For over 30 years, Pontiac's Firebird has been the definitive definition of "Driving Excitement". Originally dubbed "Banshee" and molded in the shadow of the impending C3 Corvette of its sibling division, GM dropped the axe on all plans for this sports car and sent then leader of GM's Pontiac division, John DeLorean, back to the drawing board to concentrate on designing & building Pontiac's entry into the increasingly popular pony car class.
The Plymouth Barracuda originally pioneered the smaller sports-car style concept behind the ground-breaking pony car division, however, it was Lee Iacocca's outrageously successful Mustang - introduced a mere 2 weeks after the Barracuda - that earned Ford bragging rights to the pony car legacy, born in 1964. The popularity of the Mustang was like a thundering stampede that rung throughout Detroit, leaving GM out in the storm as the only manufacturer of the Big 3 that didn't have a pony car in their stables. But the winds of change were blowing, and GM was on the verge of striking the pony car field with a powerful two-stage assault.
The first phase of GM's offensive exploded in late 1966 with the unveiling of the 1967 Chevy Camaro. DeLorean wasn't about to let his Pontiac division be left out to pasture, so, under a tight schedule, he and his team abandoned the 2-seater Banshee concept and focused on building a pony car based on the Camaro's F-body platform. Pontiac's entry in the pony car class debuted as a mid-year model in February 1967, and compared to its Camaro sibling, the end result was nothing short of stunning. It was known as the Pontiac Firebird.
Introduced 5 months after the Camaro was launched, Pontiac's Firebird was distinctively different from its Chevrolet counterpart. Whereas both the Camaro & Firebird were performance minded machines, the Camaro was significantly subtler in looks than the Fierbird, which was an exceptional combination of performance & style. A unique split grill personalized the Firebird's appearance along with a distinctively shaped "beak" like hood, six vertical louvers on the rear quarter panels, and wide louver style spilt horizontal taillights. Further distinguishing itself as a purebred Pontiac, the Firebird borrowed the GTO's drive train with a different rear end, as well as improved front suspension and reinforced rear springs. Offered in 2 door coupe & convertible form, Pontiac's Firebird flew from the nest in 1967 with 5 different engine choices, advertised as the magnificent five.
Each with their own distinctive personality, the magnificent five were each designed, built and optioned for a specific style of driving, ranging from the pleasantly performing 230ci 165hp OHC six-cylinder to the aggressive pavement pounding 325hp 400ci V8. The Firebird offered other levels of excitement between its high & low spectrums, which included a slightly beefier 230 six-cylinder "Sprint", good for 215hp, to a pair of 326ci V8's - the standard worth 250hp with the "High Output" version cranking out a tire thrashing 285 horses, perfect for the Saturday night cruiser. In addition to increased performance, the Firebird HO came fitted with a Rochester Quadrajet carburetor as well as identifying body length HO side stripes. While the 325hp 400ci V8 was the top of the line performance option for the Firebird, Pontiac had yet another feature tucked beneath the Firebirds wings known as Ram Air, specifically designed for those diehard blacktop bruisers that needed additional muscle in excess of the 400's 325 pony's. Adding the Ram Air option was good for an incremental 25hp, upping the grand total to an earth scorching 350hp in addition to making the process of melting your tires an effortless pastime. Heavy-duty floor shifter, redline wide oval tires, and twin hood scoops were added to round out Pontiacs top of the line pony car. Even though Pontiac came late to the table in 1967, the Firebirds introductory year was in itself nothing short of explosive with over 33,000 unit sales in less than 2 months culminating at the end of the 7 month production year with an impressive 82,560 Firebirds sold.
For 1968, Pontiac wisely decided to build off the successes of its magnificent 67 Firebird, making very few barely visible alterations. In fact, at first glance, the 1968 Firebird didn't appear strikingly different from its predecessor. The most notable design variations included the deletion of the side vent windows, the addition of Pontiac V-crest side marker lights and the new wraparound front turn signal lights located in the lower front valance. The interior was slightly enhanced with an improved instrument panel, padded armrests, sun visors, and seat belts for all passengers, as well as an upper ventilation system that included adjustable round outlets located on the dash. It was those differences not immediately noticeable that were more significant to the 68 Firebird.
Arguably the most significant adjustments were the improvements made to the Firebird's engine assortment, with a few modifications made to displacement along with an across the board boost in horsepower. The OHC six-cylinder took a jump up to 250ci from 230, delivering 175hp, whereas the Sprint retained the 4-barrel Quadrajet 215hp 230ci six-cylinder. The 67's 326 V8 was exchanged in favor of a 265hp 350 with another 55 horses on tap for the 350 HO, topping out at 320hp. Horsepower increases in the Firebird's top of the line 400ci V8 boosted ratings to 330hp for the standard 400 and 335hp for both the new HO variant of the 400 as well as the 400 Ram Air. The Ram Air option was replaced mid-year with the Ram Air II, further intensifying performance to a wild 340hp. In order to keep Pontiac's stallion from galloping off the beaten path, the stability of the Firebird also required improvements. The rear suspension was revised with a new staggered shock system as well as multi-leaf rear springs, and the signature Wide-Track stance was improved with wider F70 Firestone wide-oval tires which were capable of the holding the Firebird to an "S" curve like it was on rails. With well over 100,000 units sold in 1968, the Pontiac Firebird was, by all definition, "Driving Excitement".
Pontiac's Firebird celebrated 30 years of "Driving Excitement" back in 1997, but sadly, the fire that gave this 'bird life has since been extinguished. Fortunately though, thanks to Mr. Lane & Eric Trapp, their admiration for the 1st-gen Pontiac Firebird has seen to it that the excitement lives on. Under Eric's watchful leadership, the multi-talented Exact Detail division of Lane Automotive has properly captured & immortalized the essence of John DeLorean's renowned concept in a series of impressive 1/18 scale 67 & 68 Pontiac Firebirds. The Solar Red 1968 Firebird 400 marks not only the third release in Lanes Exact Detail Firebird series, but also the first convertible. From the deep red paint to the countless details, Lane has convincingly reconstructed the unique semblance of the Pontiac Firebird, resulting in a truly stunning replica.
First impressions are paramount, and in the case of the Exact Detail 1968 Firebird, the initial verdict is, simply put, impressive. The exclusive contours of the Pontiac Firebird have been faithfully replicated from nose to tail, highlighted beneath a warm layer of Solar Red paint and further accentuated by the Firebirds several appointments of bright chrome plating which adorns the wheel well openings, rocker panels, drivers side mirror, windshield frame, and front grill as well as the rear bumper - both of which are amazingly detailed with their appropriate fasteners.
The Firebirds authentic split grill is a work of art, chrome plated & detailed with dual headlights each set in blacked-out sections, recessed in chrome trim rings and branded with period correct T-3 triangles. The company name is called out in the driver's side grill section - highlighted with a splash of contrasting silver paint - and the signature Pontiac arrowhead appropriately finishes off the split grill in addition to flanking the louvered rear quarter panels, bejeweled in chrome plated trim and doubling as the Firebirds authentic rear marker lights. The aboriginal inspired Firebird logo has been accurately placed on the front fenders - accompanying the Firebird block lettering - as well as the rear gas cap door, which is centered between the Pontiac's genuine split horizontal louver style taillights. Finishing off the Firebirds identifying markers are this particular pony cars 400 engine indicators which ride along the twin bulges of the Firebirds dual scooped hood as well as edging the topside of the rear deck lid, to the right of the centered Pontiac block lettering.
The absolute splendor of the Exact Detail Solar Red 1968 Firebird rests upon a set of authentically replicated Pontiac Rally II wheels. Detailed with proper PMD caps and chrome plated trim rings, each wheel comes wrapped in genuine redline wide oval tires. Recognizing the extraordinary attention to detail that was focused on the Firebird's exterior alone not only enhances the appreciation for the hard work that went into this replica, but it elevates the level of excitement for what's yet to be discovered.
The vibrant electricity of the Firebirds exterior surrounds a brilliant interior, generously furnished and neatly tucked between by a pair of realistically hinged doors. Opening the doors unveils one of the most stunningly detailed interiors ever designed by Lane, and for this particular replica, Lane has accurately captured the details & features of the Pontiac's optional deluxe interior. Details exclusive to this style interior include a wood grain custom steering wheel, an assist bar above the Firebird emblazoned glove box, and custom molded door & quarter trim panels - accented with chrome plated window cranks & door lock knobs, a left-hand remote mirror switch, Firebird emblems, and ashtrays embedded in the rear armrests.
Similarly limited to the deluxe interior is the unique design of the soft to touch simulated vinyl front & rear seats, each accentuated with woven fabric seat belts and deluxe exclusive chrome plated seat belt latch housings with GM labeled push buttons. Additional details include chrome plated ventilation outlets, a center console mounted clock, poseable sun visors, Pontiac inscribed floor mats, and a pair of legible gauges tucked behind the Pontiac Motor Division tagged sport steering wheel as well as a detailed hood mounted tachometer. Perhaps most impressive however is the clarity of the detailing applied to both the ventilation and radio controls as well as the legible shifter locations, each of which are recessed within the realistically simulated wood grain trim on the dash & center console.
The engine compartment is no exception to the passionate efforts that have been poured into this high detail masterpiece. The proper shade of paint has been authentically applied to the Pontiacs 400 V8 engine block along with additional splashes of color spread over the radiator & battery caps as well as the windshield washer reservoir and master cylinder. Chrome plated valve covers along with an accurate chrome plated air cleaner lid highlight the Firebirds 400 V8 along with appropriate mechanical details - including an accurately replicated cooling fan & shroud mounted to the belt & pulley system which in turn is mounted to the alternator & power steering pump. Hard lookers will even discover a gold painted dipstick mounted on the passenger side of the engine as well as a wired fuel pump with a steel line that runs from the pump to the detailed gas tank. Besides the fuel line, a precise array of wires & hoses stretches throughout the entire engine compartment including a wired battery, wired distributor, wired windshield fluid reservoir, and radiator hose along with the genuine brake fluid lines that are properly routed from the master cylinder to the rear axle assembly.
Besides the fuel & brake lines, the Firebirds undercarriage is emphasized with a detailed transmission & oil filter as well as a painted gas tank and an exhaust system finished in Lane's signature stainless steel treatment that exits through a pair of chrome plated dual exhaust tips. The opening trunk may not offer as much excitement as the rest of the Firebird, but as with the rest of this Exact Detail replica, no detail has gone overlooked. The Firebirds trunk is decorated with an authentically reproduced trunk mat as well as a detailed jack, space saver tire, & can of compressed air along with a legible instruction label on the underside of the trunk lid. Wrapping up this particular Exact Detail Firebird, Lane has offered the enthusiast the choice of how to display this convertible, including both a realistically texturized & molded convertible boot as well as an equally realistic detailed & framed cloth top.
The Exact Detail 1/18 scale Solar Red 1968 Pontiac Firebird convertible is a bona fide replica of one of America's greatest pony cars, bound to cause a soul stirring among both muscle car & Firebird enthusiasts alike. With almost 17,000 Firebird convertibles manufactured and sold in 1968 and only 2,250 copies produced of what is arguably the most beautiful variation in the Exact Detail 67/68 Firebird series, there aren't likely to be many left to go around. Similar to the Pontiac Motor Division of GM, the Exact Detail division of Lane Automotive is driving the excitement of the 1/18 scale diecast industry.
