1967 Satellite and 1994 Firehawk Predicament By Greg Zyla

Q: Greg, I always look forward to reading your column in Auto Round-Up. You seem to be a great repository of information and advice, so I have two questions and one dilemma.

I currently own a 1994 Pontiac Firehawk, production number 315. It’s a 315 HP, 6 speed Ram Air car with 82,000 miles. It is completely original and is showing some age. Mechanically it doesn't need a thing. Can you give me an idea what this car is worth in today's market?

My other question is that I have found a 1967 Satellite that was sold locally and is a two owner car. It has all the original documentation along with the Certi-Card. The fender tag is not on the car though. It is a 383 four barrel automatic, but I don't know it it's a Commando motor or not. However, it has a dual snorkel air cleaner with no markings if that helps.

The car is extremely solid with a faded repaint. The owner wants $7200. The interior has the GTX seat covers with a couple of rips in the seam of the front driver’s seat and rear seat.

I cannot find production numbers for this engine combination. Is this a fair price for this car? The dilemma is that if I buy the Satellite, I would probably want to sell the Firehawk because of space and the extra expense of keeping two classic vehicles.

Thanks for your dedication to the cause of classic automobiles. Dave Farrow, Lynchburg, VA


A: Dave thanks for your compliment and for reading my column.

Personally, I owned a 1967 Plymouth (Belvedere/Satellite) GTX back in 1967 and 1968, and had to let it go when Uncle Sam drafted me. Thus, I may be a bit prejudice in my answer, and it all gets even more coincidental as you read on.

First, $7,200 is a great price for the 1967 Satellite. As for your 1994 SLP Firehawk, guess what? I own a 1994 Trans Am 6-speed, with just 14,400 miles on it (sitting in my garage right now with a bad opti--second one already in just those few miles). Anyway, I'm keeping my Trans Am for a while unless I can get a good dollar for it. That generation F Body is desirable, and with an uncertain future for cars like ours, and Pontiac’s demise, there won't be many of these around on the cheap.

More importantly yours is an SLP enhanced limited production Firehawk, making it worth even more regardless of those 80K miles. Firehawks are specialty vehicles, and developed by SLP in low numbers with Pontiac’s blessing.

Thus, you indeed are in a tough situation.

As for the 383 engine in the Satellite, since there is a double snorkel scoop on the engine, it could well be the real Commando. In 1967, Plymouth offered a 2 barrel 383 with 270 horses and the 4 barrel 383 at 325 horses. The 325 horse version did come with the dual snorkel air cleaner (same as my 440 Super Commando) and can be identified by 516 numbered head casting. Look on your heads and try to find the
number---if it says 516--these are factory heads that are correct. My 1967 GTX had 915 castings, which were updated 516’s with bigger valves and revamped intake and exhaust ports. Both the 516 and 915 are closed chamber heads, versus the soon to come (1968 and later) heads, which had 906 cast into the head (my 1972 Challenger has a 1969 Roadrunner engine with 906 heads. They are an open chamber combustion type, which lowers compression ratio when using the same pistons). The 1968 and later 383 and 440 engines all came with the 906 open chamber heads.

Thus, it sounds like this is a real 1967 Satellite “Commando 325” you have your eye on, and it's listed in Hagerty's “Cars That Matter” for a price of $10,300 to $14,800 in "driver" condition (some flaws, etc...and the price goes up from there. Even more noteworthy, Hagerty’s says that the 383 325 horse engine adds another 30 percent to these values, but I'm hesitant to believe all these “Price Guides” if you know what I mean. But, $7,200 is a good deal.

I agree you are in a dilemma, so if you can, buy the Satellite and keep the Firehawk! I know that’s easy to say, but remember the long term, which, in my opinion, makes the Firehawk a more valuable asset. Currently, I'd say anything over $12,000 would be fair money for your LT1 powered Firehawk. In the years to come that price will probably rise while the Satellite, which is not a GTX, will peak at some point (could be now). Again, these are my opinions. Also, I turned my Firebird into a Ram Air a few years ago, and the 1994 model is a great looking Trans Am.

Good luck, and let me know what's up.

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