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Solid Project: 1968 Pontiac Firebird

As a car to buy and restore at your leisure, this 1968 Pontiac Firebird looks like a pretty good proposition. There is no reason why you couldn’t buy it and enjoy it as it currently stands, and then take on the restoration as time and finances permit. Barn Finder Ikey H spotted this beauty for us, so thank you for that Ikey. Located in Castle Rock, Colorado, you will find the frisky Firebird listed for sale here on Craigslist. The owner has set a price of $12,800 for the car, although it looks like there might just be a little room to haggle on it.

The owner says that the Firebird has spent its life around Pueblo, and this has resulted in a car that is nice and solid. The floors, frame, and trunk are all great, and there is only a minimal amount of rust around the rear wheel arches that will need to be attended to at some point. There is also the ding that you can see at the top of the quarter panel to address, but the car does appear to be as tight as a drum. The doors are said to open and close very nicely, which is always a pretty good sign on a Firebird of this vintage. The paint does look tired, but the original vinyl top has survived really well.

Numbers-matching classics are always nice to find, and the Firebird is no exception. That is the original 350ci 2bbl V8 under the hood, which is backed by the original 2-speed automatic transmission. The Firebird has recently been treated to a fair list of work, including fitting new shocks, new rear leaf springs, new tires, a new battery, and new belts. The owner says that the car starts and runs perfectly, but he does suggest that it might need the valves adjusted, as there does seem to be a bit of a tick from them. That’s something that I’d probably want to check to ensure that there is nothing more sinister going on there.

The interior of the Firebird is also a source of some pretty good news. The seats and door trims look to be in good condition, as does the original floor console. The owner also says that the headliner is close to perfect, and while the carpet looks pretty tatty, the owner is including a complete new carpet set with the car. We can’t see the condition of the dash or pad, but what we can see looks to be really good.

For someone on the lookout for a pony car project, this Firebird looks like it could be a good one. There is some work to be done, but at least the new owner is not going to be faced with the daunting prospect of wholesale replacement of rusty metal-work. It is the sort of car that can be driven and enjoyed as it stands now, and if the owner is negotiable on the price, this could well be a great project to take on.

Comments

  1. Avatar Robert Sabatini

    A true classic!

    Like 7
  2. Avatar ccrvtt

    Greatest front bumper of all time!

    Like 8
  3. Avatar Fred W

    I’d be wary of what’s under the top, but otherwise, an incredible find!

    Like 2
  4. Avatar Andy

    The first generation Firebirds are such beautiful cars.

    Like 7
  5. Avatar 71FXSuperGlide

    I remember when these and the small block 2bbl Camaros/Chevelles/Mustangs, etc. were simply a $500 car, sitting on someone’s lawn with a handmade ‘for sale’ sign.

    Wow, am I getting old. LOL.

    Like 10
    • Avatar Steve R

      I remember that too, the problem is, some people still think the value hasn’t risen since the mid-80’s.

      Steve R

      Like 4
      • Avatar 71FXSuperGlide

        Or they’ve risen exponentially, as yesterday’s listing of the water logged ’67 Camaro for $20K indicates.

        Supply and demand, I guess.

        Like 2
  6. Avatar PRA4SNW

    Are those the original seats? I didn’t think many cars came with high back buckets back in ’68.

    Also, what is a “nice pretty clean new title”?
    And if you want pics of the undercarriage, you’re out of luck.

    Like 2
    • Avatar boxdin

      1968 was the first year head restraints were required in all passenger cars.

      Like 0
    • Avatar redwagon

      Those are the original seats and that is a deluxe interior, nicer seat pattern, nicer door cards, nicer glove box trim etc. I have never seen a ’68 Firebird with head rests if they came from the factory that way they were a rare option. This car has bucket seats with no head rests, and no the seat backs are not tall enough to support or stop your head in an accident. I owned a ’68 back in the day with this same interior.

      Like 2
  7. Avatar Tom Member

    71FXSuperGlide, If you don’t mind, I am going to replace your Supply and Demand with Greed and Stupidity respectively.

    Like 3
  8. Avatar Tom Member

    Looks solid. Don’t like the “I don’t send more pics” comment. I AGREE with what he is saying that sending more pics never sold the car….BUT IF that is your belief…..post the right pictures in the first place. 1 interior shot that is bad at best? No undercarriage shots, come on man.?

    Maybe the photos you send when asked for more ……well maybe what they revealed is what DIDN’T sell the car. Showing people what YOU want them to see versus sending a THOROUGH set of pics is determines selling the car or not.

    I am a huge GEN 1 fan. I had a 67 400 Convertible and 2 69’s. Also a 67 RS SS Camaro.

    I think the seats are right. I think it has the deluxe interior. It has the exterior optional chrome trim package. Power Steering and Power Brakes. Not sure I see any options beyond those.

    Sad truth again, the guy who owns this car should restore it to make his money. You can buy one of these DONE for FAR LESS than it is going to take to get this one back to #1 or #2 condition. Sad but true. This car is for the person who wants to build their own BUT this car AGAIN, although “everything is there” it still “needs everything”. Only thing it seems to have going for it (maybe) is it is fairly solid which means a lot. Again, Done you will have $60K in refinishing, repainting, replacing, rebuilding, rechroming and restoring plus the $12K to buy if for a NON 400 car that you can buy DONE TODAY and go to the local cruise night for half the money.

    I know I am a broken record but here goes, put it away and bring it back out while having accumulated the needed restoration parts and sell it then for the right money. 20 years from now then interest level will probably be much lower due to aging guys like me and millennials not caring. Only the kids of guys my age (53 and expand to 35-65)) may care 20 years from now and have the money to do restore it. accumulate the parts with the car and make the sale easy and basically a labor project at that point.

    Like 8
  9. Avatar ctmphrs

    There is always somebody to tell the seller what they should do different from what they are doing.

    Like 5
    • Avatar Tom Member

      ctmphrs, really not sure how to take that one? I assume negative.

      I learned a long time ago that “I don’t know what I don’t know” and it is nobody’s fault just a fact. I like BarnFinds because, even as an industry expert, I learn A LOT here. I find that “Learning the hard way” is no fun and most people appreciate good advice so they don’t have to say “gee I wish I would have known THAT before I made the purchase!”

      I have been buying, restoring, selling and detailing classic/muscle cars for 35 years. My education and corporate experience are all in high level sales and marketing. I own my own company in the automotive industry so I HOPE to provide some value to others on this site AS SO MANY have shared their expertise and experience from which I have learned quite a lot.

      Like 11
  10. Avatar boxdin

    I would start w a new dynacorn body.

    Like 1
    • Avatar GP Member

      boxdin, Do you sell dynacorn body’s? This car does not have enough rust or dents to worry about. Here in Wisconsin, This is a dream car to work on.

      Like 4
      • Avatar boxdin

        No I don’t sell them, but with what car initially costs and then thousands in body work as I age it appeals to me to start with something they say is better and ready to paint & assemble. I probably could do it without using any GM parts coz so much is made for these cars.

        Like 2
      • Avatar redwagon

        Agreed. This is the nicest 1st generation Firebird I have seen in a long, long time. I dont like the vinyl roof and I am tired of red (and especially Verdano Green) on these cars but it is hard to argue with the apparent lack of rust in all the typical places.

        What I really appreciate is that the seller has not tried to make it something it isn’t, i.e. a 400 or Sprint clone. It probably has the base 350. So what?

        Like 2
  11. Avatar Johnmloghry

    Nice restorable car. I once owned a 69 Firebird 400, I loved that car. It was yellow with black vinyl top and American racing wheels. Although it had the turbo 400 transmission it was a blast to drive. It was equipped with a/c, p/s, p/b nice fake wood trim inside. The car was fast, maybe not for drag strip compitition but for street it moved like a scalded cat. Now I agree it’s less expensive to buy one already restored than it is to restore one, yet you miss the personal touch and satisfaction of doing your way. Best to all

    Like 6
  12. Avatar NWTom

    Just what I always wanted……..a Firebird with a dirty white vinyl top. Yeah, right

    Like 0
  13. Avatar Randy

    This is a very clean & Solid candidate for a relatively easy build. As someone who has built tons of cars for myself & others over the last 35 years, You would only have $50-60k tied up in this car if you pay someone else to do all the work. That is an inflated cost. Do the work yourself & have fun doing it, even if you spend $2k on a rotisserie & go that far. The parts aren’t that expensive & you can do it in stages.These cars are fun drivers & sometimes that’s all someone wants. It’s not always “how much can I screw the next buyer out of”…Boosting the market/prices only hurts the guys who want to get into a cool project to drive & enjoy without going broke. I agree with a Wisconsin comment on here. I’m in Maryland & I guarantee you would not find a car this solid out here. This would be a dream project to jump on.

    Like 0

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