1968 Pontiac Firebird Information
Everything we have on the 1968 Pontiac Firebird — its history, how to decode and verify your car, the factory options, and the original ads — gathered on one page. Use the jump links to skip to what you need.
History
Building on the 1967 launch, the 1968 Firebird kept the F-Body shell but reworked its engines, body, and interior. Both the hardtop coupe and convertible returned, now with a broader engine lineup:
Firebird OHC — the overhead-cam six grew from 230 to 250 cu in, 175 hp, with a new Mono-Jet one-barrel on manual cars. From $2,666 (coupe).
Firebird Sprint — OHC six, four-barrel Quadrajet, 215 hp, 10.5:1, heavy-duty clutch, floor three-speed. +$116.16.
Firebird 350 — the 326 became a 350 cu in two-barrel V-8, 265 hp. +$105.60.
Firebird 350 H.O. — 350 four-barrel, 320 hp, dual exhaust, stiffer suspension, “H.O.” stripes. +$180.58.
Firebird 400 — 400 four-barrel Quadrajet, 330 hp @ 5300, heavy-duty everything. +$358.09.
Firebird 400 H.O. — 400 four-barrel, 335 hp @ 5000. +$76.88.
Firebird 400 Ram Air — 400, 335 hp @ 5300, functional twin scoops, 6000-rpm valvetrain. +$342.29. Replaced mid-year by the Ram Air II (340 hp).
The body gained wraparound front turn lights, Pontiac V-crest rear marker lights, and deleted vent windows; single-leaf rear springs became multi-leaf, new straddle-mounted shocks improved the ride, and F70 wide-oval tires replaced the E70s. Inside: a larger padded dash, flow-through ventilation, crushable armrests, push-button seat belts, and a bigger fuse block. Pontiac also added the Van Nuys, California assembly plant on March 4, 1968.
1968 Production Numbers
| Body Style | VIN Code | Qty. Built |
|---|---|---|
| 2-dr Coupe | 22337 | 90,152 |
| 2-dr Convertible | 22367 | 16,960 |
| Total | 107,112 |
Model year ended September 1968. Full engine-code production breakdown is on the history page.
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
On the 1968 Firebird the VIN is stamped on a stainless-steel plate riveted to the left door jamb, on the hinge-post facing. (1968–71 models also carry a plate visible through the windshield on the driver’s-side dash.)
Reading the 1968 VIN, digit by digit
| Position | What it means |
|---|---|
| 1st digit | GM line — 2 = Pontiac |
| 2nd digit | Series — 2 = Firebird |
| 3rd digit | Model/engine — 3 = all 1967–69 models |
| 4th–5th digits | Body type — 37 = Sport Coupe (1967–69), 67 = Convertible (1967–69) |
| 6th digit | Last digit of model year — 8 = 1968 |
| 7th digit | Assembly plant — L = Van Nuys, CA · N = Norwood, OH · U = Lordstown, OH |
| 8th–13th digits | Sequential production number — starts at 600001 (L6) or 100001 (V8) |
Decode yours instantly: enter your number in the VIN Decoder, or see where every stamping hides on the Hidden VIN Locations page.
Body Tag Information
The Fisher body (cowl) tag records the model, body style, paint color, interior trim color, and date of manufacture. On 1968–69 cars it’s riveted to the firewall near the master cylinder.
Reading your tag, line by line
| Code | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Time Built (above “ST”) | Month and week the body was assembled. 06A = June, 1st week. |
| Model Year (right of “ST”) | The model year — 68. |
| Division / Series / Body | e.g. 2 24 67: 2 = Pontiac; 24 = Firebird Standard Interior (26 = Custom); 67 Convertible (37 = Coupe). Note: this does not match the VIN on 1967–68 cars. |
| Assembly Plant | The Fisher Body plant — LOS = Van Nuys, California; LOR = Lordstown, Ohio. |
| Consecutive Build No. | 406 – The body’s sequence off the line. Does not match the sequential VIN number. |
| Paint Code (below plant) | Two-letter body color — or upper/lower on a two-tone, or a stripe / convertible-top / vinyl-top color. R-2 = Solar Red lower with Black convertible top. |
| Trim Code (left of paint) | Three-digit interior color + seat material. 253 = Black Vinyl. |
Show all 1968 paint colors, top codes & interior trim
Chip colors are approximate. Custom Factory Paint is shown on the tag as dashes (——), “SPEC,” or “special.”
Convertible Top Selections
1 — Ivory White · 2 — Black · 5 — Teal · 8 — Gold
Cordova (Vinyl) Top Options
1 — Ivory White · 2 — Black · 5 — Teal · 8 — Gold
Strato-Bucket Seats (Standard — Jeweltone expanded Morrokide)
Strato-Bench Seat w/ Center Armrest (Optional at extra cost)
Custom Option Strato-Bucket Seats (knit-vinyl fabric with Morrokide bolsters)
Custom Option Strato-Bench Seat w/ Center Armrest (knit vinyl with soft Morrokide)
Decode your own tag: the Body Tag Decoder translates each line for you. See also Paint Codes and Options & Trim.
Accessories for your 1968 Pontiac Wide-Track
Built from the original 1968 Pontiac Sales Manual, the full factory option sheet lists every option and accessory available on the Firebird — with codes and original photos. Pair it with a Billing History Card to verify exactly what was originally equipped on your car.
Pontiac bundled popular options into five factory groups:
- Basic Group
- Protection Group
- Firebird Decor Group
- Mirror Group
- Lamp Group
Standalone favorites included the Rally II wheels, hood-mounted tach, Rally gauge cluster, center console, Custom Air Conditioning, Koni adjustable shocks, and the Stereo Tape Player.
See the full 1968 factory option list » · Standard Equipment »
Original Advertisements
A collection of original 1968 Pontiac Firebird ads, recreated for viewing. Click any ad to read the full page.
Deep Reference
Large technical references, kept on their own pages so they stay easy to browse:
Helpful Links
- Car Storage Information — prepping your Firebird for winter storage.
- First Generation Firebird FAQs — hundreds of community answers.
- Forums — ask questions, buy/sell parts, connect with owners.
Content last modified: July 18, 2026 at 12:29 am
