1967 Pontiac Firebird Sprint

The 1967 Pontiac Firebird Sprint burst onto the automotive scene after Chevrolet’s Camaro, but when it did arrive, it came on strong.

Even in its inaugural season, Pontiac's Ponycar exhibited a variety of wildness, from mild-mannered to downright nasty . Pontiac promoted their quintet of various ‘Birds as "The Magnificent Five," available in hardtop coupe or in Convertible form.

Now, if  you simply just liked the “look” of the Firebird , you could grab a base model with the innovative overhead-cam six and column shift, which produced  a  leisurely 165 hp.

Getting Sprint equipment added $116, featuring a racier camshaft and four-barrel carburetor in the six-cylinder engine, a floor-mounted three-speed manual shift, and stiffer suspension. Adding a 326 V8 cost $95 extra, and the high-output 326 V8  added $180.58 (…but  included Racing Stripes.)

If you wanted to “go all the way” , the 400  V8 cost you $274, but brought a distinctive twin-scoop hood, dual exhausts, extra-firm suspension, and redline wide-oval tires. Topping the performance tree was the Ram 400, which featured  functional hood scoops.

The modestly motivated Firebirds were available with a two-speed Automatic Transmission. Three-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic was the choice to go with 400 V8 power.

Because the single-leaf rear springs were prone to "wheel hop" under hard acceleration, mid-range models had an adjustable track bar on the right side. High-performance editions received two bars.

Base-priced about $200 higher than Camaro, Firebirds had a long option list, including front disc brakes and a Cordova vinyl roof. Only 19,750 cars carried a V8 and manual shift. Firebird's optional hood-mounted tachometer was an industry "first."

The first year Firebird grabbed a lot of excitement…and foreshadowed the fun that was yet to come in the years that lay ahead…each of which got hotter and more exciting as time rolled on.