Some classic cars are beautifully preserved or restored originals that are guaranteed to attract plenty of attention and admiration wherever they go. They are special cars that attract this attention for all of the right reasons. Some classics are more designed to scare small children and old ladies and are guaranteed to leave you with an enormous smile plastered across your face. I think that it is safe to say that this 1975 Pontiac Firebird probably fits into the latter category, and in spite of my passion for original classics, I just can’t help but like this car. It has only recently come out of long-term storage and is looking for a new home. It is located in Jackson, New Jersey, and has been listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has made its way to $5,700 in what is a No Reserve auction.

The Firebird isn’t perfect, but it does remain presentable in its original Copper Mist paint. The panels look to be quite straight, and its rust issues appear to be quite minimal. There is some present in the lower front fender on the driver’s side, along with some around the outer lips of both rear wheel arches, and a small amount around the rear window. Otherwise, it all looks pretty good. The owner supplies photos of the vehicle’s underside, and apart from what would seem to be the obligatory light coating of surface corrosion, the floors look to be rock solid. Don’t get me wrong, because a fresh coat of paint would make the car really sparkle, but it isn’t something that is an immediate priority. The glass all looks quite good, while the vast majority of the external trim and chrome appear to be pretty decent. The wheels most definitely aren’t original, but they certainly look tough. Unfortunately, the left rear wheel appears to have some significant corrosion and bubbling in the chrome, so this will need some attention at some point. Of course, when you team those wheels with the side-pipes, that makes the car scream “attitude!” Whether those pipes remain or not would be a matter of personal preference, because some people find getting in and out of a car without burning their leg on side-pipes to be quite difficult.

The interior of the Firebird is serviceable, but it isn’t by any means perfect. The rear seat and trim in that area look to be quite good, while the same would appear to be true of the door trims, the console, and the front passenger seat. There are some seam separations showing in the driver’s seat, and a new cover will definitely be needed at some point. The carpet is faded, but it isn’t full of rips or tears. The dash pad has deteriorated quite markedly, and a replacement will need to be found. However, these are readily available and usually run out at around $700. The wheel isn’t original, and nor is the tach or the radio/cassette player. They do add something to the aura of the car. Whether they stay or go would once again be a matter of personal preference.

Powering the Firebird is a 350ci V8, backed by a 4-speed manual transmission. Both of these components are original to the vehicle, while it also features power steering and power brakes. The owner states that the Firebird runs, drives, and stops, but given the fact that it has just come out of long-term storage, I would be very inclined to have the car thoroughly checked before I undertook any significant journeys. The presentation of the engine bay really isn’t bad for a car of this age that has just come out of storage. While the Firebird would only have had 155hp from the engine when new, you have to wonder whether there might be a few more ponies present today. There’s no doubt that the side-pipes would help the 350 to breathe better, so maybe some other work that we can’t see has also been performed.

I like this car, and I think that a large part of it revolves around the fact that it is a vehicle that transports me back to my younger days. The modifications that have been made to the Firebird were ones that were fairly common-place back in the late 1970s or early 1980s. In some quarters, cars like this were almost part of a rite of passage, especially for young men wishing to assert their masculinity. It’s loud, it’s brash, and judging by the bidding, there are people out there who like it just as much as I do.