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Parked Since 1987: 1968 Pontiac Firebird

This poor old 1968 Pontiac Firebird is a forlorn looking sight, but there is some hope that it could have new life breathed into it. There’s rust aplenty, so the next owner will have some work ahead of them. However, with bidding still sitting at a low level, maybe it can be a cheap starting point for someone. Located in Spring Hill, Florida, you will find the Firebird listed for sale here on eBay. At the time of writing, bidding is sitting at $1,225.

The owner points out the positive aspects of the car, which include the fact that the frame and trunk floor are solid. The rest of the floors are pretty bad, and all will need to be replaced. There is also rust around the rear window, in the cowl, the fenders, and the bottom corners of the passenger door. What is interesting is the fact that for all of this destruction, the quarter panels and rockers appear to be surprisingly good.

The interior hasn’t been spared the destruction that has been inflicted upon the rest of the car. Apparently, the windows were left open which allowed plenty of moisture into the car. On its way to causing havoc with the floors, it decided to do the same to the seats. On a positive note, the dash appears to be complete and unmodified, while the floor console looks like it might be able to be restored. The rest of the upholstery will probably find a new home in the nearest skip.

Under the hood of the Firebird resides the 250ci straight-six engine, which is backed by an automatic transmission. The owner uses one of our all-time favorite lines by telling us that the car ran when parked. Now, that was 1987, so it was a little while back. There isn’t any indication as to whether the engine even turns freely, and I suspect that this may not be an issue for the next owner. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if that six made way for a V8 during the car’s rebuild. Of course, if it is a numbers-matching car, there’s also the possibility that someone might want to restore it to original.

For anyone who is motivated by hard work, this 1968 Firebird should definitely get you up and going. To revive it is going to require plenty of work, so I’ll be interested to know whether any of our readers would be willing to take it on.

Comments

  1. Avatar CapNemo

    The upholstery will find a home WHERE??

    Like 7
    • Avatar Garry

      Skip. English (Aussie?) for dumpster.

      Like 6
      • Avatar SteVen

        Yep. Not even a rag and bone man would want that interior. :-)
        Cheers!

        Like 2
  2. Avatar Steve R

    This sat for so long in moist/damp conditions that it’s become a parts car. It would be wiser to wait until a better body comes along and use that as the project.

    Steve R

    Like 10
  3. Avatar redwagon

    Parked since 1987. Wait……

    Parked outside since 1987. There FTFY.

    I had one of these back in the day and I got it when it was 11 years old. Had been driven in Michigan winters so it did not look too good even when I got it. This one looks worse. Personally, I think it’s a parts car.

    Like 4
  4. Avatar Boatman Member

    What is a “skip”, Adam? Remember that most of us reside in the good ol’ US of A!

    Like 2
    • Avatar Garry

      Skip. English (Aussie?) for dumpster.

      Like 5
  5. Avatar Shawn Fox Firth

    Flood car .

    Like 4
  6. Avatar Dragger non grasser

    It’s always good to sell the grass killer lawn car after one is tired of moving it around the yard for years.

    Someone bring it back to life ….

    Nice resto mod potential .

    Toss the interior and put new buckets and a roll bar and top a “Jegs” 1300 motor I. It and drag city baby ..

    Like 0
    • Avatar Steve R

      Around here entry level, turn key bracket cars can be found for around $10,000, often less. Grudge night or T&T bombers, are even cheaper. It makes no sense to drag something like this home and build it for racing.

      Steve R

      Like 3
  7. Avatar Sandy Claws

    If this was in better shape, I would like to see it restored with the six. As with Barracudas, how many original sixes are left? As I have said before here, if I ever hit the lotto, I am going to restore a lot of basic cars like this because one, no one else seems to want to, and two, If I had millions of disposable income, market value would be secondary to me. Question, if this engine is original, wouldn’t it be an OHC six?

    Like 3
  8. Avatar TimM

    The fire birds were a little more powerful than the Camaro but this one looks driven hard and put away wet!!! Really wet!!!

    Like 2
  9. Avatar Camaro Joe

    If the motor is original, it would be the OHC six. My info says there was a four barrel, 10.5:1 compression motor rated at 215 HP and a one barrel, 9:1 compression motor rated at 175 HP.

    I knew a couple of guys who had the four barrel motor with a 4 speed. They ran pretty good for what they were.

    Like 6
    • Avatar Christopher W Muse

      Wasn’t 4.2 Six with the 4 barrel called a sprint engine?

      Like 4
    • Avatar Ted

      The car would have had a 230 cu. in. OHC engine, not a 250 Chevy six, as its original engine. That bit of originality is gone, sadly. Pontiac was ahead of its time with OHC sixes.

      Like 1
    • Avatar 38ChevyCoupeGuy

      Steve R,just wondering where your location is with the bracket cars in that price range? I have no intention of sounding like a smart-ass, just very interested in looking into some of your local ads for said cars.Thank you

      Like 0
  10. bobhess bobhess Member

    I’d bet an underside shot would reduce the price drastically.

    Like 1
  11. Avatar mjf

    Fred Flintstone would like this car…

    Like 2
  12. Avatar Robert J Demarco

    If this vehicle was a convertible it might have a chance. Should have junked it when the scrap price was $14 a hundred pounds.

    Like 1
  13. Avatar Alexander Member

    Absolutely/maybe/partial flood car? But even if I’m wrong, the soft seal parts on the Camaros and Firebirds of this period were notorious for not sealing well even when new. Hence rotted floors and door bottoms. Trunk lid looks a little crispy! Don’t believe a 250 straight 6 came from the factory. The ubiquitous stovebolt made its first appearance in Firebirds of the second generation. Dad had a 1971 with a straight 6. He also had one of these with the OHC Sprint engine…made him a Pontiac fan for life.

    Like 1
  14. Avatar Jcinvt

    OHC. 6 was part of sprint option,If writer was aware of cars not just writing about listing they would be aware of this

    Like 2
    • Avatar Glen Riddle

      Actually, the OHC six was the standard engine in the Firebird. The Sprint engine was the 4-bbl version.

      Regardless, I think your criticism of the writer is unwarranted. They write up posts on a vast variety of cars. Expecting them to be experts on the Pontiac OHC six equipped Firebirds, a pretty tiny niche even among Firebird aficionados, seems unreasonable to me.

      Like 8
  15. Avatar Chris M.

    Agreed. It’s not an easy task for anyone to possess all encompassing knowledge. I doubt big Jcinvt could answer all the questions on some subjects.

    Like 3
  16. Avatar v

    did you say hard work or yard work. the car looks like a flood car. sometimes all is lost and this one is close. ive had cars like this. dont dare put the front of the car on a tow truck dolly. i don’t think the roof of the car could take the stress. maybe add some miracle grow and some tomatoe plants on the seat. lots of iron in the plants. unfortunately there are few i would say could restore this one.ok taking bets.why can 2 cars be exposed to the same elements 1 survives the other is toast. whats up with that.

    Like 1
  17. Avatar Johnmloghry

    Wow! Sure do hate to see one of these cars scrapped, but it would take a bunch of money to put this one back on the road. You could probably sell the engine and transmission for the cost of this machine. I owned a 69 Firebird 400, it is my favorite all time car, and I’ve owned a bunch. I can only handle having one at a time and my current is 64 Buick Riviera. Next time( if there is a next time) I’m going with a 66 Buick Skylark convertible. That’s the one that got away for me. But Firebirds are right there with those Buicks in my estimation.
    God bless America

    Like 1
  18. Avatar George mattar

    Do any of you so called Barn Find writers have a clue what body work costs? I would say NO. This pile of crap is useless. Aftermarket parts do not fit. More money than brains to the fool who tries to save it.

    Like 1
    • Avatar Tom Member

      Thank you! I have been saying that for a long time.

      I am a huge 1st gem Firebird fan having owned and restored many. It is very hard to call the “time of death” on cars you love but there comes a time when you need to pull the plug!

      Because this bird is a base model nothing car it would take 3 to 4 times, maybe more, what it is worth in #1 condition to restore it. Making it a clone 400 would not even help much.

      Like 0
  19. Avatar Glen Riddle

    Now relisted and now with the VIN. The VIN indicates this was originally a V8 car.

    Like 1

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