Latest News
Cars in Taylor Swift Music Videos
This 1969 Pontiac Firebird was one of the first of its kind, featuring the iconic Trans Am option package that melded performance with style.
1960s Style and Performance
1969 Pontiac Firebird – carsforsale.com | Shop 1969 Pontiac Firebird on Carsforsale.com
The 1960s was a pivotal decade for the automobile industry, taking everything we loved about the car—style, power, and speed—and making it even better. As General Motor’s Performance brand, Pontiac helped put the automaker on the muscle car map with cars like the Bonneville, GTO, and Grand Am.
One of the most notable and long-lived Pontiacs was the Firebird. We’ve covered the Pontiac Firebird’s entire 35 year history, but today we’re looking at its first generation, particularly in our cool car find, a 1969 Pontiac Firebird.
Giving the Mustang Some Competition
The Ford Mustang had been dominating the pony car market since it came out in 1964 and Pontiac decided it was time to enter the race. GM introduced the Pontiac Firebird in 1967, just five months after its GM cousin the Chevy Camaro had made its debut.
The first-generation Firebird (1967-1969) was built on the same F-Body as the Camaro and had the same Coke bottle styling, but its bumpers were integrated into the design of the front end giving it a smoother look.
These early Firebirds were offered in either a coupe or convertible. The coupe was the more popular option, and starting at around $2,700, it was a great deal on a powerful car. Buyers had their choice of five engines ranging from a 230-cu. in. inline-six to a big-block 400-cu. in. V8 getting 165 horsepower on the base and increasing all the way to 325 horsepower on the most powerful offering.
By 1969, Pontiac had added a Ram Air IV option for the 400-cu. in. V8 engines rated at 345 hp and the 350-cu. in. HO engine was updated with different cam and cylinder heads producing 325 horsepower. A special 303-cu in. engine was also designed for Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) road racing applications that were not available in production cars.
The 1969 Firebird: Changes Abound
For 1969 the Firebird got a major exterior facelift separating the headlights from the grille giving it a new bumper. This helped to distinguish the Firebird from the almost identical Camaro, giving it a more muscular look.
On the inside, the steering wheel and instrument panel were revised, and the ignition switch was moved from the dashboard to the steering column introducing GM’s new locking ignition switch/steering wheel. The entire car also got bigger, wider, and longer.
The Trans Am
The inclusion of the Trans Am (WS4) option package was the most significant alteration in 1969. Called the “Trans Am performance and appearance package,” it was named after the Trans Am series, and for an additional $1,100-1,200, gave buyers the choice of two engines and some swanky exterior and interior upgrades.
The standard Trans Am engine was a 400-cu. in. L74 Ram Air III that produced 335 horsepower. The standard transmission for the vehicle was a three-speed manual, but there was an option to upgrade to either the Muncie wide-ratio four-speed or a three-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic.
If you need more power on tap, the L67 Ram Air IV option is available, generating 345 horsepower and equipped with forged high compression pistons, round port heads, and a longer-duration cam.
The Ram Air IV could be paired with either a Muncie close-ratio four-speed transmission or the Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic. Only 55 Trans Am coupes were fitted with the Ram Air IV were sold due to its high price.
On the outside the Trans Am got front fender air extractors, a rear deck airfoil spoiler, functional hood scoops, and a blacked-out grille. All 1969 model year Trans Ams were painted Cameo White with Tyrol Blue stripes. Later models would have more color options.
The interior features a wood-grain steering wheel with three spokes, bucket seats covered in Morrokide upholstery, and power steering.
Less than 700 first generation Trans Ams were made making them a rare and valuable find today.
Our Cool Car Find Example
1969 Pontiac Firebird – carsforsale.com | Shop 1969 Pontiac Firebird on Carsforsale.com
One of those rare finds is today’s Cool Car Find: a 1969 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am. This fully restored Trans Am is one of only 32 made with factory AC. It is powered by a 400-cu. in. V8 engine and paired with an automatic transmission—one of only 117 produced with automatic transmissions.
This rare find also features power steering, power brakes, bucket seats, AM/FM radio, and woodgrain interior accents. Exterior paint is Cameo White with Tyrol Blue racing stripes—exclusive to the 1969 Trans Am—and the interior is blue and immaculately kept. It also features Rally II wheels and Goodyear Polyglas white letter tires.
The Pontiac Firebird went on to be produced until 2002, but to own one of the first 697 Trans Am models in pristine condition is a pony car enthusiast’s dream come true.
And if this Pontiac Firebird has piqued your interest, be sure to check out this 1960 Pontiac Ventura—another Cool Car Find that goes back to the earliest Pontiac offerings. This one-year-only design in the new Pontiac lineup featured a powerful engine and style like never before.
