The Firebird was Pontiac’s gateway into the lucrative “pony car” market. Introduced in 1967, it enjoyed a 35-year run. The third generation was produced from 1982 to 1992 and included a limited number of Pro/Am conversions made by Choo Choo Customs in Chattanooga, Tennessee. This beauty from 1987 has just 24,000 miles and is a multi-show winner. It’s also said to be #155 out of 442 ordered.
Not to be confused with the hugely successful Trans Am, the Pro/Am was one of many conversion subjects undertaken by Choo Choo. They’re better known for their El Camino SS packages, but the Pro/Am was strictly an appearance item as no mechanical changes were made to the cars. While some came with a V6 engine, many like the seller’s car had a 305 cubic inch V8 (fuel injection?). We don’t know if more than one model year was targeted (1987) or if the 442 built refers to that year or the combined run.
Though now in Marlton, New Jersey, we’re told this GM car came from Ohio. It’s been in many well-known car shows and has taken home more than its share of awards. We assume the paint is original and the seller says there isn’t a speck of rust anywhere. When not in use, this nifty cruiser sits in the garage under a cover, which explains the low, low miles for a 37-year-old automobile.
The seller tells us this is a well-documented Firebird, including paperwork from Pontiac Historical Services (PHS) which should verify its authenticity. If you like this era of the Firebird, Pro/Ams like this are probably the rarest. But you’ll need to like the color red as the interior has plenty of it. It’s available here on craigslist for $19,000. Our thanks to Rocco B. for bringing this tip our way!
Nice car not a fan of the ground effects,
Stick was always better in these cars as opposed to auto. But obviously a well preserved firebird. Good luck to buyer and seller. Buy it and drive it 😊
Grey, woodgrain, & bright red inside. I can not recall a worse interior color combo.
No mechanical mods meant embarrasment at the stoplight drags for such a named bird.
ChooChoo Customs used the cheapest donor cars possible in order to max the prices on their modified monstrosities.
The rubber mustache on the front needs to go too !
Wonder why they didn’t use the 350 tpi version of the ‘87 firebird? Looks like a base model with a lot of plastic added to it.
ChooChoo Customs used the cheapest donor cars possible in order to max the prices on their modified monstrosities.
Damn those T-Tops!!!
Aaarrrggghhh, those darn T-Tops!!!
Nicely preserved but if I was in the market for a 3rd gen Firebird with that kind of budget I’d look for a Formula (and a color I liked)
This is NOTHING special. Nothing special AT ALL- except the unique & rarely seen interior color. It doesn’t matter if only 42 were made, there’s absolutely ZERO collectibility in a regional shop throwing everything in the JCWhitney catalog at it unless there was something serious done to the drivetrain. The long-defunct (and rightfully so!) ChooChoo Customs out of Chattanooga was basically a customizer (use this term loosely) of vans and trucks (+ El Caminos) who later would also take bargain basement F-bodies and slap their typical lipstick on the proverbial pigs. Ground effects, rims, tacky stickers and fake woodgrain and an inflated sticker price to be peddled by local dealers to people with more money than sense. Looks like this seller is banking on the same.
Got an axe to grind there, Deno? Custom vans begat conversion vans and later, trucks and cars. Although not yours or others cup of tea they were bought by a lot of folks to satisfy whatever motive. BF is for car people and you’re not going to like every submission. And, that’s okay.
My neighbor has one made by choo choo also that looks similar but has a fake shaker hood and Bandit edition stickers it is the same drivetrain and interior. ( his wife made him by it- nuff said LOL)
It’s a dog but he only paid around 3 k for it a year ago.
Looks like a JC Whitney Catalog Blew up on it
I owned a 1988 with a V8. I loved it. I would post the pic if this allowed pics
I’ve actually seen one of these. I had no idea they were rare.
Choo Choo customs sold a LOT of Chevy GMT800 (88-98ish) trucks with ground effects, different seats, aftermarket wheels and some other doo dads around these parts. I think that’s the first place I saw the “fade” paint jobs also. Not my cup of tea, but the trucks were quite popular in the south.