[Stuart]

I was in the book store yesterday and noticed the current issue of Hemming Muscle Machines magazine has an article about a 1968 Firebird Sprint. Pretty neat car, equipped with triple Weber carburetors. https://www.hemmings.com/magazine/mu...t/3751714.html

[U47]

Originally Posted by Stuart

I was in the book store yesterday and noticed the current issue of Hemming Muscle Machines magazine has an article about a 1968 Firebird Sprint. Pretty neat car, equipped with triple Weber carburetors. https://www.hemmings.com/magazine/mu...t/3751714.html

I like that;
"This 1968 Pontiac Firebird represents a car the factory should have built".

The factory knew it's limitations. The car would never pass emissions. In fact In some states like mine which is still emission testing cars back to 1967, and other states which can bring cars with exhaust control ( 1966 -1975 ) back into emission testing without a referendum, the car wouldn't even pass the visual today!

[gtospieg]

Originally Posted by Stuart

I was in the book store yesterday and noticed the current issue of Hemming Muscle Machines magazine has an article about a 1968 Firebird Sprint. Pretty neat car, equipped with triple Weber carburetors. https://www.hemmings.com/magazine/mu...t/3751714.html

Cool Sprint...but I noticed it has the wrong hood tach(not 6500 red line) and a stick would be really sweet, like a 5 speed

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by gtospieg

Cool Sprint...but I noticed it has the wrong hood tach(not 6500 red line) and a stick would be really sweet, like a 5 speed

In the full article they mentioned the two guys who built the car are in their 70s and not up to pushing clutch pedals anymore, so they went with the automatic transmission.

[400 4spd.]

Originally Posted by Stuart

In the full article they mentioned the two guys who built the car are in their 70s and not up to pushing clutch pedals anymore, so they went with the automatic transmission.

One of my fears for the future. But so far the clutch pedal leg is holding up better than the gas pedal leg.

[OVERULD]

Very cool car!

[400 4spd.]

Originally Posted by Greg Reid

Wow.. I've never seen that...lol
Very old school-cool and corny at the same time.

First time for me too. The subtle hint of a high boot brings an image of a "Tiger trainer" at the circus.

[post toastie]

tropical pontiac

[Jeff Hamlin]

Originally Posted by 400 4spd.

First time for me too. The subtle hint of a high boot brings an image of a "Tiger trainer" at the circus.

Exactly.
I've never seen these used in any mainstream advertisements.
It was suggested they may have been for use in a men's magazine of the day?

[Greg Reid]

Originally Posted by Jeff Hamlin

Exactly.
I've never seen these used in any mainstream advertisements.
It was suggested they may have been for use in a men's magazine of the day?

It's one of the best photos I've ever seen as far as far as highlighting the beautiful lines of the '66. The car looks absolutely flawless. Notice the poverty caps.
I agree, the models invoke an image of a circus trainer with his tigers. Very contemporary imagery. Master of his domain. "When men were men and women were glad of it!"

[JSPONT]

This thread is full of all sorts of good stuff!! Love it.

[MikeNoun]

The body lines of the 1966 Pontiac A-body were just beautiful, and it's not hard to understand why they sold so well. Chrysler and Ford mid-sized models appeared to be a couple years behind in styling. Pontiac sold over 300,000 Tempest, LeMans, and GTO models in 1966, second only to the Malibu/Chevelle.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by MikeNoun

The body lines of the 1966 Pontiac A-body were just beautiful, and it's not hard to understand why they sold so well.

Any idea who Delorean is talking to in that photo (not a quiz; that's a sincere question).

Also - it looks like the car in the foreground has the area behind the bumper blocked off, indicating to me that either it's not a real car (some kind of mockup) or they blocked the visible areas off so as to not offend the studio types.

K

[MikeNoun]

Good catch, Keith! I never noticed that area behind the bumper slots before. Gotta love the vintage computer font used on the license plate. Not sure who the other gentleman is in the photo.

The other 1966 GTO in the background was unusual. Chrome reverse wheels, different emblems, 1/4 emblems removed, door handles removed and replaced with hidden handles between the 1/4 panel and door.

Mike

[Greg Reid]

The grille doesn't quite look like a production grille either (on the background car). I actually thought it was a LeMans until you posted the other pics.

[gtospieg]

in the 2nd set of pics it looks like the rear lights are not GTO but Tempest/Lemans

[Jeff Hamlin]

...

[mlewisariz]

The modified car has aftermarket o/s mirrors and it appears that the headlight trim is body color or missing altogether.

[goatless]

Perhaps, both of the cars in Mike's picture with John D. are late styling mockups to finalize the '66 trim details?

[John V.]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

Any idea who Delorean is talking to in that photo (not a quiz; that's a sincere question).

K

Keith, pretty sure that is Charles "Chuck" Jordan. He was VP of Design under Bill Mitchell at the time, responsible for all auto exterior design.