1st Gen Camaro Vs. 1st Gen Firebird

[NYTRANSAM]

I love all f body cars. But I always ponder why is it that Camaros always retain so much higher value over firebirds? Is it Chevy vs Pontiac war, or horsepower or is it what was more popular in 67-69? Or is it because of the specialty camaro's "yenco, copo, ect" That keep the value high. What do you guts think.

[robotix]

I think it has to do with numbers. More people have memories in the first generation Camaros than the Firebirds. There's a larger availability of parts and support around the nation for their restoration.
Same goes for the Chevelle vs the Cutlass or Skylark.
Or the Mustang vs Cougar.
If it has more sentimental value, it tends to cost more.
That, and the fact that if you buy a Firebird, you'll have countless people thinking it's a Camaro. Or a Cougar is a Mustang; etc, etc.
It's that face value that costs so much. Name recognition.
My 2 cents.

[Mr.VENGEANCE]

i think the fight between Camaro and Mustang was so legendary in so many arenas(trans am road racing, drag, etc) that most people wanted to choose either side..

the old saying was race on sunday, buy on monday.. so when the two battled it out it rallied a BIG portion of buyers that took away from Pontiac, Mercury, olds, etc..

so now.. folks remember the 1st gen camaro and mustang and they pay the top bill for em..

hell.. 2 seconds on google typing vintage trans am and looks whos fighting.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/01/116_0704_05_zvintage_trans_am_racingno_1-1.jpg

also thats why they like the challenger and cuda too!


that help?

and for the record.. i LOVE first gen firebirds.

[exwestracer]

Historically, Pontiacs haven't been the best engines to wind the pizz out of, either. Not trying to start that debate or looking for exceptions...just comparing to the Chevy.

[Rick Dorion]

When they came out, we (dating myself) always considered the Firebird to be the 'camaro deluxe'. The camaro had a significantly elevated performance image and was considered more the 'people's car'. My friends bought and raced camaros. That's what we wanted.

[MonzaRacer]

Historically, Pontiacs haven't been the best engines to wind the pizz out of, either. Not trying to start that debate or looking for exceptions...just comparing to the Chevy.

Thats because the "OTHER" people who have no knowledge of Pontiac dont know that Pontiacs are torque production engines.
Take a 400 or 455 feed it enough air low down and the engine will flat out pull the bumper off a 302DZ Chevy and accelerate nearly as fast. But most people thing you HAVE to wind an engine 10,000rpm and run 6.30 gears to go fast. BUT when a guy came up with a well built Pontiac/Olds/Caddy/Ford/Big Block Chevy and made more torque properly built the small block has less chance unless the tune is right and the driver is right on.
Case in point, LSx engines are by design smaller in specific respects than SBC but can produce so much more power(ie torque) because of AIR FLOW.
Pontiacs always had pretty good heads down low when you found proper part mix, BUT most guys would go for cheap route as Chevy parts had been developed since '54. Late 60s Pontiac development was from '65 up, '64 down to late 50s/early 60s. Heck to make a point Pontiac engines came on 50's GMC trucks as they made better torque.
BUT if you do proper build up on a pontiac it can take as much rpm as a BBC easy, lately as head technology has increased the deficiency of a 40+ yr old design finally shows up, as did on SBC, BBC, Windsor Fords.
But with aftermarket made blocks a Pontiac CAN be fast as can SBC,BBC,Ford,ETC.
Just for information purposes.

[twosaturns]

there were A LOT more camaros made than firebirds; a quick google search shows in 1967, there were 82,560 firebirds, but 285,748 camaros! there were always more chevrolet dealers than pontiac dealers, always more aftermarket support for chevy than pontiac, so more people will be drawn to camaros than firebirds.

[tazzz25906112]

In a first gen example it was because Chevy kicked Pontiac's A$$............ After that things got very interesting and for the most part I personally believe TA's and Formula's are and will continue to kick Camaro a$$ around the block in collectivity.... Just my opinion...

[WS6]

I think it was a combination of exposure, availability, and cost. As mentioned, there were more Chevy dealers and therefore more Camaros on the street corner, at a race track with dealer sponsored race cars present, more advertising etc etc. Also, keep in mind Pontiac has always been more of a luxury/upscale line. The interior on any firebird has a higher quality design and feel to it than a camaro from the same year and model level. This included the 3rd and 4th gen cars that were built on the same assembly line. So pontiacs typically cost more which didn't help their sales numbers either. There are many factors and opinions and I'm sure you'll not get a definitive answer.

[exwestracer]

You gotta give the Indians credit for trying though... Seems like Firebirds were featured characters in more movies and TV shows than any other car I can think of.

The Rockford Files, baby! Who didn't go out and practice "Rockfords" in dad's car? HA, liars....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=d3E2HgnXKAA

[exwestracer]

Well, this one got beat by a DODGE... But maybe it's because the butterflies on the blower hat never actually opened (hey, they can't think of everything)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGDZDemP7F8&feature=related

[Big T]

I don't agree. I have to point out that your post is from 2010 so that may play a factor but I have been searching for a classic trans am and the price of them to comparible camaro is SO MUCH HIGHER. I gave up on the firebird thing got a very decent camaro for way less. try www.nada.com and try almost any year basic camaro then do the same for firebird and dont even think of trans am because those prices are just crazy. be sure to use the exact same year and basic engines on both cars for a fair compare. also i noticed by researching testing specs on the first years 67 for both cars the firebird was always just a bit faster. They seemed to test more choices for the Camaro but none are faster then the Firebird. There is one that says n/a. I don't know what that was all about. as I said I did not get into massive detail just checked 1st year only for a fair comparison and of course this is even 2 years before the grand daddy of all Firebirds the Trans Am came that out in 69

Firebird 0 to 60 mph Quarter Mile Engine Source
5.8 sec 14.4 sec @ 100.0 mph 400ci/325hp Car & Driver 3/67
6.5 sec 14.7 sec @ 98.0 mph 400ci/325hp Car Life
7.5 sec 15.4 sec @ 92.0 mph 400ci/325hp Motor Trend

http://www.musclecarfacts.com/pontiac-firebird/408-1967-firebird

Camaro 0 to 60 mph Quarter Mile Engine Source
n/a 14.9 sec @ 95.7 mph 350ci/295hp Hot Rod
6.0 sec 14.5 sec @ 95.0 mph 396ci/325hp Motor Trend 5/67
6.7 sec 14.9 sec @ 97.0 mph 302ci/290hp Car & Driver 3/67
7.8 sec 16.1 sec @ 86.5 mph 350ci/295hp Car & Driver 11/66
8.0 sec 15.4 sec @ 90.0 mph 350ci/295hp Motor Trend Dec 66
10.7 sec 18.2 sec @ 77.0 mph 327ci/275hp Motor Trend

http://www.musclecarfacts.com/chevrolet-camaro/55-1967-camaro

[kenneth67]

dont forget that GM realeased Camaro 6 months before Firebird

[High Plains Mopars]

Simple supply and demand. More Camaros were made back then, so they still have more demand now. As far as values, it really depends on what your looking at. Sheer demand can make a pedestrian Camaro have inflated value as a percentage than some other makes. Specialty cars like COPOs and Super Dutys are another ball of wax.

[cornfedbill]

I do believe it is because more people remember Camaros than remember Firebirds. It is a shame. The early Firebirds are nice looking and deserve more attention.

It is true that the Pontiacs make big torque, but not without a high weight penalty.

[T/A Addict]

[QUOTE=High Plains Mopars;1252618]Simple supply and demand. More Camaros were made back then, so they still have more demand now.

Guess that I am one of the oddballs that much prefer something produced in lower numbers that you don't see often. Thus I would pay more for a Firebird than a Camaro.