If you are searching for a project candidate that will stand out once restored, this 1968 Pontiac Firebird could be an ideal candidate. Its engine bay houses the original 400ci “HO” V8, ensuring impressive performance. However, the first owner’s decision to order this classic with a bench seat will be a talking point at any Cars & Coffee. It will require a lot of work before that day arrives because it has significant rust issues. That being said, the intense interest the Firebird has generated suggests plenty of people find this classic genuinely interesting. The seller has listed the Pontiac project here on eBay in Everest, Kansas. The current high bid of $4,250 is below the reserve, though there is a BIN option of $13,100.
After its successful 1967 introduction, Pontiac performed a few notable updates to the First Generation Firebird in 1968. Some were to comply with legislative requirements, while the elimination of the front vent windows coincided with the introduction of Astro Ventilation. The first owner ordered this Firebird in Solar Red, and the tired paint is the least of its problems. The exterior rust appears confined to a couple of small areas in the lower rear quarter panels, with the rockers, doors, cowl, and trunk drop-offs rock-solid. However, the situation deteriorates when we delve below the surface. The floors and trunk pan have the consistency of Swiss cheese and are well beyond the point where patches will eliminate the problems. Therefore, stripping the car to the last nut and bolt would be the only way to guarantee that this classic is rust-free before the new owner grabs their spray gun. The exterior trim may be acceptable once polished, and the glass looks okay. The steel wheels and dog dish hubcaps give this Firebird a sleeper look.
The interior is where this Firebird really stands out. Trimmed in Black vinyl, the first owner ordered the car with a Strato bench front seat. What makes it particularly unusual is that buyers traditionally combined the bench with a column shift, but this Firebird features a stick. As with the exterior and sheetmetal, the interior requires an enormous amount of TLC to return to its former glory. The only missing component is the radio, so the foundations are in place for the buyer to restore it using one of the many available interior trim kits.
I described this Firebird as a sleeper, and one look at its mechanical specifications confirms this. The first owner ticked the boxes beside the 400ci “HO” V8, four-speed manual transmission, and a 3.36 Safe-T-Track rear end. Motors like the “HO” blurred the line between traditional pony and muscle cars, placing 335hp and 430 ft/lbs of torque at the driver’s disposal. No matter how you cut it, this Firebird would have been a genuinely fast car in its prime. The good news for serious collectors is that the seller has confirmed that the Pontiac is numbers-matching. However, it hasn’t run for many years, and the seller states that they wouldn’t be surprised if the V8 is locked. It may require a big dose of Mystery Oil before the new owner contemplates a complete mechanical rebuild. That adds further to the restoration budget, but should be worthwhile once the work is completed.
The person brave enough to tackle the restoration of this 1968 Pontiac Firebird 400 will need to be dedicated, because it requires nothing less than a nut-and-bolt approach. Some enthusiasts will find the prospect daunting, but with Listing View and Watch List tallies of 534 and 42, respectively (at the time of writing), the indications are that plenty of people are willing to roll up their sleeves and give it a red-hot go. It has already attracted 16 bids, and that number will almost certainly climb in the final hours. Would you consider joining the party, or would tackling the restoration be biting off more than you can chew?
I would buy this car just for the rare bench seat and be the envy of everyone.
That was funny, thank you!
A column shift 4 speed?
Shameful
Dang shame
They want how much for this?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/278300454300?mkcid=1&mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&siteid=0&campid=5336858830&customid=948375&toolid=10001&mkevt=1 $13,100.00
A Divorce on wheels .
Ad script: RARE ,,, PONTIAC PHS DOCUMENTED ******1968 400HO 4 SPEED, POSI , BENCH SEAT DOG DISH SLEEPER **** , ( ONE OF APPROX 1000 400HO 4 SPEED HARDTOPS)
***** THIS IS A FACTORY BENCH SEAT 4 SPEED CAR ( ONE OF HANDFULL -…. APPROX 1-2% WERE BENCH SEAT CARS AND MOST ALL THOSE ARE AUTO ON COLUMN CARS FOR SURE ….SO YOU DO THE MATH ON A 400HO 4 SPEED BENCH …VERY EASILY COULD BE 1 OF 1 …..DARN SURE NOT MORE THAN 20-30 MADE.
******I CAN WORK WITH YOUR TRANSPORT (CLEAN TITLE & I HAVE 100% POSITIVE FEEDBACK)
PHS DOCUMENTED *****VIN MATCHING BLOCK, ORIGIN TRANS AND REAR
MINIMUM OPTIONS (400HO, 4 SPEED, BENCH SEAT ,POSI, DOG DISH CAR..MANUAL DISC (THATS ABOUT IT !!!)
SLEEPER .
THIS CAR NEEDS COMPLETE RESTO…….YES ITS A SUPER HARD TO FIND CAR THATS ALL NUMBERS 400 HO…EVEN THE “ENGINE UNIT NUMBER ON THE BLCOK IS EACT OLONG WITH VIN, AND CODE!!!
Engine is born with and even has original long branch headers on it,,,been sitting so assuming its locked up, but pulled valve cover to see if rusty…looks good
CAR NEED COMPLETE FLOOR PANS AND TRUNK, BUT ALOT OF GOOD METAL, QUARTERS HAS SOME RUST AROUND LIPS BUT INNER AND OUTTER WHHEL WELLS GOOD, ROCKERS GOOD, DOORS GOOD ETC. !!! Hood has rust and hood pins)
QUESTIONS (message me for my info ) AS THIS IS A SPECIAL CAR AND WANT IT TO GO TO SOMEONE WHO REALIZES THIS
$500 NON REFUNDABLE DUE WITHIN 48 HRS
Kansas residence will pay 7.5% sales tax
might be rare but it will cost at least 60k to bring it back from the dead. good luck you’re going to need it.
My first car was a ‘68 Firebird, OHC-6 ragtop, and in the ensuing Fifty Three Years I’ve never seen one with a bench seat…
I think someone will take a shot at restoring this car.
It’s unique, not because of the bench seat, that’s the shiny object sitting to the side distracting from the cars real attraction. The Firebird was typically an upscale purchase, to find one with a 400HO, 4spd, safety trac, dog dish hubcaps and little else would have been rare when new. It deserves attention for that reason alone.
Steve R
What was the difference between 400 Ho to the 400 Hoc
The 400HO has a bit hotter cam, free flowing exhaust manifolds and a recalibrated Rochester.
Steve R
Well, this is a first for me – a bench seat Firebird! In the last several years, I have seen a bench seat Mustang (actually two of them!), a bench seat Camaro, and now a Firebird. It’s just such an odd sight to see, but obviously there was a market for them. It is a cool car, with the combination of the 400 HO and the bench seat AND a 4 speed!
Bet this held its own on the streets 🚥 back in the day. 🏁
While I really like the 67 to 69 Chevrolet Camaro I’ve always preferred these because they are not as common. It would be a very enjoyable car restored to daily driver condition. Show car restoration cars are beautiful but seldom driven. I like something that looks good but not so good that you’re hesitant to drive or worse, a trailer queen. Artwork but Artwork is rarely driven, just its beauty admired.
Wow that thing was beaten to death. I can faintly hear the valves tapping and smell the blue smoke when it took it’s last breath.
At what is it not considered restoring when you have to replace 90% of the car? I get the passion behind a project, i do, but there’s nothing here worth saving.
Interesting firebird , but needs a lot of work .
I’ve never seen a first gen Firebird with a bench seat. I bet you’ll play hell trying to find replacement vinyl.
Sold on 8/27/2026 for a high bid of $10,178, there were 35 bids from 18 bidders.
Steve R