UPDATE 2/10/2021 – It appears that this Firebird didn’t end up selling and has been relisted here on eBay. This time, the seller is offering it with a BIN of $4,000 and the option to make an offer. Will you save this Pontiac? Special thanks to Bruce for letting us know that it has been relisted!
FROM 1/22/2021 – The second generation of the Firebird entered its first full year of production in 1971 after being delayed in getting to the market the year before. That generation would be hugely successful and sell more than 1.2 million copies over a 12-year span. This Firebird looks to have been outside quite a while and will need help in eradicating the rust. It’s located in Memphis, Tennessee and available here on eBay where the auction has only reached $202.50. There is a reserve waiting to be met.
The original owner of this car must have been “green with envy” because the whole thing is green. The body paint is likely Tropical Lime, it probably came with a dark green vinyl top, and the interior has green to match. As a base Firebird, this car would be one of 23,000 copies built out of 53,000 overall, so there is no limited production car here. All of this would be before the Trans Am took a starring role in the Smokey & The Bandit movies, which helped sales double and triple during the latter part of the 1970s.
Time has not been kind to this Firebird, with rust to be found most anywhere. The front fenders, rear wheel well openings, lower rear quarter panels, rocker panels, and around the chrome on the back glass where the vinyl top once was. That area has likely allowed corrosion to find its way into the trunk and the floorboards also seem to be crusty. The rear spoiler is a different color, so it must have been replaced at some point.
This Firebird is not a runner, although the seller says it did about three years ago. The owner he acquired from last year had kept it for nearly 30 years and the car spent most of its time in Tennessee. There is no indication as to what may be wrong with the Firebird mechanically, but the 350 V8 is paired with an automatic transmission. From inside the car, things need some serious help, with the upholstery being past its prime, the dash pad cracked and the carpeting being in question. In Fair condition, Hagerty says this is a $6,000 car at best. But all the rust suggests an expensive restoration would be in order, unless the decision is to use it as a parts car instead.
Ouch – that’s a lot of metalwork to be done, and who knows how much worse it will be in person.
Still…
I love the early 2nd-gen Firebirds. This reminds me of a ’71 Formula (or at least a Firebird with a Formula hood) that lives a couple blocks away from me in Northern California—it’s covered in grey primer and quietly rusting away, with holes in the roof and other places, but I look fondly at it whenever I walk by.
At last, an appropriately priced rust bucket. I predict that it will be purchased and flipped by some maniac who puts armor all over everything and lists it for 15K or make an offer. Call me…..Fredradamus
The current bid of $1575. is about $1570. too much. And the reserve has not been met. (what the heck is wrong with people…is it auction fever?)
My mother drove a 71 back in the mid 70’s. 350 2 barrel, auto. One of the many cars I honed some of my street racing skills in as a youth(sorry mom)The car had respectable power & handled well. That all ended when the local police ran into it during a high speed chase & totaled it while parked.
Not the ending I expected, lol!
Junk parts car.
For the much much less successful version of Kevin Spacey’s character in American Beauty.
Still I love the color and if I bought it I would just get it running and drive the hell out of it.
Try $203.00, you might just win!
It’s still overpriced. This is a non-running parts car that should sell for no more than 50% of the value of its salvageable parts, which aren’t many.
Steve R
Clearly the hopeful sellers of these field rotters on parade here are searching for the greater fool….
And they’ll find them!
The engine may not be a 350. The Pontiac 350 in the ‘71 Firebird was 2bbl only and 250 hp. This car has a Quadrajet that was either added later or is an indication of a larger Poncho V8 or an engine swap at some point.
Yes, parts car at best. But not if you’re looking for an original carb. That’s a Chevy Quadrajet…
Put it out of its misery……let it die
The factory A/C components and dashboard likely have some value. The urethane nose isn’t in bad shape although it has a couple of dings. The cracking paint is the result of the car having been repainted. From the factory a special paint is used which expands and contracts with the urethane. Beyond that this ‘Limekist’ (from the trim tag) Firebird is a pig in a poke. Strip this $500 rag of everything reusable/resalable and send what’s left to the crusher.
Gather up all the loose change underneath the backseat, and I will double that amount to pay for this superb vehicle.
5 days left and it’s at $5000! Unbelievable.
What’s at $5,000? This car isn’t being auctioned, it has a set price of $4,000 or best offer. He’s not likely to get even close to that, even if he does get any offers.
Steve R
It was removed.
It might be green and mean but it’s got $4000 grand worth of rust ain’t worth diddly squat
That’s a pretty accurate estimate to complete the rust repair on this gem…four-thousand grand.
Interesting Ebay listing ; he says ” Only serious buyers. I don’t have a buy it now price “, and yet there is a buy it now price of 4000.00.
I doubt anyone serious would bid anywhere near that amount
5 days left and zippity-do-dah offers.
How do you know? eBay doesn’t show offers, only bids when a car is being auctioned off, which isn’t the case with this listing.
Steve R
Barely even a good parts car. That’s a Chevy Q-Jet…
I had a 1971 Espirit(?) in the early 70s with the copper color and white interior! Wish i still had it!
Exactly the color and condition of the one I sold in Tennessee in 2009, except mine was a green 74 Formula. The tin worm had taken hold in the previous owner’s dirt driveway. They created a nest and slithered throughout the vehicle, and allowed all form of other critters to destroy the vehicle — along with weather and neglect. At least the BIN is only four digits long….
Unfortunately, whole thing smells of scam. As commented above, it only has a BIN price, yet the written description(s) say “Bid to win” and “I don’t have a buy it now price.” That, with the “immediate payment of $500” along with “deposit non refundable”…well, caveat emptor is all I have to say. Maybe the “seller” will read these comments and (1) fix these errors if it’s legit or (2) “mysteriously” end the listing.
Still available for $4000 with 4 days left. (No one in their right mind is gonna buy this!)
Just one look at that rear bumper on the passenger side (cut with a hacksaw?) is enough to tell me how much abuse this poor car has suffered. The dual 12v ports on the side of the console make me think this thing has lots of hidden treasures and botched previous owner repairs to justify the “no bid” status. Seller seems intent on making money on this Firebird, just not the normal way. Okay fella, I’m interested…do a walk around video to prove this thing is worth the $4k ask. SMH