After a successful first three years, the Pontiac Firebird (and Chevy Camaro) was redesigned for 1970. The second generation would carry the car through the 1981 model year and overall sales of nearly 1.2 million cars. This 1971 edition, largely unchanged from the year before, is equipped with a 455 cubic inch V8 and a 4-speed manual, making it one potentially fast pony car. But it has rust issues that will need addressing as part of a restoration. Located in Grants Pass, Oregon, this Firebird is available here on craigslist for $6,200 OBO. Thanks, Dan Older, for the tip on this one!
The new-for-1970 Firebird and Camaro were delayed several months due to production problems during the changeover. For this reason, the 1971 models looked virtually the same. Most of the changes occurred under the hood where new engines were required to run on unleaded gasoline. This resulted in Pontiac dropping the 400 Ram Air V8s in favor of two new 455 V8s. There were two versions of that engine, the L75 that produced 325 hp and the LS5 that produced 335 hp as a High Output (HO), that came with Ram Air IV and was reserved for the Trans Am. While there is a 455 in the seller’s car, did it leave the factory that way?
Because the Firebird seems to be stored in a dark garage, the lighting is not good for the photos provided. We’re told the trunk floor is rusty and there is rust in the “usual places” yet the seller does not identify what those places are. So, it would be safe to assume that the body shop is going to have to spend time sorting out sheet metal before applying new paint. We can’t tell much about the interior, either, given the lack of good lighting.
There is also no mention of the car’s running condition, but a likely assumption is that it doesn’t or why not pull it outside for the photos. The seller says he doesn’t have the time needed to restore the car, so someone else will get the opportunity. According to Hagerty, a ’71 Firebird in Fair condition is a $6,000 car, whereas the upside potential is more like $25,100. Restoration on this Firebird is likely going to run past that number.
Once again we have a seller making the biggest mistake sellers can make. Poor lighting poor photo’s lack of info etc etc etc. When are people gonna realize if you want to sell a car you have to do a little work. How hard would it have been to roll this outside? Maybe the seller didn’t want anyone to see this car in good lighting?
T’is where I live, I can and will give it a solid kick on all of the tires and talk trash to the sell seller if any of you are interested in this fine piece of, uhh hmm, oh yeah, fine piece of machinery.
🤣 but seriously I will look at it if need be
The 70 -73 styling is arguably the best of this generation. For some reason fewer of these seem to be around than the later 70s versions – which I think is mainly due to higher production numbers in the later 70s. I wish this car was in a little better shape though.
It’s about $6000 more than I’d pay for it.
This is the project car I have been looking for! The price is $3000 too high for a non-running rust bucket but I love these cars. I dropped $25000 on restoring a ’74 Formula that ran and had no rust, so the ’71 will be a lot more money. Too bad there is no Internet contact, I like a paper trail of information that is swapped like title status.
For 1971, the factory offered the 455 in the Formula and Trans Am only. Here’s a link to the specifications page of the 1971 Firebird sales brochure:
https://www.lov2xlr8.no/brochures/pontiac/71fire/bilder/8.jpg
That’s definitely not a good dashboard
While it might have a 455 in it now, I highly doubt it left the factory that way originally. It would be nice to see the VIN# stamped on the engine block and transmission case. PHS history would also help out.
The earlier comment stated the motor is not the original