Limelight Green with a gold interior and a dark green convertible top. That’s how this 1969 Pontiac Firebird in Blossomwood, Alabama left the factory, according to its body tag, and that’s what you see today. On top of that, it retains the original overhead cam inline six cylinder engine as well. The highly original drop-top seeks a new owner here on Craigslist where $15,500 seals the deal. Thanks to reader Tony P. for spotting this SOHC survivor.
A Pontiac exclusive, this innovative Single OverHead Cam mill began life on the drawing board with Chevrolet’s 230 cid (3.8L) inline six cylinder engine and ended with nearly every component altered, according to OHC6. Stroked to 250 cid (4.2L) for model year 1968 and ’69, this base version made 175 HP and 240 lb-ft of torque. An optional high-performance “Sprint” version made 215 and 255, respectively. The first production engine to utilize a supercharger-style composite belt instead of metal gears and chain, the OHC six lived happily at RPM numbers that would grenade most stock V8s of the day. Thanks to the cache of Pontiac brochures at lov2xlr8 for some details.
Nearly every panel shows some damage, but minimal rust bodes well for a restoration. A new owner could easily embrace the “survivor” vibe and enjoy this interesting ride after sorting any safety and reliability concerns. Among first-generation (1967-69) Firebirds, the ’69 features unique styling that makes the one-year-only look extremely popular decade after decade.
The “Gold” vinyl interior has seen better days, and many of these crunchy-looking plastics beg for replacement. Gold not only compliments the Limelight Green paint, it should prove less searing to the unsuspecting flesh of your victims passengers after baking in the sun.
The seller includes this shot of the then-unusual OHC arrangement. Thanks to an emphasis on reliability, the well-engineered OHC sixes rarely suffer belt failure, according to OHC6. This powerplant only graced the engine bays of Pontiac’s Firebird and mid-sized LeMans and Tempest, narrowing the number remaining in operation. They’re also rarer because, at least through the 1980s, most buyers of these OHC Pontiac classics took about fifteen minutes inspecting and commenting on the novelty of the ahead-of-its-time OHC six before yoking it out so they could install a V8. I’d consider a later five-speed in place of the column-shifted three-speed manual and otherwise simply restore it to factory fresh and hit the road. Would you preserve this Firebird’s OHC six or swap in something different?
It’s gonna go fast. I’d love to give that six all the options, and be tempted to put a manual on the floor.
I learned to drive a stick shift on a 69 Firebird convertible. A local teacher had a side job working on old British sports cars out of a couple garages he rented a few blocks from my house. As a 15-16 year old kid I’d go by from time to time and he’d give me a couple bucks to clean parts and do other odd jobs. He also taught me a lot about cars. His wife had a Verdoro Green 69 4 speed OHC6 Sprint convertible, and one afternoon he took me to a nearby parking lot and taught me how to drive a manual trans in it.
I like this car, but I can’t say I’ve ever seen a 3 speed column shift Firebird or Camaro. Every 3 speed F body I’ve ever seen was a floor shift. If it was mine I think I’d have to turn it into a 4 speed, 4bbl Sprint clone, or better yet try to find a real Sprint.
I think you are right about the 4spd conversion. A column shift manual doesn’t seem like a natural fit on this sort of car, plus the 4spd will make the car much more fun to drive.
Steve R.
Many of us learned to drive stick that way, seems perfectly fine to me, and to all of us mature types.
Curt, the last portion of your comment belies your maturity.
Steve R
Maturity refers to age in this context, though I might add that with age does come wisdom. Perhaps the wisdom of knowing how to shift up near the wheel and not to find that intimidating.
This was certainly the first American production engine to use a toothed timing belt, but the Germans beat us to it with the 1962 Glas 1004.
Hmmm…if it’s originally a column shift, why is there a shifter boot on the floor?