I have a '69 Firebird 400 I recently purchased (it was in a storage unit here in Vegas for the past 18 yrs), and the paint code, as well as the PHS documents says it had a painted top. The colors were a cameo white bottom, with a burgundy painted top. When I bought it, I could see the original burgundy paint under the rear edge of the top, by the drip rail, near the back quarter window. It had me baffeled at first, and I thought maybe the car was either burgundy originally, and had been completely repainted cameo white, or had a vinyl top, and they just sprayed that small section burgundy, but it turns out that wasn't the case.

Anyone else ever seen one painted like this? I've looked all over the internet for photos of an original two toned '69, and can't seem to find any. It's currently completely painted cameo white on the top and bottom. I'm trying to decide if I should go back to the original two tone, or just stay with the all cameo white.

This is the car after I got it out of the storage unit.

Boy, that's a lot of sinner's dust!

I have heard of two toned 'birds, but I have never seen one either. I would think there would have been trim placed between the colors, but perhaps not. (similar to vinyl top trim)

What line (or where) does the PHS indicate a painted top?

There is/was trim pieces that separated the two colors. It looks very similar to vinyl top trim, but is thinner. I can't say if anyone makes that trim any more. The two-tone cars usually had color combinations that were all the rage in the 60's but were no longer in style when the first re-paint came along.

The trim tag shows the second color. If I recall there's a dash between the two color codes.

I can't remember seeing a two-tone Firebird in person, either, but I have seen pictures of a dealership where there were two in the picture. The two had odd color roofs which were not standard vinyl top colors so they stood out.

I have seen a number of examples of GTO's done with 2 tone paint so why not on firebirds. Here's a 68 GTO example

http://www.cars-on-line.com/39335.html

PHS indicates that it was a two tone-std, RTT code. The cowl tag has 2 color codes, but I can't remember what they were at the momement (cars in my shop miles away). I know when I ran it on the cowl tag deal on here, it came up as the same thing. Two toned. My thoughts were that at some point the original owner decided the burgundy was not quite as appealing as it once was, and had it repainted cameo. I'm having a hard time actually wanting to go back to the two tone. It's a really nice original 67,000 mile # matching car(except for the trans, which was replaced at some point). It's got the deluxe red interior, and still has the AM radio and 8-track in it. It's never even seen an FM radio. Basically, it's a loaded car. It has everything except for cruise. The spare Ralley II with the redline and original jack were still in the trunk.

Check out the upper right-hand picture. Shows two-tone roof and hood.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1968-PONT...lsQ5fLiterature

Here's the cowl tag. Kinda hard to read, but the color code is 50 67. No dash in between.

Here are some paint code colors from a GTO website. Looks like the colors are correct. http://www.ultimategto.com/69colors.htm

Congrats on the find!

Nice looking wheels. How did you find that one?

Found it on Craigslist. Just about smoked the tires of the truck trying to get to the storage unit before someone else showed up. The car was owned by a local Las Vegas lady (second owner. Car was originally purchased here in Vegas), and when she passed away, her husband parked in it a storage unit after her death in the early 90s, and left it. I guess he finally decided to part with it, so he had his nephew put it on Craigslist. From the parking stubs I found in the car, she just drove the car back and forth from home to a local college. I don't think the car has ever been out of town.

Wow, cool time capsule. What's the mileage? Other pics?

It's got 67,000 on the odometer. I have no doubts it's actual. Here's pics (photo slide show) from pulling it out of the storage unit, and bringing it to my shop. I took the interior out, and will be putting new deluxe vinyl back in. The dash pad, steering wheel, and door panels were all cracked from the extreme heat here. I found a set of perfect original door panels already. Thinking about sending the dash pad out to just dashes, rather than going with OER. From what I've read, they don't fit too well, and want a nice fit. Might have to send the steering wheel out as well, since I can't locate a deluxe red wheel.


Photo slide show

Unbelievable find! Are you going to keep her or flip her?

Very cool find. Mind if we ask what you got it for?

I have a 68 400HO coupe with two tone paint (originally on build sheet)the car is currently in primer. The bottom was Mayfair Maize and the top Cameo Ivory and the gut is deluxe parchment-pearl. I plan on redoing her in a few years and I imagine I will need that trim, but will have to settle for the vinyl top stainless trim pieces. I don't think it is too uncommon, but that combo you have seems unique since it calls for a burgubdy roof, usually- you see white or black since the idea was that it look like a ragtop car.

Well the intent was to flip it, but I have a business partner who's now in love with it, so we'll see. I would actually like to see it stay in Vegas.

I would keep it. I kept mine for over 30 years because it made me sick every time someone told me they wished they keep theirs.

A classic car is worth much more than some dirty paper bills.

You are going to tell this story for next 50 years. Best to have the car nearby to show it off.

Let's just say what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas...

Like you, even if I wanted to go back with the two tone paint, finding the correct trim piece would probably be next to impossible, and even if you did find one, you just know the guy selling it would think it's made of unobtainium.

Haven't posted any progress pics, so here's the latest...

Looks great!

Wow! Very nice looking!

Nice car, you hit the jack pot.

Hey guys,
I was searching for other two tone Firebirds and found this blog. I just purchased one myself. The original paint code is Warwick Blue over Cameo Ivory. Does anyone know how many 69 birds were painted two tone?

And the finished product!





















[img]http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/8794/sany00201.jpg[/img]

[img]http://img816.imageshack.us/img816/7522/sany00321.jpg[/img]

Awesome. Nice paint job and looks great with the red interior. What are you going to do with her now?

Nice job! Nothing like a nice set of redline tires that takes my breath away...

no two tone paint needed on that...the two colors ,red and white on interior and exterior , incl the redlines, look great!

Thanks! It turned really nice. There were so many good original parts, that it made for a rather easy restoration. I can't believe how much power it has. Just a tap on the throttle, and the redlines go up in smoke! The car is currently for sale, with an offer pending. I was hoping my partner would keep this one, but he wants a Verdoro Green '68 400 with a hood tach, and 4 speed.

Neat color combo! I've never seen one anything close to that. And I love red interiors.
Firebirds were unique in that you could combine any colors for the two-tone combo, IIRC.
Could I see a pic/scan of the PHS for the car? Thanks! KurtS2@gmail.com

Camaros could only have 1 of 6 different combos and only in 69. I believe Camaro 2-tone trim is the same as vinyl top trim, just the center of the trim is not painted black.

What's he trying to get for it?

I missed that the cowl tag has an A on the RH bottom corner - for power windows.

That's what that means? My car came with factory power windows (per PHS) but there's no A on the cowl tag. (Another one of those Hmmm things.)

Lee, your car was built in Lordstown, wasn't it? Lordstown tags seem to be absent of the extra codes that the plants that also built Camaros used.

Yea, it was. I wondered if that was why. There seem to be a lot of differences depending on which plant your car was built in.

Yup, that was only a NOR plant thing.

Nice looking car by the way. I noticed the firebird on the front fender is red. Was this original or just a nice touch since the red interior?

What I can't figure out is why would the previous owner keep it in a storage locker at ($75 bucks per month) and finally decide after X number of years to part with it? From the look of the condition of the car when pulled out of storage, seems the storage fees would have been much higher than what someone was willing to pay?

I think that is a good score seeing the end product as it turned out.

It looked like from one of the first pictures you have the very rare Trans Am Gauge package where the clok goes. Can we get some pictures please??

Is that a power antenna switch or a defroster switch?