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Original 350/3-Speed: 1968 Pontiac Firebird

It was a stereotypical way of describing classic cars for years, and it has passed into folk law. We’ve all seen the jokes about cars described as: “One owner, little old lady. Only driven to church on Sundays.” It may have seemed like a joke, but that’s precisely what is on offer with this 1968 Pontiac Firebird. Just to add that perfect finishing touch to the description, the “little old lady” in question was actually a nun. That is a first for me! Sadly, our hot rod nun has passed away, and the seller has purchased the car from her estate. He has decided to move it on to a new owner, so he has listed it for sale here on eBay. The Firebird is located in Southington, Connecticut, and has already received a whopping 53 bids. This has pushed the price to $25,300, but this is still short of the reserve.

It seems that the April Gold Firebird has managed to live a sheltered life. It has spent its days in a dry garage, and that has allowed it to remain rust-free. The panels look clean, and there is no evidence of problems in the supplied photos of the vehicle’s underside. The paint still holds an impressive shine, with no defects that are worth noting. The panels are straight, the gaps are good, and the glass is in excellent order. All of the factory trim, including the hubcaps, is intact. There are no issues to note in that area, while the whitewall tires add a classy finishing touch to the exterior. Overall, it means that the Firebird possesses above-average presentation for a survivor of this vintage.

The positive vibes continue when we examine the Pontiac’s interior. There are a few issues here, but nothing that could be considered a deal-breaker. The factory radio has made way for a radio/cassette player, but the original radio is in the trunk. Unfortunately, the original owner had the door trims cut to fit speakers for the new sound system, so these will need to be replaced if the buyer is seeking complete originality. The carpet is worn and faded, but with a replacement carpet set costing under $180, addressing this would be inexpensive. That appears to be about it for the problems. The upholstery on the seats is exceptional for its age, and the seller believes that no one has ever sat in the back seat. The dash looks excellent, and the dash pad has no cracks. It isn’t an interior loaded with optional extras, but if there is a buyer out there searching for a classic that doesn’t require a lot of work, this is looking pretty promising.

It seems that our departed sister wasn’t opposed to her car offering some performance credentials because this Firebird comes equipped with a 350ci V8 and a 3-speed manual transmission. With 265hp under her right foot, the deceased owner could’ve covered the ¼ mile in 15.3 seconds. Forget Sally Field because this lady was the real Flying Nun! It seems that the Pontiac had been sitting for many years, with the service documentation indicating that it last saw active duty back in 2006. However, the seller has returned it to a roadworthy state. He says that it runs and drives well, and he supplies this YouTube video. We get to hear the 350 start and run, and it sounds pretty sweet. A chunk of rock wedged behind the wheels in some of the photos suggests that the e-brake may not function. The only other criticism I’ve got is about the enormous plastic tie that the seller uses to hold the battery in place. I’m sure that there are better solutions, but this Firebird looks like it could be a winner if those are the only issues.

Classic pony cars continue to command excellent prices in the market, and examples like this ’68 Firebird are no exception. I think that this is a fantastic survivor, and the bidding history backs me on that claim. It needs very little to lift it to the next level, and even as it stands, it’s sure to grab plenty of attention. The bidding has been frantic to this point, but have you seen enough to tempt you to join the bidding war?

Comments

  1. Avatar Jcs

    Sally Fields reference 👍👍

    Like 36
    • Avatar GPAK

      I think I know why she got the stereo cassette player installed…..

      https://youtu.be/Bw1pqd63_o8

      Like 2
      • Avatar GPAK

        ⤴️Janet Mead is an Australian Catholic nun who is best known for recording a rock version of “The Lord’s Prayer”. The surprise hit reached Number 3 on the Australian singles chart in 1974 and Number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the same year.(Ref wiki)

        Like 2
  2. Avatar Chris M.

    Perfect. I’d add rally wheels and redlines.

    Like 21
    • Avatar Josh

      So overdone; no one keeps regular wheelcovers and whitewalls anymore, so it’d be much more interesting and unique to keep as-is!

      Like 32
      • Avatar Chris M.

        Opinions. Meh

        Like 5
  3. Avatar Terrry

    The original owner may have been a nun, but she didn’t believe that having a Firebird with a V8 was a sin either. Most older people would have probably ordered it with the OHC-6, itself not a bad choice. Nice car. If my pockets were deeper I’d be taking a swing at it on eBay as well.

    Like 8
    • Avatar Steve R

      She wasn’t old when she bought it, 53 years ago.

      Nice car, it’s deserving of the interest it’s getting.

      Steve R

      Like 21
  4. Avatar CCFisher

    Seems a little flashy for a nun, but it was the sixties, after all.

    Like 7
    • Avatar WL TAYLOR

      This is SOOO rare; to find a ’68, unmolested bird with a 350 and an original 3 speed manual. Speaking of 3-speed manual , if you wanted to secure the car from ROLLING WHY not leave the shifter in either reverse or 1st gear when turning off the car? There’s nothing perverse about doing that as opposed to putting a rock behind the rear wheel.

      Like 12
      • Avatar WL TAYLOR

        Lucky Dog…@ 14. Drivers Ed was a big thing, even in the early 60s. although not a lot of state Senate’s would approve it through the states board of education BACK then.

        Like 0
  5. Avatar Mark

    Wow! Talk about a rarity!
    An original, unmolested and what appears to be an all original one owner 3 speed 68 bird. I’d take this over a first Gen Camaro any day of the week.
    Someone’s going to get a lot of smiles to the gallon with this one. Hope the new owner leaves it as is.
    GLWTA.

    Like 31
  6. Avatar Bob C.

    She must have been a pretty happening nun, between the drive train combo and that she must have loved her tunes as well.

    Like 17
  7. Avatar Luke Fitzgerald

    The person who cut those door cards up should be crucified

    Like 11
    • Avatar Chris M.

      Tell that to the nun!

      Like 9
    • Avatar Redwagon

      42 years ago I cut up door cards on a ’68 Firebird. I’m no longer proud of that self-installed audio system.

      Like 8
  8. Avatar Curt Lemay

    I thought nuns were suppose to live simple humble lives of service. Somehow a Firebird with a V8 does not seem to fit that mold. Despite that, I hope Sister Speedy really enjoyed her ride.

    Like 12
    • Avatar Redwagon

      Some orders frown on ownership of material wealth other orders do not. Regardless, if the car was given to her by a relative or friend often keeping it is not a problem.

      Like 7
  9. Avatar Rbig18

    Take this any day over any Camaro I have seen. However I doubt the nun added a radio and cut out the door panels for speakers. Amazing car, story is suspect. And why do we say. “The owner purchased it from her estate and has decided to move it along to another owner. Just say it. A flipper got his hands in it and now goes to auction for their profit.

    Like 3
  10. Avatar Redwagon

    Space saver spare a somewhat rare option. I’ve never seen one before.

    Like 2
  11. Avatar Anthony D

    Wow! Awesome car! Too bad about the speakers, and I am curious about mileage. To me, the story about the nun may be bogus. Very few women knew how to drive a 3 speed back in ’68…but that doesn’t change anything about the car either. Love t.

    Like 7
    • Avatar Mark

      Back in my day in Drivers Ed class, the simulator portion included being able to shift a manual 3 on the tree. Not sure of the age of the nun in 68′, but odds are she grew up when manuals were in the majority.

      Like 19
      • Avatar Anthony D

        Automatics were in the majority in the ’60s. If she was a nun in ’68, then it’s unlikely she attended drivers ed class in the early to mid ’60s…there weren’t any.

        Like 0
    • Avatar John

      You never met my wife. She grew up with a Sprite in the 60s and graduated to a 69 Z/28. We never owned an automatic till we bought a 96 Accord wagon. She could speed-shift the Z perfectly.

      Like 11
    • Avatar RexFox Member

      My mom drove a stick until she gave up her license at age 90. My sisters drove sticks until they became too hard to find. My twin sister just bought an automatic truck 2 years ago and my ex-wife never had an automatic until after our divorce.

      Like 7
    • Avatar Mark Zello

      A lot more females used a clutch then than now, almost everyone I knew.

      Like 5
      • Avatar Anthony D

        Guess I’m in the minority on this. We had no drivers ed in high school (’65 grad). You either went to a private drivers ed school…or Uncle Louie would teach you. Couldn’t get a license until 16, and that was a “learner’s permit”. A licensed driver had to be in the car with you.

        Like 2
    • Avatar Tim

      Maybe where you come from but where I grew up I don’t think that I new anybody male or female that couldn’t drive a stick shift.

      Like 1
    • Avatar Gray Wolf

      Oh Anthony D, you are so wrong about women and shifting in the ‘60’s! Cars to have in the day were stick shifts, from Malibu’s, Mustangs, VWs and Corvairs! My wife and I bought a ‘69 SS Chevelle 396 4- speed. My wife could bang shift it as well as men!

      Like 2
  12. Avatar Rj

    Girls didn’t know how to drive a 3 speed ?? You didn’t know any Girls did you…

    Like 16
    • Avatar Anthony D

      In ’68 I was 21. Most girls I dated didn’t know how to drive a stick. And there were no drivers ed classes in high school in the early to mid ’60s either. Once we were on a long ride on the Interstate…and I wanted her to help me drive. So at 60 mph, she slid behind the wheel while I climbed backwards over the seat back and into the back seat…then back over into the front seat next to her (bench seat). I had to remain alert in case she had to slow down or stop, .so I could take over. So I’m just surprised to hear others on here talking about how all girls drove manuals. Anyhow, her being a nun or not doesn’t really matter…I just found it kind of unusual. And YES…the car is awesome. Love it!

      Like 1
      • Avatar Mark Zello

        I took drivers ed in 1963, got my license at 14

        Like 3
      • Avatar Mark

        Drivers Ed programs have been around in schools since the 20’s.
        Went from textbooks to adding “simulators” in the 40’s. Manual shifts were common and before the suburbs sprang up many ladies grew up learning to drive pickups.

        Like 2
  13. Avatar LMK

    I believe that this seller is well known for his Firebird finds. He sold Richard from Fast & Loud the two 1st manufactured Firebirds which was shown on the show.
    This car appears to be something special as well…

    Like 4
    • Avatar Steve R

      This seller has a different username than the guy that sold the Firebirds to Richard Rawlings. I used to follow him on eBay, he finds great stuff, mostly high end OE parts, but he has a sell through rate of about 3% a month so I eventually stopped watching him.

      Steve R

      Like 1
  14. Avatar Pleease

    Man, I can’t love this car enough. Seeing the cockpit shot puts me “right there” in my airport valet parking job in the mid ’70s, when I was lucky enough to drive a few early Firebirds, including some manuals like this.

    I’d be tempted to try for this one, but it’s already pretty pricey. My wife would probably shoot me, but then again maybe she’d be kind enough to bury my in the ’68 ‘bird, lol.

    Like 3
  15. Avatar Barry Traylor

    This nun sure had good taste in cars.

    Like 5
  16. Avatar WL TAYLOR

    This nun DID have good taste for a hot performer…..I WONDER COULD this be ‘Rosalind Russell’ from the movie ” Where Angel’s go…Trouble Follows”..???

    Like 0
  17. Avatar AnthonyD

    Learned a lot on this thread today. I guess my area (NE Ohio) was the only area in the country where there were no drivers ed classes in public schools in the early ’60s …and where most girls only knew how to drive automatics. Anyhow, this is one awesome car…so it really shouldn’t matter who owned it. I just don’t believe the nun part. Maybe she bought it for someone else in her family, cause I really doubt it was her daily driver (or Sunday driver). I’d love to see a pic of her standing by the car.

    Like 1
  18. Avatar Greg

    Finally a Firebird on here! I’ve had two blue 68’s. Hope to find a blue one now to restore like mine was!

    Like 0
  19. Avatar Greg

    Finally a Firebird on here! I’ve had two blue 68’s. Would love to find a blue one now to restore like mine was!!

    Like 0
  20. Avatar John Oliveri

    I wonder what tapes the sister listened to, while popping the clutch on her 3 speed?

    Like 3
    • Avatar GPAK
      • Avatar Little_Cars Member

        Let’s not forget the Singing Nuns from the 1960s. They had a minor hit and my first wife had the full length LP. It included an offer inside to purchase figurines of the nuns!

        Like 0
  21. Avatar John Oliveri

    Domenickanickanick, Domi, Domi Domenick

    Like 1
  22. Avatar Kurt Member

    Beautiful car all around, nun better…

    Like 4
    • Avatar Jon Bokowy

      Amen

      Like 0
  23. Avatar Little_Cars Member

    This is how my family liked ’em between 1967-1978. How ’bout a V8 with 3 spd stick, or loaded but with a 6 banger, automatics with column shift and no console, no AC, yes AC but manual 4 spd with deluxe interior, vinyl tops, bench seats, etc. I remember during lot transactions where my Dad would want to trade one of our oddballs in, salesman would appear to cringe as they weren’t the mainstream Firebirds.

    Like 0
  24. Avatar Little_Cars Member

    Appears to have a telescopic, wood-rimmed steering wheel too!!?? This is how my family liked ’em between 1967-1978. How ’bout a V8 with 3 spd stick, or loaded but with a 6 banger, automatics with column shift and no console, no AC, yes AC but manual 4 spd with deluxe interior, vinyl tops, bench seats, etc. I remember during lot transactions where my Dad would want to trade one of our oddballs in, salesman would appear to cringe as they weren’t the mainstream Firebirds.

    Like 0

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