The original owner of this 1970 Firebird was 50-years-old when he took possession of it, and he had no intentions of ever buying a Firebird. Instead, he managed to win the car in a charity raffle. He kept the car, resisting many offers to buy it until he passed away at the age of 97. His daughter then inherited the car but decided that it wasn’t her sort of car at the age of 70, so now it has passed on and is up for sale. You will find the Firebird listed for sale here on eBay. Located in Stockton, California, it is being offered for sale with a clear title. At the time of writing, bidding had reached $14,201 in this No Reserve auction.
The original owner stopped driving the car about 10 years ago, and the car just sat until earlier this year. It has since been revived and is back on the road. The seller provides some shots of the underside of the car, and it looks nice and solid. Externally, there are a number of dents and dings that may need to be addressed, the worst of these being in the passenger-side front fender. There’s also a repair visible on the driver’s side rear wheel arch, so I’d also investigate that. The vinyl top looks to be close to perfect, but the paint is a bit faded in spots.
Maybe I’m getting fussy in my advancing years, but to me, the interior is a bit of a disappointment. The positives are that the door trims, the rear seat and the passenger seat look to be in good condition. The negatives are that the driver’s seat will need a new cover, the vinyl has peeled from the console lid and the console has been cut to fit aftermarket speakers, the original radio has been replaced with an aftermarket radio/cassette player, and the dash pad is cracked. The carpet is also discolored, and this may or may not respond to a dose of dye. I probably expected a bit more from an interior that is described as “amazing.”
Under the hood is a 350ci V8 backed by an automatic transmission. After sitting for 10 years, some work has been undertaken to bring the car back to life. The seller drained all the fluids (gas, oil, and water), replaced the belts and the water pump, and fitted a new battery. The car is said to start and run well, and the transmission shifts smoothly. It appears that before the original owner placed the car into storage, he may have also replaced a number of suspension bushes and components, as apparently many of these look new.
The photos of the underside of this Firebird are encouraging, and they do indicate a car that doesn’t have any rust issues. There is some work to be done on it if it is to be returned to factory-fresh condition. With the level of bidding on the car up to this point, it appears that there may be a few people who like this one.
Wow love those curves and body shown on eBay 👍👀
The car is sweet and nice too and with low miles should clear a decent amount !
I could live with the green too and like it very much!
If it had the other pedal I would bid but one could pull Rockford’s for fun!
What a looker indeed!
That’s a pile of dings ,and wear for 13,000 miles.
For reference,I sold my blue 71 formula 400,with no needs,show and shine condition, and perfect paint for $18k last January.It had been on classics.com for months.
Note to self, don’t sell car on classics.com.
Not a 13,000 mile car. Look at the receipt for the oil change in the picture stating 98,000+
I’m actually bidding on this Firebird , I obviously know it has 113k miles . The mileage is not the deciding factor for me. It’s the unmolested all original look.
It’s amazing what sellers will try to get away with, even when they prove themselves to be lying.
I recently looked at an EBay ad for a really nice ’86 Mustang GT convertible with under 30K original miles. It sure looked it, but when I looked at the free CarFax they supplied, it showed to be 130K.
1 owner. Original. Never restored.
That’s the trend it seems these days. After the over restored cars of 10 years ago.
The person that took the vid is quite creative, passing quickly over the areas that need work, the body has a lot of dings, scratches and dents and some rust for the mileage. The interior will need a good amount of work also along with the sagging headliner.
I like the car, it’s reasonably nice, but I don’t see 15 grand for a car in this cond. but it’s just my opinion
I can’t get pass the fact that the car is green with a vinyl top. I’m seeing a passenger car not a muscle car.
That and the hood needs a pair of “nostrils”
Just the fact that it’s an outdated factory A/C car coupled with the vinyl top and factory green car would be a deal breaker for me. Not to mention the fact that it’s black interior. Would look much with white interior.
I’m seeing a passenger car, not a muscle car. I do think that it’s cool the original owner kept the car into his nineties.
That would be what’s known as a sleeper and not all pony cars were produced as “muscle cars” as too many people presume.
dweezilaz, you are correct the car is a total sleeper.It even puts me to sleep looking at it. Sleepers have performance engines. This is a total passenger car. Nothing else.
White interiors are like white pants. Very difficult to keep clean. I would take the black of this car or even green before I went anywhere near a white interior.
I agree wholeheartedly. It may not be a
100 point show car, but who likes those
trailer queens anyway? Here’s a nice,
honest car that I would let Sis drive
every day without a second thought.
If restos are righteous, then beaters
are neater!
NFW: No freaking way this car is bid over 15K w/ over a day left.
I see a lot of issues that another 15K might resolve.
The world is spinning off it’s axis…
Great story but if you are going to try to pass off a 113,000 mile car as a 13,000 mile car don’t post pictures of an oil change receipt showing mileage as 98,,000 in the ad. Nothing about this car says 13,000 in my opinion I’m afraid someone is going to be disappointed…
Must have been kinda neat, winning a Pontiac Firebird with a raffle ticket back then, “YIPPEE!!” Not like the guy had much choice in colors or options you know. It’s a sporty car, fun to drive around type of car that was probably more enjoyable than whatever pile of junk he was probably driving at the time. To keep it that long he must have really liked that ‘bird.
I just bought a raffle ticket ($100) for an ’01 ZO6 with only 300 tickets being sold. I’ve never thought about winning it, I just bought a ticket to support the museum. Hmmm, It does sound “kinda neat” now that you mention it! Wow, a bright red Corvette! It must have been a thrill to win this Firebird even if he didn’t want a Firebird any more than I want a Corvette!
I’d drive it daily. Don’t think 15k is unrealistic. 20 would be too much. It’s not a drag race car, it’s not a Porsche, just a fun car with A.C.. I like it
A nice set of factory snoflakes with raised white letter tires. And it could really use a 400,or 455 in my opinion. Nice driver.
Rear tail pan below the bumper is half primer and full of putty. I imagine there is more hidden with paint blends covering it.
I just don’t get the prices of cars banged up looking for a huge payday. I do understand hemi and other specific rare cars that fetch big money in bad condition though. High starting point pricing seems to be the norm on everything now. Always look for a clean straight body, matching numbers and paperwork if available. I would respectfully pass on this.
People trying to get rich without putting in any work. You should see housing prices where I live. Something that was 500 a month 5 years ago is now 1200.
Right, because landlord expenses actually go DOWN over time, unlike everything else. Supply and demand, my friend.
I would also have to put the rear spoiler on it the rear end looks like something is missing on this body style of car in my opinion
This is probably one of the more over-the-top descriptions I’ve seen. ‘Fantastic’ body? ‘Amazing’ interior? Wow. But it is a great-looking car, even as a mid-spec. I forgot how sharp these cars are without the T/A wings and add-ons.
That’s called “puffery”. Daughter trying to get it sold. Looks ‘Fantastic’ and ‘amazing’ to her family and her. Fam probably helped write the ad.
Not everyone is a crook trying to get over, but it’s healthy to be skeptical.
It’s actually being sold by a company, not the original owner’s daughter. They know exactly what they are doing.
dweezilaz, did you look at the pictures?
The right front fender looks to have a crunch and the only direct picture of that corner has a woman sitting right on the area where the crunch is.
That looks like she is trying to hide something.
13,000 miles NO WAY.
Is this fraud, or misrepresentation?
Others have already pointed out discrepancies.
That interior is hammered, shows at least 100k of use abuse.
Mike
Finally someone else sees through the shady, sketchy 13,000 miles with an old oil change receipt from ions ago showing 98,000 miles. Is it misrepresentation . Absolutely. Should the average car buff see through this sham before bidding $15,600 for a ratted out daily driver. Absolutely. Waiting for a retraction in the ad stating the true miles….
What a fantasy story. 13K miles! Oil change ticket shows 98K miles 28 years ago. Garaged, pampered, slight fading of paint from sun exposure during the rare times the garage door was opened. All this with faded paint, faded carpet, cracked dash. This car is worth 8K tops. It definitely was not pampered. Wasn’t it PT Barnum who said there is a fool born everyday. It is a piece of Americana but the only driven to church on Sunday story doesn’t jive.
Without a picture of the rear subframe, I would not touch this with a 10′ pole. The rear subframe on this model year were notorious for rusting through
Is there usually a lot of rust in Stockton California?
CamaroBirds of that vintage rusted no matter where they resided.
First owner wins it in a raffle. Second owner wins it in a crapshoot.
I am actually the guy selling it on ebay and I never state the car only has 13k original miles I only stated the odometer reading as stated on the car. I also mention the has had many worn parts replaced as well as the water pump. Also shown in the video pics of receipts showing repairs made at various mileage . This article is more misleading than my listing. Dan
Are you saying Barn finds Adam Clarke article is misleading? Don’t throw Adam under the bus because he writes an honest article. Sounds like you are backpedaling a bit Dan. Why would Barn finds mislead anybody since reputation is everything?
Not at all , We actually love the article. When you list the car on ebay is asks for odometer reading there is no 6th digit on a 1970. Same as when you title the car. My excitement is in finding a 48 year old Bird in this original condition even if it has 213k miles .
Dan, can you email me at cpformula355@aol.com. I have a few questions about this car. I realize you no longer own it but you could possibly answer a few questions about it. Thanks!
Yeah Dan…. You kinda did represent it as 13,699 miles in your ad. Could have easily added the sixth digit. Or at least eluded to the fact 13,000 is not actual… But ya didn’t.
Exactly. Odometer reading is listed as 13k, no mention at all in the ad about that not being correct. Oh, and photo of the odo as well. So, misleading.
It’s still misleading no matter what color of lipstick you put on the mileage statement. This firebird is not a performance car. By the way Dan why no mention of whether engine is two or four barrel? Or did I overlook that?
Nice car and I love the color. All those interior parts can be had with reproductions the good news is these and Camaros have catalogs where you can buy anything you need for them. I’d just fix up a tad and drive it daily.
dweelizass,this car does not qualify for the title sleeper. Sleepers have performance engines. The ad does not even state whether engine is a 4 barrel carb or not. Whatever the case,its probably coupled with a highway friendly 278 rear gear l Seriously doubt this car would even do a peel out let alone a burnout. This was the model of firebird you put your high school daughter or son in. No way does this car deserve the title of muscle car or sleeper. In it’s current configuration it is a passenger car with no performance capabilities other than fuel milage.
If my father were alive he would have this car in his garage at age 97! This is the kind of “passenger car” my Dad brought home in the years 1967 to 1984ish when he sold me his last Firebird. His were never the performance variety. This one is well accessorized for a 1970…Esprit badging, Rally II wheels, vinyl roof, air, etc. That interior shows easy stuff to replace and I don’t think the cracked dash is the worst I’ve ever seen. I wouldn’t waste my time dying the carpeting — that, the seat inserts and console/armrest pad are/were big sellers when these cars were only 5 years old! Dan Seller… good luck with the sale and give the family all the profit from the sale minus your commission. Please, improve your listing skills and we’ll all be kinder in the future. Cheers!
Had one similar to this as a base car at Mare Island, CA in early ’82. Same color, pretty sure it had a vinyl top. May have been an Esprit although mine had the highly sought after redwood stained twin two by four rear bumper option. What’s a base car? A car – well, beater – that got passed from sailor to sailor as they passed through the command. Bought it for something like $300, drove it a couple months then sold it to another guy for about the same money. Well, just had another think and, no, not the same color, mine was a darker green. Still, just about my favorite year for Firebird. Replaced it with a ’72 Cutlass S that I drove home to Pennsylvania for leave & then on to Naval Air Station Key West for class “C” school… This is a cool car but fourteen grand? Yikes.
Sold at 15.6k Congrats to buyer and seller. I think both did fine. You guys are a tough audience. Seller never said anything other than what it was, at least from what I saw. I would drive that thing every day over my Wife’s 2015 Malibu which is a great car. Kinda similar in many ways The 15 Malibu is pretty peppy with it’s 200 hp 4 banger, and I imagine the 350 in the Firebird to be the same, They both handle decent, both have AC PS PB That’s all I need, and it’s 10 grand less than what I paid for the Malibu. Just sayin. Dents and dings, and other fix ups etc… do that down the road some time if you want.
Just my 5 Cents
I’ve been trying to track this car down. Does anyone have contact information for the owner?
Good luck. The Barn Finds posting is from October 2018, two years ago. Have you tried searching for the original listing on eBay then contacting the seller?
I couldn’t find the original ebay listing.