The Nineteen Sixties are thought of the golden age of the American muscle automobile, however the 1968 Pontiac Firebird Dash featured on this episode of “Jay Leno’s Storage” reveals that Detroit automakers weren’t solely centered on V-8s and quarter-mile instances.

As an alternative of the V-8 engines provided in different efficiency variations of the Firebird, the Dash had an inline-6 beneath its hood. This was an upgraded model of the engine provided in base variations of the Firebird, sporting a single overhead cam head, four-barrel carburetor, and efficiency exhaust. Within the Dash, it is coupled to a 4-speed handbook transmission the driving force works with help from a hood-mounted tachometer.

As Leno tells it, then-Pontiac boss John DeLorean was a fan of the Jaguar E-Sort (which launched in 1961 with a twin overhead cam inline-6) and wished to construct a competitor. Whereas Pontiac did finally construct an idea model known as the Banshee, Basic Motors would not approve a manufacturing mannequin, fearing it might compete with the Corvette.

As an alternative, DeLorean launched the Firebird Dash, aspiring to tackle the E-Sort along with his personal inline-6 (albeit in a bigger, heavier automobile) and an emphasis on dealing with. As a result of the Firebird Dash was meant to compete with European sports activities automobiles, it even obtained “4.1-liter” badging, as an alternative of the cubic-inch displacement measurement that was typical for U.S. automakers on the time.

The Firebird Dash might have glad DeLorean’s legendary ego, however it was not a industrial success. It made much less energy (about 220 hp) than a V-8 Firebird of the time, however value extra, Leno identified. Consequently, the Dash is now very uncommon. Remember that there was by no means an equal model of the Firebird’s Chevrolet Camaro twin, which shared the GM F-body platform.

Leno acquired his Firebird Dash convertible in 2019, and put it again on the highway after a light-weight restoration and a few trendy upgrades for drivability. Watch the total video for extra particulars of this uncommon Pontiac, and to heard that straight-6 sing.