Summary

VIN #001, show body #001. The first Firebird convertible ever built. Featured on Discovery Channel and History Channel. 2-speed automatic transmission. Sold as a pair with Lot 747.1.

Details

Presented from a private collection are the very first production Firebirds built, VIN #001 and #002. They are the most significant Firebirds ever produced and a huge piece of GM and automotive history, built at the Pontiac Lordstown, OH, assembly plant in early 1967. The body tags on each are labeled 'Show Body 1' on this convertible and 'Show Body 4' on the coupe. Both cars were used for auto show and advertising purposes, before being eventually released and sold. By 1966, the race was really heating up between the big three manufacturers to dominate the pony-car muscle movement that had become so hot. The release of Firebird in 1967 came about under the direction of John DeLorean, as a Vice President of General Motors and Pontiac Division General Manager. Pontiac's Chief Design Engineer, Jack Humbert, was assigned the task of developing the car. He commissioned his very best Pontiac designers for the job. The Firebird was born with a uniquely different appearance and engineering features than its sister car, the Camaro, although they shared a common body structure. Visually the Pontiac F-body, as it was called, came with a split-nose grille and chrome bumper, a lowered stance, wide oval tires, horizontal headlights and taillights, along with Rally-style side vents. The new Firebird certainly stood out from the crowd. Although Pontiac Firebird was a late entry to the race, in January 1967 the car dominated not only in popularity and performance, but sales went through the roof. The 1967 Firebird dominated the Pontiac showrooms as well, selling in excess of 82,000 units that first year, even with a late release. Both this convertible and the VIN #002 coupe are very significant Firebirds that were found together; they have been together all these years and never separated. Discovered in a very tired and sad condition, they were rescued and painstakingly restored to bring them back to their former glory. 2-speed automatic transmission. **SOLD AS A PAIR WITH LOT 747.1**