In terms of production numbers, the 1972 Pontiac Firebird is a bit of a rarity when compared to the model that preceded it or came after, as a UAW strike ended production early with just under 30,000 Firebirds hitting the streets. The prior car saw over 53,000 rolling off the assembly line followed by more than 46,000 in 1973, so the ’72s are more scarce if you’ve been looking for an F-Body from this time period. This 1972 Pontiac Firebird here on eBay is a roller and might make a good project if you happen to have a spare engine and transmission in your garage. It’s located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, with bidding currently sitting at $5,100.
The seller doesn’t tell us what motor this one originally came equipped with, but fortunately, he does provide a VIN which indicates a 350 V8 with a 2-barrel and single exhaust, so if your plans are to put everything back to stock specs that’s what you’ll need to be on the lookout for. But he also throws out the idea of adding something more potent under the hood such as an LS, and since this one will never again be a numbers-matching car again it seems like an ideal candidate for a heftier powerplant.
We don’t get very much background about the Firebird, other than one mention that it spent a period of time in California at some point, but the seller assures us the body is solid and at a good point to begin your restoration. He mentions some dents and dings in the sheet metal along with several paint imperfections, plus this one was a factory vinyl top car which resulted in some rust around the rear window before it was taken off. The exterior definitely shows patina, which looks especially cool on the hood, but with the fabric removed and primer on top, I’m thinking a respray is the way to go here rather than leaving the aged finish outside.
A lot of the interior components have been removed, but it’s a plus that we get to view the floor, which appears to be really good just as the seller states. He also provides some decent shots from down below, which appear to show a solid foundation underneath as well, so it doesn’t appear that corrosion is an issue here. This one seems receptive to doing just about anything the next owner chooses, whether that’s cloning it into a Trans Am or restoring it back to the Firebird Sport Coupe it was born as. What would you do here?
Actually, you’re right-this is one of those cases when someone hollers “SBC!” it’s appropriate, and change it to a manual (5 or 6 speed.
Fix the rust at the back window and make this a great restomod-without the silly 22 inch rims, of course…
Always liked the styling on the Firebirds of this era.
A smorgasbord of potential lies here. I would locate and build a strong Pontiac 400, locate a 6 speed and stick it, strip that paint (no vinyl top) Add black interior and one of those beautiful dual snorkel Formula hoods with built in tach and respray this baby in orange.
I totally agree on the Formula hood. They are incredibly cool. For the engine I’d probably stick with a Poncho, like you say, but it depends on how pricy that would be.
Formula hood with a built-in tach? Only the gen 1 Firebirds had an optional hood tach. The one on that Carousel Red car just looks super awkward, in my opinion anyway. It sits way too far to the rear, mounted right over the hood vents. The AMC Rebel Machine is probably the only car that was designed for a hood tach, it was part of the hood scoop. Pontiacs first offered the hood tach’s in 1967, and they were taller than the 68 and above models. In addition to the missing engine/trans, apparently the entire interior is junk, they didn’t even include a photo of what was left. The entire HVAC system is also missing. But… on the positive side, it certainly appears to be a super solid body and has potential. Nice builder.
Your last sentence was kinda my point, just stating what I would do. And you can get this hood with the tach in the correct position. To each his own!
Probably did not want to drill holes into the hood.
The red ’69 GTO magazine ads show a red hood tach – looks great with it mounted next to the scoops.
That’s carousel red the Judge came in not orange
Keep the Plain Jane exterior and max out the performance underneath. Don’t I sound like a 6th grader?
Towards 19sixty5, if you go to the ebay listing , there are extensive photos. My impression is this pretty intact specimen was once a really well intact, really good shape car, ready for restoration, but instead, was turned into a donor car. I’m sure the decision made sense to the Owner anyway. This is a great unibody, for anyone who has a rotted out body but with everything else in good shape. It really looks like a desert car would look. Notice the datestamp on the Glovebox Frame. Looks like Nov. ’71. And it looks like 20mph mud splat on the right side fenders.., not bad for a car with no power train!
I agree, a great builder or re-body another. I did scour the detailed photos, and was impressed with what I saw.
Keep it all Pontiac because there are too many cobbled up cars already.
As much as i like the keep it stock motto , the new stuff is simply better
LS engine with multi speed auto or stick
Injected is simply better
This is the perfect candidate , i love firebirds but if it has a roof , its not for me …