350/4-Speed: 1969 Pontiac Firebird 350 Convertible

Ford stole a march on the opposition with its 1964 release of the Mustang. General Motors responded with the Chevrolet Camaro and Pontiac Firebird cousins, but they didn’t hit the market until 1967. Unlike the Mustang, the First Generation Camaro and Firebird enjoyed a relatively short production life. This 1969 Firebird 350 Convertible emerged during the final year and is a driver-quality classic with a few shortcomings. Since none of these are critical, the buyer could enjoy it immediately, tackling the existing issues as time and circumstances allow. Barn Finder Curvette has a well-tuned radar for spotting desirable vehicles, so I must say a big thank you for pointing us toward this Pontiac. The seller has listed it here on eBay in Costa Mesa, California, with an asking price of $27,775 OBO.

The 1969 model year was planned to be the last for Pontiac’s First Generation Firebirds, but delays with its successor prompted the company to continue rolling these cars off the line into early 1970. Surprisingly, given that its replacement was waiting in the wings, Pontiac made significant styling changes as a last hurrah. The new nose looked entirely different, sharing a similar appearance to that year’s GTO. This ’69 is a Firebird 350 Convertible, finished in Midnight Green Metallic. It is an interesting shade, and is among the darkest of the eighteen that formed that year’s Firebird color palette. The seller confirms a previous repaint, and the fact that the car still presents so well points to a high-quality approach by the shop that performed the work. It shines richly, the panels are straight, and the underside shots confirm the Firebird’s rust-free status. The seller states that the frame for the power top is intact and that it functions perfectly. The buyer faces the cost of a new top, but since these retail for around $500 in the correct material and color, it isn’t a huge investment. One jarring feature is the wheels, which are wider replicas of the original, iconic Rally II wheels. It is a matter of personal taste, but I would probably swap them for the correct items if this Firebird found its way into my garage.

One aspect of this Firebird that is undeniably original is its interior. Trimmed in Dark Green vinyl, it shows its age via the torn driver’s seatcover, worn carpet, and the badly cracked dashpad. I also noticed some of the seals are dry and cracked, so there are a few issues requiring attention to ensure the inside of this classic is both tidy and weatherproof. Sadly, not all of the shortcomings are cosmetic, with the seller noting a few functional issues. The air conditioning doesn’t blow cold as it has no compressor, and one brake light remains permanently illuminated. Therefore, it sounds like there may be some electrical gremlins requiring a hit on the head to ensure reliability. These may be the types of problems that could be addressed in a home workshop, or the buyer may elect to hand the Pontiac to a professional.

Powering this Firebird is a 350ci V8, teamed with a four-speed manual transmission. The first owner also ticked the box beside power steering but left the brakes unassisted. Considering the motor is in two-barrel form, and therefore not at its most potent, the power and torque figures of 265hp and 355 ft/lbs are quite impressive. The first thing for potential buyers to note is that this Firebird isn’t numbers-matching. It received an engine transplant years ago, but it was a “like-for-like” change that didn’t impact the car’s specifications or performance. The seller indicates that they recently rebuilt the carburetor and also replaced the alternator, starter, and battery. The Pontiac runs and drives well and is a turnkey proposition.

While it is neither perfect nor original, this 1969 Pontiac Firebird 350 Convertible has many positive points. Its lack of rust is a bonus, given that so many of these classics have been affected by the dreaded tin worm. It presents nicely, and with the electrical gremlins sorted and a new soft-top, it would be ready for fun, regardless of the weather. The interior damage leaves me torn because I can’t decide whether I would perform a partial retrim or leave it as-is. There is no denying that it would look better with work, but some readers will argue that leaving it original is more appropriate. The fact is that this Firebird will probably spend most of its active life with the top down, and an interior refresh would help it to turn heads for the “right” reasons. I would probably do that, swap the wheels, and make no further cosmetic changes. Do you agree?