This 1967 Pontiac Firebird is going to require some work if it is to be returned to its former glory. The seller is only this classic’s second owner, and he has treated the car to some desirable performance upgrades. Life has gotten in the way, and the owner admits that he will never get around to restoring the Firebird. Therefore, he has decided to move it on to a person who is willing and able to tackle the required work. It is located in Wantagh, New York, and has been listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has made it to $6,900, and the reserve has been met.
The Firebird rolled off the production line finished in Mayfair Maize with a Black vinyl top. The paint is now badly faded, while the vinyl has been removed. The vehicle will require a full restoration, and the owner doesn’t shy away from this fact. The steel is all original, but there is the usual rust that you might expect in the lower extremities. It isn’t clear what sort of state the floors are in, but the external condition suggests that there might be some work required in this area as well. It does appear as though there haven’t been any rust problems under the vinyl, which is not a bad thing. All of the trim and chrome is present, and anything that isn’t in good order is at least in a restorable state. The Rally rims will require attention, but the trim rings are present.
The Firebird originally came equipped with a 326ci V8 and a Powerglide transmission. The current owner chose to perform some upgrades in this area, and it isn’t clear whether he has retained the original engine/transmission combination. This is a question that would be worth asking if the buyer would like to return the Pontiac to a numbers-matching status. If complete originality isn’t an essential requirement, then what lurks in the engine bay should provide entertaining motoring. This is a 400ci V8 of 1970-vintage. It is backed by a Turbo 400 transmission, while the vehicle also features power steering. That V8 isn’t standard. The block has been bored .030″ and is fitted with forged pistons. The goal was to produce an engine of the same specifications as the Ram Air III. To that end, it has been equipped with the correct Ram Air III cylinder heads and camshaft. An Edelbrock intake and Holley 750 carburetor have been bolted to this, while an HEI ignition and roller rockers were also installed. Spent gases find their way out via Hooker headers and dual exhaust. The engine should be capable of producing somewhere around 345hp, which is enough to propel the car through the ¼ mile in around 14 seconds. The owner states that the Firebird hasn’t been driven for approximately 2-years, so it might need a bit of TLC before it could be considered roadworthy once again.
Given how tired the Firebird’s exterior is, the interior is a pleasant surprise. The shopping list will include a new headliner, dash pad, and possibly a carpet set and a cover for the driver’s seat. Otherwise, the rest of the original trim looks to be in acceptable condition if the next owner is seeking a driver-quality classic. If perfection is the goal, then they might choose to replace a few more items. The original radio is still in situ, and an aftermarket tach and some gauges under the dash are the only additions. If the buyer chose, there is no reason why they couldn’t return the car to a roadworthy state and use the interior as-is.
It would be interesting to know whether the owner retained the original engine and transmission when he performed the mechanical upgrades on this ’67 Firebird. While it might not worry some potential buyers, there will be some purists who would like to return the car to its original specifications. To be able to do this and return the vehicle to a numbers-matching classic would be their preferred goal. For those who aren’t that concerned about originality, this is a car that promises an entertaining motoring experience. The bidding on the Firebird has been healthy up to this point. This indicates that there are a few people who would like to park this classic in their workshop. Are you willing to join the bidding party?
If the rust isn’t too bad, which the seller suggests is worse than it looks, it might be a viable project. This car is representative of how these were modified in the 1980’s. I had several friends that put 400’s or larger Pontiac engines with similar modifications into Firebirds and Le Mans’s. The 70 Ram Air III head castings were also used on 400 4spd GTO’s and Firebirds and more of a conversation piece than anything else. As for the original 326 and two speed transmission, it doesn’t really matter where it is, the car will be more fun with its current drivetrain. I’d personally do the minimal amount of rust repair needed to make sure it’s structurally sound and enjoy driving it. That will keep the costs down and be the most fun to drive.
Steve R
This looks like a job for… Classic Industries… and Year One… and Legendary Interiors… and…
Point is it would probably be best done as a reto-mod. Keep the good motor, fix the boody, do a strong brake and suspension ppacksge and have a bllast driving the wheels off it.
BF has been knee-deep in cool Pontiacs in recent weeks. Pleeeease keep it up until I have enough money!
If the goal was a Ram Air III, they at least could have provided it with, well, ram air.
Amazing condition for that interior given the rest of the car! This is the sort of used Firebird I would see all through the late 70s and early 80s. The yellow with black vinyl top would keep the lead foots away unless you budgeted for a repaint. Now in 2020 this combo seems quaint in a 1967 sort of way. I would like to see trunk photos and for the seller to pull up the carpet.
400 engine with all the upgrades hooked to the 400 transmission is a very good setup. I imagine this thing is a screamer. Back in the day I owned a 69 Firebird with 400, 400 and in stock form it was quite fast. But I was a young immature fellow and tore it up within a couple years.
God bless America