1969 Comanche Package

Q: 1969 Comanche Package

Does anyone know some background on the 1969 Comanche Package? Apparently, this was a Canadian thing. The owner claims this was not a dealer add-on but a factory built car, modified after final assembly.

A: I once spoke to a guy in the early 80’s at Carlisle who asked me if I’d ever heard of it. No, said I, but he told me about his car. He thought it was regional thing in the upper midwest or central Canada or wherever Comanche country is (any historians out there?). The car was described as green, I think Verdoro (this is special?) but with many options including the code 293 Gold Leather interior. I think it was supposed to be a 350HO car as well. Whether the options were ordered just by whomever, or were a part of the package, I know not. I’ve only heard Comanche mentioned a couple times since.

I would suppose them to be almost as rare as a 1968 Grand Marque Firebird or a Sprint Fitchbird (pictured below).

A: Pretty much what I’ve heard as well. I ran into a retired GM exec. at a local (Mich.) car show who remembered a marketing thing back in 1969 that started in a Candian Dealer Zone involving a special Firebird. This started as a dealer promo thing as a result of the exposure ‘The Judge’ was getting along with other unique packaging ‘experiments’ such as ‘The Jury’, ‘Royal Bobcat’, Yenko, Motion, etc. The Mustang and Buick Gran Sport had regional appearance packages… (“California Special”, “Colorado Special”, etc). Why not Pontiac ?

Anyhow, this guy I spoke with had recently come across a surviving ‘Comanche’. An original 1969 Firebird Coupe up in Canada that had been sitting for quite sometime. I can’t remember what the distinguishing feature was (paint, badging or borrowed T/A components). Whatever it was, it got his attention. He was working on a deal to buy the car but was having difficulty getting in touch with the owner. This was not a one-off show car to promote a dealer or zone but instead, it was to be a Canadian Pkg. for all 1969 Firebirds (optional). These were modified/prepped in Canada before arriving at the dealer. Certainly, a ‘Grand Marque’ would be rarer since less than (3) were made exclusively for the PMD Auto-Show Circuit. Sounds like these would have had Canadian papers to authenticate their origin and uniqueness. I’ll have to check back with this individual and find out if he ever bought the car.

A: As for the car, my best recollection has this as dealer or district sales option in central Canada.

A: I have at a POCI convention about 12-13 years ago. I don’t know much more than you’ve stated, but maybe you’ve run into the same huy that asked me all those years ago!

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