I am trying to get a Canadian 1969 Firebird registered in CA. The DMV is asking for a smog emissions letter from Pontiac that shows it meets the standards of CA. I will be contacting them.
My questions. Was there any smog of the 1969 Firebird? Was there any difference in smog equipment for the 1969 400s between the states, Canada and California? I do not recall any smog pumps on the 400s.

Go to a different DMV. You would think they all live under the same rules but it like anything else. Just depends on who you talk to and how knowledgeable they are on the subject. You might get a totally different answer from the next person you talk to.

Unfortunately, this was sent to Sacremento. So now I get to deal with them.

don't think there was any smogging reqt in 69 cars even in Calif...maybe verify online year it started?

on my 69 back in the day when I had to smog it. It had to have a PCV valve, no AIR pump as long as I had an enclosed air cleaner with the hot air tube from the exhaust manifold, and vac advance on the dist.
How can they ask for a smog emissions letter from Pontiac when they are no longer in business

For out of state cars they typically send you to a state referee station for inspection. The items Wade mentioned above came on my car.
Most likely your car will be classified as an exemption or 49 state car since it originated out of state.
Fortunately you'll only have to do this once as 75 and older cars are exempt from the bi-annual inspection.

Pete and Wade, thanks for the information. That sound right for my car as well.

The issue now resides with CARB (California Air Resources Board). DMV states that it is not up to them, it is CARB that decides.

GM Canada, while very nice to talk with, are sticking to their guns that they do not offer compliance letters on cars older than 25 years. Sounds like they lost all the relevant information from that long ago.

So now I am on the hunt for any documentation that states what the car was required to have for both 49 states and California in 1969. That way I can present to CARB and then maybe get them to agree to an inspection showing I have the parts. Any advice on how to find assembly documentation or any documents related to smog in 1969 for a 400 would be appreciated.

Screw the DMV, call up the BAR and get the location of the nearest Referee.

https://www.bar.ca.gov/Consumer/Referee/Referee_Centers.html

Jeff,

I like that thought. I will look into it. What they are asking for just does not make sense.

Thanks

Update.

BAR says since it does not require smog so they cannot help. Even though it needs to have snog equipment.

DMV still states that they need a letter from GM starting the car met federal requirements when built. But GM Canada and GM US state that there is no letter available and there is nothing they can do to supply it. They told me this is just California not wanting old cars. GM will not help. Me.

You need to go up the ladder at DMV. Call your state rep and ask for help. Tell them you voted for them and need some help. Make a call.

find someone in AZ. and use their address and reg it in AZ. very easy and cheap to do from what my son says. he has all of his cars reg. there. Then if you want you can reg it in Ca. My son has the AZ DMV even mail all his paperwork to my address here in Ca, AZ don't care

Just got AZ plates for my '67 here about a week ago.

The law passed after I left Phoenix in 2006 just requires proof of classic car insurance. Being away from AZ for 11 years for my tour of the Central Plains, I had completely forgotten about emission requirements for vehicles and kinda freaked when I was reminded that I would have to get smog testing for ALL my vehicles including my Firebird. Then I remembered the classic car exemption being passed while I was away. All the AZ MVD needed was my Oklahoma title and a copy of my Haggerty's policy and voila - they handed me a fresh AZ title and plate.

Now all I have to do is revisit the MVD after my new house is completed with the Arizona Year of Manufacture plate I got off eBay and I am set.

You can't be the first person to ever deal with this. Have you talked to a dealership that sells classic cars?