1969 Pontiac Firebird 350 Review and Performance Comparison

Pontiac Firebird Performance Review.

Introduction:

The 1969 Pontiac Firebird 350 is a powered by a Petrol V 8. This variant of the Pontiac Firebird 350 is the 4 speed / Manual version and was first brought out around 1969. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 1970 Monteverdi Hai 450 SS and the 1969 McLaren M6 GT 5.7 V8.

This particular Pontiac Firebird has a 5798cc Naturally Aspirated Petrol powerplant driven by the Pontiac Rear Wheel Drive system.

Alternative Petrol V 8's include the 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170

The Firebird shares its Petrol V 8 engine configuration with the likes of the 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 and the 2023 Ferrari SF 90 XX Spider 4.0 V8 Turbo.If you're looking for other similar performing cars which share the Firebird's Rear Wheel Drive, Coupe combination then how about the 1985 Alfa-Romeo Spider Veloce or the earlier 1982 Fiat X1/9 1.5 8V.

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 1472 kgs (3245 lbs) places the Pontiac Firebird 350 in a similar weight category as the 2025 Maserati MCPURA 3.0 V6 Twin Turbo and the excellent 2025 Ferrari 296 Speciale A, give or take 50kg.

The Pontiac Firebird shares the same bhp with the 2024 Toyota Yaris GR (276 bhp)

In terms of pure power the 5798cc 16 valve, V 8 engine produces around 265 bhp (197 kW) @ 4600 rpm which is comparable to the 2024 Toyota Yaris GR (276 bhp) and also the 2023 Toyota Supra GR 2.0 (255 bhp).

The Naturally Aspirated V 8 throws out 355 lb-ft (481.3 Nm) @ 2800 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2024 Toyota Supra GR Lightweight EVO (368 lb-ft) or the 2024 Mercedes GT GT 43 (369 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If you look at both power or torque of the 1969 Pontiac Firebird in comparison with its weight you get a much more accurate idea of its real world performance.

The 2017 KIA Stinger GT 3.3 V6 Turbo (205.0 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Pontiac Firebird.

The Pontiac Firebird has a power to weight ratio of 180.0 bhp per ton. Bhp per ton figures of the 1969 Firebird 350 means you're competing with the 2017 KIA Stinger GT 3.3 V6 Turbo (205.0 bhp per ton) and the equally quick 2015 Peugeot 308 GTi 1.6 Turbo 250 (204.9 bhp per ton).

Torque to Weight:

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance is Torque!. However, torque isn't the whole story, you also need to compare weight as well for more real world comparisons such as torque per ton.

The Pontiac Firebird 350 generates around 241.1 lb-ft per ton. So if you're looking at what cars perform similarly either on the drag strip or at the traffic lights using torque to weight as a benchmark, then look no further than the 2020 BMW 4 Series M4 Competition Coupe 3.0 Bi Turbo G82 (266.1 lb-ft per ton) or the similarly performing 2024 BMW 4 Series M4 Competition Coupe (266.1 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

The Pontiac Firebird 350 can accelerate 0–60mph in 6.40 secs or 0–100km/h (0–62mph) in 6.6 secs. Acceleration rivals to the Pontiac Firebird 350 include the 2022 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works Cabrio 2.0 Turbo (6.40 secs) or the equally as fast to 60mph 2016 Ford Fiesta ST 200 1.6 Turbo (6.40 secs).

The V 8 engine of the Pontiac Firebird 350 ensures that, ‘on paper’ at least, accelerates slightly faster than the 2024 BYD Sealion 7 Comfort (6.50 secs) and the 2020 Abarth 695 70th Anniversario 1.4 Turbo (6.50 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the Pontiac Firebird 350 and the Alfa-Romeo GT 3.2 V6 Lusso

On a longer format for acceleration comparisons the 1969 Pontiac Firebird can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 14.41 secs with a trap speed around 94.5 mph. Similar performances down the quarter mile drag strip can be found with the the Alfa-Romeo GT 3.2 V6 Lusso (14.42 seconds @ 94.5 mph) and a close race between the Jaguar F Type 2.0 Turbo (14.42 seconds @ 94.5 mph) too.

Top Speed:

Some modern performance cars are often artificially restricted particularly when it comes to max speed. 155 mph top speed restrictions are often used as part of the German 'Gentleman's Agreement' for example, so be cautious when using maximum speed figures. The 1969 version of the Pontiac Firebird 350 has a maximum speed of 120mph.

Top Speed of the 1969 Firebird equals the Dodge Dart Phoenix 5.9 V8 360 Hardtop (119 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what has a similar top end performance to the 1969 Pontiac Firebird 350 then there's the slightly slower the Dodge Dart Phoenix 5.9 V8 360 Hardtop (119 mph) or how about the impressive Renault Captur 1.2 Turbo TCe 120 EDC (119 mph).

— AutoSnout

Figures & Specs Summary:

Related Links:

• 1969 Firebird Rivals List.
• 1969 Firebird: Full Review and Comparisons.
• A Brief History of Pontiac
• Compare the 1969 Pontiac Firebird