When the real beaters start to come out of the woodwork, it probably means one of two things: all the good cars are gone, or demand for the good cars is bringing up the value and desirability of every such car. Or, maybe, it just means that someone is looking at a massive project with fearful eyes and has decided it’s time to cut bait. Which is the case with the 1972 Pontiac Firebird Formula 400 seen here on ebay? The first bid is the same as the year of the car, $1972, so if you want to test the situation, have a look and put in a bid in an attempt to find the floor of what this seller will actually take, because, you guessed it, this first bid doesn’t meet reserve. If you do follow this advice and end up winning, book your ticket for Manahawkin, NJ with trailer in tow to collect your hulk. You’ve got until Sunday to make this happen.
Best to know what you’re getting into before you go upside down with this car. Every system and component is thrashed. Most worrisome might be the admission that the passenger rocker panel has rust. If the salt can get there, it can get everywhere, though the floors do appear pretty solid from underneath. Perhaps this explains the following language: “Car is not terrible.” Is that like one of those, “With friends like that, who needs enemies” statements? There is also rust in the quarter panels, which are also said to need work, having been improperly replaced. Or is the seller talking about the front fenders? The ad is vague, though the images seem to show newer fronts. Hmmm…. On the bright side, the engine turns and runs if provided with fuel.
That engine and the related components that are part of the Formula 400 package might be the biggest temptation of this car. The 400 was understated in its styling, a sleeper rather than a boy racer like its Trans/Am counterparts. I’ve always thought that this 400 package had just the right combo of menacing looks and subtle styling. That still doesn’t make this particular car a great idea, but maybe you can report back in a year or two after restoring it and turn the Barn Finds community a shade of jealous green.
At one point, someone tried to make this thing a car again. Apparently, as was hinted at above, new quarter panels were fitted. The trunk lid appears to have been renewed. And inside that trunk are all the chrome window surrounds and so forth, as if on one long-ago Saturday, someone started a project. They didn’t get far. Could you remedy that? No doubt when you’ve emptied your wallet and your heart to this car, you’ll have something worth driving. But that’s a long, long way into the future.
Most likely nailed it clean, Brian, when you surmised the owner was getting in over their head fiscally. This car has potential though only with a “quantumus” amount of money required. They’re good looking cars IMHO though there are those who feel they have to plaster a screaming chicken on the hood 🙄.
My kid brother had one of these decades ago, white with the blue stripes-I’d love to find the photo I had of him at 19 in a white Angel Flight suit!
Thanks for this great comment. Quantumus. I’ll remember that :)
My knuckles swelled up just looking at this thing.
This made me laugh. Thank you.
This seller is a flipper, he currently had 6 cars listed on eBay, including the engineless 1967 Mustang fastback with the $38,500 BIN featured yesterday. He has also sold 6 cars, some also featured on this site within the last 90 days.
You are right, in hard times people cut loose from projects, they also cut loose of nicer cars as priorities shift and there are bills to pay, age, or any number of reasons, including someone knocking on the door and asking if the old car they have is for sale. Flippers tend to switch into high gear when money gets tight, the average person hasn’t worked on the skills necessary to acquire the good deals.
Steve R
Now here’s soem EXCELLENT sleuthing by Steve R. Great work to highlight his other sales.
When I looked into my crystal ball I saw 2 years of metal work and 3 years more of electrical, plumbing and suspension and other things ahead. No I don’t think I will take this challenge. 🤔😅😅😅😎
I saw all that too, plus an empty wallet, 401K teetering on the edge of zero’d out, and devices to help my knees from aching all day long. What do the kids say? “Hard pass.”