guys, i bought a real cool '67 convertible in 2013. My son Luke and i made a trip to Long Island and bought it on the spot... many of you took a look at the hundred pictures the broker took and gave good advice. Truth be told, I am just not a car guy in any way. I love the Firebird, but it's a numbers matching with a carburetor of course... just not what i am used to driving at all... In Chicago it sits inside its garage for most all year, and just getting it started from time to time is more than i want to do-- i would find it shameful and disgusting to have this numbers matching car ripped apart for a fuel injection engine, etc... to get it to something that i could just jump in and drive now and again... So, i have decided to sell it to someone who knows what they are doing at a super reasonable price...i paid $26K and would be glad to sell for much less... and i am just going to buy a cool 'bird or Goat that has the new fuel injection and easy to drive-- just looks good-- car... ESPECIALLY SAD... someone came into my garage with a knife and sliced a triangle into the backside of convertible top and knifed one of the tires... i have been so sad about it i didn't fix it or drive it all summer. A new top is about $1200 and i didn't even try to find a tire-- i think it will need 4 new ones so they all match... looking for ideas and thoughts as to what my best next steps are in time for this car's 50th anniversary this coming April!! pics: https://goo.gl/photos/ikReb6ii2dkL5XFG6

Sell it for the exact reasons you state - give somebody the chance to keep a nice, original, numbers matching Firebird on the road while you get to funds to buy a classic with a modern, trouble-free drivetrain.

That's a beauty- i love that color. Best of luck with the sale, I hope it goes to a great home.

Thanx much. Maybe I just tell the broker guy to put my story in the description...

Pretty sweet car. That one tire looks like the tread is separating. It does not look like lt was knifed. That is a sh!t deal about the top.

Its not easy to own a 50 year old car and not be a car guy.

Ya know you could just put a FiTech fuel injuection system on it for about $1500, change the tire and put the top down:)

ROHRT-- i like the way you think-- would it not be a violation of "purity standards" to shove a FiTech fuel injector in there?

I'm curious why the carb is an issue.

To be honest, I came dang close to providing you the link to FiTech on my 1st reply here. I have saved them under my "Firebird" favorites just because my newer vehicles also cause me to go, "Hmmm, I wonder if a long term goal for my Firebird should be FI?"

But another idea is that, IF you have a real carb expert go through your OEM Q-Jet - those things really are relatively problem free from then on. I had my E-brock 1901 Q-jet clone rebuilt along with the engine and the only problem I have is today's fuels (with really low vapor pressure) evaporating out of the carb between journeys.

the carb is just code for: i just can't jump in the car and start it up --it's always a problem getting it going once it's been sitting for a while. I have a first gen SLK 230-- 1998-- and it's the most dam reliable thing on earth-- always starts-- never anything a problem-- granted-- it's only 20 years old; not 50... and it goes to the mercedes dealer every other year for a total service-- that's what i need for my firebird-- a more reliable drivetrain, and a guy who can take it in and make sure it's doing well-- i need to get a cool looking classic with modern drivetrain-- and a guy in Chicago to look after it-- i put my firebird up for sale for $19,500 and will see what happens...

I had my carb redone recently and it starts up and runs without issues. It was a struggle before that. So, I would agree with you that you are a using it as a code word but I think you've given up on the car for some reason that we will likely never fathom. A tire is an easy fix and the top, relative to your investment, while not insignificant shouldn't be an impediment. Finding someone to tune the carb can also be done.

So, am I trying to practice some "tough love" here? Yes, I am. Is it none of my business? Yes, it isn't any of my business.

i appreciate tough! i would love to not give up on the car-- the tire is tough to find -- will even buy 4 if needed-- will need a flatbed maybe to take it somewhere and fix it up-- i guess an option is to find a real solid Firebird guy in Chicago-- will be glad to pay whatever it takes-- to get this amazing car to a place were i can actually enjoy it-- right now it's just a drag...

It really sounds like you are on the correct path for you and your happiness like I said in my 1st post. Sell the Firebird to somebody who, hopefully, can appreciate it's collectability as is (and deal with it's quirks) and you will have the capital to get classic sheet metal with a modern, "trouble-free" heart.

F--k no! Well my standards are not all that high LOL. My bird is is all about subtle modifications. It looks pretty stock under the hood but the more you look the more you would find that its far from stock. Mine was a 326 2 speed car at one time. Now its a 400 clone and by 400 clone I mean a roller cam 455.

Anyway I still run the Cliff Q-jet and it is a PITA to start. The car sits for long periods of time between drives. The gas in the carb evaporates and it takes some cranking to get running. After it warms up, restarting it is aother PITA due to heat induced fuel expansion flooding it over (at least I think that is what happening). Cranking it several times with the gas halfway down is the only way to get it started.

I have a tempest with a 326 that is all stock and it starts and drives like a dream.

They do make a striped down version of the FItech thats a bit cheaper and throw in a TanksINC gas tank with a nice submerged pump you would be in good shape. You could be a little stealthy with you plumping throw the air cleaner on and not many people are going to notice. I would love to do this with my bird some day. Modern gas in our old cars just sucks IMO.

You never did mention what your starting issue is. If they are anything like mine there are some good solutions out there that don't require FI system. If your having fuel drain back you could just install an electric pusher pump at the tank. Lot have people have done this route too.

If just dont enjoy the car then I would say let it go. It is a very cool car. Its amazing all the peoples reactions when your driving a car like that.

Hi Mark form North Side of Chicago. Read your post I have two convert. Firebirds 67-68. Sometimes I let these cars get to me because I cant find the time to tinker with these cars or when I have some extra money to throw at them I can always find somewhere else to spend the money, then another year go's by and....... Sometimes I get a wild bug up butt to sell one or both and just get a new American sports car. I too feel that I don't drive them enough also. So what I can offer to you is to join a car club which I have and it helps me stay connected to people that can help you fix your car or offer good references to get your car fixed plus last but not least give you some car functions to take your car out to enjoy. PM me if you would like and maybe I can steer you in the right direction to enjoy the hobby.

i got an offer for $16995 on the car-- ship it to Long Island-- and i think i will take it--- anyone have a cool firebird with a modern drivetrain? vert preferred thanks guys