Once again our Barn Finds regular Michael has come through and referred this particular car to us. Located in Plymouth, Michigan and for sale here on Craigslist is this ’77 Firebird. Selling with a clear title, it is priced at $11,995 OBO.
By now most of you will be aware of my soft spot for Firebirds. Just because I like them doesn’t mean that I can’t be objective, as you will soon discover. I have to say that when I looked at this example the color really “popped” for me. According to the seller this car was dealer-ordered with a view to it being on showroom display to entice customers. That doesn’t surprise me, because the combination is certainly distinctive. The paint has a really nice gloss to it, and there doesn’t appear that there are any major issues with deterioration or corrosion.
The interior looks to be in good order. There doesn’t appear to be any major issues to speak of, and the interior color set against the exterior paintwork really does stand out. The seller states that everything in here works as it should. However, I suspect that the seats could become dirty quite easily. Given my passion for dirt-track speedway, this probably wouldn’t be a car that I’d take to the track on a Saturday night. Just the thought of it makes me shudder.
There is only one shot of the engine bay and it’s a bit blurry. The seller states that the car came fitted with the 350ci 4-barrel backed by an auto box. They state that it runs and drives perfectly with no leaks or drips. The car is also fitted with air con which is said to blow nice and cold.
The seller includes plenty of shots of the underside of the car. It reveals quite a bit of surface corrosion on different components, but no major rot. The corrosion on the rear valance which is hidden by the bumper is something that I’d be inclined to address fairly quickly before it becomes a bigger issue. I’m also intrigued by the state of the gas tank. That appears to be quite battered, as if the car has been “beached” on something.
When it comes to the underside it potentially reveals a car that’s far from perfect. I’m hoping that our Barn Finds readers will clarify something for me. We don’t see a lot of Firebirds Down Under, so the surface corrosion on this one has me curious. Is this a common sight under Firebirds in general, or is it something that only impacts them in certain climates? I’ll be interested to see what you have to say on it.
For those of us who like these, it would be all too easy to be blinded by the general appearance of this particular Firebird and its striking color combination. Digging deeper reveals some areas that I have already asked questions about. Looking across the internet indicates that the price on this car is at about the top end of average. For me that corrosion and damage on the underside raises questions that could potentially be a deal-breaker. How about you?
These cars will show surface rust on the underside if they were driven anywhere that has four seasons. Corrosion protection has come along way in 40 years both from automobile manufacturers and the aftermarket.
This car looks like it has actual surface rust, the type that can be knocked down with some 120 grit sandpaper or a wire wheel on the end of a drill. I wouldn’t be worried about it enough to prevent me from purchasing this car if I were so inclined. The dent in the gas tank isn’t concerning either, the damage appears to be isolated. As long as an inspection of the rest of the undercarriage doesn’t show hidden damage or cancerous rust I’d chalk it up to incidental damage accumulated due to use and age, it is after all 40+ years old.
This looks to be an honest car, Not the most exciting thing in the world, but it would serve as an inexpensive way to get into a car that would turn heads, in a good way.
Steve R
A 350 4 barrel? Now you’re talking! Forget about that Firebird powered 77 Ventura with the 301.
It appears to have the Oldsmobile 402… Even the 4 barrels only had about 175 HP…
I could be wrong but its not a Pontiac motor.
The damaged gas tank makes me suspicious ! For a car that looks that good on he top side why does the tank look like it’s been picked up by a forklift like in a junk yard ? I think there is more to the story on this car
That gas tank dents were from driving like James Rockford!
Lol. Good one !!
This car is in Michigan- in the snow belt where salt is used. The surface corrosion you see here is normal for a 5 year old car. For its age this car looks great!
Walking out of high school on the way to the DSR bus stop I came across a ’75 or ’76 firebird formula in these colors. The medium blue, white seats and black carpet was amazing. Absolutely stunning car. I still like that color combination almost 40yrs later. I lost interest in Firebirds as the 3rd generation is not my cup of tea but the colors make it very appealing
The car looks good topside because its been repainted Check out the blue overspray on the cowl under the windshield wipers on the open hood shot. That area would have been all black from the factory
The non Pontiac engine kills it for me.
From the picture provided, there seams to be a lack of over spray anywhere else.
From the picture provided, there seams to be a lack of over spray anywhere else. The lack of a Pontiac engine kills it for me.
Uh, I do believe that IS a Pontiac 350…Definitely not a SBC…
Appears to be an Olds 350 to me. Oil filler tube and the driver’s valve cover appears to have a peak.
What difference does that make? Olds, Pontiac, Chevy, it’s all GM. Not like they weren’t all morphed together by this point anyway…
The car must’ve been in much better condition at one point in time in order to win that trophy. Or possibly there wasn’t much competition. One way or the other it certainly wouldn’t do where well in any shows with the condition it’s in right now. The paint and interior look good but past that it certainly needs some work.
I’m shocked the CONSOLE is white – never seen that before!
Shouldn’t it be the same color as the dash – blue?
I guess back then with a white interior you could specify dash color?
I wonder what color the console would be if you got a black dash, in ’77.
I’ve NEVER seen a white console in a ’70-81 t/a or formula.
I think this car needs close scrutiny before buying it ! It is nice looking though
Very nice. I’m more of a fan of the 3rd and 4th generation Firebird and Trans Am but this 2nd generation is very nice. Very clean. Great color too.
I much prefer this clean look to the Trans Am with all the add ons.
It looks so clean.
It could be that the car was on a lift, then lowered while something was still underneath, perhaps a tire, which dented the tank.
Maybe at some point in its life it was towed from the rear with a sling instead of a lift and the meat hook wasn’t set properly. Although that usually grabs the gas tank and opens it up. Nice car though, colors really pop
I love the clean look of the base and Esprit ‘birds (and that’s Esprit, in French, not Spirit, in EN, or Espirit, as per the article’s title ;) )
The real question is: Would you go to Plymouth to buy a Pontiac?
Sharp car, but I guess no one else noticed the piece of rubber hose and worm clamps in the steel line? I believe that that is the fuel line… Me no likey…
Poor James Garner aka Rockford. The bad guys sure liked to beat the snot of him, but hey, he had good taste in cars!
Console was painted. All you need to do is ask, he said he thinks it was before he bought it. Car looks good, but knowing someone painted the console to make it look good, what else was “dressed up” just to sell the car.
I recently sold a 77 Camaro. White exterior red interior. I bought it from the original owner four years ago. The lady only put 59,000 miles on the car. She had it stored in her garage and had not driven it much over the last eighteen years she had it. I had to go through the car and replace all the rubber to include the fuel lines. AC needed work and fuel pump needed replacing and alternator needed replacing. A 40 plus year old car is a 40 plus year old car and will need work. I paid $2000.00 for the car spent about $1,500.00 on the car and sold it for $4,500 00. Having said that I think everything I own is worth twice as much as it really is and everything you own is worth half as much as it really is. This Firebird is a $5,000.00 car
I’m the guy who bought unusually colored Esprit. After spotting it on here in mid-August, I called the seller and made plans to drive the 2 1/2 hours north to Detroit to see it. Upon arrival I learned it had 52,100 original miles, was a rust-free California car, and that it had won a 1st place trophy at the 2017 Trans Am Nationals in Dayton. The seller and I negotiated the price down to $10,500, and “Flo” was mine (the seller knew the first owner’s name was Flo, but didn’t have any paperwork verifying this). I contacted a retired cop friend of mine in CA and gave him the VIN, and 2 days later I had the original owner’s name and address…and yes, her name was Flo. I learned the car had last been registered in CA in 2005. I wrote Flo a brief letter and enclosed pictures of her car, and a week later I received a phone call from her. She bought it from Valley Pontiac in N. Hollywood when she was 34, kept it pristine and the miles low, and reluctantly sold it in 2014 due to health reasons. She sent me the original warranty booklet and some other papers, as well as the car’s blue CA license plates and dealership license plate frames (I sent her $100 in gratitude). The Olds 350 4-barrel is original and has plenty of power…the car drives like new. The color and interior are extremely rare, and it is a real eye-catcher. I’m extremely happy with my purchase!
What an awesome story, Alex — we’re so glad when a reader purchases a car and is happy! Be sure and post some pictures of you and the car!