1968 Pontiac Firebird 350

The 1968 Pontiac Firebird 350-cid HO V-8 engine, equipped with a high-performance camshaft, enhanced exhaust-gas scavenging, and refined carburetion, produced 320 horsepower—35 more than the 326-cid version it replaced.

Pontiac Firebird Image Gallery

A newly introduced 400 HO engine featured a more aggressive camshaft and free-flowing exhaust, delivering an impressive 335 horsepower to the three-speed manual, four-speed (standard or close-ratio), or Turbo Hydra-Matic transmission. Even the standard 400 V-8 came with a floor-shift, chrome engine components, and a dual-scoop hood.

This year, Pontiac Firebirds and other General Motors vehicles adopted Astro-Ventilation. This innovation removed the vent wings ahead of the door windows—an update that GM executives appreciated more than the general public did. The new one-piece door glass looked sleek but didn’t significantly improve airflow.

Midway through the year, the Ram Air II engine made its debut, rated at 340 horsepower—substantially less than the GTO's Ram Air V-8. New round-port cylinder heads improved engine airflow. The Ram Air II package included features like a high-lift camshaft, forged aluminum pistons, and an Arma-steel crankshaft.

A Turbo Hydra-Matic or a four-speed transmission was a must-have. The hood scoops were fully functional with the Ram Air induction system, boosting both horsepower and the engine's peak power range.

On the streets, Sports Car Graphic described the Ram Air Firebird, saying, "the occasional hiss from the quadrajet carburetor and the throaty rumble from the dual exhausts created an impression of immense power."

A Firebird equipped with Ram Air could sprint to 60 mph in just 4.8 seconds, covering the quarter-mile in 15 seconds flat. The 400 HO V-8 wasn’t far behind, reaching 0-60 mph in a respectable 5.3 seconds.

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