1968 · Pontiac · United States
1968 Pontiac Firebird: A Bigger Six, a New 350, and 107,112 Built
The first full season: the six grew to 250 cu in, the 326 gave way to a 350, and output rose to 107,112.
United States · researched through 2026-09-22
For 1968 the Firebird carried over its hardtop and convertible bodies and its engine-defined model lineup, though nearly every engine grew or changed. Over-Drive Magazine's fact sheet for the year lists the enlarged 250-cubic-inch overhead-cam six in one-barrel and four-barrel Sprint form, a new 350-cubic-inch V-8 replacing the 326 in two-barrel and HO four-barrel guise, and the 400-cubic-inch V-8 offered in standard, HO, Ram Air and, from midyear, Ram Air II forms, the last of these arriving after the model year was already underway.1
Compiled production tables put the model year's output at 107,112 Firebirds, 90,152 hardtop coupes and 16,960 convertibles. As with the reporting pattern this record's own notes describe, an uncited table splits that same 107,112 eight ways by six-cylinder or V-8 power, standard or deluxe trim, and manual or automatic transmission, and its rows again close exactly to the reported total; Over-Drive Magazine's own notes explain that Pontiac recorded production on that six/V-8, standard/deluxe basis rather than by individual option package, which is why no factory count exists for the Sprint, 350 HO, 400, Ram Air or Ram Air II builds specifically.2,3,4
Factory prices compiled for the year put a base six-cylinder hardtop at $2,781 and a base six-cylinder convertible at $2,996. Hot Rod's March 1968 road test of a Firebird Ram-Air 400 priced that specific four-speed, limited-slip car as tested at $3,807.44, more than $1,000 above the base hardtop once the 400 engine, close-ratio gearbox and other options were added, a gap this record's own price section documents in full even without a stated compilation date for the base figures.2,5
The six-engine lineup for 1968 ran from the base 250 OHC six at 175 hp and 240 lb-ft through the four-barrel Sprint six at 215 hp, the two-barrel 350 V-8 at 265 hp, the four-barrel 350 HO at 320 hp, the standard 400 V-8 at 330 hp, the 400 HO at 335 hp, the Ram Air 400 also at 335 hp but with a higher 5,300-rpm power peak, and the midyear Ram Air II at 340 hp and 5,400 rpm. The record's own conflicts note flags disagreement over the Ram Air II's torque, with Over-Drive Magazine's fact sheet printing 445 lb-ft at 3,800 rpm against MuscleCarClub's 430 lb-ft, a gap left unresolved here pending an AMA specification sheet.1,3
Hot Rod's Ram-Air 400 test car carried a four-speed manual geared 2.20/1.64/1.28/1.00, a 108.1-inch wheelbase, an overall length of 188.2 inches and a 60-inch front and rear track. The base hardtop's shipping weight is recorded at 3,051 lb, while Hot Rod's own test car, tuned with advanced timing and its distributor vacuum line removed, weighed 3,351 lb as printed and carried a 21.5-US-gallon fuel tank by the magazine's own dimensions panel.5,2
On stock tires at Irwindale Raceway, Hot Rod's Ram-Air 400 ran the quarter mile in 13.79 seconds at 106.38 mph and reached 60 mph in 6.0 seconds; switching to seven-inch Casler slicks, a change the magazine is explicit was not a stock configuration, trimmed the same car to 13.62 seconds at 105.88 mph. Pontiac offered sixteen exterior colors for the year, from Starlight Black and Cameo Ivory through new shades such as Verdoro Green, Solar Red and Mayfair Maize, all drawn from the fact sheet's own paint-colors table.5,1
Fact sheet · 1968 · United States
The numbers
1968 Pontiac Firebird — The first full season: the six grew to 250 cu in, the 326 gave way to a 350, and output rose to 107,112.
Coverage: Partial — researched sections are shown; missing ones are not yet sourced. Researched through 2026-09-22.
Every figure is labeled with how sure we are. Reported means a manufacturer, registry, or reference figure we cite but have not reconciled against factory records ourselves. Disputed means credible sources disagree and both are shown. Rows are separately scoped; don't add them together unless the note says they make up a total.
Key facts
Production
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firebird total, all bodies2,3 not stated by source | 107,112 | built, model-year | Reported |
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firebird two-door hardtop coupe2,3 2-door hardtop coupe · not stated by source | 90,152 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Firebird convertible2,3 convertible · not stated by source | 16,960 | built, model-year | Reported |
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard six, manual4 standard · six · manual · not stated by source Uncited source; see production notes. | 7,528 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Standard six, automatic4 standard · six · automatic · not stated by source | 8,441 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Standard V-8, manual4 standard · V-8 · manual · not stated by source | 16,632 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Standard V-8, automatic4 standard · V-8 · automatic · not stated by source | 39,250 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Deluxe six, manual4 deluxe · six · manual · not stated by source | 1,216 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Deluxe six, automatic4 deluxe · six · automatic · not stated by source | 1,309 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Deluxe V-8, manual4 deluxe · V-8 · manual · not stated by source | 7,534 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Deluxe V-8, automatic4 deluxe · V-8 · automatic · not stated by source | 25,202 | built, model-year | Reported |
Hardtop and convertible rows partition the 107,112 total in the Over-Drive Magazine table.
The eight engine/trim/transmission rows come from one uncited site; they sum exactly to 107,112 and match the recording basis (six/V-8, standard/deluxe) that Over-Drive Magazine says Pontiac used. Kept as reported, single-source rows.
No counts by engine package (Sprint, 350 HO, 400, Ram Air, Ram Air II), paint or trim were found.
Prices when new
| Model | Price | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Factory price, Firebird hardtop coupe (base six)2 | $2,781 | factory price as compiled (no stated date), 1968 |
| Factory price, Firebird convertible (base six)2 | $2,996 | factory price as compiled (no stated date), 1968 |
| Price as tested, Hot Rod Firebird Ram-Air 400 (4-speed, limited-slip)5 | $3,807.44 | as tested, as printed, 1968-03 |
Prices are the nominal dollars of the day, not adjusted for inflation.
Engines
| Engine | Factory rating | Availability | Built |
|---|---|---|---|
| 250 OHC six, one-barrel1,3 250 cu in · 1-barrel | 175 hp @ 4,800, 240 lb-ft @ 2,600 (SAE gross (advertised)) | standard, Firebird | Not yet sourced |
| 250 OHC six, four-barrel (Sprint)1,3 250 cu in · 4-barrel | 215 hp @ 5,200, 255 lb-ft @ 3,800 (SAE gross (advertised)) | Sprint | Not yet sourced |
| 350 V-8, two-barrel1,3 350 cu in · 2-barrel | 265 hp @ 4,600, 355 lb-ft @ 2,800 (SAE gross (advertised)) | Firebird 350 | Not yet sourced |
| 350 HO V-8, four-barrel1,3 350 cu in · 4-barrel | 320 hp @ 5,100, 380 lb-ft @ 3,200 (SAE gross (advertised)) | Firebird 350 HO | Not yet sourced |
| 400 V-8, four-barrel1,3 400 cu in · Quadrajet 4-barrel | 330 hp @ 4,800, 430 lb-ft @ 3,300 (SAE gross (advertised)) | Firebird 400 | Not yet sourced |
| 400 HO V-81 400 cu in · 4-barrel | 335 hp @ 5,000, 430 lb-ft @ 3,400 (SAE gross (advertised)) | Firebird 400 option | Not yet sourced |
| 400 Ram Air V-81 400 cu in · 4-barrel, functional hood scoops | 335 hp @ 5,300, 430 lb-ft @ 3,600 (SAE gross (advertised)) | Firebird 400 option | Not yet sourced |
| 400 Ram Air II V-8 (mid-year)1,3 400 cu in · 4-barrel, functional hood scoops | 340 hp @ 5,400 (SAE gross (advertised)) | Firebird 400 option | Not yet sourced |
Ratings are the manufacturer's advertised figures under the standard shown (SAE gross before 1972, SAE net after). They are not dyno results, and gross and net ratings can't be compared directly.
Transmissions
| Transmission | Availability | Built |
|---|---|---|
| 4-speed manual (2.20/1.64/1.28/1.00, as tested)5 | optional | Not yet sourced |
Paint
| Code | Color | Built |
|---|---|---|
A |
Starlight Black1 | Not yet sourced |
C |
Cameo Ivory1 | Not yet sourced |
D |
Alpine Blue1 | Not yet sourced |
E |
Aegena Blue1 | Not yet sourced |
F |
Nordic Blue1 | Not yet sourced |
G |
April Gold1 | Not yet sourced |
I |
Autumn Bronze1 | Not yet sourced |
K |
Meridian Turquoise1 | Not yet sourced |
L |
Aleutian Blue1 | Not yet sourced |
N |
Flambeau Burgundy1 | Not yet sourced |
P |
Springmist Green1 | Not yet sourced |
Q |
Verdoro Green1 | Not yet sourced |
R |
Solar Red1 | Not yet sourced |
T |
Primavera Beige1 | Not yet sourced |
V |
Nightshade Green1 | Not yet sourced |
Y |
Mayfair Maize1 | Not yet sourced |
Color names are the factory's. We don't show color swatches, because a screen color is no guide for a restoration.
Specifications
| Measure | Value | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Wheelbase5 | 108.1 in | all bodies |
| Overall length5 | 188.2 in | as printed for the test car |
| Front and rear track5 | 60 in | test car |
| Shipping weight, hardtop (base six)2 | 3,051 lb | hardtop |
| Curb weight, Ram-Air 400 test car5 | 3,351 lb | Hot Rod test car, as printed |
| Fuel capacity5 | 21.5 US gal | as printed by Hot Rod |
Period road tests
| Test | Car tested | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Hot Rod, 1968-035Standing quarter mile, stock tires | Firebird Ram-Air 400, 4-speed, 4.11:1 limited-slip, F70-14; timing advanced to 12 deg BTC and distributor vacuum line removedIrwindale Raceway; tuned as described | 13.79 s at 106.38 mph |
| Hot Rod, 1968-035Standing quarter mile, slicks | Same car on 7-in Casler slicksslicks; not stock | 13.62 s at 105.88 mph |
| Hot Rod, 1968-0350-60 mph | Firebird Ram-Air 400, 4-speed, 4.11:1as printed in panel | 6 s |
A road test result belongs to the one car that was tested, with its engine, gearing, tires, and conditions. It is not a figure for every car of the year.
Where the sources disagree
Identification
Read a 1968 Pontiac VIN
The VIN decoder runs in your browser and never sends the VIN anywhere. How the factory numbered this year's cars:
Same model year
Also in 1968
- AMC AMX AMC's two-seat AMX arrived mid-year on a 97-inch wheelbase. The enthusiast production table counts 6,725 cars, two-thirds of them with the 390.
- AMC Javelin AMC's first pony car, launched in September 1967 as base and SST hardtops. Production of the two combined was about 55,000.
- AMC Rebel and Rebel Machine Now badged AMC, the Rebel came in 550, 770 and SST trims and could be ordered with the 315-hp 390. It is host-car context for the 1970 Machine.
- Buick Riviera Record Riviera sales of 49,284, including 5,337 with the GS handling option.
- Buick Skylark Gran Sport, GS and GSX On the new 112 in two-door body the GS 400 was joined by a GS 350 hardtop, and a dealer-installed Stage 1 package arrived for the 400.
- Buick Wildcat 73,561 Wildcats with the 430 V-8.
- Chevrolet Chevelle and Malibu SS The restyled Chevelle kept SS 396 as its own series and added an SS 396 El Camino: 62,785 SS 396s in three bodies.
- Chevrolet Chevy II and Nova SS engines per the source: L48 350, L34 396 and L78 396. Enthusiast-compiled production: 183,552 cars; Super Sport 5,571.
- Chevrolet El Camino SS The first factory Super Sport El Camino: a separate SS 396 model, 13880, built 5,190 times.
- Chevrolet Impala SS Super Sport becomes an option again (RPO Z03): 36,432, plus 1,778 SS427 (RPO Z24).
- Dodge Charger The redesigned 'Coke bottle' Charger and the new R/T multiplied sales roughly sixfold over 1967.
- Dodge Coronet R/T and Super Bee The redesigned Coronet kept the 440-powered R/T and added the budget Super Bee coupe, a 383 car with an optional Hemi.
- Dodge Dart GTS, Swinger and Demon The new Dart GTS brought a 275 hp 340 or a 300 hp 383, and in February Dodge released 80 Hurst-completed LO23 Hemi Darts for Super Stock drag racing; GTS production was not reported separately.
- Ford Fairlane The restyled intermediate split into Fairlane, Fairlane 500 and the new Torino series; the Fairlane 500 fastback shared the Torino GT body and the 428 Cobra Jet arrived on April 1, 1968.
- Ford Ranchero GT The Ranchero GT carried Torino GT trim; 1,669 GTs were built, per reference-site counts in the Standard Catalog lineage.
- Ford Thunderbird The new 429 Thunder Jet V-8 arrived as the Thunderbird's optional engine at 360 hp.
- Ford Torino Torino arrived as the new top series of the restyled Fairlane line, the Torino GT fastback became its volume performance car, and the 428 Cobra Jet was added on April 1, 1968.
- Mercury Comet and Cyclone The Cyclone moved to the new Montego-based intermediate; the fastback outsold the notchback hardtop by about ten to one, and the 428 Cobra Jet arrived mid-year.
- Mercury Cougar The year of the 427 GT-E, the mid-year 428 Cobra Jet, and the XR7-G, with production down to 113,741.
- Mercury Marauder and S-55 Neither the S-55 nor the Marauder model appears in the sources for 1968; no performance full-size Mercury production figure was found.
- Oldsmobile Cutlass, 4-4-2 and Hurst/Olds The restyled 4-4-2 became its own series, the W-31 small-block arrived, and Hurst built the first 455 Hurst/Olds: 515 cars in the tabulation.
- Plymouth Barracuda and 'Cuda The new 340 arrived in the Formula S alongside the 383, and Plymouth issued a competition-only Hemi Barracuda under order code BO29.
- Plymouth GTX, Belvedere and Satellite The GTX became its own model on the restyled 1968 intermediate body, still with the 375-hp 440 standard and the Hemi at $605, and outsold its first year.
- Plymouth Road Runner Plymouth added a stripped Belvedere-based coupe and hardtop with a special 335-hp 383 as standard and the 426 Hemi as the only engine option, and sold 44,599 of them.
- Pontiac GTO A new 112-inch-wheelbase body with an Endura nose, the sport coupe dropped, and 87,684 built.
- Pontiac Grand Prix The last full-size Grand Prix: 31,711 hardtops, with a 390 hp 428 HO at the top.
- Pontiac Tempest and LeMans The new two-door body arrives, and a 350 HO replaces the 326 HO.