400 Tri-Power?1968 Pontiac Firebird

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I’m probably more familiar with Chevrolets than I am with Pontiacs but I genuinely prefer first-gen Firebirds to Camaros for the simple fact that there are many fewer encountered. Sometimes it seems that there are more first-gen Camaros in existence now than there were when they were built so many years ago. Today’s subject is a 1968 Firebird that has undergone some stock changes that appear to be interesting so let’s investigate further. This Pontiac pony car is located in Nottingham, New Hampshire and is available, here on Barn Finds Classifieds for $15,000.

The Firebird was in its sophomore year in ’68 but still looking very much as it did at its introduction in the ’67 model year. Firebird trim levels included Firebird, Firebird 350, Sprint, H.O., and Firebird 400, what Pontiac referred to as the “Magnificent Five”. Production was brisk in ’68 with about 107K copies being stamped out, the highest among the three years for the first gen (’67-’69).

Equipped with a 400 CI engine, this Firebird harkens back to an earlier time with a triple two-barrel carburetor set-up having been swapped for the original single four-holer. This car appears as a Firebird 400 model, it even has the correct hood, but the wording in the listing may make one think that this is a substitute engine swapped into a lesser model, a further inquiry would need to be made. There is also no word if it runs – a rather important detail. But if, or when it does, there are aftermarket Wilwood front disc brakes to take some edge off of the go factor. The seller adds that there is a Turbo-Hydramatic 350 automatic transmission in place but that would be incorrect for this car as that gearbox wasn’t introduced until the ’69 model year. A Turbo 400 would be the proper transmission for a 400 CI-equipped ‘Bird.

It is stated that this car, “was restored by its former owner before it was left outside for several years“. OK, that seems like an unusual progression of events. All-in-all, it shows pretty well but the seller admonishes, “There is some minor surface rust and interior mouse damage due to sitting outside for so long“. So, I wonder how long is “so” long? The trunk lid appears to have black plastic plugs placed in holes where maybe a spoiler was attached –  I can’t tell with any certainty. The wheels look like BBS lattice-styled alloys which one may not think are in keeping with a ’68 Firebird’s character but I like them, if for no other reason than they are a welcome departure from the standard Rally IIs that usually adorn this generation Poncho. Oh, and a new set of tires will be included – good to know as the ones in place are dry-rotted.

There’s only one image of the interior and it’s not too revealing. What is spied, however, is deteriorated carpet, no headliner, and an aftermarket gear selector and steering wheel. The concerning thing with the carpet is that it looks like it has experienced water damage so a check of the floor pans would be in order. This is, or was, an A/C equipped car. The evaporator is still in place but there’s no sign of a compressor.

The seller suggests, “this is still a great example of an increasingly rare model Firebird and will make for a great project with most of the heavy lifting already out of the way for its new owner”. Increasingly rare is probably an accurate assessment. Back to my Camaro comment, first-gen versions of those are everywhere, and then some. A Firebird such as this? In spite of the 90K or so coupes assembled in ’68, they are considerably less likely to be encountered today. Well, there are some unanswered questions here, such as the big one surrounding this car’s motivational capability, but I’d say this Pontiac Firebird is certainly worthy of further inquiry.

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Comments

  1. Claudio

    My firebird love affair began at around 10 years old
    I don’t have one anymore but i still love them
    The trunk lid had a luggage rack on it at some point and that 400 badge is not where it should be
    I am not a carburetor guy and the triple only makes it worse
    I had tbi on my last 400 and it ran well
    This car needs a lot of work and feels overpriced because of lack of good close pictures
    Yolo

    Like 12
  2. Jack M.

    That must have been one BIG rear spoiler! Looks more like holes for a luggage rack.

    Like 11
    • Jim ODonnellAuthor

      And you are correct!

      JO

      Like 7
  3. Poncho

    Agree with luggage rack installed at one time. Easy to replace with a new reproduction trunk lid. Air cleaners don’t look like there was air moving through them in a while. No power steering or power brakes on an A/C car seems odd. Loose the aftermarket shifter and go back to stock, especially with the factory console. Price seems high as a couple years ago I purchased a running and driving 1969 Firebird convertible, Non original 400, 4speed car for about the same money. Yeah, I replaced floors and trunk floor, but still got a convertible. Unless the car is running and driving, there is room to negotiate price.

    Like 4
  4. Michael Boulerice

    This was my father-in-law’s (an auto body guy) car. He restored it and then got sick, so he basically just had to leave it outside his house for years. I’m not a huge car guy, and all of the details in this ad I got from him on his death bed (he was pretty out of it towards the end), so I apologize for the lack of detail.

    I can tell you that it ran before it sat, and that hooking up a battery charger to the battery cables (there’s no battery in at the moment) made all of the lights and gauges light up, so that’s a plus. The carpet looks dark because I was in the middle of shampooing it when I took the pics! The weather stripping is definitely dry rotted, and some water has gotten in, but the floorboards are very good. Oh, and those holes are for a luggage rack, and I have that on hand for the next owner!

    I’m happy to take more pictures and at least try to answer any questions here, though. Thank you!

    Like 40
    • wuzjeepnowsaab

      @Michael, so sorry for your loss and thank you for weighing in and giving important details about this bird. It looks like it has “good bones” and the next owner should enjoy it

      Like 17
    • jack farver

      Is the car still for sale? Can you send pictures of the underside, trunk pan,,etc?

      Please send to:

      jackfarver1962@gmail.com

      Thanks

      Like 0
  5. Poncho

    Hood has a hood tach also which is another great option, but I don’t see any wiring from the hood tach to the distributor.

    Like 0
  6. alphasudMember

    The 67 and 68 Firebirds will always be a favorite of mine even over the Camaro. John Delorean made the Firebird a upscale Camaro that placed more of an emphasis on handling. The OHC Sprints are really cool with the HO option and the 400 gave you the extra power without the weight penalties of a big block. Being a NH car and hearing the words restored at one time lead me to believe lots of hidden sins in the form of rust repairs and the potential of mismatch parts from other models. Luckily Pontiac owners can rely on histrorical records to set it straight.

    Like 1
    • SeabeckerMember

      It would be great to know whether this car is being presented as a “Firebird 400,” (an actual model) or as a Firebird with swapped in 400 engine. There’s a big difference. With the turbo 350 transmission I am heavily leaning toward the latter.

      Like 0
      • Eric Johnson

        I suspect it isn’t a Firebird 400. As mentioned above, the “400” emblem on the trunk is in the wrong position. Also, the grill should have the bar in the center of the grill insert that continues out toward the nose (i.e. 90 degree angle) which is different than what the other Firebirds offered. It does have the correct Firebird emblem on the front of the nose which came with the Firebird 400.

        Like 1
  7. richard bradner

    the words “no title” aren’t a great start…

    Like 4
    • sakingsbury20

      may be before everyone always gets their panties in a bunch they should check and see if the vehicle they might be interested in is from a title state or not. NH might not require a title after a vehicle reaches a certain age, like my state, hence, ” missing title”. In Maine after vehicle is 15 yrs or older a title is not required, just a bill of sale to register

      Like 2
  8. pwtiger

    It looks like an early 60’s tri-power, I don’t think that you could mount it on a 400 but I would like to know.

    Like 2
    • sakingsbury20

      1965 and up tri-power will fit on a 400, earlier units had different bolt pattern and water passage….sometime in early 70s pontiac heads acquired another exhaust crossover so while intake bolts up the extra passage needs to be blocked off….

      Like 0
    • DAN R.

      i would like more pictures. is the floor , trunk floor, quarter panels, doors, fenders rotted with holes in the metel? what about the interior? is the antena mounted on the right quarter panel or the rf fender? are the door glass’s origional with the firebird emblem in the lower section of the glass? im very interested but i need to know answers to these questions. i live in florida and im not going on a trip and find a bounch of negitive problems. i build these and you can understand my questions. thank you dan r.

      Like 0
      • Claudio

        I think you are very late for the party !

        Like 0
  9. Johnmloghry Johnmloghry

    I bought a canary yellow 69 Firebird 400 used in 71. it was a great car and fast the speedometer goes to 160 but that’s a pipe dream, I was clocked by the CHP on I-5 in northern California @ 142mph wide open on bias ply tires. Mine had the 400 4 bbl HO engine with turbo 400 trans and a/c p.s. p.b. and power windows. The a/c would shut down during hard acceleration.

    God Bless America

    Like 5
  10. erik johnston

    Hello to eric johnson-This is erik johnston fellow barnfinds person. Anyway the trunk wholes look like a 68 400 firebird I had years ago.It was white as this one. 4spd. I wonder if its a real 400,that might explain the location of the 400 emblem in relation to the luggage rack. It does look like a nice,solid bird. I,m looking for one!

    Like 0
  11. Bud Lee

    I could be wrong , and I probably am but ,. that engine looks like a 326 to me .

    Like 0
    • Cdice

      You are correct. But Pontiac 326, 350, 389 and 400 all had the same block.

      Like 0
  12. Patrick P Hyde

    Did this white 68 firebird sell? My Grandson was wanting to buy one to rebuild.

    Pat Hyde

    Like 0
  13. Patrick P Hyde

    Michael have you sold this car?

    Pat Hyde

    Like 0
  14. rob fournier

    Hi, is this car still for sale!? I live in maine…had a 400 years ago! got lots of misc. parts. I would like look at it..cause I miss my baby. thanx, rob f. 2075204716

    Like 0
  15. Rob F

    Hi, let me know if still for sale !!!! I too had a 400. I had new Q-jet, new metal T-chain& gears, water pump. I too tried to bury the needle! I wasn’t clocked. I also got it over 140mph…at around 125-130 could take the wheel L & R…thought we gonna fly. got it 141-147!! on return trip stuck wide open..pulled into Howard J’s in neutral backfired a few times. never did that again!!

    Like 0

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