I've been searching for a first Gen firebird that I can't quite find yet. Are this cars undervalued compared to the camaros? Do you think these cars will only increase in value (depending on options and being numbers matching)? Just curious to see what everyone's opinion is? Have these firebirds increased over the last five years? Thanks for the replies in advance.

sad but true. they are under valued compared to the "c" word. i value mine greatly and i wouldn't sell it. it just seems that these cars have a stigma about them and value follows it. if the "c" word goes sky high in value then its enevitable that the firebird will also; but not as much. too bad, they are worthy of a great value and such a great ride for the money.

Except for insurance purposes, most of us don't really care about what the value of our cars are...we wouldn't sell them anyway.

Almost everything in todays market is currently undervalued if you compare it to five years ago.

The question is, were they overvalued back then, and this is reality?

If you wait long enough, most all collector cars go up in value. But usually not to the extent that your money would grow in normal money investments.

So if you are looking for an investment vehicle that you surely will sell within the next ten years, I'd look for a good bank instead. If you want something where the payout will be fun and interesting (but not necessarily monetary), then fgf's will top my list.

Yes, Firebirds are undervalued compared to Camaro's. You get a way better looking car at a much better price buying a Firebird. I doubt if they will ever go up to the camaro price range just because they are not as much of a collector item, but they are far more rare, and Pontiac is no more, so you never know what the future holds for these classic cars.

I would have to agree that buying a collector car, any collector car, as a pure 'investment' is probably unwise, although there is an argument to be made about super rare models (some Ferraris etc) that seem to have piqued the interest of well-heeled collectors. The other thing to keep in mind is that things can change very quickly with respect to values. Back in the 1990s when I was immersed in 63-67 Corvettes primarily, but had a passing interest in first generation Camaros and Firebirds, I noted that Chrysler's pony cars, the Challenger and Barracuda, in almost any form, convertible or coupe, with the possible exception of (real) Hemi-powered models, were available dirt cheap. You could buy one of these for $3K or less, with higher performance convertibles, maybe topping $10-15K. Then all of a sudden, it changed. Try and find a decent Challenger/Barracuda convertible today, with almost any engine, perhaps less the slant six, for that price.

Part of the reason is rarity; Chrysler didn't sell a whole lot of these cars, compared to Mustang, Camaro and even Firebird. Only AMC with its Javelin sold fewer pony cars per year. I suspect, as others here have alluded to, that the rising prices and increasingly limited availability of good Mustangs, Camaros (and Firebirds) may have driven people to look harder at the Chrysler products. TV exposure like Nash Bridges and a resurgence of interest in the 70s movie Vanishing Point may also have piqued interest in the Chrysler E-bodies.

All-in-all, though, you ought to buy a Firebird because you like it and want to enjoy restoring and/or driving it (as I do), and you'll never be disappointed. With careful management of parts and repairs purchases, you can probably own it, enjoy it and not lose any money doing so; that's more than you can say for most cars on the road today...

grant

I would have to agree that buying a collector car, any collector car, as a pure 'investment' is probably unwise, although there is an argument to be made about super rare models (some Ferraris etc) that seem to have piqued the interest of well-heeled collectors. The other thing to keep in mind is that things can change very quickly with respect to values. Back in the 1990s when I was immersed in 63-67 Corvettes primarily, but had a passing interest in first generation Camaros and Firebirds, I noted that Chrysler's pony cars, the Challenger and Barracuda, in almost any form, convertible or coupe, with the possible exception of (real) Hemi-powered models, were available dirt cheap. You could buy one of these for $3K or less, with higher performance convertibles, maybe topping $10-15K. Then all of a sudden, it changed. Try and find a decent Challenger/Barracuda convertible today, with almost any engine, perhaps less the slant six, for that price.

Part of the reason is rarity; Chrysler didn't sell a whole lot of these cars, compared to Mustang, Camaro and even Firebird. Only AMC with its Javelin sold fewer pony cars per year. I suspect, as others here have alluded to, that the rising prices and increasingly limited availability of good Mustangs, Camaros (and Firebirds) may have driven people to look harder at the Chrysler products. TV exposure like Nash Bridges and a resurgence of interest in the 70s movie Vanishing Point may also have piqued interest in the Chrysler E-bodies.

All-in-all, though, you ought to buy a Firebird because you like it and want to enjoy restoring and/or driving it (as I do), and you'll never be disappointed. With careful management of parts and repairs purchases, you can probably own it, enjoy it and not lose any money doing so; that's more than you can say for most cars on the road today...

grant

I would have to agree that buying a collector car, any collector car, as a pure 'investment' is probably unwise, although there is an argument to be made about super rare models (some Ferraris etc) that seem to have piqued the interest of well-heeled collectors. The other thing to keep in mind is that things can change very quickly with respect to values. Back in the 1990s when I was immersed in 63-67 Corvettes primarily, but had a passing interest in first generation Camaros and Firebirds, I noted that Chrysler's pony cars, the Challenger and Barracuda, in almost any form, convertible or coupe, with the possible exception of (real) Hemi-powered models, were available dirt cheap. You could buy one of these for $3K or less, with higher performance convertibles, maybe topping $10-15K. Then all of a sudden, it changed. Try and find a decent Challenger/Barracuda convertible today, with almost any engine, perhaps less the slant six, for that price.

Part of the reason is rarity; Chrysler didn't sell a whole lot of these cars, compared to Mustang, Camaro and even Firebird. Only AMC with its Javelin sold fewer pony cars per year. I suspect, as others here have alluded to, that the rising prices and increasingly limited availability of good Mustangs, Camaros (and Firebirds) may have driven people to look harder at the Chrysler products. TV exposure like Nash Bridges and a resurgence of interest in the 70s movie Vanishing Point may also have piqued interest in the Chrysler E-bodies.

All-in-all, though, you ought to buy a Firebird because you like it and want to enjoy restoring and/or driving it (as I do), and you'll never be disappointed. With careful management of parts and repairs purchases, you can probably own it, enjoy it and not lose any money doing so; that's more than you can say for most cars on the road today...

grant

You can say that again!

...and again

I actually like the fact they are under valued. I can get a much nicer car for the same money as a Camaro. Yet when I go to cruise nights, there will be one bird to five Camaros. The birds look better and draw more attention because they are not as common. I always thought the FGFs looked like an American version of the XKEs, which I have always loved. The Camaro looks too stubby.

It always surprised me that the FGFs didn't take off because in the mid to late 70s the TAs ruled over the Z28s.

I found another firebird its verdoro green with white interior and a white vinyl top. Its a #s matching 400 with a Turbo 400 tranny. I got some pics of the undercarriage and it looks good. Its all original. The top was replaced but repainted underneath. I'll get some pics. Asking 15k for it. I see alot of green cars for sale must not be too popular today. Car has 118k on it.
http://m1019.photobucket.com/albums/ken2736?newest=1&pbauth=1_uLEBonVPfaLdh1h3YMYz2eCUccMebb0eN2wGlbFBwFWl7p%2FscAJPVIf0fo%2BkAWwAswx4It5GuW4rC1wJz7TJNOPkDN7YXNIqaQkfl9%2FqMhRcW9BpFgei6Dv%2FQZ%2B7yqIrI%2Bgk36ROXlM%2Fk3%2F4vSVNvzDKuXOKlXjxgxf5l0E%2F3yw%3D

Link to your bird pics

Thanks for putting the link in Gus. What's your opinion of this one

The link brings up photobucket up centered and small. Maybe it's my browser.

When it's numbers matching you cannot change colors etc.

So if like that green paint and hubcaps then that's your car.

My bird was that green color as well. It was the 1st thing changed.

Do you want a show queen or a high end driver? What's your budget?

From what I have been told is that you can change the color if its period correct like staying with a 1968 firebird color pallet. I do like the green but I have seen a lot of variations of this green on firebirds. The up to date verdoro green is nice. If I repainted it (even the same color) I would leave the vinyl off. I added two more verdoro greens to the link. Allthe cars look different

What about a vert Kenny? Are you interested in restoring a car or do you want it already restored? If you buy them restored you have to look them over with a mag glass. Typically most of the time (80/20 rule) I find that classic cars are sold for one of 2 reasons, "need the cash" or "car has issues and need to dump it".

Both can be good opportunities for purchase, but the offer you give will be different for each.

Ask lots of questions to get an idea as to the motivation for selling. Follow up with questions about the condition of the car.
Ask what works great and what doesn't. Verify these answers and run if you catch the seller in a lie.

That part is nice, but then the problem becomes the whole is worth less than the sum of it's parts.

There are people that will cannibalize a survivor or even a restored car because they can get more selling them as parts.

Or, you get the dingleberries that can't afford a camaro, so they cut up a FGF to "make one".

About 2 years ago, I was looking for a convertible Camaro when I came across, and then bought, the Firebird. For around the same price as a base Camaro, I was able to get a nicely optioned 400.
I am also now realizing that the Pontiac is a better car than the Chevy anyway !

Mike, you are dead on.

When my 68 Bird was rearended in Dec. I tried to sell the car complete with engine, trans etc. A running, drivable car that took rearend damage. I offered the complete car for 10k. People told me it was only worth 3k. I pulled my engine & trans and parted the car out for just under 13k.

Combining the parts money and what the ins. co. offered for repairs, I came close to my 30k agreed upon value and to top it all off, still have motor & trans (Muncie M21 is now in my 67 LeMans and motor will be soon).

Unfortunately, the lesson I learned was that our Birds are basically worth more in parts than they are whole...

Look how much Camaro you get for $24k!

Dynacorn body

So they are illegally transferring a data/VIN/title to a donor body?

They should add that to the fine print...

Hello everyone

Thanks for all responses. I am looking for a coupe, not really a vert fan. I would like a car that has not been rusted out, a west-south of the country car. Preferably with a 400. I have only been looking for 3 weeks. I have never seen verdoro green in person. A lot of green firebirds look great, but then i have seen the verdoro green on GTO's and lemans and I cringe. Maybe I need to keep looking and not jump at buying one right away. This latest verdoro green firebird is very clean. Just dont know how that color looks in real life. I dont want to get the car shipped here and then realize that i dont like it. Hopefully there are plenty of non-rust 400's out there for 15-17K. Im not looking for a complete project. One that is all original (that i can still drive) will work, then I can restore it slowly by replacing parts as i go. I know this post seems a litte confusing

Yup and judging by the q/a, they don't seem to get that's a problem. Sorry, it might be sold as a replacement item, but it's still ILLEGAL to transfer a VIN. Period. It needs to be retitled with the appropriate state DMV.

Sorry if I'm a little slow on this, but isn't he basically selling a 2010 "kit" car?

Has anybody on this site actually used one of those replacement bodies? They sound like a good idea if you can afford it and get past the VIN issue.

I've thought about it, but $13,500 is probably more than I'll spend on my whole restoration (I do everything myself.) I can fix my shell for around $2,500, it's just going to take me forever to do LOL

I'm pushing 30 and have been going to car shows since I could walk, and my dad's always had a first gen or two so I've always been "aware" of them, and from what I've seen, they just don't "bring Camaro money." It sucks, but I'm not in it for the money, so I'm OK with it.

It would basically mean you have a clone of a classic car.

To get past the VIN issue, all you do is get a new VIN issued to your new car. It will need to be inspected, and I'm sure a few other things, but it can be done.

My first car was a 1977RS camaro that I bought in 1986. I lost the car a few years back in a fire. I started a 1968 Firebird project and I would have to say that I like this car better. My biggest problem so far was buying a car that was missing so many parts. Like already mentioned the parts are very expensive compared to camaro parts. So my word of advice is to buy the most complete car that you can find.