I’m always happy to find a first-gen Pontiac Firebird (’67-’69) such as this 1969 edition. Let’s face it, we have featured first-gen Chevrolet Camaros (also ’67-’69) out the wazoo, so it’s nice to get a little divergence. Now, don’t get me wrong, those ’67-’69 Camaros are my favorite; it just seems that there are more in existence now than there were when new. Anyway, back to the case at hand, this Firebird is a project and not without some obvious needs, but it appears to possess some decent potential. Cromwell, Connecticut is where you’ll find this Poncho, and it’s listed here on eBay for a BIN price of $6,500.
As of the 2010 model year, we no longer have Pontiac. OK, so I’m not telling you anything that you don’t already know, but think about where it was as the “Excitement” division of GM in 1969, and how it ultimately ended up. Not only did we have the Firebird in ’69, but we saw the beginning of what would become the very successful Trans AM. We also enjoyed the second year of the iconic and redesigned GTO in all of its Ram Air glory. Want more? How about the completely redesigned A-body-based Grand Prix? Talk about a home run! What did the 2010 curtain-closing leave us with? The Vibe, G6, and Solstice – an adventurous undertaking that was basically a niche model. That’s it. Badge engineering and lunk-headed cost slashing ruined one of America’s preeminent auto brands.
OK, so we’re back in ’69 and see where the Tin Indian has managed to move 87K Firebirds of all stripes, including the Standard Firebird, Sprint, 350, H.O., 400, and Trans Am. Man, that’s a ration of ‘Birds! They’re basically the same cars, though the Trans Am possesses some uniqueness along with its low production volume. The differentiation comes about by what’s under the hood. Our subject is a Firebird 350, and the body is pretty rough. It’s straight, but loaded with failing Bondo and rust – invasive and surface. Structurally, this car appears to be sound, though the underside is loaded with scale. As can be seen, some of the trim is missing, and the chrome is thin.
A 265 gross HP, 350 CI number-matching V8 engine, tethered to a Turbo-Hydramatic 400 three-speed automatic transmission, constitutes the powertrain. The original two-barrel carburetor and intake manifold have been swapped with a Quadrajet four-barrel and an accommodating intake manifold. The seller claims the engine is original and adds, “This Firebird runs really nice and Yard Drives only. Must be picked up via flatbed or trailer.” I was expecting the transmission to be the lighter-weight, new-for-’69 Turbo-Hydramatic 350, but the underside image confirms the presence of the heavy-duty 400 unit. Here’s a video clip where you can check it out.
As for the interior, well, it is what it is. Some of the trim is in place, though the center console and the carpet are missing. But good news: the floor pans are exposed and look OK. Nothing is said about a passenger seat, and the images don’t reveal if the back seat is still in place. The dashpad is cracked, and the radio is missing, but I’d suggest those are the least of the interior’s problems. No A/C for this Firebird.
This one’s definitely a project, but a $6,500 project? I’m not sure about that. The seller adds, “CT is a Non-Titled State,” which I take to mean there is no title present – that may or may not be a problem depending upon where this Pontiac next gets registered. So, what do you think? Is this Firebird a worthwhile endeavor?
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