft | Overhead | Overhead | Pushrod | Pushrod | Pushrod |
Block | Cast Iron | Cast Iron | Cast Iron | Cast Iron | Cast Iron |
Displacement | 250 cid | 250 cid | 350 cid | 350 cid | 400 cid |
Bore & Stroke | 3.875″x3.531″ | 3.875″x3.531″ | 3.875″x3.75″ | 3.875″x3.75″ | 4.125″x3.746″ |
Compression Ratio | 10.5:1 | 10.5:1 | 9.2:1 | 10.5:1 | 10.75:1 |
Brake HP | 175 @ 4800 rpm | 215 @ 4800 rpm | 265 @ 4600 rpm | 320 @ 5100 rpm | 330 @ 4800 rpm |
Main bearings | 5 | 5 | |||
Valve Lifters | Hydraulic | Hydraulic | Hydraulic | Hydraulic | Hydraulic |
Carburetor | Rochester one-barrel |
Rochester four-barrel |
Rochester model 7028071 two-barrel |
Rochesterfour-barrel | Rochester four-barrel |
TRANSMISSION
Two-speed automatic | $195 |
Heavy-duty three-speed manual with floor shift | $84 |
CHASSIS
Model | Wheelbase | Overall Length | Front Tread | Rear Tread |
---|---|---|---|---|
Firebird | 108″ | 188.8″ | 60″ | 60″ |
FIREBIRD RPO PACKAGES
Firebird 350 Package |
|
---|---|
Firebird 350 Package |
|
Firebird 400 Package |
|
Firebird Ram Air 400 Package |
|
OPTIONS
PERFORMANCE
MODEL | 0-to-60 MPH | QUARTER MILE |
---|---|---|
335-hp Firebird 400 | 7.6 seconds | 15.4 seconds |
HISTORICAL NOTES
1968 Firebird Notes
- Production started August 21, 1967
- Model introduction began Sept. 21, 1967
1968 Automotive Notes
- US federal government enacts pollution regulations requiring exhaust-emission control system
- AMC introduces the Javelin and AMX
- Ford introduces the Torino
- Mercury introduces the Montego
- Lincoln introduces the Continental Mark III
- Front shoulder belts required on new cars sold after Jan 1/68
- New safety items include rear lap belts, side marker lights, non-reflective windshields, and padded interiors
- A million import cars are sold
- Ford features “controlled-crush” front ends
- Ford features squeeze type inside door handles
- GM introduces no-vent side windows
- AMC introduces a buzzer that sounds when the lights are left on when the ignition is turned off
- Pontiac GTO features “Endura,” an energy-absorbing, steel-reinforced, body-color rubber bumper which will appear on full-size Pontiacs in 1969
- Pontiac introduces engine driven air pump
- Chrysler product wagons have optional washer/wiper for tailgate window
- Kaiser-Jeep Corp. uses Buick’s V-6
- Compact Chevy II Nova rides on 111-inch wheelbase up from 110-inches
- Intermediate Chevelle rides on 112-inch wheelbase down from 115-inches
- Corvette is a little longer and now features vacuum-operated flip-up headlights
- Coronet adds the Super Bee to its lineup
- Last year for Crown Imperial convertible
- Plymouth adds the Road Runner to its lineup
- Pontiac Tempest can be had with 112-inch or 116-inch wheelbase
- Shelby (now built by Ford) adds the GT-500KR “King of the Road” to its lineup
- Edward N. Cole was president of GM
- James M. Roche was chairman of the board at GM
- Top American Automobile Corporations for 1968
1. General Motors 4,494,552
2. Ford 2,156,254,?
3. Chrysler 1,697,992
4. AMC 270,093
5. Others 11,066
Top model year production for 1968
Chevrolet 1,867,410
Ford 1,366,548
Pontiac 803,865
Plymouth 790,239
Buick 651,823
Special Deluxe 49,475
Skylark1 33,563
Sportwagon 22, 908
Gran Sport 21,514
LeSabre 179,818
Wildcat 69,969
Electra 225125,362
Riviera 49,284
Dodge 627,533
Oldsmobile 562,459
Mercury 360,467
Mustang 317,404
Chrysler 264,853
Camaro 235,115
Cadillac 230,003
Calais 18,190
DeVille 164,472
Eldorado 24,528
Series Sixty Special 3,300
Fleetwood Brougham 15,300
Series Seventy-Five 4,213
AMC 191,633
Rebel 55026,319
Rebel 77035,237
Rebel SST 12,339
AMX 6,725
Javelin 56,462
Ambassador 9,632
Ambassador DPL 23,756
Ambassador SST 21,163
Firebird 107,112
Rambler 78,460
American 54,624
American 44021,592
Rogue 2244
Thunderbird 64,931
Lincoln 46,904
Corvette 21,366
Corvair 15,399
Imperial 15,367
Checker 6,469
Shelby 4,451
Avanti II 89
Excalibur 57