The first generation of the Pontiac Firebird wrapped up in 1969, though they enjoyed a 15-month production run due to delays in getting the second-gen cars on the assembly line. These autos were restyled and (IMO) were the best looking of the first three years of the Firebird. Including this white-over-blue beauty which has had only one prior owner and wears its original paint. This Poncho hails from Jackson, Illinois, and is available here on craigslist for $29,950. A good bit of the asking price was expended in the last year getting the car back up to speed. Thanks for this swell find, Rocco B.!

General Motors rolled out two “pony cars” in 1967 in response to the widely popular Ford Mustang. Chevy had the Camaro and Pontiac had the Firebird. Mercury also introduced the Cougar in ’67 and the Firebird and Cougar dueled for third place on the sales chart. Though the seller’s car is not one, the 1969 model year would see the introduction of the Trans Am which grew to be enormously popular a decade later (remember Smokey and the Bandit?). Budget-conscious buyers could stick with the base 250 cubic-inch inline-6 to propel their Firebirds, but two-thirds of production would go to the 350 V8 (like in the car displayed here).

This sharp Firebird was built and sold in California and stayed on the West Coast with its original owning family until 2022. The sheet metal and paint are original and – while not perfect – present well enough unless perfection is your thing. The white vinyl top has been replaced and the front upholstery is starting to deteriorate although the seller believes it was redone once already. The headliner will need to be replaced and there is some body filler showing its age from a small accident in 1971.

The list of things the original owner or the seller have done to this Firebird is extensive. Some of the more notable improvements or replacements are a 4-barrel carburetor where a 2-barrel came from the factory (those parts have been retained), and both the engine and automatic transmission have been rebuilt. So, it’s technically not a survivor (but at 133,000 miles, this was to be expected). Add to these items a set of new brakes, a rebuilt radiator, starter, battery, shocks, gas tank, suspension parts, tires, and a lot more. A good bit of the asking price for this car is tied up in all this work.

If/when you take the car home, all sorts of documentation will follow along, like a PHS statement, window sticker, and California black/gold license plates. The seller bought this Pontiac with plans to restore it (why?), but time and space will prevent that goal from taking place under his/her watch. I would leave the Firebird alone except for the obvious things that could use attention. They’re only original once and a portion of this automobile apparently still is.