Numbers-Matching 350 Engine. Originally 2 bbl. Now 4 barrel. Rebuilt TH-350 (have original working 2 speed) (Trans-Medic, Windham, NH 2009) Rebuilt 3.73 LSD rear end (have original peg-leg 2.56) (Fall 2011) Silver paint, black interior. Desert Cooler Radiator 2008. Water pump 2008. New rear shocks, leaf springs and bushings (Fall 2011) New engine and rear wiring harness. Have the $400 dash harness not yet installed. 15" chrome wheels. New top 2008. I have new front springs ready to be installed. Interior and exterior in good condition. No rips, tears. Cars run, drives and stops perfectly. I have the PHS docs somewhere around here. I'll dig them out. : )
In trying to describe this car, it wouldn't be right to call it a trailer queen, but it's certainly nicer than your typical driver.
Issues:
1) A few scratches here and there. No major rust. Trunk has _minor_ surface rust. Trunk pan was replaced. 2 minor dings on the passenger side. Minor. 2) Console shifter plate is loose. One pin is broken so it can slide around a bit. 3) Horn only works when the car is hot. No clue why. 4) Dash lights are dim and fuel gauge is not always accurate. 5) Passenger side rear window has minor abrasion - looks like it was from sand blasting (overblast? <- is that a word?) 6) Front bumper is original, but could use replating. It's very solid, but not as bright as the rear (new). 7) Original radio is there but not connected. Never was (since I've owned it). Front speaker is gone, as well.
All in all, the car turns heads and drives straight and solid. Never a problem starting. Never overheated. I've never had the engine out so the engine compartment detailing is not there.
I got the car with a fiberglass 400 hood. I found a steel 350 hood and had it painted. At that time, they fixed a few scratches here and there so there has been some paintwork, but all professionally done. The paint matches panel to panel very well.
If you're local, it's worth a look. I don't think you'll find a nicer one that isn't all hacked up for $15k.
Note: On some of those pics there a little grey/dark circle. It's not on the car - something on the camera lens.
I just answered an email with a long-winded here. Going to paste the relevant parts here. Some are redundant, but it may answer some questions for people.
_____________________________________________ I bought the car in 2005. Had it shipped sight unseen from Ohio. Most of the bodywork was done. Therefore, I don't know which panels were replaced. The car is not wavy so I don't think there is much filler. Supposedly it was an Arizona car for 90% of it's life, then moved to OH. I only have the seller's word on that. That being said, the car does not look like a bondo filled $3,000 4 Door Bel Air. It looks good. There is no prevalent rust. There are 2 dings that I'm aware of . SMALL dings. Paintless repair. There are a few scratches. Nothing ridiculous, but if you're looking for perfection, there are a few spots to fix. Again, the car looks good. It's not a 20 footer. It's a one footer.
I've never had the engine out of the car. Always planned to, but it runs perfect so I never did. I have no idea if it was rebuilt but it runs too good not to have been. I put an Edelbrock 4 barrel intake and 600CFM electric choke carb. Both are still on the car and work well. It came with dual exhaust. Sounds great. Last fall I put new shocks all around, new leafs in the rear and new bushings. The car ride great. Also, last fall, put a rebuilt 3.73 POSI rear with all new brake hardware and new rear brake lines. Car takes off and stops perfectly. There's a SMALL drip, I noticed, coming from the rear diff cover. I didn't have time to tighten that up, but I'm sure it's a loose cover. I scraped off the old gasket myself, put the new one on and filled the pumpkin. The rear has about 5 miles on it since I installed it.
The car came with the original 2 speed auto. I took it out and installed a rebuilt TH-350 with a mild shift kit. It shifts very well and crisp (not crazy chirping the tires, just crisp). I'm not into burnouts.
I put a desert cooler radiator in when I first got the car. I had a '61 Chevy that overheated and I was determined to not have that again. This car has never overheated. I installed a temp gauge under the hood just-in-case. It has never read above 190 whenever I've looked at it.
I've replaced the engine wiring harness and rear wiring harness. When I got the car, the wiring was mess. I replaced the wiring with new harnesses from M&H.
I found an original steering wheel and restored it. It came out just OK. If I had the time I'd redo it - I have better skills now. However, it is a correct 1968 FB deluxe steering wheel, which came with the car.
The horn only works when the car is hot. No clue why. I suspect the horn relay. Never bothered me as my inspection is in August and it's always hot. : )
Power top works fine. The top itself is in great shape.
The console cover that surrounds the shifter is loose. It's missing a pin. Never bothered me either as I intended to put an aftermarket shifter in. Never did.
The heater mixing valve doesn't work well. Meaning, the heat is always on. Not the fan, but when you're on the highway, the floor vents blow warm air. I had always planned on disconnecting the radiator hose from the heater to fix this as I only drive it in the Summer. If you want correctly functioning heat, you'd need to replace the mixing valve.
The glove box doesn't unlock. No clue why. It used to. One day, it stopped. The box itself was new (I replaced it). There is one item in there: the owner's manual. I'm sure you could open it from underneath. It never bothered me.
On the long center console itself, there is an ashytray or something at the very rear of it. It's missing. It was missing from day 1.
The rear bumper is new and shines up very well. The front bumper is original and could use new chrome. It's not terrible at all, but doesn't look new like the rear.
If you go to www.tseed.com/firebird/1.jpg you'll get higher res versions of the ones on FGF. Just increment the numbers (i.e. 2.jpg, 3.jpg up to 41.jpg, I think).
If I ever pulled the engine I would've detailed the engine bay and the engine. I never pulled it so the engine bay and engine are not detailed.
NH does not require a title, though I do have a clear one from the seller in Ohio. I've never used it. In NH, over 25 years, all you need is a bill of sale. But yes, it has a clear title.
These cars will always need some TLC and there is ALWAYS something to fix, however it drives straight, starts easily and stops easily. A lot to be said for that. And it turns heads wherever I go.
I have all the PHS documentation. That goes with it. _____________________________________________
That is a very nice bird! Nicely appointed and the silver is a sharp look. If I wasn't into two 69s at the moment I would be calling. That's a turn key car at a good price IMHO! GLWS! Dan
1967 400 coupe (1st car, owned 31 years, sold and missed!) 1969 350 conv (Trans Am tribute with a unique history) 1969 350 HO conv (next in the restoration line)
That is a very nice bird! Nicely appointed and the silver is a sharp look. If I wasn't into two 69s at the moment I would be calling. That's a turn key car at a good price IMHO! GLWS! Dan
My thoughts exactly except my excuse is I'm too far away, ugh! I'd love a vert!!! Why are you selling? Any interest in a super clean bad arse 4th gen? Soon to be featured in HPP .
Ditto on that. I have 3 kids as well and when they are young its easy to get them all into the same car. Once they turn into young teenagers, the FB is more than big enough. Meaning, you are lucking to get one of them in the car.
I also have a family of five, and all fit well into my 'birds.
I should add that my 12 YO already hates it when I take her somewhere or pick her up somewhere in one of my 'birds. she definetly thinks it's "uncool". (especially if some of her friends are around)
My younger two love it!
I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not sure. I feel like I am diagonally parked in a parallel universe. 1968 400 convertible (Scarlet) 1976 T/A - 455 LE (No Burt) 1976 T/A New baby, starting full restoration. 1968 350 - 4 speed 'vert - 400 clone (the Beast!) 1968 350 convertible - Wife's car now- 400 clone (Aleutian Blue) (Blue Angel) 2008 Durango - DD 2008 GXP - New one from NH is AWESOME! 2017 Durango Citadel - Modern is nice! HEMI is amazing! 1998 Silverado Z71 - Father-daughter project 1968 400 coupe - R/A clone (Blue Pearl) (sold) 1967 326 convertible - Sold 1980 T/A SE Bandit - Sold
Hey 68birdconv, I owned a 67 400 coupe that was that same color with a black vinyl top. Was my first car. I put white pin striping flames on it and it was subtle but looked cool in the day (hey I was 18!). It got a lot of compliments on Woodward Ave. In the 70's. Anyways, I kept it for 30+ years. Painted it twice, moved it closer to stock, hours of work. Our family grew and I couldn't take everybody, so I sold it. Now, four years later I wished I hadn't. Moral of the story is get a van for traveling and keep your sweet silver vert! Just my two cents! Dan
1967 400 coupe (1st car, owned 31 years, sold and missed!) 1969 350 conv (Trans Am tribute with a unique history) 1969 350 HO conv (next in the restoration line)
If I was hugely into the car shows etc, I'd probably keep it, but I want to cruise around a bit with the kids while they're young. I need room for 5. I'll miss the bird, but we'll get used to something else. : )
-who? -where? -near your asking price? -from this site, Epay, craigslist, word of mouth??
I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not sure. I feel like I am diagonally parked in a parallel universe. 1968 400 convertible (Scarlet) 1976 T/A - 455 LE (No Burt) 1976 T/A New baby, starting full restoration. 1968 350 - 4 speed 'vert - 400 clone (the Beast!) 1968 350 convertible - Wife's car now- 400 clone (Aleutian Blue) (Blue Angel) 2008 Durango - DD 2008 GXP - New one from NH is AWESOME! 2017 Durango Citadel - Modern is nice! HEMI is amazing! 1998 Silverado Z71 - Father-daughter project 1968 400 coupe - R/A clone (Blue Pearl) (sold) 1967 326 convertible - Sold 1980 T/A SE Bandit - Sold
Sold it from a CL listing to a gentleman from Alabama. CL was listed at $15,500. We settled at $14,750. We're both happy.
I have some '68 parts to sell if anyone is interested. 2.56 open rear end (worked perfect when removed), 2 speed tranny (worked perfect when removed), new correct fuel line, dash harness. New front springs. Stuff like that. : )
I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not sure. I feel like I am diagonally parked in a parallel universe. 1968 400 convertible (Scarlet) 1976 T/A - 455 LE (No Burt) 1976 T/A New baby, starting full restoration. 1968 350 - 4 speed 'vert - 400 clone (the Beast!) 1968 350 convertible - Wife's car now- 400 clone (Aleutian Blue) (Blue Angel) 2008 Durango - DD 2008 GXP - New one from NH is AWESOME! 2017 Durango Citadel - Modern is nice! HEMI is amazing! 1998 Silverado Z71 - Father-daughter project 1968 400 coupe - R/A clone (Blue Pearl) (sold) 1967 326 convertible - Sold 1980 T/A SE Bandit - Sold
Glad it worked out for you! The buyer got a nice car. Dan
1967 400 coupe (1st car, owned 31 years, sold and missed!) 1969 350 conv (Trans Am tribute with a unique history) 1969 350 HO conv (next in the restoration line)
Congrats! And rats, I was just drooling over that car trying to figure out a sane way to buy it. If it turns up on eBay in a few weeks for more money I will mail the seller one of my dogs turds.
See below ...I recommend shipping that turd in a brown paper bag and request the mailman set it on fire upon delivery. I'm kicking myself on this one too!
See below ...I recommend shipping that turd in a brown paper bag and request the mailman set it on fire upon delivery. I'm kicking myself on this one too!
Firebirds look good in silver! If I might, just let me say this.. FIREBIRDS ARE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CAR EVER DESIGNED and what an awesome photo: Those rims (I think they're Cragar) look GREAT on that car.
These kinds of guys really piss me off. There was another one of these instances a few months ago, another company in Maryland the same thing, bought one for $18k and relisted on EBAY for $24. How do these guys sleep at night.