1968 Pontiac FIREBIRD

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
4 & 5	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	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