1968 Pontiac Firebird 400 HO

Pony car powered by Pontiac 400 HO Firebird V8.

Licensed 1968 Pontiac Firebird 400 HO convertible with hood tach and HO stripe used as exact-year body context; visual equipment is not original-drivetrain proof.

Build Pathway Factory Pontiac Firebird 400 package with optional 400 HO engine path

Engine 400 cu in Pontiac HO four-barrel V8, rated at 335 hp in reviewed references

HO Boundary Separate from the base 400, Ram Air 400, and Ram Air II Firebird paths

1968 total 107,112 Firebirds reported across coupe and convertible bodies

Authentication Paperwork, engine codes, drivetrain stamps, paint/trim tags, and date-correct parts matter more than scoops, stripes, or hood tach

Story

1968 Pontiac Firebird 400 HO

The 1968 Pontiac Firebird 400 HO sits in the narrow space between the regular Firebird 400 and the Ram Air cars. The Firebird 400 package supplied the dual-scoop hood, 400 identifiers, dual exhaust, chrome engine dress, heavy-duty battery, sport springs and shocks, and F70 x 14 tire context. The 400 HO engine was the extra-cost performance step in that pathway, with reviewed references listing 335 horsepower, 430 lb-ft, 10.75:1 compression, and different carburetor and cam details for manual and automatic cars.

That distinction matters because the first-generation Firebird lineup makes it easy to over-read visual cues. A 400 hood, hood tach, stripe, or restored engine bay can support the story of a car, but it cannot prove the car was built as a 400 HO. The Ram Air 400 and Ram Air II paths were also separate from this page's HO boundary and should not be merged into a single "400" claim.

For buyers and restorers, the clean proof stack is paperwork and component agreement: PHS/order documentation, engine-code and casting/date evidence, transmission and axle markings, paint and trim tags, and period ownership records. The photos and video on this page show exact-year Firebird 400 HO context, while the captions keep visual evidence separate from drivetrain originality.

**Licensed rear-quarter view of the same 1968 Pontiac Firebird 400 HO convertible used for exact-year trim and stance context.**Matt Morgan via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0

Specs

Car type: Pony car
Body: 2-door hardtop coupe
Engine: 400 cu in Pontiac HO V8; Rochester four-barrel carburetion; 10.75:1 compression; 4.120 x 3.750 in bore and stroke in reviewed fact-sheet references
Horsepower: 335 hp @ 5,000 rpm for the Firebird 400 HO in reviewed references
Torque: 430 lb-ft @ 3,400 rpm for the Firebird 400 HO in reviewed references
Carburetion: Rochester four-barrel 7028264 for automatic-transmission 400 HO context; Rochester four-barrel 7028271 for manual-transmission 400 HO context

Equipment

Pontiac 400 CID 4-barrel HO V8
Dual-scoop hood and 400 identification through the Firebird 400 package
HO stripe and hood tach visual context where documented
Heavy-duty floor-shift manual transmission context
Three-speed automatic and four-speed manual availability
Sport-type suspension equipment
1968 multi-leaf rear springs
Optional Safe-T-Track positive traction rear axle
Optional front disc brake and Rally wheel context

Linked Parts

Price history

Values

Nominal dollars from original price sheets, auction archives, and approved value references.

Original Price

A verified original price is not yet available for this car.

Market Observations

High bid $37,000

Aug 18, 2022 · Mecum Auctions
PHS-documented 400 HO four-speed coupe 223378L105280 restored in 2012 with an overhauled 1968 Pontiac 400, overhauled original Muncie transmission, Edelbrock carburetor, Flowmaster exhaust, HEI ignition, and Ram Air IV camshaft. · modified · unknown Mecum records a $37,000 bid-goes-on result. The cataloged 400 HO identity and included PHS documents support the factory pathway; the restoration and disclosed induction, exhaust, ignition, and camshaft changes require a modified classification. This is a no-sale signal, not a transaction price.
1968 Pontiac Firebird 400 HO 223378L105280 auction result
Auction sale $20,000

Apr 12, 2021 · Bring a Trailer
Factory 400 HO coupe 223378U149671 with broadcast-sheet support, replacement 350ci V8, automatic replacing the original four-speed, bare-metal repaint, replacement quarter panels, and refreshed interior and brakes. · modified · unknown Bring a Trailer records a $20,000 sale. The broadcast sheet supports factory 400 HO identity, but the replacement engine and transmission, body repair, repaint, and interior work make this a heavily modified comparison rather than an original-powertrain benchmark.
1968 Pontiac Firebird 400 H.O. coupe 223378U149671 auction result
High bid $29,500

Dec 31, 2020 · Bring a Trailer
Canadian-market 400 HO coupe 223378U138897 with original purchase documentation, build sheet, warranty card, Protect-O-Plate, an older factory-color repaint, fitted Ram Air hood, and visible cosmetic wear. · modified · unknown Bring a Trailer records a $29,500 reserve-not-met high bid. Purchase documentation and supporting factory records establish the 400 HO pathway, while the repaint and fitted Ram Air hood require a modified classification and prevent treating the presentation as an untouched benchmark.
1968 Pontiac Firebird 400 H.O. coupe 223378U138897 auction result

Values move with paperwork, originality, options, condition, venue, and body style. High bids and guide values are labeled separately from completed sales.

Reference records

Options, Colors & Components

Source-backed details for trim, chassis, production, and authenticity.

Transmission

Factory transmission heavy-duty floor-shift 3-speed manual
Factory transmission 4-speed manual
Factory transmission 3-speed automatic

Options

Evidence graphic summarizing 1968 Firebird 400 HO identity boundaries and proof requirements.Classic Muscle · Reference illustration

Firebird 400 Firebird 400 package factory · performance · Reviewed references describe the Firebird 400 package as the equipment path that could receive either the standard 400 or the 400 HO engine at extra cost.
L74 400 CID 4-barrel HO V8 optional · performance · Reviewed references list the 400 HO as a 335 hp Firebird 400 HO model path, separate from base 400 and Ram Air II.
Ram Air 400 Ram Air 400 induction package optional · performance · Separate from this 400 HO page; reviewed references list functional hood-scoop equipment and separate availability notes.
Ram Air II Ram Air II engine path optional · performance · Separate from this 400 HO page; reviewed references list a 340 hp Ram Air II path.
Safe-T-Track Safe-T-Track positive traction rear axle optional · performance · Positive-traction rear axle option; exact ratio must be verified per car.

Paint

**1968 Firebird 400 HO front and hood detail crop; hood tach, stripe, and scoops support visual context but not drivetrain originality.**Matt Morgan via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0

A Starlight Black factory · solid
C Cameo Ivory factory · solid
D Alpine Blue factory · metallic
E Aegena Blue factory · metallic
F Nordic Blue factory · metallic
G April Gold factory · metallic
N Flambeau Burgundy factory · metallic
Q Verdoro Green factory · metallic
R Solar Red factory · solid
Y Mayfair Maize factory · solid

Production

Evidence graphic summarizing the 1968 Firebird 400 HO engine rating and Ram Air separation.Classic Muscle · Reference illustration

1968 Pontiac Firebird all body styles total · 107,112 · reported
1968 Pontiac Firebird hardtop coupe by body · 90,152 · reported
1968 Pontiac Firebird convertible by body · 16,960 · reported

Authenticity

Evidence graphic summarizing Firebird 400 HO transmission, axle, brake, and suspension verification.Classic Muscle · Reference illustration

Firebird 400 HO model evidence PHS/order documentation should support the Firebird 400 package and 400 HO engine path, then agree with body, trim, and drivetrain evidence. · PHS invoice, order documents, VIN/body plate, trim tag, build sheet where present, and owner records · fraud detection
Pontiac 400 HO engine identity Engine stamp, casting/date evidence, cam/carburetor details, exhaust, and paperwork should align with the 1968 Firebird 400 HO path. · Engine code pad, block/head/intake/carburetor casting and date evidence, PHS paperwork, and service records · numbers matching
Ram Air separation Ram Air 400 and Ram Air II equipment need separate paperwork and component evidence beyond the 400 HO path. · PHS paperwork, hood/induction components, carburetor/engine details, and period owner records · trim correctness
Transmission and axle match Transmission, shifter, axle code, ratio, and Safe-T-Track evidence should match the original order. · PHS paperwork, transmission tags/stamps, axle tube stamps, differential tags, shifter hardware, and date codes · date correctness
Paint and trim evidence Factory paint, top, interior trim, wheel, tire, stripe, and hood tach presentation should match body tag and documentation. · Trim tag, PHS/build records, original paint traces, interior trim evidence, period photos, and restoration records · trim correctness

Still Researching

production Reviewed sources support the total and broad body-style totals, but not a safe Firebird 400 HO by body, transmission, axle, paint, or Ram Air split.

Codes & names