Project cars come in all shapes and sizes, all makes and models, and all have very different needs. This Firebird is a car with many needs, but it does have potential. It is one of those cars where you would need to seriously weigh up the risks versus the rewards. Listed for sale here on eBay, this frisky Firebird comes with a clear title. Bidding has pushed the price to $6,121 but the reserve hasn’t been met.
When I was scrolling through the 24 photos that the seller has posted on eBay I was really at a loss to decide which photo of the rust issues to include as I had 9 to choose from, so this was the one that I chose. As you can see, there are some problems to deal with. This Firebird has rust in all the right (or wrong) places but at least the seller is open about that. Rust will need to be addressed in the floor pans, trunk pans, and other patches will be needed. The bottom of the doors will also need work. The external panels themselves appear to be straight and most of the external trim and badges appear to be present and in good condition. The Pontiac has been the subject of a repaint at some stage as it was originally a Cameo Ivory car with a dark red interior.
So given the previous information then this is not the original interior. There are a lot of serviceable parts in here but there are some issues that will need to be addressed. The door trims will need to be replaced as they have been the victim of someone installing speakers at some stage. The dash has been cut to fit an aftermarket stereo but the pad looks good, and the carpet and console look like both may respond well to the good old deep clean. It appears that the seats may well be able to be salvaged with only minor repairs required on the driver’s seat.
Under the hood things appear more promising. Here rests a Y4 Pontiac 400 engine backed by a 4-speed transmission. The good news is that the Firebird runs and stops, which means that it can be driven onto a trailer by the new owner. The owner doesn’t elaborate on how well it runs though, so given the amount of work that is required elsewhere on this car you would have to hope that it runs really well. I think that it is potentially already going to consume a reasonable amount of loot without having to shell out too much to remedy any mechanical maladies.
This Pontiac proves how looks can be so deceptive. On the surface, it looks like a decent car. When you start to peer below the surface you realize that this car has a lot of issues to address. There are some serious repairs there that are not going to be able to be tackled in a shed by an average person with a $200 MIG welder. There is some serious work to be done to ensure the structural integrity of the car, and therefore the safety of its future occupants. It is either going to require handing over substantial money to a professional to bring it up to scratch, or the acquisition of a good shell to transplant the good components into. I’m not going to make that call myself, but I will be interested to see what our learned Barn Finds readers think will be the best course of action.
Would be a nice car when done but way upside down. A cruise night friend has a teal blue 67 he bought from a local small dealership for 16K and it’s rust free, nice paint, nice interior, all he had to do was replace a couple broken rockers arms and a tune up since owning it.
Well the recession bought my 67 Firebird 400 Convertible with only 50K original miles and almost every factory option including the super rare power windows, AC in a convertible, Hood Tach, TH400 (would have rather had the 4 speed but the AT was an option). Almost a #1 car, sold for $35K. You can buy a Nice 400 Convertible well restored, drive it now for similar money today. Definitely fully restored and drive it now for sale out there now for under $50K.
Following comments are not to tear down the car or make me sound like and expert as I think a couple readers implied recently. Just trying to share some knowledge that I believe is correct so the person thinking of buying this is educated. This car is far from unmolested. It is FAR from what it was born as.
This car appears to be a real 400 with certain trim pieces only the 400 had. Unfortunate that it does not have the original engine. To restore this 400 back to a high condition would require a correct date code 400 as VIN coding did not happen until 68.
Spoiler and woodgrain center console were not options/features until 1968. 67 had an all metal black center console. High back head rest seats were not available in 67 either. I think, 69 was the first year for them….not positive. I had 2 69 Firebirds and one had the high back head rest seat like these.
This car has a LOT of filler and obvious rust in really bad places like the rocker/quarter door jam picture. Doors are shot that means the rest of the car is going to be similar.
Really sad to see a 400 convertible in this condition. To get the car back to a #1 condition or close to it, it will take the better part of $100K to get it there if you pay someone to do the work and the car will only be worth maybe half of that. If you do most of the work yourself, it could be a good investment but a TON of time and lots of money replacing, replating or restoring every inch of this car.
This is one of those cars I believe should be bought, stored in the correct environment, collect all the necessary parts over time and restored in years to come WHEN you can’t find another decent 400 Convertible to buy. It deserves to be restored, definitely not crushed, but it just has not come “into its own” yet but I believe that day will come.
I think ANY Pontiac pony car or musclecar deserves to be restored or maintained, depending on condition. With plenty of other classics on the streets and at shows, it’s always the Ponchos that seem to garner much attention, and rightfully so.
I love first gen Firebirds, especially ‘67s & convertibles.
They look at once both sportier & classier than the Chevys.
My sisters first car was a green 67 400 auto coupe & I loved it.
Agree that it’s sad to see them wasting away but it’s tough to stay up on the needs of an older car without extra time, funds & garage space.
I’d love to save this one but I’m clueless on welding, bodywork & painting.
Way better off to find one that’s been professionally done & spend more.
I love a good ol’ F-bird that can be driven onto the trailer! This is the sort of vehicle I would find at the back of the tote-the-note car lots when looking for a cool ride in my college days. I had been sitting in the passenger seat of my father’s two 67 Firebirds and three 69 Firebirds and by the early 80s was ready to start my own project on the cheap. Back then, numbers matching was never uttered, or the phrase “factory air conditioned car” nor did anyone in my peer group care that a Camaro spoiler was put on the trunklid of a beater convertible like this. It is tough call (meticulously restore or not) but unless the doors fall off as you open them this car could be slowly improved while driving it and sorting out the cosmetic issues. But not if it splits in half…
Just a small thought, the front seats which are the same as Camaro are from or look just like 69 Camaro seats , just saying
Those are standard 69 Firebird seats with factory style headrests. Wonder what the back seat looks like? Not the worst upgrade the previous owner could be blamed for.
Still nice to see one that has survived…just not that many around.