The 1977 Pontiac Firebird Esprit Skybird was an example of an automobile manufacturer responding to market trends. The company recognized that 30% of their Firebird sales were to female buyers. They sought to capture a larger percentage by producing what became known as the “color bird” special editions to appeal to that demographic. This ’77 Skybird was one such car and features the model’s unique paint and graphics. Actual production numbers are vague, but it is believed that around 4,000 of these cars rolled off the production line in 1977. Our feature car is an original survivor, and the owner claims it has a genuine 89,000 miles on the clock. It desperately needs restoration, but the owner indicates it is structurally sound and mechanically healthy. Located in San Diego, California, you will find the Skybird listed for sale here on Craigslist. The owner has set a sale price of $10,500, and I have to say a big thank you to Barn Finder Pat L for spotting this classic for us.

Based on the Firebird Esprit, the Skybird brought a unique combination of paint color and graphics. Gracing its panels is Lombard Blue, with contrasting stripes and a unique Skybird decal on each rear pillar. The package also included Lombard Blue highlights on the alloy wheels. There’s no doubt that our feature car looks tired, and would benefit from a repaint. The graphics also show the effect of exposure to UV rays, but a replacement kit is available for under $200. The panels are straight, with no appreciable dents or marks. My most significant concern revolves around the subject of rust. The owner refers to it as surface rust, but some appears to have penetrated the steel. It is particularly obvious on the hood, around the lower back window, and on the passenger side’s lower rear quarter panels and fender top. That is quite surprising considering the car appears to have spent its life in California. That raises the question of whether areas like the floor, trunk pan, and lower rear valance have also been impacted. This is a case where I believe an in-person inspection is warranted. Replacement steel is available for all of these areas, but it comes down to whether it is financially viable to perform the work in a case like this.

The owner supplies no engine photos but reveals that the engine bay houses Pontiac’s 350ci V8 that should produce 170hp. It is backed by a THM 350 automatic transmission, while the car also features power steering and power brakes. The combination doesn’t make the Firebird a ball of lightning, allowing it to cover the ¼ mile in 18 seconds. However, there seems to be plenty of good news with this classic. It is a numbers-matching vehicle and is in sound mechanical health. The owner has recently installed a new fuel tank and carburetor, along with plugs, points, and oil. The smog system is new, and the car has a current California Smog Check. He says that it has 89,000 genuine miles on the clock but doesn’t mention whether he holds verifying evidence. The car runs and drives well and appears to be a turnkey proposition for its new owner.

The Skybird package added $391 to the sticker price of a ’77 Firebird, although choosing cloth seat upholstery raised that figure to $418. Our feature car’s interior appears serviceable, but it also looks generally tired. There is wear on the outer edge of the driver’s seat and severe wear on the carpet. The dash and console look respectable, as do the upper sections of the door trims. The lower plastic on the doors is discolored, and the wheel doesn’t look right. The 1977 Skybird usually featured a blue Formula steering wheel, so I wonder whether this one has been changed at some point. The woodgrain on the dash shows no evidence of fading or lifting, and the original radio has made way for an aftermarket radio/cassette player. This Firebird features a tilt wheel, ice-cold air conditioning, and power windows.

Around the time that this 1977 Pontiac Firebird Skybird rolled off the production line, the company’s record-keeping was not at its best. That means that confirming actual production numbers for the Skybird is difficult because they were generally built in batches at various times during that model year. The figure of 4,000 cars seems to be consistent across several online resources, making this a relatively rare beast. My concern is that the owner refers to its rust problems as surface corrosion, but there’s evidence of penetrating rust. My other concern with this car revolves around its price. While the Skybird is relatively rare, it doesn’t command a huge premium in the current market. When they do appear, spotless examples don’t sell for much more than around $25,000. Given the required work with this one, I wonder whether the price may be too high. What do you think?