The second-generation of the Pontiac Firebird enjoyed an impressive 12-year run. During that time, it’s best remembered for Burt Reynold’s black Trans Am in the Smokey and the Bandit movies. Things came to an end in 1981 with an all-new Firebird slated for the following year. The seller’s 1981 Esprit is one of nearly 11,000 assembled during that last go around. It’s been idle for the past couple of years and the fuel delivery system will need attention. This project Pontiac is in Englewood, Florida, and is available here on eBay for $5,000 OBO.
Pontiac’s Firebird Esprit was one of four models offered: base, Esprit, Formular, and Trans Am, with the latter two devoted to performance. Engines were now shared across GM divisions, so the base motor in the seller’s car is likely a 231 cubic inch V6 supplied by Buick. New was the use of Computer Command Control to adjust fuel and air mixtures on an ongoing basis. Visually, the 1979, 1980, and 1981 Firebirds were hard to tell apart and it takes a real fan to pick out the subtle differences.
The seller has owned this Esprit for 20 years and it was always a reliable driver. But life gets in the way, and it’s been idle for two years, so the gas is old, and the tank needs to be flushed out to get it running. Over its 44 years, some rust has developed, and the brown paint is beyond saving. When the vehicle was in use, we’re told the factory A/C worked well, so perhaps it still will.
While the seller says the Poncho needs some interior work, we’ve seen a whole lot worse, and it may be the last thing to worry about. If you decide this vintage Pontiac is worth the asking price, bring and trailer and give it a new lease on life at 133,000 miles.
This cheerful, and subdued V6 Esprit, in brown, deserves the original wheels, and a redo. Back in the day it probably made many a comfortable 1 hr drive up the coast to Sarasota 🍊 ⛱️ ☀️ 😎
Now I’m going to have the Rockford Files theme in my head all day.
This car is a mess, it needs everything, rusty where you don’t typically see rust, not running, need interior, ugly fake Centerlines. The ad is gone, if it sold, the seller is lucky, there are a lot of much better cars in its price range.
Steve R
No way is this worth five grand. Hole through the fender, seats ripped down to the foam. Ole Rockford knew how to power slide one of these though, didn’t need a stunt driver.
Auction ended.