Hiding in this garage is a promising project candidate. This 1968 Pontiac Firebird Sprint features a few modifications, although most are easily reversed using the original components that form part of the deal if the winning bidder craves authenticity. Adding to its attraction is the seller’s decision to remove the reserve, allowing it to find a new home once the hammer falls. They have listed the Firebird here on eBay in Houston, Texas. Bidding sits at $7,100, and although the auction action has been subdued, the listing statistics suggest that may change as the end draws near.
Pontiac offered Firebird buyers a range of options and packages for the 1968 model year. The first owner ordered this car with the Sprint package, which brought a few luxury touches and an upgraded engine under the hood. They selected Solar Red to cloak its exterior, teamed with a White vinyl top. The seller’s description is quite confusing, but it appears that this classic may have never undergone any form of restoration. They purchased the vehicle in 2003, and after embracing the build initially, the Firebird has spent the last decade under a cover in their garage. It hasn’t suffered unduly from the experience, but is undoubtedly a candidate for a cosmetic refresh. The paint looks respectable, but the vinyl is showing evidence of deterioration. There are a couple of dings and dents requiring attention, although the best news hides below the surface. The Texas climate is ideal for preserving classic steel, and this Pontiac demonstrates that via its rust-free status. Most of the trim is in good condition, and the glass is clear.
Ordering a 1968 Sprint brought a 250ci six to the party, although with upgrades to the camshaft, cylinder head, and carburetor, power and torque rose from 175hp and 245 ft/lbs in the “standard” 250 to 215hp and 255 ft/lbs in the Sprint. The first owner teamed the engine with a two-speed Powerglide and power steering. This is where things become slightly confused, with the seller indicating that they rebuilt the 250, but the original engine block had a crack that forced its replacement. Therefore, it is unclear whether it was that motor that was refreshed, or this one. The other unknown is whether it is a genuine “Sprint” version. The four-barrel carburetor isn’t original, and the Powerglide has made way for a four-speed 200-R4 unit. The last task they attempted was an unsuccessful four-wheel disc brake conversion before throwing the entire project in the “too-hard” basket. Therefore, this Firebird doesn’t run or drive. However, it isn’t all bad news, because the deal features a range of parts, including the original Powerglide and brakes. That would allow the winning bidder to perform a faithful restoration, if they so desired.
One highlight of this Firebird is its White-trimmed interior. The vinyl has avoided the worst of the stains and yellowing that often plagues this shade, and there is no appreciable wear. The dash and remaining trim look nice, with the car’s luxury leanings emphasized by the air conditioning, sports wheel, console, faux timber, and the AM radio. I believe that all it needs is a deep clean, making this potentially the easiest and cheapest aspect of this build for the buyer to tackle.
It will be fascinating to discover what most of our readers would do if they became the new owner of this 1968 Pontiac Firebird Sprint. It shows plenty of potential, regardless of which path they may choose to follow. It appears that virtually everything is there to perform a faithful restoration, and its lack of rust would make that a fairly straightforward undertaking. However, some may find the lure of a V8 irresistible, and there are plenty of available options if that is the case. So, what would you do once this Firebird found its way into your garage?
Nice little car, but if anyone knows a thing or two about Houston, it ain’t rust-free.
Having lived in Houston for almost 40 years I can tell you rust isn’t the only thing you have to be wary of. Thousands of cars drown during and after most hurricanes and are saddled with horrible rust and electrical issues. I’ve only gotten taken in one time (one year after Ike hit) but I don’t ever want to go through that again. Buyer beware.
Love the early Firebirds. But any vinyl top cars are scary. You never know what is under it. Seen way to many rust free cars that need a whole new roof.
Just for the record the 2 speed tranny used in BOP cars was an ST-300 or Super Turbine 300. Pontiac just called it a two speed automatic however, since it was sourced from Buick.
Lifted the reserve
I think an overhead cam, straight 6 with a 4 speed transmission would be fun to drive.
Bob any 6.. without a turbo ↩️
is better off w the manual 👍
A three-speed manual works almost as well! Baby brother’s ’69 Firebird Sprint Convertible had a “three-on-the-floor”, LOL! The base transmission for the Sprint package was the three-speed manual, a four-speed manual was optional. His car also had the “hood tach” that was an option at the time.
My cousins ‘66 GTO had a 3 speed floor shift
My first car was a 67 Sprint 6 with a 3-speed manual (floor shifted). Mine was red with black convertible top and interior. Fun car to drive (although mine had a 69 Sprint motor with a little more power than the 67 had). Would love another as most people underestimated how quick these cars really were. Maybe not fast but could hold its own and could handle really well. Great fun on twisty roads!
A friend in Connecticut had one and it was fun to drive. He took it to a body shop for a replant and when he didn’t hear that it was done he went over there to check on it. It was gone, the body shop and the car. He never saw it again.
There is a guy here in VT who has one that I see at a car show every once in a while. He built the six to slightly over 400 hp. (He displays the dyno sheet)
I always thought that the hot setup for the “DeLorean Six” would have been a triple deuce carb setup with a custom intake. My only minor issue with the design was that it wasn’t a cross-flow head design, which would have lent itself to a four-valve per cylinder upgrade. The natural heir to the DeLorean six-cylinder IMHO was the 4.2L LL8 “Atlas” I6 used in the 2002-09 Chevy Trailblazer and its corporate siblings, which has been “modded” to produce over 500 hp!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Motors_Atlas_engine#LL8
Here’s link to the article in Hot Rod magazine about modding an LL8 engine for more power! GRRR!
https://www.hotrod.com/how-to/ccrp-1108-turbocharged-vortec-inline-six
Baby brother’s ’69 Firebird Sprint Convertible was stolen from our college dorm parking lot in 1982! His was “Carousel Red”, a.k.a. “Hugger Orange” when it was applied to a Chevy Camaro, with a black top and black interior. This was when ’60’s muscle cars were at the bottom of the depreciation curve and had long since acquired “beater” status.
Robert, did your younger brother happen to go to Middle Tennessee State University in the 1980s? I used to admire what I thought was an orange-y 69 convertible in the parking lot there. Same description as you give. Somewhere I have several photos of it the few times I was carrying a camera to class. Better condition than a beater but probably not worth much then.
No, we were attending the University of Lowell, now UMass/Lowell at the time, where we both received B.S.E.E. degrees in 1984. Baby brother took the driveline out in the winter of 1980-81, where we had the engine and three-speed manual transmission rebuilt and swapped out the rear end with bad wheel bearings for one from a Chevy Camaro (bad mistake in hindsight). We replaced all of the springs and control arm bushings as well. Baby brother decided to study in London, England the summer of 1981, where he watched Charles and Di get hitched. As a coming home present, I drafted a friend to help put the car back together. We fired her up the day he came home from Europe just before school started in September, 1981. The boys from Midnight Auto Supply, home of the five-fingered discount, “liberated” it for their inventory in the spring of 1982, where we figure that it was stripped for parts, and the empty shell ended up in either the Merrimack River or one of the many canals in Greater Lowell, never to be seen again! It’s a real shame, because we were going to have the bad body repairs re-done properly as part of a restoration, but we never got the chance!
At the right price I would just power train swap it. And killl the vinyl top.
I with you halfway, I’d kill the vinyl top, but leave the OHC six in it. That four-barrel version of the OHC six was good for 230 hp out of 250 cubic inches, and lighter than a V8, for better handling (less understeer). The four-barrel carb can be replaced with a TBI injection setup (Holley Sniper or equivalent) and combined with electronic ignition, should be both cleaner and more fuel efficient than the carbureted version. For comparison, the 326/336 V8 (the base V8) was good for between 250 hp and 285 hp, depending on compression ratio and carburetor fitment, among other things.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontiac_V8_engine
Derek Beiri, of “Vice Grip Garage” and “Roadworthy Rescues” fame, did just that with a 1964 Tempest, and he retrofitted the four-barrel intake to a car with a one-barrel intake. The four-barrel manifolds for the OHC six are still available on the aftermarket.
I believe the OHC engine had 230 ci and not 250 ci .
PONTIAC OHC WAS 230 ci.
PONTIAC OHC WAS 230 ci.
PONTIAC OHC WAS 230 ci.
The Pontiac OHC 6 was 230 CID in 1966-67. 1968-69 was 250 CID.
Manual transmission cars were 230 hp for the 250 engine and 10.5:1 compression ratio, automatic transmission cars were slightly lower, at 215 hp. The one-barrel cars with 8.5:1 compression ratio were much lower power output. I don’t remember the exact numbers, but again, automatic transmission cars took a slight power hit.
Sorry 1968 it was increased to 250.
Sorry. 1968 was increased to250
Keep the 6 in it. I’d want to put a standard shift behind it.
Nice little car. Not a camero & not a v-8. Hopefully the steel under the vinyl is ok …
GLWTS.
I just saw the episode of “Roadworthy Rescues” with the Tempest rescue in it again, but I was wrong, it was a ’66 Tempest, not a ’64. My Bad.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22814018/?ref_=ttep_ep_3
Here’s a link to the supplier of the Clifford intake used on this episode:
https://cliffordperformance.net/store/ols/products/68pohc
The BPO ( Buick, Pontiac, Oldsmobile) 2 speed automatic transmissions were not Piwerglides. They did use some of the same parts. But we’re substantially beefier. (Can you imagine the life of a standard Powerglide behind a 389 in a GTO? I can’t!)
I love this car, and would (since it has already been modified) use a 250 OHC engine with a 4 bbl. Intake a Sniper injection and a 5 speed gear box to just have a fun driving car.
You’re not alone! Jay Leno did the same thing on his OHC Sprint Firebird on “Jay Leno’s Garage”! See Link Below.
https://youtu.be/S5gWSWH053Y?si=uTFQMqtJlPkNGteK