NY Times - January 28, 1967
Pontiac's Firebird Will Join the Specialty Car Field
Another specialty car was announced yesterday, this one by the Pontiac Motor Division of the General Motors Corporation. Called the Firebird
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it brought to seven the number of specialty cars offered by American car manufacturers [Others: Ford Mustang, Mercury Cougar, Chevrolet Camaro, Plymouth Barracuda, Dodge Charger and AMC Marlin
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] John Z. DeLorean
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general manager of Pontiac and vice-president of General Motors, said prices of the Firebird two-door hardtop coupe and convertible would be announced about the time the cars go on display Feb. 23 in showrooms. Although the Firebird has the same body shell and wheelbase of 108 inches as the les expensive Camaro, it is four inches longer, with an overall length of 188.8 inches. The extra dimensions result from an extension of the hood line forward and the incorporation of Pontiac's familiar split grille, according to Mr. DeLorean.
He said buyers would have a choice of five engines, two six cylinders delivering 165 and 215 horsepower and three V-8's delivering 250, 285 and 325 horsepower. A three-speed manual transmission and bucket seats are standard equipment, while a four-speed manual and two-speed and three-speed automatic transmissions are optional.
Mr. DeLorean said the Firebird had been named after a legendary Indian symbol that promised action, power, beauty and youth. The designation was first used by General Motors on its gas turbine-powered car, Firebird I
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