<Tr> <Th> Platform </Th> <Td> F - body </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Related </Th> <Td> Chevrolet Camaro </Td> </Tr> <P> The Pontiac Firebird is an American automobile built by Pontiac from the 1967 to the 2002 model years . Designed as a pony car to compete with the Ford Mustang, it was introduced February 23, 1967, the same model year as GM's Chevrolet division platform - sharing Camaro . This also coincided with the release of the 1967 Mercury Cougar, Ford's upscale, platform - sharing version of the Mustang, </P> <P> The name "Firebird" was also previously used by GM for the General Motors Firebird 1950s and early - 1960s concept cars . </P>

What was the first year of the pontiac firebird