This 1983 Pontiac Firebird is shown with just under 15,000 original miles, featuring original paint and body decals. While not exactly a desirable spec in terms of trim and options, there’s still lots to like as an un-messed with example of the classic 80s Firebird. The seller has listed it here on eBay with a very reasonable $4,500 opening bid and no reserve, but bidders are silent at the moment.
The body decals are a take-it-or-leave-it affair, and it appears to have had the tacky mirrored trim added along the lower sills. This is a classic 80s move, much like the chrome trim tacked onto the fenders of BMWs and Mercedes of the same era. I’d personally lose that and retain the blue pinstriping. All glass looks sound and shutlines within factory spec. Mudflaps and turbine-style wheels are OEM items, too, and the seller confirms the tires are original.
The interior is likely the high point for me, as the stitching on the steering wheel appears darn near perfect and the seating surfaces look to be in new condition. The seller says the A/C and tape deck are in perfect working order, too. I sure hope this wasn’t the case of an owner hoping for a big payday by keeping this Firebird under wraps, because as nice as it is, it’s effectively matured all the years to the point of being a decent used car.
We don’t often come across the six-cylinder cars, and that’s a good thing: this is a perfectly wheezy motor, and likely explains why this Firebird remained in such a high state of preservation. Who’s going to hoon a car like this, especially when paired to an automatic transmission? I suppose we should be grateful at least a few third generation cars emerged unscathed, but this example will likely never achieve true collector car status.
An admitted third-gen Firebird guy, the six wouldn’t bother me at all. My family had an ’84 Pontiac 6000LE with the same six that did just fine. Whoever buys it, change out the wheels & tires to preserve some originality just in case it becomes a hot commodity, conserve it, and then drive it on a nice day/evening. You’ll look like something out of Miami Vice, without spending six figures to do it.
for some reason the 2.8 V6 i the F-bodies only had about 100hp while the STE & X-bodies put out 135hp.
one of the major car mag’s of the day did a feature where they took a base model F-body with 5-speed & V6 (i think it was a red Camaro) & hopped it up with engine & handling mods & came up with an budget Z28-light. i think they may have badged it as a Z26?
anyway it took the ’89 Turbo T/A & 4th gen 3.8 models before a V6 F-body could really show up with performance. seems like a lost opportunity now.
Owned an ’82 Firebird-worst car I ever owned. Red paint faded to orange
in six months, hatch leaked, headlights had the one up/one down syndrome,
more creaks than a Conestoga wagon.
Clean example, but my HS girlfriend drove the Chevrolet equivalent, and it could barely get out of its own way. The V6 was terrible in these cars, especially with the automatic. For the period, this is actually a not-unattractive design, but that powertrain is garbage.
I’m not sure why sellers make such a big deal about having the OE tires. Tires that old are definitely unsafe and shouldn’t be used fewer planning and actually driving the car. They may be okay for show (I personally even doubt that) but certainly not something I would be driving around.
The price seems good especially with no reserve, not the type of car you would want to reserve but it certainly would make a good daily driver.
Mark, especially with the Tiger Paws.
We all know what happened with those.
If I were interested in an uber low mile example of anything the original oem date coded tires would matter to me. Doesn’t matter if they are usable or not it is another piece of the puzzle of the cars originality. I would quickly replace them BUT have the born with tires put up.
How is the AC working when there’s no compressor or AC hoses showing ?
I think you’re thinking about Firestone’s not Uniroyal’s.
Yes Mark, I too believe it was the Firestone 721’s. Had a new set installed on my ’70 Monte Carlo. All four tires started developing problems (tread separation?) at about the same time. I caught mine early enough, but I remember several hnews articles about people having high speed blowouts.
Not a desirable classic but for the price it could make for a good first car for a teen that won’t get them in to trouble. Nice clean body / interior with low miles.
Who on earth would buy a 35 year old “vintage” car as a first car for a teenager?? The majority can barely handle a honda civic with ABS and traction control, let alone a V6 with no modern safety features to speak of.
Me for one because my son’s grew up around these cars and even older ones, they know how to work on them as well as drive them, also my neighbor just bought his son a 80’s Camaro for graduation and restored it in his shop with him helping. You have to teach them about our classic cars not just turn them loose in one.
If the AC works so well, where is the compressor and hoses ??
Because I grew up in the 80s I have an irrational attraction to this car despite the lack of power. And those wheels!
I had a 82 firebird with a 4 cyl it was Brown it became the fireturd
I was going to say… The 6 was miles ahead of the 4 banger model. My ex had a silver Fireturd, 4 cyl auto. Total POS!
The other reason no one seems to be bidding might be the fact that car has NO A/C. That is merely a heater box. No compressor, no receiver drier, and no hoses visible. Seller must literally meaning the engine’s cooling system is fine..that or my eyes are deceiving me.
It’s got the 3.hate liter V6.
Take the body and drop in a 3.8 turbo GNX-spec engine. Lots of power available there and a legitimate TTA clone (if there is such a thing…).
I currently have an 83 firebird with the V6 in it, which for some inexplicable reason decided to give up the ghost about 15years ago. It has sat in my garage since then and I am getting ready to do an engine swap and put in a 350. The V6 is the most useless engine imaginable in this car, its get up and go got up and went without the car. We have owned the car since it was a year old and it is time to start using it again. It is the metallic brown and my wife keeps on about getting it painted red (her favourite colour)
Auction ended; no bids.