We often feature cars that are waiting for someone to rescue for one reason or another. This special Pontiac Firebird “Sprint” convertible has already been rescued sympathetically well enough to win “Best In Show” at a local car event earlier this year. It’s listed for sale here on classiccars.com and located only a little way away from me in Carthage, North Carolina. The seller is asking $25,000 obo.
This is the single picture included of how the car was “discovered.” We’re told it was in a barn that was falling down and had 78,000 miles. I wonder why someone would put away a car this nice? The paint is an older repaint with some flaws, but obviously it looks good enough to win a show at the local level.
Who would have the top up? We’ve had a week of largely convertible weather here, and my wife and I took one of the Triumphs out last night with the top down to go get groceries. It would have been nicer still to have had a back seat to take our daughter along as well.
I guess the top boot has shrunk a little as it doesn’t seem to be snapped in place. The Firebird is equipped with power brakes, power steering and working factory air conditioning! Naturally it has a power-operated top as well.
This is a cruiser, not a racer, as it has a Powerglide 2-speed automatic. The seller describes this as the deluxe interior along with a working power top in a very rare turquoise/teal color and boot. There’s some information about the difference between Deluxe and Standard interior levels here at ls1tech.com and here at firebirdnation.com.
Now here’s the picture I’ve been waiting for. This is the Pontiac overhead camshaft six-cylinder engine that displaced 230 cubic inches and made 215 horsepower with a four-barrel carburetor. Not only is it a cool engine from a specification standpoint, it’s even pretty! The seller has replaced the timing belt, fuel pump, valve cover gasket, cam seal, alternator and voltage regulator while putting the car back on the road. I could sure make room for this beauty in my garage — how about you!
Damn fine car! We need more OHC sixes to see here. I am so pleased this didn’t end up a big block.
215 HP is pretty healthy power for a light car. Glad it never got swapped out.
Wow on color … I would of went blue, white,black , red over the green.
Yes. Big block would been great!
455…….vroom …..
The six is fine but color ughhh
Nope, I have to disagree about the color. That is what I like about it. That and the straight six. It would have a very nice sound.
Right on. Car people complain about the lack of color in modern cars and then when a green, yellow or orange classic pops up, they wish it was black, white or red.
I had a 67 GTO the same color but it looks different on a Firebird body.
The Sprint 6 was a lively performer when it was backed up with a four-speed.
Sadly, in an era dominated by high compression V8s, it was no match for, say, the 285 HP 326 inch V8 that was also offered in ’67.
Not all cars have to be “hypo”. This is cool. ’nuff said.
I agree, Patrick, my comment was an observation of those long-gone times, not a criticism of the engine.
I was very much around when these cars were new and always had a soft spot for the OHC six, especially in Sprint form. I’ve wrenched on a few in my time (along with more Poncho V8s than I’d like to admit – cheeky grin)
My 68 Camaro had a 327 2bbl and two speed slushbox rated at 210hp, I bet this one would edge it out based on lighter weight alone.
Nice Poncho.
Fine looking car. Bit pricey for me but still fine looking.
I thought the Sprint cars came with a three speed stick. But there’s nothing wrong with a powerglide. They used to build them for drag racing.
A 3 speed floor shift was standard in both the Firebird and Tempest Sprints, but the 4 speed and 2 speed auto were optional.
As a teenager, I worked part time for a guy who did foreign car repairs. His wife had a new 68 4 speed Firebird Sprint convertible, in Verdoro Green with a white side stripe and a black interior. I loved that car….a lot more than my mother’s Verdoro Green 68 LeMans, which had the 350 2bbl and the 2 speed auto.
Hot Wheels personified.
needs redlines for a contrasting color. that would make the car visually pop. other than that gorgeous example of a rare combo. i would be so tempted to swap in a 4 speed but keep the original trans at hand if ever needed to swap back in.
btw the cover for the convertible top does not snap in the front at the top of the back seat. i never understood why. i think you can tuck in a piece of the color just behind the seat.
Usually a PITA piece of flexible material that needs to be threaded thru a track attached to the rear seat back. Or at least that’s what my ’64 Dart GT convertible had.
1967 Sprint 6 hardtop was my father’s first Firebird, and it had redlines and the deluxe interior, copper over copper. Got him hooked on Firebirds thereafter. If I recall correctly, the top of the rear seats have a channel on them, into which the top boot would slip in using a simple bit of nylon bead. Most people didn’t worry about this little bit and used the snaps instead.
What a beautiful car. Love the colors. Love the 6C OHC. If I had $25K, I know just where I’d spend it.
Price seems in line with others I looked up on line. Can’t get the price if you don’t ask for it, leaves a little room to haggle. I would love to have this car but too far away and no room. The Pontiac six was a sweet engine, lots of people don’t remember they even made a six. I always like a car that you won’t see coming at you on the other side of the road.
Yes to all of it. Color is fantastic and the OHC 6 is just fine. Prefer a hardtop but other than that, it’s spot on.
IMO these cars should remain unmolested. Dont always need more hp or a 4 spd to own a great cruiser.
Leave the F-16 like side window blurs to the F&F crowd and every once in a while slow down and enjoy the ride. GLWTS.
As a lifelong Pontiac fanatic (still own one), I gotta love the rarity and uniqueness of this car. Convertible, with the OHC Sprint 6 cylinder engine. The engine was kind of a technological breakthrough in forward thinking at Pontiac.
I would own this car if I had the bankroll to buy it.
✍ Cool. To see an OHC Sprint ‘RagTOP’ . Not so into that ‘Cabin colour’ though, and would HAVE TO be a StickShifT. 3 or 4 spd Manual. .
☇☇☇☇☇☇☇☇
Wow, great to see this UN-modified.
These Poncho six’s were pretty good motors, early belt drive, (fiat?). BnL had one around ’80 in a ’67 Tempest right out of HS. Carb caught on fire down at the beach, no rag handy, grabbed hand full of sand and put it out. Sand boogerd up the lifters, but otherwise survived. Got some spares off a fellow who was modifying his to an eight cyl. Engine would start having problems every 2 wks.
Got to the point were we could pull the cover (w/cam enclosed) in less than a six-pack, swapped out w/cleaned up spares, check the timing, and go. Engine ran fine till he got rear-ended that winter.
This car checks a lot of boxes for me, good thing there’s no room at the inn!
Looks like the boot wasn’t snapped down on purpose to take a few pictures. Beautiful car! Wouldn’t change a thing on this. Drive and enjoy what you don’t get to while encapsulated in your late model.
My cousin had a car like this with the Sprint engine but his was a coupe. Great car. Traded it in on a 1971 Plymouth ‘Cuda in Inviolate with a white 383 billboard on the side.
Although this is a 2-speed transmission, it is not a Powerglide. The B-O-P 2-speed was entirely different.
my sister had a green/green Sprint coupe with hood tach in the late 70’s.
i liked it a lot & would love to have one now with a 4-speed.
can’t recall what trans it had.
it scooted along pretty dang well