(By Scott Liggett) – 1967 was a good year, not because you were a hippie trekking to San Francisco for the Summer of Love. But, for the amazing collection of cars being put on the road from both domestic and foreign car makers. Muscle cars were really hitting their stride and the pony car offerings were gaining full stride.
1967 was also the year I was born. So, Brian asked me to pick my Top 11 cars from the year of my birth. What a tough job. I searched the internet for days and mulled over the list that literally topped 40 cars before I whittled things down to 11 top picks.
These are in no particular order of favorites. That would have been impossible to pick.
11. Let’s start with the most obvious to people who know me. The 1967 Impala Super Sport. Not just any ’67 SS, but the rare Impala SS427, a completely separate model from the Impala and the Super Sport. These even had completely different SS427 badges and a bulged hood with a single faux grille in the middle. GM’s suits needed something special as the time of the big car muscle was quickly being replaced by the lighter, smaller cars with big engines. Unlike the Biscayne, most of the SS427’s were loaded with options including the 385 hp L34 427 big block being standard. I had a chance to buy one back in 1986 for $400, but was too stupid to stop by the bank to get cash first.[divider]
10. The first generation of the Plymouth Barracuda that arrived in 1964 wasn’t much more than a Valiant with a fastback body style. It even shared many body panels. By 1967, the Barracuda got it’s own identity and looked much more muscular. The Formula S backed that look with the available 383 crammed into the fenderwells. I am sure there were more than few surprised guys that thought the Barracuda had anything but the slant 6 under the hood. There were three different body styles to choose from as well, the fastback pictured, the notchback and a convertible.[divider]
9. The Barracuda wasn’t the only car to get more muscular in it’s looks ’67. The Ford Mustang did too. Ford gave it a more aggressive look to get away from the “Secretary’s Car” rep it picked up from the beginning. I guess that meant too many ladies liked the car and it didn’t have enough caveman traits. The slightly larger body and underhood space allowed Ford squeeze in the FE big blocks. Ford only shoved 390’s into the GT’s; but Shelby went up to the 428’s that were only reserved for the big cars. A year later, when Steve McQueen drove a GT fastback in the movie “Bullitt” the secretaries car rep was gone …until 1974.[divider]
8. I like all of Mopar’s B bodies in 1967. The boxy design was simple and sedate, but they packed a big punch under the hood with everything all the way up to and including the 426 Hemi. My personal favorite was the Plymouth GTX. At the time, it was considered the gentleman’s muscle car with more luxurious options available. Many will say it was the famous psuedo-factory test car, the Silver Bullet GTX that prowled Woodward Blvd back in the day that got me. But in reality, it was a B-5 Blue GTX that a friend drove that was once his dad’s Iowa State Police Pursuit Special. With a 440 and four speed, that ex cop car would drive across the entire state at 140 mph. It was stupidly loud for a police car even though it had four huge mufflers.[divider]
7. Going in the opposite direction of the Impalas SS427, the Biscayne was as stripped down as you could get in 1967 among Chevy’s. Drag racers love it because it’s stripped and that means it’s light. Alright, it’s lighter than an Impala loaded down with options. It’s still not that light. But, you could still get the 427 big block and a four speed trans. Today, one of these cars in a sedate color with matching colored steel wheels and cheapy dog dish hubcaps make grown men swoon.[divider]
6. Another Chevy was the little Nova Super Sport sporting the big block killing 327. Wait? What? A 327? Yes, the RPO L-79 350 hp 327 was a proven winner in the Super Stock ranks in the hands of Bill “Grumpy” Jenkins thanks to Grumpy’s tuning expertise and the light weight little Nova. These boxy cars beat up on even the hemi powered Mopars. I have never understood why this engine didn’t make it’s way into more cars in ’66 and ’67. With 11:1 compression, solid lifter cam, fuelie heads, and a big Holley carb the little engine that could was very snotty. It could only be the lack of press that the big blocks in mid sized cars were getting by ’67 that limited the L79’s sales.[divider]
5. The Pontiac Grand Prix was the marketed as the personal luxury sports coupe, or some such crap by those in the marketing department at Pontiac. I don’t care what they called it. It was bold. The front end styling was about as subtle as a hockey stick smacked in the face with those hideaway headlights, and three slits for parking lamps in the leading edge of the fenders. They all came with with bucket seats, consoles, and floor shifters for that sporty thing that Pontiac was talking about. It was also muscular. It didn’t get John Delorean’s OHC six banger of the future. Oh no. It got either a 400 or the 428 cubic inches of that Indian torque. Even the first lady of racing, Linda Vaughn, owned a ’67 Grand Prix convertible in Hurst Gold and Black.[divider]
4. My parents owned a ’64 Buick Skylark Sport Wagon when I was born. But, in 1967, I liked the looks of the Oldsmobile version much better, the Vista Cruiser. They were longer than the F-85 wagon by five inches, but it was the skylights that really set it and the Sport Wagon apart. They even had a second set of sun visors for the back seat passengers. Vista Cruisers really did get power under the hood in ’67 with only the smallish 330 V8 available, but that can easily remedied with a 442’s 400 or a 455. Of all the wagons built in the ’60’s and ’70’s these were the only ones kids didn’t feel completely embarrassed riding in the back seat.[divider]
3. Next on my list is the Ferrari 330 GTC. It is not as well known as the ’67 275 GTB, but I think it’s a much better looking car sitting on basically the same chassis with four wheel disc brakes and full independent suspension. Under the hood was Ferrari’s world killing 4.0 liter V12 that actually had some torque and enough carbs to keep a tuner busy for life. Some say this was the first Ferrari that was enjoyable to drive. Whatever. It’s just sexy. It should be for what it would take to buy one these days.[divider]
2. My other Italian car of 1967 was the Lamborghini Miura. Built in response to Enzo Ferrari turning down then tractor builder, Ferruccio Lamborghini, to be bought out. Anger and drive can be a good thing when you want to pick up a gauntlet and beat the snot out of your snobby competitor. The Miura did that and more. Another car that requires breaking into the trust fund to own these days. When most of my friends had posters of Countach’s on their walls, I had one of a Miura.[divider]
1. The last car on this list is the Jaguar E type roadster. I’d have to have one in British Racing Green. Despite Jaguar’s poor reputation for reliability and those God awful Lucas electrics powering the car; they are still considered one of the greatest sports cars ever built with a style that is timeless. The 3.8 liter straight six produced good power and torque too if you could keep it running. And, the E type’s suspension let it fly around the corners of the famous road tracks around the world.There you have it. The list of my personal favorites rides from the year I was born. I am sure that many people will want different cars on the list. That’s OK. I would like to hear which ones I should have had here. Just don’t say a Camaro.
Them 67 Plymouths are good cars.
An ecumenical list . . . Probably ought to bump one of the “Chinese Lantern” Chevys for a Ram Air G.T.O. . . . The Great One . . . .
Dadgum, Scott’s older that I though . . . .
Shelbyized Mustangs were dominating SCCA A/S, BP, and Trans-Am (in the “Over Two-liter” division) before ’67 . . . the secretary car rep was already long gone.
I did screw up and gave away my age, didn’t I?
Good list.
I don’t see how you could leave out the 67 Fairlane GT S code, one of the handsomest cars ever built plus an FE motor and 4 speed?
There were vary few 67 L79 Novas built,and they had a Qjet and cast iron intake instead of the 585 cfm Holley they had the year before.Thel79 cam was a 440. lift with hydraulic lifters.The grump never raced a 67 Nova.He moved on to the Camaros in 67.A first generation Camaro would be a better choice of one best cars of 67.
The L79 was not an option in 1967. Us old farts could read Hot Rod back then. The 67 Nova was still very cool though. Much nicer level of trim. Sorry Larry.
Yes. Available in Vettes 65-68. Chevelles 65, 67,68. And, Nova’s 66-68.
I think this is a great list, it has something for everybody (well, almost). Instead of chirping about what’s not on it, I’ll point out my favorites, #2 and #7.
Good selection, even though I’m not familiar with the European cars other than the Jaguar.
’67 was an important year to me…….I graduated high school and entered the military.
Coming from a small Southern Missouri town…….none of the foreign cars ring a bell to me. They weren’t even on the radar.
Not sure how you could not include the Camaro….albeit there have been many made.
Having said that…..respectively I would have
Mustang
Fairlane GTS
GTO
442
Chevy II (Nova)
Corvette Big Block
GTX
Were in southern mo
Continued…..
Camaro
Cougar…for good measure
Of course opinions are like elbows……..everyone has a couple
The introduction of the L71 427/435hp Tri-Power Corvette
The Ram Air GTO
The L78 Chevelle SS 396/375hp
The 442 W-30
The 427/425hp Fairlane XL
Nice list but I would have included: Camaro Z28 and L88 Corvette.
I agree on the Miura. Sexiest thing on 4 wheels.
There were a lot that were not on the list. I was only allowed 11.
1. Yeah sure the Vette. It got the 435 hp 427 and 4 wheel disc brakes while Duntov fixed aero problems on the Mako version for another year.
2. Camaro, but had better be a RS/SS L78 396 four speed to get my attention.
3. Yes, the Fairlane almost made it with one of the least subtle factory hood scoops ever.
4. The Galaxie 500 with the 7.0 ltr was number 12.
5. I really wanted the Buick GS400 instead of the 442. Only because it had the coolest factory air cleaner of all time.
6. ’67 GTO’s are sooooooo overdone. Snooze.
7. I would take a Cougar over a Mustang coupe any day. But, that ’67 Mustang had such a sexy ass. Yum.
Corvettes got 4 wheel disc brakes in 1965
At least the ’67 427 Fairlane hood scoop actually worked. 80% of the muscle car “Ram Air” setups were nothing more than Bling. They didn’t work. They were too low – underneath the flow of air over the car.
You may not like GTOs but did you know in 1967, more GTOs were sold than any other muscle car? Almost 90,000.
GS400; Star Wars air cleaner, only year for the SP400 switch pitch in the intermediate chassis and with the BOP pattern, big port heads and don’t ever forget the flying buttress styling.
64-67 Buick A-bodies were the best looking, in 2dr form the 67 takes it.
67 Toyota 200GT.. good enough for Jame Bond
The James Bond 2000GT Convertible was never manufactured. They made 2 of them for the movie YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE. All production 2000GTs were Coupes.
Love those old SS427 Impalas!! There’s just something about ’em that’s ultra cool.
I whole heartedly agree. They weren’t fast per se but they did look cool. And fit right in with Chevy’s SS cars; the Camaro SS 350, The Chevelle SS 396 and the SS 427. Too bad Chevy was concentrating on their new Camaro in 1967 and held back the L72 427/425hp engine option from 1966. It returned in 1968 but the SS 427 was a one year model – 1967. They really look great with the RPO D-96 fender accent stripes.
Did you know that in the full-sized assembly manual is a canceled option for a tri-power setup on the SS 427, identical to that found on a Corvette. RPO L-68 (same option code as the Corvette tri-power – 427/400hp). 1967 was the year that GM ended all multi-carb setups except the Corvette.
The SS427 was available in ’68 too. Domed hood (but no silly ice tray) SS427 emblems and all. Even available in fast back and formal roof lines.
Nope – not the same. The 1967 model was an SS 427. The 1968 model was a 427 Impala SS. Like I said – on the 67, the Impala name is nowheres on the car. That is not true for the 68.
Good list Scott! 1967 truly was a wonderful year. I was 10 and fully into the car deal at that tender age, always ready to ride shotgun with Dad in his 65 Impala SS 4-speed. Seemed that back then just about every street in the neighborhood had at least one hot machine sitting in the drive — and God bless the salesmen of that era who let small boys drool over the latest Detroit hot rods on their showroom floors.
Did you know . . .
On Choice #11 – the name “Impala” is nowheres on the car. Just SS 427.
To pick another nit and tread cautiously into GM C-body territory, the Motion Copo Biscaynes were ’68s. But GREAT list, really…….
nitpick too, but by ’67 the Jag was 4.2
I question #10 – the 383 Formula S Barracuda. It was a pig because Plymouth had to make a compromise to get the 383 into the car. That compromise was to add a really poor flowing exhaust header design. Because of this, the 383 lost 45hp. That’s right – it was only rated at 280hp in the Barracuda. In the Belvedere, it was rated at 325hp. The 383-2V was rated at 270hp in the Belvedere.
Who would keep the crap exhaust manifods anyways? Headers would fix that problem in one afternoon. Only those “My car is one of (enter low number here), numbers matching, chalk mark correct, blah, blah, blah” dorks would keep such power robbing crap on their car.
You seem to forget that the list is circa 1967. Not 2014. Don’t confuse the two.
the L79 327 350hp is not a solid lifter cam but a hyd whit 447 lift and 222 dur at .050
I agree with you on the Jag. Lucas electrics… the reason Joseph Lucas was known as the “Prince od Darkness”
While looking over the list I had to think about it and realized that I have owned quite a few 67’s. My thoughts from the ones I either own or have owned in the last 15 years.
67′ Plymouth Belvedere, 383, stick – just a very nice package once I changed the shifter. Great car, and ran 14’s stock. Recently bought another one with a 5 speed conversion.
67′ Plymouth Barracuda Formula S, 273, auto – another very nice car. Pretty quick with the solid lifter 273 and Formula S suspension. I wished it had still had the 4 speed it came from the factory with when I owned it.
67′ Impala convertable, 327, auto – big comfortable boat, but handled like an absolute pig, with horrible brakes. Even by 67′ standards it was pretty bad. Not real fast but sounded good and was dead reliable
67′ Pontiac GTO Convertable, 400, auto – had the turnpike cruiser option with 2.56 gears. Was dead slow, wallowed, got horrible gas mileage, had pathetic brakes, but looked dead sexy.
67′ Chrysler 300, 440, auto – big comfortable boat, went like hell, and even got surprisingly good gas milage. Rusted while your drove it though.
67′ Ford Fairlane GTA – slow, leaked oil, rusted while your drove it, wallowed like it was going to tip over in turns, and brakes that were better than GM’s stupid 9″ drums, but not by a huge amount. With the 390 it should have been much faster but the 327 Impala would eat its lunch.
67′ Dart GT Convertable, 273, auto – a little pale yellow cruiser. Not fast but great gas mileage and drove pretty good. When you hit the brakes you never knew which direction you were going to go in but the 10″ drums were far better than the GM 9″ offereings on much heaviler cars. Too bad it died from terminal rot of the rear frame rails.
67′ Chevy Camaro – 230, stick – originally a 3 on the tree that I converted to a Super T10 on the floor. What a great little car. Lightweight, so the drum brakes actually were adequate, great gas milage, and actually peppy to drive with the 230 and 3.42 first ST10. It was way under sprung and wallowed badly in corners, wheel hopped horribly under hard accelleration or braking, but looked good doing it.
Here is my broad generalizations:
Mopar products seemed to drive the best, with the best suspensions and brakes, but were literally boxes on wheels. Engines were good but the GM ones of the same size were generally more powerful and just as reliable – unless you talk hemi. Best transmissions with some of the worst shifters.
GM’s had great motors, were reliable, dead sexy looking, but woefully lacking in brakes and suspension. Especially the big cars with front suspension designs that were scarey.
Fords….meh. The cars I have had have not done anything well. I had high hopes for the 390 Fairlane, but it was a dog. 16 second flat quarter mile times. The six cylinder Camaro ran 16.3! I have had much better luck with Ford trucks.
Got to vote for the GTX. I know the history of the Silver Bullet in your picture. Great story about an undefeated (?) Detroit street racer secretly factory sposored. The car was restored by a great friend of mine in my home town, Vance Cummins, natioanally recognized mopr expert.