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
coupe
5 $2781 3061 90,152
223 22367 2-door Convertible
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
  • Three-speed manual transmission with column shift
  • F70 x 14 tires
  • 350-cid V-8 with 9.2:1 compression
  • Rochester two-barrel carburetor
  • 265 hp @ 4600 rpm
  • Price: $106 over the base model
Firebird 350 Package
  • Three-speed manual transmission with column shift
  • Dual exhausts
  • H.O. side stripes
  • Heavy-duty battery
  • Four F70 x 14 tires
  • 350-cid V8 with 10.5:1 compression
  • Rochesteer four-barrel carburetor
  • 320 hp @ 5100 rpm
  • $181 over the base model
Firebird 400 Package
  • Three-speed manual transmission with floor shift
  • Chrome air cleaner
  • Chrome rocker covers
  • Chrome oil cap
  • Sports type springs and shock absorbers
  • Heavy-duty battery
  • Dual exhausts
  • Hood emblem and dual scoop hood
  • F70 x 14 red line or white sidewall tires
  • “Power Flex” variable pitch cooling fan
  • 400-cid V8 with 10.75:1 compression
  • Rochester four-barrel carburetor
  • 330 hp @ 4800 rpm
  • $351 over the base model when included with the 3-speed manual transmission
  • $435 over the base model when included with the four-speed manual transmission
Firebird Ram Air 400 Package
  • Three-speed manual transmission with floor shift
  • Chrome air cleaner
  • Chrome rocker covers
  • Chrome oil cap
  • De-clutching fan
  • Sports type springs and shock absorbers
  • Heavy-duty battery
  • Dual exhausts
  • Hood emblem and dual functional scoop hood
  • F70 x 14 red line or white sidewall tires
  • “Power Flex” variable pitch cooling fan
  • 400-cid V8 with 10.75:1 compression
  • Rochester four-barrel carburetor
  • 335 hp @ 5000 rpm
  • $616 over the base model

OPTIONS

Custom air conditioner $360
Custom carpets $19
Console $51 – $68
Cruise control $53
Front disc brakes $63
Auxiliary gauge cluster $32
Rally gauge cluster $51
Rally gauge cluster with tachometer $84
Tinted windows $35
Tinted windshield $26
Right reclining bucket seat head restraint $84
Dual horns $4
Four-way power seat $70
Power brakes $42
Power steering $69
Left four-way power bucket seat $70
AM/FM radio $134
Rally stripes except 350 H.O. $15
Safeguard speedometer $16
Adjustable front and rear shocks $42
Hood mounted tachometer $63
Cordova top $84 – $95
Wire wheel discs $53 – $74
Rally I wheels $40 – $61
Rally II wheels $56 – $72

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

1968 FIREBIRD Photo Gallery