Jim, I was in a long debate several months ago about this very topic. Someone asked a question about the "bullet" mirrors (1970-up) being used on any late 69 Birds. No one had any hard proof they were. This was such a popular swap to do in the 70's, but it seemed like SO many 69's had them, people began to wonder if the Van Nuys plant perhaps began using the body colored bullet mirrors late in the run to "spruce up" the 1969's.

That opened up a possible theory that inventory was being stockpiled in Van Nuys for the 1970 changeover, and the mirrors could have been used on the 69's. This theory then got more legs when someone produced a factory photo of a 69 Firebird, with 1970 plates, and it had bullet mirrors.

This led to the question of what the actual production run was at Van Nuys, and what the last unit number was. Seems like there is very little info on the Van Nuys cars.

Well, this thread IS called "Firebird Mysteries", so I thought I would add to the mix.

Excellent. I had a late 69 Van Nuys car with the bullet mirrors. I thought I knew that they were not original but I had some doubt because the car was so original. The drivers side was remote and it seemed like it had never been off.

I was waiting for any evidence that the bullet mirrors may have come through on the late 69's produced out of Van Nuys, but no one has any proof (yet). I believe they may have been used late in the run, perhaps from March 69 forward.

It will be next to impossible to prove. I may have had the closest thing to proof. A 69 with a remote bullet style mirror that the interior door panel hadn't ever been removed since it was installed at the factory. It would have been quite the trick to install that mirror and fish the remote cable around through the door without taking the panel off. It's remotely(pun) possible but why wouldn't they take the panel off?

Jim -

How about these 2:

11B LOR516667 conv 206 paint 59G
08D NOR701085 conv 202 paint 57B

Thanks. I added the 666 car because it's a LOR
Could you recheck those for me? It would fit better if it was an 11-D. The B does not fit the sequence. If 11-D it was very near mine.

I checked twice before posting, but it is a B. Which had me scatching my head a bit based on the list. I'll check once more tonight when I get home to be sure.

Yah. A D would fit right in.

Negative, it is a B as in Boy. I checked the PHS documentation, and the car was shipped 11/22/68 to a dealership in Libertyville, Ill.

Oh, and the broadcast sheet also matches everything as well.

So, obviously it could not have been built after it was shipped. I'm not sure what that does to the numbers exactly and maybe it is an issue with paint, interior, etc... that leads to the funky numbering.

The guy running the stamper needed bifocals. Kind of a crazy thought but if you really understand the process there would be 'stamp-o's' (like a typo) all that week then. He wouldn't have changed that group of blocks for the week. That must have been a strange week because it's the second anomoly in that week.

I'm waiting to see some of the extended-build numbers come up. There didn't appear to be too many late builds.

ho428,

My 1968 HO 350 4speed car came with the Deluxe Steering wheel and my dash has the same chrome inlay trim.

Chad in NC

My 68 FB/350 H.O. had std interior, deluxe strg whl, and the chrome bead along the dash pad.

Did either have the dash grab bar?

Mine didnt.

1968 HO 350 4speed, Standard interior, Deluxe steering wheel, chrome inlay along dash, no grab bar on passenger side, no bird emblem on glove box.

Chad

At pigeon Forge I saw two 68 birds that screwed up my theory on steering wheels and dash trim. Both were said to be original.
The standard wheel car had the dash bead, the deluxe wheel did not. It makes no sense though, I'd think the deluxe wheel would have the bead and the standard would not. But... there they were.

The funny thing is neither owner even noticed they did or did not have it until I pointed it out.

Both my cars were base OHC 3 speeds originally with no options. Seems odd that the coupe had a deluxe wheel and dash. Only interior differences is the Vert has a floor shift, the coupe was originally a column shift. I found 2 build sheets in the coupe, one under the passenger seat, another under the rear, both in many mouse eaten pieces, haven't tried to reconstruct them yet.
Would it be common to find 2 broadcast sheets?

Now there's a project while you are laid up...reassembling mouse nests into broadcast sheets!

Not common to find two, but not unheard of.

My low-option '68 coupe had a deluxe wheel and no dash bead, but has the dash bird. It's a column shift car.

My 68 400 convertible was invoiced 11/14/67

It had deluxe interior, "custom sport" wheel (deluxe), chrome dash trim, bird on glove box door, console and dash grab bar.

Custom sport wheel was the woodgrain wheel, not the deluxe wheel.

Thats odd, my invoice shows the following lines:

STRG WHEEL-CUSTOM SPORTS-DIFF 471 30.55

and under CUSTOM TRIM OPTION 554 114.80

CONSISTS OF DLX WHL DISCS-
DLX STRG WHL-W/SHEILD PILLAR
MLDGS-QTR&DOOR TRIM SIDE
ROOF RAIL MLDS-CUST SEAT-
INST PNL GRIP-BRAKE PEDAL
TRIM-DUAL HORNS-UNLESS
OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT SPECIFIED

It really does not look like the steering wheel was ever off of the car. It is cracked typically like the others out there.

Custom Trim package
https://firstgenfirebird.org/firebird/1968/sales_manual/AA-1.html

Custom Sport Wheel ('68)
https://firstgenfirebird.org/firebird/graphics/accessories/471.jpg

That's what is confusing to me. I have the deluxe, black plastic wheel on my car, but invoices say I shouldn't. Why would anyone remove the existing one and replace it with a cracked steering wheel? I was under the impression the wheels cracked soon after they were installed.

I doubt I could ever even find one of the wood ones to switch it out. Billing maybe wrong?

Not likely for the billing to be wrong. Maybe the wood wheel came in and the owner didn't like it and had it changed out.

The wood wheels are available, but finding an original in good shape is like finding an original deluxe wheel in good shape.

My 68 H.O.(std interior) didnt have a glove box bird.
Think my 67 w/std interior has one. Have to find the box...

OK, this one is aways in the back of my mind.
The 67 has GM black steel open scoops. Not cut either.
I'm the 3rd owner(75).
2nd owner claimed they were on the car when he bought it in 71.
Sold the a/clnr and hood pans for a 66 tri-pwr, which was on the engine.
Had the factory dual exhaust, but hedders from 2nd owner.
The rear muffler was eliminated. Used the 2 resonators for mufflers. Over axle tail pipes.
Didnt remember exh manifolds being unusual.
You could tell something was previously mntd to the hood...
Could of been added on between 67-71, but they were hard to come by even back then.

Anyone else run into something like this?

Mine is Oct 67 built:
deluxe interior, with the original dash-
I've got all- the glove box pull strap, the metal and black trim around the dash, and the bird on the glove box. No comfort weave, tho, b.t.w.

Ok here's a question on a billing history I got for a 1967 bird. There is a box for option 55 - power windows - and there appears to be a number 4 in the box although it is hard to make it out. The car does not currently have power windows but the interior is the correct original color. According to the list I have, a power windows car would have a 1 in box 55, not a 4. Trying to make heads or tails out of this one...why would it say it had power windows if it doesn't have them? So far, everything else on the sheet is correct. Thanks!

Niki

Is there an X in group 1 on the trim tag? Or, more plausible, is it a convertible with a power top, and the 554 is actually a 544?

Hi Vikki, nope its a 67 326 coupe...no vert.

Niki

Do you have the trim tag info? Is there an X in group 1?

No trim tag info yet, have not seen the car yet. Just had owner fax me the phs sheet...car is at a mechanic so he can't get me the trim tag info at this time.

I never treat an owner's copy of PHS as actual, I've seen too many altered. Not so likely on a lower option car, though.

Ask seller for photos of VIN tag and cowl tag.

Hello, all. I'm looking for PHS copies from 1969 Firebirds that are equipped with either 400 HO or Ram Air III. If you can scan and email, post photos, or even just copy information verbatim it would be helpful.

Info that is specifically needed:
Assembly plant
Invoice date
Complete text of option 348 line, including pricing, as printed
Complete text of option 611 line if present, including pricing, as printed.

Thank you for your assistance, results will be presented once a statistically significant sample has been achieved.

Does anyone have a 1967 firebird assembly manual which gives diagrams and dates for parts changes? I believe John mention that Jim may have one but could not release it. Has it been released yet?

As many of you know, I've compiled a database of cowl tag/VIN info for 1967 Firebirds. I'd like to do the same with 1968, it's an invaluable resource for finding cars where the trim tag has been mismatched to the VIN tag and can also serve as a base for date-sensitive options such as Comfortweave vs. vinyl deluxe seat inserts and as an aid in decoding addtional trim tag codes.

No owner specific detail is requested or logged. Submissions from eBay are welcome as long as both VIN tag and trim tag are included. I would strongly prefer photos of the VIN and trim tags in order to minimize transcription errors and to log tag blank styles. If that's not possible, or if the photos are hard to see, please send the tag info in the email message. If you'd like to contribute but don't want to disclose your full VIN, feel free to ** out the last two digits or edit the photo to mask the last two digits.

If you'd like to contribute please email photos as attachments to yellowbird@thefirstgensite.com and put the subject "68 codes" in your email so that I can process them in batches.

Once a statistically significant sample is submitted, even 50 tags per assembly plant, I can answer inquiries as to approximate build date for a given VIN, or approximate VIN for a given build date. The more samples are submitted the more accurate the search. 100 well distributed samples can give a resolution of two weeks.

Not hijacking the thead--just a sidebar comment, seeking an answer; maybe a topic for a new thread. Why is it that lor is the main player at this board. Doesn't anyone have any los cars? Never hear one word about los built.

I have one LOS built. Many more were built LOR as LOR put out cars all three years. Not many NOR either.

Hello Niki. If you have a "4" in box 55 - that would be 554 Custom option. Includes amongst other things the custom/deluxe interior. Pretty broad option and one of the best.

Each numbered box on the BHC has multiple possibilities - usually. 551 would be pwr windows. 554 is Custom. 555 would indicate pwr windows AND custom.

Hope that helps.

Hello FGF'ers. New member here. Having trouble getting posts to submit. I think this is fourth try and running out of options - I think. (lol)

Need help identifying an item on 68 Firebird Billing History Card. It is #742. Or a number 2 in the 74 box if you wish.

Trying to do documentation work on a 68 Ram1 and 68 Ram2 Bird. Both have the 742 listed. Can't find anything - anywhere - on 742.

It is a no-charge / standard / or inclusive item.

Thank you for any assistance you can provide in identifying this item.

Tried to start a new topic but was restricted. My apologies if this is a hijack.

Hello and welcome. One thing I can add is that it must not be an option exclusive to all 68 ram air cars because I have seen at least one billing history from a RA that didn't have the option.