This 1968 Pontiac Firebird is one of those classics where it is hard to determine its strongest attribute. It presents well as an original survivor, it has 60,000 genuine miles on the clock, and the owner is offering it for sale with No Reserve. So, take your pick and decide what you believe is its greatest strength. It is a classic pony car that features its original V8 under the hood, and all it seems to need is a new home. If you could see this Firebird parked in your garage, you will find it located in Nine Mile Falls, Washington, and listed the sale here on eBay. It has already attracted twenty bids, pushing the price to $15,700. With No Reserve to consider, a new home is mere days away for this classic.

The owner states that he purchased this Firebird thirty-eight years ago and that it had spent its life in sunny California. He claims that it is completely rust-free, and there is nothing visible externally. The lower body extremities are clean, and the engine bay shots show no visible deterioration in the cowl. The car wears its original Mayfair Maize paint, which holds a respectable shine for a vehicle of this age. The photo above raises one doubt in my mind. The color consistency across the car is about what you would expect, but the trunk lid looks odd. It doesn’t seem to match the rest of the panels, which is visible in a couple of photos. It isn’t clear whether this is a trick of the light or whether the trunk lid has received a repaint at some point. That is why an in-person inspection might be warranted in this case. The car features its original vinyl top, which is in excellent condition. There are no signs of splits or tears and no evidence of bubbling below the surface that could indicate rust issues. The external trim is more than acceptable for a survivor-grade car, while the same is true of the glass. The Firebird rolls on a set of Cragar wheels, but it appears that the original hubcaps are sitting in the trunk. If potential buyers wish to retain this car as an original survivor, it should be more than up to the task.

We’ve reached the point where we need to assess this Pontiac’s interior, and I thought we’d get the bad news out of the way first. The factory radio has made way for an aftermarket radio/cassette player, but the dash hasn’t been modified to accommodate this. That means that the buyer could source a correct radio and return this section of the car to its original specifications. Unfortunately, the person who did this also cut the door trims to accommodate speakers. That means that if the buyer is seeking a completely stock appearance, they will need to spend money on replacement door trims. The only other fault worthy of mention is a badly cracked dash pad. It detracts from an otherwise nice interior, so the buyer will probably choose to spend $250 on a replacement pad. Otherwise, there is little to fault. The original owner ordered this car with Deluxe trim, which means there are lashings of faux-woodgrain gracing various surfaces. The black vinyl upholstery is in very acceptable condition if this car is considered an original survivor. There is no evidence of splits or other problems and no signs of significant wear. The carpet may be slightly faded, but this could also be a trick of the light due to the quality of the supplied photos.

Numbers-matching classic cars are always going to generate their share of interest amongst potential buyers. This Firebird is no exception, with the original owner ordering it equipped with the 350ci V8 and a three-speed automatic transmission. This motor should be producing 265hp, and this configuration should see the Pontiac storm the ¼ mile in 17.9 seconds. The owner has recently performed a tune-up on this Firebird, replacing the spark plugs, coil, points, condenser, distributor cap, and other minor components. He says that its V8 starts easily, and it drives exceptionally well. He claims that it has 60,900 genuine miles on the clock, and it appears that he may have documentation to support this. If so, this classic should have many years of reliable service to offer its next owner.

Apart from the question mark over the trunk lid, this 1968 Pontiac Firebird has a lot of strong points. Its overall condition is very acceptable for a driver-grade car, and it appears to be in a mechanically sound state. Its low odometer reading means that it should have plenty of life left in it, suggesting that it could be around for another fifty-three years. With plenty of time left on the listing, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the bidding nudge beyond $20,000. If it breaks all the rules and the hammer falls at a figure less than that, it could represent a pretty good buy. That makes this auction one worth watching carefully.