Top 10 Pony Cars 1967 — Best Overall + Best Value

Direct Answer

1967 was the year the pony-car class became a real fight. The Ford Mustang had owned the segment since April 1964, but for 1967 the Chevrolet Camaro, the brand-new Pontiac Firebird, and the Mercury Cougar all arrived to challenge it at once. Looking back across the whole field, the Best Overall pony car of 1967 was the Chevrolet Camaro SS/Z/28 — a fresh design that matched the Mustang on style, undercut it on chassis sophistication, and gave buyers everything from a mild small-block to a 396 big-block in one body.

Its 1967 base sport-coupe price was $2,466, with the SS and Z/28 packages layered on top.

The Best Value of 1967 was the Plymouth Barracuda Formula S, a genuinely quick, well-handling fastback that cost real money less than a comparably equipped Mustang GT or Camaro SS and remains one of the most underpriced first-wave pony cars today. The base 1967 Barracuda opened around $2,449, with the Formula S package adding performance hardware for a modest sum.

This is a past-tense retrospective: every price below is a real period-1967 figure, and every engine and output is what these cars actually shipped with.

How We Ranked the Top 10

We weighted each 1967 pony car the way a period road tester plus a modern collector would, combined:

• Performance — 25%: real 0-60 and quarter-mile pace from period road tests, plus available horsepower.
• Style and icon status — 20%: how the car looked in 1967 and how iconic it became.
• Value in period — 15%: what you actually paid in 1967 dollars for the performance delivered.
• Engine range — 15%: breadth from economy six to big-block, and how good the top engine was.
• Driving character — 10%: steering, handling, and how the car felt to drive hard.
• Collectibility now — 15%: current Hagerty and auction-market values and desirability.

Sources for this ranking include period road tests, the Hagerty Valuation Tools price guide, Mecum and Barrett-Jackson auction results, Classic.com aggregated sales data, and the Wikipedia model pages for each car, all listed at the end.

1. Chevrolet Camaro SS / Z/28 🏆 BEST OVERALL

1967 MSRP: $2,466 (base sport coupe; SS plus $210-ish, Z/28 package extra) | Best for: the buyer who wanted one car that could be mild or wild

Chevrolet answered the Mustang with the all-new Camaro, and for 1967 it arrived fully formed. The base car used a 230-cubic-inch six or a 327 V8 (210 hp), the SS added a standard 350 (295 hp) or the optional 396 big-block at 325 or 375 hp, and the homologation-special Z/28 ran a high-winding 302 rated at 290 hp but widely believed to make more.

Only 602 Z/28s were built for 1967, which is a big reason a number-two Z/28 now sits around $84,000 on the Hagerty guide while recent auction averages run far higher and a fully optioned car has crossed $275,000. The Camaro's wide engine spread, sharper chassis, and clean styling make it the most complete pony car of the year.

Pros:

• Engine range from economy six to 375 hp 396 in one body.
• Z/28 302 was a true road-and-track weapon built for Trans-Am homologation.
• Strong, deep collector market today across SS, RS, and Z/28 trims.
• Sharper handling than the contemporary Mustang.

Cons:

• First-year cars can hide rust in the cowl, floors, and trunk.
• Genuine Z/28 and SS cars are heavily faked, so documentation is everything.

Verdict: the most well-rounded pony car of 1967 and the segment's high-water mark for the model year.

2. Ford Mustang GT / 390 GT

1967 MSRP: $2,461 (base hardtop; GT Equipment Group extra) | Best for: the buyer who wanted the original, restyled and now with a big-block

For 1967 the Mustang grew slightly and, for the first time, swallowed a big-block. Engines ran from the 200-cube six up through the 289 small-blocks (200, 225, and the 271 hp HiPo "K-code") to the new 390-cubic-inch FE big-block at 320 hp in the 390 GT. With the GT Equipment Group, you got fog lamps, GT badging, and upgraded suspension.

The Mustang remained the style and sales benchmark of the class, and clean GT cars and especially the 390 GT fastback are firmly collectible today, with strong six-figure money for the best fastbacks. It loses the top spot only because the new Camaro slightly out-handled it and matched it on looks.

Pros:

• The original pony car, restyled and still gorgeous in fastback form.
• Now offered a 390 big-block plus the legendary 271 hp HiPo 289.
• Best parts and restoration support of any car here.
• Enormous, stable collector following.

Cons:

• The 390 GT was nose-heavy and not as quick as its size suggested.
• Base six-cylinder cars are plentiful and far less desirable.

Verdict: the icon of the class and a safe, beloved buy, narrowly out-pointed by the fresher Camaro.

3. Shelby GT500

1967 MSRP: $4,195 (approx.) | Best for: the buyer who wanted the fastest, most exclusive Mustang of 1967

Carroll Shelby's 1967 GT500 took the Mustang fastback and stuffed in the 428-cubic-inch FE "Police Interceptor" V8, fed by dual Holley four-barrels and rated at 355 hp and 420 lb-ft — a famously underrated figure. Fiberglass nose and tail, a roll bar, and serious presence set it apart from any standard Mustang.

These are now blue-chip collector cars: a number-two 1967 GT500 books around $238,000 on Hagerty, and a one-off Super Snake famously brought $2.2 million at auction. It ranks here rather than at the very top because, as a low-volume Shelby conversion, it's less of a true class "pony car" and more a halo special.

Pros:

• 428 big-block with 355 underrated horsepower.
• Genuine Shelby provenance and fiberglass bodywork.
• Among the most valuable pony cars of the entire era.
• Unmatched road presence.

Cons:

• Heavy front end blunts the handling the smaller GT350 had.
• Entry price is out of reach for most collectors.

Verdict: the muscle-bound halo of the 1967 Mustang line and a true blue-chip classic.

4. Shelby GT350

1967 MSRP: $3,995 (approx.) | Best for: the purist who wanted Shelby handling over big-block brawn

The 1967 GT350 carried over the 289 "HiPo" small-block rated at 306 hp, with an optional Paxton supercharger (around $549) that pushed output toward 400 hp. Compared with the GT500, the GT350 was lighter over the nose and the better-balanced car to drive on a winding road, keeping the original GT350 ethos alive even as the line moved upmarket and added comfort.

Values today are strong though below the GT500, making it the connoisseur's 1967 Shelby. It sits just behind its big brother purely on horsepower and market value, not on driving enjoyment.

Pros:

• Lighter, better-balanced than the GT500.
• 289 HiPo with optional Paxton supercharger.
• Real Shelby pedigree at a relative discount to the 500.
• The driver's choice of the 1967 Shelbys.

Cons:

• Less torque and straight-line drama than the 428 GT500.
• Numbers-matching, documented cars are scarce and pricey.

Verdict: the handling purist's 1967 Shelby, and arguably the more satisfying one to drive.

5. Pontiac Firebird 400

1967 MSRP: $2,666 (base hardtop; 400 and HO options extra) | Best for: the buyer who wanted Pontiac flair and a torquey 400

Pontiac's 1967 Firebird debuted alongside the Camaro on the same platform but with its own personality: split-grille styling, a unique interior, and Pontiac's own engines. Choices ran from a 230-cube overhead-cam six (165 hp) through the 326 (250 hp) and 326 HO (285 hp) up to the 400-cubic-inch V8 at 325 hp, with a Ram Air package raising the peak rpm.

The Firebird traded a little of the Camaro's racing edge for smoothness and a more premium feel. As a first-year, lower-production model, clean 400s and HOs are well-regarded and rising in the collector market.

Pros:

• First-year Firebird with distinctive Pontiac styling and engines.
• 400 V8 made strong, tractable torque.
• Overhead-cam six was an interesting, smooth base engine.
• Lower 1967 production than the Camaro adds appeal now.

Cons:

• Shares structure with the Camaro, so the same rust traps apply.
• The 400 was nose-heavy and not as track-sharp as a Z/28.

Verdict: the upscale, character-rich alternative to the Camaro and a strong debut.

6. Mercury Cougar GT

1967 MSRP: $2,851 (approx. Base; GT package $325.85) | Best for: the buyer who wanted a Mustang in a quieter suit

Mercury's 1967 Cougar was the Mustang's longer, plusher cousin, and its launch of over 150,000 units was the biggest in Mercury history to that point. Hidden headlights, sequential taillights, and extra wheelbase gave it a more grown-up look. Engines started with two 289 V8s (200 and 225 hp) and topped out with the 390 Marauder at 320 hp; the GT package (about $325.85) added that 390 plus heavy-duty suspension, dual exhaust, and front disc brakes.

It was named Motor Trend Car of the Year. Values trail the Mustang but represent a lot of refined pony car for the money.

Pros:

• More refined and better-equipped than the base Mustang.
• 390 Marauder V8 in GT trim.
• Hidden headlamps and sequential taillights stood out.
• Motor Trend Car of the Year for 1967.

Cons:

• Heavier than the Mustang, so a touch slower in like trim.
• Still lives in the Mustang's shadow with collectors.

Verdict: the sophisticated, underrated pony car of 1967 and a smart buy for the patient.

7. Plymouth Barracuda Formula S 💎 BEST VALUE

1967 MSRP: $2,449 (base; Formula S package extra) | Best for: the value-minded enthusiast who wanted handling plus a big-block option

The redesigned 1967 Barracuda finally looked the part, and the Formula S package made it genuinely good to drive. The base car used a 225 slant-six, with available 273 V8 and, new for the top fastback Formula S, the 383-cubic-inch V8 at 280 hp. Formula S cars added heavy-duty suspension, wide D70-14 tires, and special trim.

Of more than 62,000 Barracudas built in 1967, fewer than 7,000 were Formula S and fewer than 2,000 had the 383, so the good ones are rare yet still cost meaningfully less than equivalent Mustangs or Camaros. That gap is exactly why it's our value pick.

Pros:

• Best handling-per-dollar of any 1967 pony car.
• Optional 383 big-block in the top Formula S fastback.
• Rare in Formula S trim yet still affordable today.
• Distinctive, fastback-forward styling.

Cons:

• Brand recognition lags Ford and Chevy, capping resale ceilings.
• The 383's weight crowded the engine bay and added nose weight.

Verdict: the smart-money 1967 pony car — real performance and rarity for less outlay.

8. Ford Mustang GT350-clone Fastback (289 HiPo base car)

1967 MSRP: $2,592 (base fastback; HiPo 289 K-code extra) | Best for: the buyer who wanted Shelby flavor without Shelby money

A standard 1967 Mustang fastback ordered with the 289 HiPo "K-code" at 271 hp delivered much of the small-block magic of an early GT350 in a far cheaper, more usable package. Buyers got the fastback's best-looking body, a free-revving solid-lifter small-block, and the option of the GT group for fog lamps and suspension.

These honest, non-Shelby HiPo fastbacks have become quietly collectible as enthusiasts recognize the engine's pedigree. They sit mid-pack here because they overlap heavily with the standard Mustang above, but the K-code drivetrain earns the separate nod.

Pros:

• 271 hp HiPo 289 was a genuine high-performance small-block.
• Fastback body is the prettiest standard Mustang shape.
• Far cheaper to own than a real Shelby.
• Excellent parts and club support.

Cons:

• K-code authenticity is often faked, so verify the VIN code.
• Overlaps with the standard Mustang, limiting separate cachet.

Verdict: the budget path to 1967 small-block Mustang thrills, documentation permitting.

9. Dodge Dart GTS

1967 MSRP: $2,499 (base GT; GTS 383 package extra) | Best for: the buyer who wanted big-block punch in a compact, low-key body

The 1967 Dodge Dart GT was a tidy compact, and the hot GTS version was essentially a Dart GT with a 280 hp 383 V8 stuffed under the hood — a classic small-car, big-engine recipe. Lower-key than a Mustang or Camaro, the Dart GTS flew under the radar then and still does, with only 8,745 GTS hardtops and convertibles built.

The 273 V8 (180 or 235 hp) anchored the milder GT cars. As a sleeper compact muscle car rather than a true style-driven pony, it ranks lower on icon status, but it delivered serious straight-line value in 1967.

Pros:

• 383 big-block in a light, compact body.
• Genuine sleeper character.
• Low 1967 GTS production adds rarity.
• Strong value as Mopar interest grows.

Cons:

• Less style and showroom glamour than the pony-car leaders.
• Nose-heavy with the 383 up front.

Verdict: the under-the-radar big-block bargain of the 1967 group.

10. AMC Marlin 343 V8

1967 MSRP: $2,963 (approx.) | Best for: the collector who wants the rarest, most distinctive car in the class

AMC's fastback Marlin was the oddball of the field — a large, swoopy semi-fastback aimed at the personal-sport market more than the pony-car drag strip. For 1967 it could be ordered with AMC's 343-cubic-inch V8 making 280 hp and 365 lb-ft, even a four-speed. With just over 2,500 built for 1967, it is by far the rarest car here, and that scarcity, plus its love-it-or-hate-it shape, gives it a dedicated niche following.

It ranks tenth on pure performance and mainstream appeal, but no other 1967 car on this list will turn more heads at a show.

Pros:

• Rarest car in the field at roughly 2,500 built.
• 343 V8 with 280 hp and available four-speed.
• Unmistakable, conversation-starting styling.
• Affordable entry into a truly uncommon classic.

Cons:

• Big and heavy, so it was never a real performance leader.
• Polarizing looks and thin parts support.

Verdict: the rare, characterful outlier — bought for distinction, not lap times.

Buyer Decision Tree — Which One Was Right for You?

What to Look For in a 1967 Pony Car (Then and as a Classic Now)

• Numbers-matching drivetrains: verify the engine, transmission, and rear-axle codes against the build documentation; a matching-numbers car is worth far more than a swapped one.
• Clones and tribute cars: Z/28, SS, GT, GTS, Formula S, and HiPo K-code badges are all widely faked. Confirm the VIN, cowl tag, and fender or trim tags before paying a package premium.
• Rust: check cowls, floor pans, trunk floors, lower quarters, and torque boxes. First-year Camaro and Firebird cowls and Mustang shock towers are common rot points.
• Documentation: original window sticker, build sheet, Marti Report (Ford), or Pontiac/GM documentation dramatically raises confidence and value.
• What matters less than nostalgia implies: absolute originality of paint color, minor trim correctness, and the exact base engine matter far less to long-term value than a solid, rust-free body, a correct or correctly documented drivetrain, and honest provenance. Many buyers over-fixate on cosmetic originality and underweight the structure underneath.

FAQ

Which 1967 pony car was the best overall? The all-new Chevrolet Camaro, in SS or Z/28 form, was the most complete: fresh styling, a sharp chassis, and engines spanning from a 327 small-block to the 396 big-block and the racing-bred Z/28 302.

Which 1967 pony car was the best value? The Plymouth Barracuda Formula S. It drove well, offered an optional 383 big-block, was relatively rare in Formula S trim, and still costs meaningfully less than equivalent Mustangs or Camaros today.

Why is 1967 such an important year for pony cars? Because the Camaro, Firebird, and Cougar all launched that year to challenge the Mustang at once, turning a one-car niche into a full, competitive class almost overnight.

Was the 1967 Mustang available with a big-block? Yes. 1967 was the first year the Mustang offered the 390-cubic-inch FE big-block (320 hp) in the 390 GT, alongside the 289 small-blocks and the 271 hp HiPo K-code.

What is the rarest car on this list? The AMC Marlin 343, with just over 2,500 built for 1967, is by far the rarest, followed by the 1967 Camaro Z/28 at only 602 units.

Are 1967 pony cars good investments now? The blue-chip Shelbys and Z/28 have appreciated strongly, while Cougars, Barracudas, and Darts remain comparatively affordable, giving buyers both ends of the market.

Bottom Line

1967 was the year the pony car grew up into a true class. The Mustang started it all and remained the icon, the Shelbys topped the performance and value charts, and the Cougar, Firebird, Barracuda, and Dart each carved out a distinct corner. But the freshly designed Camaro, with its unmatched breadth from economy six to 396 big-block and the racing-bred Z/28, was the Best Overall of the year, while the Barracuda Formula S delivered the most genuine performance and rarity per dollar as the Best Value.

For collectors today, the same logic holds: buy the Shelby or Z/28 for the blue-chip name, or the Barracuda, Cougar, or Dart for honest fun at a fraction of the cost.

Sources

• 1967 Ford Mustang Specifications — ConceptCarz
• 1967 Ford Mustang Base — Hagerty Valuation Tools
• 1967 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 — Hagerty Valuation Tools
• The most expensive Camaros to sell at auction, by generation — Hagerty Media
• 1967 Pontiac Firebird Fact Sheet — Over-Drive Magazine
• Record-Setting Debut: 1967 Mercury Cougar GT — Barn Finds
• 1967 Shelby GT500 Base — Hagerty Valuation Tools
• 1967 Shelby GT350 — Heacock Classic
• 1967-69 Plymouth Barracuda Formula S — HotCars
• 1967-1969 Dodge Dart GT GTS — HowStuffWorks
• Stored 20+ Years: 1967 AMC Marlin 343 V8 — Barn Finds

*Pony car review — 1967 pony car reviews, rating, best pony car 1967, and a retrospective review of the top classic pony car picks for buyers and collectors.*