Regular readers will be aware that I have a preference for original and unmolested classics. However, I also appreciate a well-executed custom build, especially when the finished product is good enough to find its way onto the cover of a magazine as a feature car. Such is the case with this 1967 Pontiac Firebird. It shows the ravages of time and exposure to the elements, but returning it to its glorious best could prove a straightforward process. If you find yourself sorely tempted by the prospect of owning a legendary classic, you will find the Firebird located in Simi Valley, California, and listed for sale here on eBay. Eighteen bids have pushed the price to $8,600, although this is short of the reserve.
There’s a lot to unpack with this Firebird, making it difficult to know where to start. The car has a history of customization, and its current sheetmetal and paint represent the second attempt at creating something eye-catching. A previous owner performed many body modifications, but the supplied photo in the listing reveals a disjointed appearance. When it passed to its next owner, that person felt that they could achieve something genuinely special. Ditching most of the existing changes, they fabricated new and enormous fender flares in genuine steel. I have attempted this process myself and learned that it isn’t for the faint-hearted. Achieving a uniform shape is a battle, and it will generally consume hundreds of hours to get right. Achieving a perfect finish required some fiberglass and Bondo, but most of what you see is genuine steel. The fender flares are the tip of the iceberg because the front spoiler and taillight panel are custom steel components, the taillights are Thunderbird items, and the rear bumpers are from a Corvette. The completed car was good enough to make the cover of the May 1978 edition of Car Craft magazine. This is verifiable as the owner includes a copy of the magazine in the sale. The Firebird saw regular service until it failed its smog test several times. The owner at that point threw it in the “too hard” basket and consigned the car to his backyard for the next thirty-five years. The current owner purchased the vehicle in 2021 and found that while the elements had taken a toll on the paint and fiberglass, the Firebird was a structurally sound vehicle that was a prime project candidate. He indicates developing rust around the back window and that the trunk pan has rust necessitating replacement, but that appears to be the worst of its problems. If a buyer wants to return the Firebird to a factory-fresh state, the required panels and other components are readily available. However, given this car’s history, I believe that a restoration to its 1970s glory could be the best path.
This Firebird’s interior almost feels restrained and conservative given the heavy exterior modifications. Admittedly, the buyer will receive aftermarket gauges, a sports steering wheel, Hurst shifter, a radio/cassette player, and a graphic equalizer, which was common in the 1970s and ’80s. The seats show their age, as does the headliner. The buyer will face at least a partial retrim but must choose which path to follow. Reproducing the custom seat upholstery is possible, and doing so would pay homage to the builder’s vision. If that looks too hard, spending $2,000 on a trim kit would achieve a factory appearance. It will come down to personal preference, but I feel that if the buyer intends to retain the exterior changes, restoring the custom trim would be the most appropriate course of action.
I would love to tell you that this Firebird is numbers-matching, but the sad reality is that an engine failure saw the original 400ci V8 disappear decades ago. It would have produced 325hp, and coupled to the four-speed manual transmission, power steering, and power brakes, would have allowed this gem to storm through the ¼ mile in 14.3 seconds. When that 400 went bang, the previous owner slotted in a 283ci unit that started life in a 1966 Impala. It goes without saying that horsepower figures will be lower, but it isn’t all bad news for potential buyers. After decades of inactivity, the seller has breathed new life into this Firebird. The list of work is pretty comprehensive, including rebuilding the brakes, fitting a new Holley carburetor, plus sundry other tasks. The hard work has paid dividends because this Firebird is prowling Californian streets once again. The owner says it runs and drives perfectly, allowing a future owner to enjoy the car immediately while tackling the restoration work as time and circumstances permit.
Returning this 1967 Firebird to its original appearance is possible, and some readers will see this as their preferred path. Others may wish to recapture its former glory, and the supplied magazine would provide a starting point for that process when it comes to the question of panels and paint. If it were a numbers-matching vehicle, I would be tempted by the prospect of a faithful restoration. However, it isn’t, but it represents an example of a specific era in the custom car scene, which is why I believe that “Proud Bird” should be returned to its stunning best. What do you think?
Add some rear tire chains you could plow your driveway
Front spoiler/wheel flares unit looks like a giant double chin.
Wow, the chin spoilers gotta go, it does look like a snowplow. That would make it 100% better imho. Drive it as is, take the magazine and have it blown up into a display for the shows for a few years and then restore it to it’s show car days, minus the snowplow.
Anybody who returns this to stock will not be granted a trial.
Somebody beat this with the Fugly stick!
It really doesn’t need much!
2 new fenders
1 front valence
2 quarter panels
1rear valence
1 tail light panel
2 tail lights
1 trunk lid
Full interior
Replacement engine
Paint
And a lot of time and $$$
The amount of filler used to execute that and that look, which didn’t last to long thank goodness. Slowly find replacement parts and put it back please.
This THING Is FUBAR. It was UGLY then and even UGLIER Now.
Sam, it was a guys vision of how wild he could build his Firebird, he succeeded given the era, I’m guessing the late 70’s. I lived in that era of wild, big flares, big tires, crazy spoilers, love vans, wild paint etc.
I’m glad that cars like this still remain…..makes smile and admire the visions….and hard work !
Was the magazine “Fibreglass Disasters” or “High Times” ?
All that work on the exterior and the interior is basically stock, except for the goofy tiny Grant steering wheel and velour inserts in the seats. Looks like it might have been an AC car originally. That and the three pedals might make it worth restoring back to stock…..slowly.
Little_Cars,
Sadly, not an A/C car. It’s got the regular heater housing in the firewall, and no side A/C vents in the dash. What I suspect you and I both saw is the center section of the dash, with the space at the top for the A/C center vent.
The top photo looks like it’s stuck in a snowdrift.
What did any `67 Firebird do to deserve that injustice?! Good God that’s hideous!!!
I love everything about this car!
I remember that article well. I was 9 years old and wore every issue of Car Craft and Hot Rod out. I read those magazines cover to cover a million times each…typically, while I was in school.
I can taste the vomit in the back of my mouth…
What an incredible amount of time, money and labor to end up with THIS at the end! Sad story.
I actually kinda dig it for its Mulholland Dr. vibe.
It was a sign of the times! How many of your cars have been featured in car magazines?
I like the rear Vette bumpers on it….aaaannd that’s about it.
This car doesn’t need much… Just a sawzall and some time
This was the look back then, it’s a true survivor of that era. I remember the article well, and I have the same thoughts now as I did then… sort of throw up in your mouth, but kind of cool at the same time. I’d go for a refresh, but put the front spoiler and flares on a bit of a diet, and restore it to it’s original appearance, again, with a reduced front treatment. All the haters have to think that back then, this was a 10 year old car, very, very few people had the foresight to keep these cars original and pristine. They never thought in their wildest dreams what the value today would be. It was all about pushing the envelope. The thought of restoring these at the time was relatively unheard of.
Was this a show car for the Bondo company?
$10K…and it’s STILL ugly. Amazing how low the standards were back then for a cover car. Ugly then, ugly now.
The design sketches were based on Jay Leno’s chin
My how we forget. These cars were cheap by the late 1970’s. Stock examples were everywhere.
Like it or not to make them popular again they were heavily customized. A stock Firebird wouldn’t have made the pages in those times. Combining the old bird and adding flares to mimic the then new Trans Ams were a pretty good idea. I had a 67 Camaro built in the 70’s that was done about the same way. i didn’t kick it outside.
Having your car pictured in the pages of a magazine is an honor. Few can say they have a magazine car.
When I saw the car and the headline “Cover Car”, I knew it had to be a Car Craft car. I’m sure I had this issue back in the day.
It still looks better than a current or prev gen camaro.
Nice nostalgia show car. Would make a good candidate for an auto crosser or just restore it for show and shine. I say leave the styling either way though. These 80s customs will be like the old hot rods of the 50s are now in 30 years or so.
I gotta agree with Joey,it’s better looking than the newer ones
I was the editor of Car Craft when this car appeared on the cover the May 1978 issue. While the magazine’s focus was primarily drag racing, we knew that automotive trends and tastes were changing. So that issue featured “Road Racer Street Machines,” inspired by the GP-style “Cafe Racer” motorcycles that were becoming popular. Yes, this car is garish, but we wanted something eye-catching for the cover. Many of the other cars featured in the issue were more restrained and tasteful. It was really the beginning of the Pro Touring movement.
What a cool job to be around and get to deliver pictures of and articles about all the different cutting edge styles of cars that evolved over the years, especially before internet. Thanks man!
Restore the car to represent what is shown in the magazine. Since it’s no longer stock looking, not having a numbers matching engine should not matter, so source the correct replacement engine & bring it back to what it was.
I note there is a JC Whitney “Wolf Whistle” located along side the master brake cylinder. But it appears to have a rubber vacuum hose connecting it to the base of the carb. All the old Wolf Whistles I’ve seen were powered by exhaust pressure, not vacuum, so I’m not sure it will really work as intended!