It’s truly amazing how captivating the concept of a convertible automobile has been for large portions of the general population. Despite roadster bodies and folding-top models aplenty during the brass era, Americans have always been infatuated with convertibles, especially when their car of choice was not offered with one. It’s hard to think of many other products where so many individuals were willing to spend the money to substantially alter its appearance for an experience that’s heavily dependent on the weather. Find this rare Autoform Pontiac Firebird listed here on Facebook Marketplace for $5,600. Thanks to Barn Finds reader JDC for the find.
Thanks to Barn Finds reader JDC for the tip. Over the years, there have been numerous vehicles that aftermarket companies decided to make a go of converting into convertibles, and the Pontiac Firebird is one of them. When first introduced as its third generation model, GM didn’t offer the Firebird with a drop-top option. As opposed to simply waiting a few years while it assessed the new model’s reception, the aftermarket sprang to action to offer a complicated conversion that included removing the rear seats and adding a tonneau-style cover, in addition to chopping off the roof.
Known as Autoform, the Elkhart, Indiana-based outfit clearly saw an opportunity to beat the OEM to the punch, but it didn’t end up producing all that many examples, with the seller believing only about 200 were ever made. I can’t refute that claim, but I can’t validate it, either; however, they don’t exactly pop up for sale all that often. Despite this, these oddball conversions are not worth all that much money, as you can see with the asking price. It’s barely worth more than your average 3rd-generation Camaro or Firebird, which is saying something for a rarity like this.
While the condition isn’t great, it’s not terrible, either; the leather bucket appear to be in good shape and while I don’t believe they are Recaros, they appear more robust than your average GM seats of the era. Supposedly, extra chassis bracing was installed to make the car stiff enough to account for the missing roof, but I doubt you’ll find much info out there clarifying exactly what was done. You could spec any model Firebird this way, so the engine choice is purely a guess; hopefully those side-pipes indicate there’s at least a 305 V8 under the hood. Do you think this rare Firebird convertible conversion is worth restoring?
This is just one of a few cars that i have seen in the past 55 plus years that deserves a bench seat and auto on the column. Would be great for target practice. I think Ted Nugent would agree.
Thwn you MUST be wrong, cause Ted Nugent is an idiot.
Your opinion, and you know what they say about opinions.
How can anyone think Ted Nugent is a decent human being? It says a lot about anyone who does.
Aww, did Uncle Ted not sign your Double Live Gonzos album? 19Tiger65 is spot on.
Way to ruin a Firebird.
Not rare enough imo
AI says they are “highly collectible”, which seems hard to believe. AI when referencing uncommon things that are subjective can be easily manipulated since there isn’t much reference material for it to scrape from.
These are awkward looking, the modifications only hurt the lines of the car.
Steve R
For some reason the theme from Sanford and Son started playing in my head when I read, “Highly collectible”.
true.
Nice find. I’d give it a second look if I didn’t have to many of my own headaches. I doubt the header, tube pipe set up is real, but probably sounds nice.
Pretty sure those are stock C4 Corvette seats.
Pretty sure those are stock C4 Corvette seats.
mess on wheels. waste of a firebird
oh dear god.
I’ll take the Tradesman lurking in the back…
Good call on the Dodge. I think it’s a Sportsman though with all that trim on the side. Had a 73 Sportsman with that exact grille. The Square Body on the left side is also more interesting than the ‘bird.
Gone from Marketplace – must have sold.
Autoform managed to uglyfy a firebird !
It also cancelled the rear seats !
What a mess , when ASC did their conversion ;it was a great success and it sold well
I have seen a few autoform’s that were modernized and looked better than the original setup , their values are low and i guess they will stay low and N ugent is spot on , anyone not seeing it is brain dead