Pontiac Firebird 1969

Pontiac Firebird (1969) – Ultimate Guide

Firebirds were restyled late in 1968 to incorporate revisions similar to those planned for the Chevrolet Camaro.

Design changes included:

flatter wheel openings
front fender wind splits
new rooflines
creased lower beltline
gas filler was moved behind the rear license plate
boxier split bumper grill
headlamps were set into square body-colored Endura bezels

Eight model options were available:

Base Firebird
Firebird Spirit
Firebird 350
Firebird 350 HO (high output)
Firebird 400
Firebird 400 HO
Firebird RAM AIR 400
Trans Am

Standard equipment for the base Firebirds included the following:

vinyl bucket seats
grained dashboards
carpeting
outside mirrors
side marker lights
E70 x 14 tires

I.D. NUMBERS

VIN Location	Top left of instrument panel, visible through the windshield
Position	Character	Description
1	2	General Motors: Pontiac Division
2 & 3	23	body series: Firebird
4 & 5	67	convertible
4 & 5	37	hardtop
6	9	1969
7	V	Assembled in Lordstown, Ohio
8 to 13	100001 and up	production sequence

IDENTIFICATION

Model Number	Style Number	Body Type	Seating	Factory Price	Shipping Weight	Production Total
223	22337	2-door Hardtop	5	$2831	3080	75,362
223	22367	2-door Convertible	5	$3045	3330	11,649
223	22337	2-door Hardtop Trans Am	5	$3556		689
223	22367	2-door Convertible Trans Am	5	$3770		8

ENGINE

FEATURE	Base 6	Sprint 6	350	400
Configuration	Inline	Inline	Vee	Vee
Cylinders	Six	Six	8	8
Valves	Overhead	Overhead	Overhead	Overhead
Camshaft	Overhead	Overhead	Pushrod	Pushrod
Block	Cast Iron	Cast Iron	Cast Iron	Cast Iron
Displacement	250 cid	250 cid	350 cid	400 cid
Bore & Stroke	3.875″x3.531″	3.875″x3.531″	3.875″x3.75″	4.125″x3.746″
Compression Ratio	9.0:1	10.5:1	10.5:1	10.75:1
Brake HP	175 @ 4800 rpm	215 @ 4800 rpm	320 @ 5100 rpm	330 @ 4800 rpm
Main bearings				5
Valve Lifters	Hydraulic	Hydraulic	Hydraulic	Hydraulic
Carburetor	Rochester one-barrel	Rochester four-barrel	Rochester four-barrel	Rochester four-barrel

TRANSMISSION

Three-speed manual transmission with column shift
Four-speed manual transmission
Heavy-duty three-speed manual transmission with floor shifter
Two-speed automatic
Three-speed Turbo-Hydra-Matic

CHASSIS

Model	Wheelbase	Overall Length	Front Tread	Rear Tread
Firebird	108″	191.1″	60″	60″

FIREBIRD RPO PACKAGES

Firebird Sprint Package	Option code 342 250-cid V-8 with 10.5:1 compression 215 hp @ 4600 rpm Price: $111 – $132 over the base model
Firebird 350 Package	Option code 343 Engine code L-30 Three-speed manual transmission with column shift F70 x 14 tires 350-cid V-8 with 9.2:1 compression Rochester two-barrel carburetor 265 hp @ 4600 rpm Price: $111 over the base model
Firebird 350-HO Package	Option code 344 Engine code L-76 Three-speed manual transmission with column shift Dual exhausts Heavy-duty battery 350-cid V8 with 10.5:1 compression Rochesteer four-barrel carburetor 325 hp @ 5100 rpm Price: $186 over the base model
Firebird 400 Package	Option code 345 Engine code W-56 Chrome engine parts Three-speed manual transmission with floor shift Heavy-duty battery Dual exhausts F70 x 14 red line or white sidewall tires “Power Flex” variable pitch cooling fan 400-cid V8 with 10.75:1 compression Rochester four-barrel carburetor 330 hp @ 4800 rpm Special hood with non-functional scoops Ride and handling package $275 over the base model when included with the 3-speed manual transmission $358 over the base model when included with the four-speed manual transmission
Firebird RAM AIR IV Package	Option code 347 Engine code L-67 Chrome engine parts Three-speed manual transmission with floor shift Heavy-duty battery Dual exhausts F70 x 14 red line or white sidewall tires “Power Flex” variable pitch cooling fan 400-cid V8 with 10.75:1 compression with special camshaft and valve train Rochester four-barrel carburetor 345 hp @ 5400 rpm Special hood with functional scoops and emblems Ride and handling package Price: $832 over the base model
Trans Am Package	Option code 322 UPC WS-4 Engine code L-74 Heavy-duty three-speed manual transmission with floor shifter 3.55:1 axle fiberglass-belted tires heavy duty shocks and springs one-inch stabilizer bar power front disc brakes variable ratio power steering engine air exhaust louvers rear deck air foil black textured grille full-length body stripes white and blue finish leather covered steering wheel special identification decals “Power Flex” variable pitch cooling fan 400-cid V8 with 10.75:1 compression Rochester four-barrel carburetor 335 hp @ 5000 rpm Price: $725 over the base model

OPTIONS

Custom air conditioner	$376
Heavy-duty battery	$4
Brake pedal trim package	$5
Electric clock	$16
Console	$54
Cruise control	$58
Remote control deck lid	$15
Rally gauge cluster with tachometer	$84
Rally gauge cluster with clock	$47
Tinted windows	$33
Tinted windshield	$22
Custom stick-shift knob	$5
Leather and Morrokide trim	$199
Remote control outside mirror	$11
Power brakes	$42
Power steering	$105
Left power bucket seat	$74
Power convertile top	$53
Power windows	$105
Wire wheel discs	$53 – $74
Rally II wheels	$63 – $84
Turnpike cruise option package	$177
Transmission options included two-speed automatic	$174 – $185
Turbo-Hydra-Matic	$195 – $227
Three-speed floor shift	$84
Heavy-duty three-speed manual with floor shift	$84
Wide or close ratio four-speed manual	$185 (each)
265-hp two-barrel regular fuel 350-cid V-8	$11 extra
330-hp four-barrel 350-cid HO V-8	$175 extra

HISTORICAL NOTES

1969 Firebird Notes

Production began Aug. 26, 1968
Introduced a month later
The Trans-Am was introduced on March 8, 1969
87,709 Firebirds and Trans Ams were built
20,840 Firebirds and Trans Ams had synchromesh
66,868 Firebirds and Trans Ams had automatic
114 Trans Ams had the L-74 RAM AIR III V-8 and Turbo-Hydra-Matic
520 Trans Ams had the L-74 RAM AIR V-8 and sychromesh
All eight Trans Am convertibles were L-74s (4 had manual gearboxes)
Nine Trans Ams had the L-67 RAM AIR IV engine and Turbo-Hydra-Matic
46 Trans Ams had the L-67 RAM AIR IV engine and synchromesh
A short stroke 303-cid tunnel-port V-8 Trans Am engine was used in a small number of Firebirds used exclusively for SCCA Trans Am racing
The high-performance Trans Am was introduced March 8, 1969.
This was the most highly refined “model option” to come from Pontiac up to this point in time.
Because of slow sales and late introductions of next-year models, 1969 Firebirds left in stock were carried over and sold through the following fall.
This first generation of the Firebird saw a total of 277,380 vehicles built.

1969 Automotive Notes

Mercury introduces Marauder
Pontiac introduces Grand Prix
AMC introduces SC/Rambler
Pontiac introduces Firebird Trans Am
Dodge introduces Charger Daytona
Mercury introduces Cyclone Spoiler and Cyclone CJ
Ford introduces the Maverick and Torino Cobra
Mustang adds Mach 1 fastback, Boss 302 and Boss 429
Last year for Rambler American which is called just “Rambler”
Last year for Corvair
U.S. government requires front head rests on new cars
Warranty set to 1-year/12,000 miles for the entire car and 5/40,00 for the drivetrain
GM introduces “tell-tale” odometers to reveal tampering
Federal “Truth-in-Lending” law requires auto dealers to state costs, terms, and conditions in a uniform manner
The Tunderbird and Continental offers optional rear-wheel skid-control braking system actuated by a miniature computer
Chrysler and Ford follow GM’s lead and adopt concealed wipers
Safety door beams installed on most GM cars
Dodge introduces a grille-mounted Super-Lite
Pontiac’s Grand Prix’s radio antenna is imbedded in the windshield
Chevrolet offers Liquid Tire Chain which sprays blended resin on tires to boost traction
Corvette features headlight washers like some European cars
Chrysler wagons feature rear located roof-mounted air spoilers
Avanti II and Checker use the Chevrolet 350-cid V-8 (5.7 litre)
Full-size Fords ride on 121-inch wheelbase
Full-size Mercurys ride on 124-inch wheelbase
Pontiac adds “The Judge” to the GTO lineup
Stutz Motor Car Co., of America introduces Bearcat replica
Edward N. Cole was president of GM
James M. Roche was chairman of the board at GM
Top American Automobile Corporations for 1969