Classic Pontiac Firebird Paint Colors & Factory Codes (1967–1981)
Every original factory paint color offered on the classic Pontiac Firebird (1967–1981), organized by generation. Select a generation to browse paint codes, hex approximations, and rarity notes.
The Pontiac Firebird was produced from 1967 through 1981 across two visually and culturally distinct generations, each with its own approach to color and identity. Introduced as GM's answer to the Ford Mustang, the Firebird quickly developed a personality of its own — one that leaned harder into performance imagery and bolder aesthetics than its Camaro platform-mate.
The first generation (1967–1969) arrived with a restrained but handsome palette reflecting mid-1960s GM tastes: deep blues, forest greens, and bright whites contrasted with vivid options like Tyrol Blue and Verdoro Green. The short three-year run produced some of the cleanest factory color-and-interior combinations of the era.
The second generation (1970–1981), shaped by Bill Mitchell's studio, transformed the Firebird into one of the most striking American designs of the decade. The longer, lower body wore color differently — bright Carousel Reds and Lucerne Blues looked aggressive, while darker hues like Cameo White and Sterling Silver complemented the car's sharp creases. By the mid-to-late 1970s, the Trans Am's "Banshee" gold-on-black scheme became one of the most recognizable automotive liveries in American culture.
Together, the two generations represent fourteen years of factory color evolution that track precisely with American muscle's rise, crisis, and resilience.
Sources:
- PaintRef.com — Pontiac Firebird factory paint code cross-reference (GM/Ditzler/DuPont codes by model year).
- First Generation Firebird (firstgenfirebird.org) — 1967–1969 body tag and paint code reference.
- Hitman's Pontiac Trans Am Site (78ta.com) — second-generation Trans Am paint codes and color combinations.
🔧 Restoration Tips: Finding & Matching Your Original Color
- • The Firebird's trim tag is on the firewall — look for a plate stamped with the paint code (two letters for 1967–69, two digits for 1970–81). Always decode this before purchasing paint.
- • First Gen (1967–1969) cars used GM's acrylic lacquer; Second Gen cars transitioned to enamel by the mid-1970s. Using the wrong chemistry over the original finish causes adhesion failure.
- • On 1970–1981 cars, the cowl area and door jambs often retain original paint under trim. Use these hidden areas to confirm factory color before committing to a restoration mix.
- • The gold-toned "Screaming Chicken" graphics on 1977–1981 Trans Ams were applied as a decal package, not paint. Reproductions vary widely in quality — source from SEMA-recognized vendors.
- • Many second-gen Firebirds were repainted in the 1980s. A UV lamp reveals overspray patterns in door jambs and under the hood that factory paint will not show.