Firebird with M/T and A/C 1968

Q: Firebird with M/T and A/C 1968

Could the 1968 Firebird with manual transmission come with air conditioning.

A: I found an original 1968 Pontiac air conditioning sales brochure (SP 2819) that states, “Firebird Custom Air Conditioning. Available only on Firebird, Firebird 350, Firebird H.O., and Firebird 400 models with automatic transmission, Combines heating and cooling units in a single system for balanced all-season comfort. Features easy fingertip control.” Unless this was changed in a later update, this supports the A/C (order# 582) was not offered on a standard transmission.

Also, the Pontiac Chassis Parts Catalog Revision Number 5 (Effective with Parts Release and Change Notice 68-3 dated March 1, 1968) does not list an Air Conditioner Package for the 1968 as a ‘Dealer Installed Accessory Package’ (pg C-65, Revised 2-1-68). This is also supported by the ‘Pontiac Dealer’s Confidential Price List’ for factory approved accessories (P68-1 effective September 21, 1967, pg. 1 of 19).

A: Since I was the one that sent information saying air conditioner could not be ordered on any 1968 M.T. Firebird, I thought I would let everyone know about some more information I found about this. I found this in the 1968 Pontiac Sales Album in the Firebird power train section as of 08-10-67 (earlier date than the other documents I mentioned) https://FirstGenFirebird.org/1968-info/1968-technical-information/sales_manual/selling/o-chart1/:

Item Number 1 – 5, 3-speed:

Car Order Engine Code 341, 343, 344, 345, and a 3.23 axle could be ordered with air conditioning BUT not with the 3.55 axle.

Car Order Engine Code 342, 250 6 Cyl., 4 Bbl., engine code ZD, 3.55 axle could NOT be ordered with air conditioning.

Not that this matters much except to people looking for a M.T. with air and it conflicts with the other information. Anyone with a documented M.T. with air 1968 Firebird?

A: Check your 1968 service manual and look up radiator useage and rear end useage charts. They both show that a/c wasnt avaliable in M/T V8. I also know of orginal owners that were denighed this option when ordering their new (68) car. Perhaps one could have slipped by.

A: what I said was that 1968 wasnt avaliable with a 400,3 or 4 speed manual trans AND factory a/c. this also goes for R/A and Sprints with auto.or standard trans. . In 1967 a/c was avaliable in all except the R/A(even Sprint) but you couldnt get the higher ratio rear ends. 3.36 was the highest gear for an a/c car. In 1969 things changed a little but a/c wasnt avaliable with Sprints with auto. or standard,as in 1968.There were some R/A cars built in 1969 (there were even 32 T/As) with a/c.

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