I can honestly say I’ve never looked up the price of a used backhoe. But that’s just what I did to get a sense of how much the seller wanted for his barn find 1968 Pontiac Firebird Convertible found here on Craigslist thanks to reader Cheat0, considering they “…will trade for a full sized backhoe.”
If you happen to have a full sized backhoe, maybe a 1984 Case 580 E Cab, then you’re in great shape to barter. Considering your ‘hoe will fetch the better part of $11k or more, that will be your “sunk cost” for trading your backer for this bird. Considering the hours and money that will go into the rebuild – I doubt if many takers will be taking on this project for profit. Great examples of Firebird rag tops top-out at about $40k.
But projects like this are taken on out of love for the car, not love of money. And there’s a lot of love out there for the first of the first – generation that is. Pontiac made birds from 1967 all the way until 2002 when it ended with its fourth significant body style change. Few fanatics of firebirds disagree that gen 1 is the most iconic, but many believe that gen 2 (those made from 1970 to 1981) are just as worthy of worship and praise.
It’s hard to get many details about this particular Pontiac from the (very small) pictures. You can see the block of what looks to be a 350 cu in (5.7 L) V8 – but please let us know if you can identify the engine more accurately. You also get a driver’s seat, an empty milk gallon, a battered rag top box, and a rusted gas tank. What more incentive do you need to get rid of that backyard rotting backhoe and trade it for a rotting Firebird?
Ha hahahahahaha
Definitely a Vortec 305 or 350 hard to tell without some block numbers . All Vortec motors had the center bolt valve covers.
It’s not a Vortec engine. The bolts used to mount the intake to the cylinder head would be vertical if that was the case, search Edelbrock 2116, these are run of the mill center bolt heads used from 1985/1986 and later. All Vortec heads used center bolts, but not all center bolt heads were Vortec.
Steve R
Somehow I don’t think the owner of this Firebird would consider a neglected backhoe that’s sitting around someone’s yard. After all, he’s spent $20,000 on this car.
Steve R
He probably used it as a backhoe.
Inefficient and ineffective but never-the-less everyone gets to dream.
Some people just don’t dream very well.
Wow one gets grow your own Ghia pet. Yes for a max of 1995.00 (sorry no extra digits) one gets their very own bio producing oxygen car.
Shipping and handling separate and backhoe never included on trades of this nature 🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️😶😂
20K must of came witha kilo of weed in the trunk
Maybe those aren’t veggie plants on the trunk. It’s a business opportunity.
$20k for a ‘bird this needy? Whatever the seller is smoking .. I want!
The floor pans will be swiss cheese if this has been sitting on a dirt floor for any length of time. There is just too much wrong with this one to consider that kind of price. Drop it to $2K and he’d find buyers. Nobody cares how much he sunk into it, only how much work it needs.
Pricey planter.
No way can he have $20K in that one unless it comes with another completed car. Sorry but have to agree with the others, he’s smoking what he’s growing in it.
Mabee the 20k is in the glove box
A friend traded his 63 catalina 421 4 speed for a backhoe. Solid car with 8 lug wheels, was a decent driver till a few rods went through the pan. Even trade for a good working though older backhoe.
It’s close to pass or maybe $500.00.
Do you suppose owner would loan hoe back to you so you could load in a dumpster?
By the looks of that improvised gear shift lever, this thing if it ever did run was probably RUN RAGGED!
I would take it over the 70 Mustang that’s missing everything. Both cars deserve to be brought back……only using someone else’s wallet. Someone that’s not to bright with an inheritance.
I think the in-house garden plants really is the finishing touch on this vehicle.