The Pontiac Firebird was made famous by Burt Reynolds. But a decade before the Screaming Chicken flew across the silver screen in 1977’s Smokey and the Bandit, the Pontiac Firebird was a Camaro in mild Pontiac clothing, showing up to combat the Ford Mustang. Both the Chevrolet Camaro and Pontiac Firebird rode on General Motors’ F-Body platform. It’s one of those early Firebirds that is now heading to auction in April during Mecum’s Houston event. Except this 1967 Pontiac Firebird isn’t a meticulously restored example—it’s a restomod with a wild, modern interior that could turn off some hardcore Firebird purists.
This 1967 Pontiac Firebird is known as “The Essence of 1967.” Maurer Hot Rods of Fairbury, Illinois built the car in 2010, which went on to win multiple awards for the craftsmanship, including ISCA and Goodguys. The car is heavily modified inside out. The side rocker panels were lowered by two-and-a-half inches with the side exhaust molded into the underside. The cowl vents were filled and spoiled while a sculptor rear spoiler was added. Up front, there’s a custom stainless grille.
There is no information about the interior—likely the most controversial part of the Pontiac Firebird. From the photos, the interior appears relatively modern with a sweeping center console that stretches from the dashboard to between the front two seats. There’s an infotainment system, various unspecified controls, and the shifter.
Under the hood is a 450-horsepower LS2 V8 engine paired with a 4L65E automatic transmission and Ford nine-inch rear end with Moser 33-spline axles. There is a Typhoon manifold, headers, and custom programming. The Firebird features a modified Heidts Pro-G subframe and air ride Shockwave suspension. Stopping power comes from Wildwood brakes. The car has staggered 18- and 20-inch Intro wheels wrapped in Nitto tires.
The Houston Mecum Auction kicks off Thursday, April 4 and concludes Saturday, April 6.
Comments
Its a 68, no wing Windows duh
Richard, that was my first observation, also. However, being “heavily modified” even to making the rocker panels taller, they may have converted the doors to be wing-free. Being 77 years old, I have a fondness for those little vent windows, that provided the only “air conditioning” we had, by adjusting them to send the air flow where we wanted it. Here in Texas, though, there were summer days when the air was so hot we didn’t want the air blasting us. I think the modifications they performed to the exterior of this car are hideous, especially the apparent attempt to make it look like the hood, etc,. are covered with old leather. My preference of all these F-body cars was the 1967 Camaro RS, not SS, because of the awesome clean front end (obviously I am also a fan of the 1968 Dodge Charger). One soft spot I have for the first Firebirds was the Formula model, and that was because I sat in traffic downtown Dallas beside one (yeah, it was new) and, because all my windows were open, I got goosebumps from the music the 400 c.i.d. V-8 was making. Nowadays I get my goosebumps from listening to my daughter’s Dodge Durango SRT 392 with 4-inch exhaust pipes from the factory, also from her Mustang GT/CS with Flowmaster American Thunder cat-back exhaust. I raised her right. If you’re still reading, I apologize for my difficulty curtailing my essays. I could go on and on. 🙂
Is your daughter married?
Nice interior, though the grille work looks cheap (like that on a plastic model). Good job overall.
This from an old(er) Pontiac freak with two 67GP convertibles, 69GP, and 69GTO convertible.