The 1969 Firebird saw changes. First was a new look on both the outside and inside. This was not a major reskining for the firebird, but more like a face lift. The new characteristics included a slightly lower roofline, flatter wheel openings, sculptured bodyside panels and front fenders with windsplits. The front end featured a new intergral bumper grille made of "space age" Lexan plastic. Most of the same options were still available for 1969. Horsepower was up across the board for all Pontiac engines.

Powerplants for 1969 started out with the 175hp 250cid overhead cam six in the base firebird. The sprint received the 230hp 250cid with 4-bbl carburetor. Next up is the Firebird 350 putting out 265hp, with the 350HO producing 325hp. The Firebird 400 could be ordered with the 330hp Pontiac 400 or the 400 HO (Ram Air III). The top of the line engine for 1969 was the Ram Air IV that made 345hp.

The inside of the Firebird was not overlooked. A new wider, softer front bucket seats and camera-case-grain instrument panels. The Firebird also offered gold leather trim (rare) for the first time in in 1969. The inside also saw some new safety features as well. They included a security lock for ignition, steering and gearshift.

One new option for the Firebird that not to many people opted for in 1969 was the Trans Am option. Although not many people bought the new Trans Am, it was the birth of a legend.

The Trans Am option offered:

All base Firebird equipment
Special Hood and Blacked-out grill and Body stripes
Functional front fender air-extractors and Rear deck air foil
Quadrajet carb, chrome engine parts, and free flow dual exhaust
Heavyduty springs, shocks, and three speed manual trans
Front disc brakes, variable-ratio power steering and glass belted tires
Power Flex fan and Safe-T-Track Differential

Base engine for the Trans Am was the 335 hp 400 HO. Optional was the Ram Air IV. The only color choices for the Trans Am was on the inside. The exterior came only in White with blue stripes. Total production for the Trans Am was 697 hardtops and only 8 were optioned with the convertible top.

Copyright © 2005 Pontiac Power
This Home Page was created Sunday, January 05, 1997
Most recent revision Friday, January, 31th, 2003