It would be easy to give this 1968 Firebird Convertible little more than a passing glance due to its shabby appearance. However, that would be doing the car an injustice because this is a project car loaded with positive attributes. It is a rust-free classic, and its original V8 still resides under the hood. The owner has decided that he will never get around to restoring it, so he has listed it for sale here on Craigslist. Located in Granada Hills, California, the owner has set the Firebird’s price at $22,000, although he might entertain a trade for the right vehicle. I have to say a big thank you to Barn Finder Ikey H for spotting the Convertible for us.
The blue paint that the Pontiac currently wears isn’t original. This has been changed at some point because the tag indicates that it rolled off the production line wearing the very attractive Verdoro Green. If I were to buy the Pontiac, I would be changing the color back in a hurry. The panels wear a few minor dings and dents, but there is nothing there that is beyond repair. The big news comes when we consider the question of rust. This Firebird appears to have spent its life in California, and while it looks shabby and tired, it is also claimed to be completely rust-free. That’s a bonus for prospective buyers because tackling wholesale rust repairs can be a daunting prospect for some people. That doesn’t mean that the car can be returned to showroom condition in a few short weeks, but it means that the buyer can pack their grinder and welder off on vacation. The power top is shredded, but the frame looks okay. All of the trim is present, but there are a few components that will need to be restored or replaced.
The Firebird is a numbers-matching car and comes equipped with a 400ci V8, a 3-speed automatic transmission, power steering, and power brakes. With 330hp available under the right foot, the Pontiac would have been capable of covering the ¼ mile in 14.9 seconds. If you had any loose hair, this Convertible could remove it pretty quickly. The good news goes beyond the drivetrain’s originality because the Firebird is said to run and drive well. Stopping is a whole different kettle of fish because the owner admits that the brakes require attention. However, it sounds like some brake work and a thorough mechanical check could have this Convertible returned to a roadworthy state in the blink of an eye.
The moment that I looked at this photo, my fingers began to itch. Given the state of the top, I was expecting to find an interior that looked pretty awful. Nothing could be further from the truth. It is crying out for a deep clean because there is a lot of the original Deluxe interior trim that could be salvaged. The piping has come loose on the driver’s seat base, but the rest of the upholstered surfaces look to be in excellent condition. There are no significant issues with the dash or pad, although someone has slotted an aftermarket radio/cassette player in place of the factory radio. However, nothing has been cut, so swapping back shouldn’t be an issue. The top is missing off the shifter, but replacements are a piece of cake to find. I think that a new carpet set will be on the shopping list, but this is an interior that needs more time and elbow grease spent than it does money. The original owner ordered the Pontiac with air conditioning, and while the system is complete, it isn’t clear whether it blows cold.
We should never judge a book by its cover, and this 1968 Firebird Convertible graphically demonstrates why this is so. Look beyond the tired paint and surface corrosion and what you find is a classic that has the potential to be a straightforward restoration project. I know that we have many readers who haven’t yet dipped their toe into the water of classic car ownership, and more than a few of those individuals are “gun shy” when it comes to the question of tackling a restoration project. I understand that because I think that all of us here at Barn Finds have been in the same boat at one point or another. Jumping in head-first is a recipe for disaster, and taking the time to select the right potential candidate is not something to be rushed. Next to the family home, purchasing a car is one of the most significant capital outlays we will make during our lifetime. That means that getting it right is vitally important. However, this is a project car that is worth closer examination. If you have been looking for a while, maybe your search is finally over.
I like the car. It has all the right options and looks like it would be a straightforward restoration. If I bought this I think it would be a race as to how quickly I can restore it to its original color! That blue ain’t doing it for me!
I agree on the color and it does have the desirable options, however a restoration isn’t going to be cheap even if you do it yourself. In its current condition I wouldn’t pay more than $10 or $12k for it.
Would have never guessed by looking that it had a 400 in it. Would have figured all day long it was a 326 or even OHC six cylinder.
On the plus side, it’s very complete with a lot of the expensive parts in place, and with the Q-2 on the data plate it was indeed a verdoro green with black top car, and has AC along with a deluxe interior with deluxe steering wheel, too. What’s not known is if the floors are rusty- which rust from the inside out so one would need to pull back the carpet to inspect, especially with a convertible. Also not known if equipped with a posi rear, convertible brace and cocktail shakers are there, too.
All in all one would be upside down to buy this car at that price and fully restore it. To make this worthwhile that price would have to be below 15k, ideally closer to 10.
The license plate is from 1982 to 1987. In CA the plate goes with the car. My 1969 Camaro and 1969 GTO both had black plates. This car came from out of state after 1982.
Subsailor it’s possible the car fell out of the Ca DMV system, and when someone decided to reactivate/register it they were issued a new plate by the DMV. I have a 1970 CB750 motorcycle that I purchased years ago that received a new plate when the previous owner decided to reactivate it after it fell out of the DMV system. He kept the original plate and gave it to me when I bought the bike. It took some effort on my part to get the bike registered with the original plate but I finally was able to.
There were many legitimate reasons for the car to have newer plates. I lost the original plate fit my car when I was written a ticket for not having a front plate.
If the owner had ordered PHS documentation, that would give the name of the original dealer and go a long way towards filling in some of the blanks when it came to thus cars origins.
Steve R
The car could have had a personalized plate up until then, but it really doesn’t matter at this point.
I remember those plates coming out in 1984, not 1982, but my memory is getting fuzzy.
California black plates were last issued in 1969. My totally original 1970 GTO, built in Fremont and bought by me in 1986, had the blue and yellow plates. I can tell you for a fact southern California cars do rust if not cared for. When I bought my GTO, the body panels, floors and frame perfect, but when I got it off the truck in Pennsylvania, the trunk floor was soaked with water. I got in the trunk and had the wife spray the hose on the back window. Yep, just what I figured, after only 16 years, the lower portion of the rear window rotted out due to the stupid and ugly green vinyl top and repeated washings and sitting in rain. I had it repaired professionally and from that day forward, the car never sat outside and I never washed it, except with a damp towel. Water rots cars, no matter where you live. Love Firebirds, not as many as the millions of Camaros GM built. I agree that $22,000 is far too much for this car. How long has it been outside with that roof in tatters. People watch too much Barrett Jackson and Mecum. People today spend way too much money on old cars and the best part is, they never drive them.
Agreed brother, I’m sure he bought this car from the original owner with dreams of restoring it to former glory, but after 15 years of dreaming he realized he can’t restore anything, but thinks he deserves a payday because he had this rusting in his driveway. I think even $14k is generous, needs at least $25k in parts and work to make it presentable.
All of you who are bemoaning the price and saying its a $10k would be right, but only if this was a base Firebird. Have any of you noticed what loaded matching numbers Firebird 400 convertibles go for these days? That is, if you can even find any to choose from.
And yes… I do understand what a restoration costs.
You couldn’t be more correct Doug. The value of matching numbers Firebird 400s is going through the roof, and this is a convertible with air! This car is worth at least the asking price all day long, probably more, especially when you consider what some fools will pay for a rotted out mopar with a swapped out motor.
One of the rare Firebird convertibles with a sunroof.
$22k is very optimistic. $14k tops.
As to the plates, I purchased a new 77 Datsun pick up , when the plates were sent to me they were black with yellow letters, that was a pain in the butt because I would get pulled over all the time
Was that in California?
Black plates were long gone by 1977. You should have gotten a blue commercial plate starting with a 1H or 1J.
I really like this car. If it were a 69 I’d even like it better as I once owned a 69 Firebird 400 hardtop, canary yellow with black vinyl top and American racing wheels. The transmission Was the turbo 400, it too had a/c ps on and limited slip. Ofcourse when I bought that car in 1970 it was $2250.00. I don’t know how much it would cost to make this beautiful again, but at the asking price it looks like upward of $40,000.00 to do a nice job.
Check prices of restored models to see if that’s equitable.
God bless America
I like this car in large part because I had one back in the late 70s and early 80s before I sold it to my cousin and her husband. It looks to be in relatively good condition apart from the surface rust. A few things I noticed……the interior is deluxe (Trim 259) but the seats are standard (replaced due to ripped conv top?), as others pointed out the original color was green, the cowl tag says Lordstown, Ohio not Van Nuys, Calif so I doubt it’s been out west the entire time. I would still check very hard for rust in all the usual places including the floor pans. The air deflector plates that came with a 400 engine are present ahead of the radiator but I cannot see the front end to tell if the correct chrome bumper and grill inserts are present or not. The cowl tag correctly calls for a 68 Firebird convertible with a deluxe interior the first 6 in -22667 but there are no other options called out on the cowl tag. Nothing for the 400 engine, nothing for the power brakes – that’s odd. The handle is off the shifter which is no big deal as they were the same for all automatics. The shifter position indicator appears to be correct for a 400 auto vehicle from this angle it seems to have PRDL2L1 which is a THM400 and correct for the 400 auto option. I would check the shift detents to make certain there are actually 5 stops, any other auto is a 2 speed PRDL1 with 4 detents. The engine has the proper chrome valve covers but I would check the casting numbers to make sure it is a 400 and not something else. All Pontiac v8 motors are the same dimensions from 326 (and lower?) to 455.
Oh, and as others have indicated the asking price is too steep. Hopefully buyer and seller can agree on several points including the price.
Also on the plus side, the doors and rear quarters are not pinching, so the inner rockers are sound.