After a very long time I am finally driving our Firebird. Never drove it before as we brought it home in boxes and on a car dolly. Everything was there but it took me 15 years to complete. It was the "poor man’s" muscle car with the 326HO and 2 speed power glide which I still have but replaced with a 455 /700R4 combo. I spent a lot of time on this forum for information and ideas from various contributors. I gathered what I thought was unique and tasteful along with some of my own ideas. Thanks to everyone who shares and often times show frustration over trying to get something working. We all want our car to be different in its own way. It took me a year to design and make the grill and decided to move the running and turn signals up into it. Color is 2011 Corvette supersonic blue metallic. Lots of purple pearl and love how it changes in the light. The rear quarter striping idea is from the car “Frost Bite†and the scoop idea was from Drew Helm, both of which are from info on this site. I am sure I will get cackles from the purist for painting the bumper, designing a different grill, adding the front and rear spoiler, the hood scoop, and so on however I did keep it Pontiac under the hood. In fact I even bought a Chevy 350 but couldn’t bring myself to put it in the car. Either way, build your car how you want, you’re the one driving it. I am still working out the little things but have put on 550 miles this summer in-between life. Last pic is my 91 year young mom wanting a ride in "that car"... She won't forget it!
Thanks Jim, as you can imagine, several times I told the wife I was going to sell it, I was done. Glad she didn't let me and now we are enjoying the work and the years put into it.
Very interesting resto- pretty creative. I like the color, and I think the car looks pretty good. Cudos to you for sticking with a Pontiac powerplant,
The pic with your Mother is awesome.. Good for you for making that happen!
Cant wait for summer... 68HO4004spvert Sleddog Iowa
God Bless the men and women past and present that have served this country. Thank you. Support D.A.V. - it helps gives a life back to those who gave so much for us.....
Wow... I don't know that I'd have the commitment! I love the paint color. The stripes, too. Not sure the grill is my cup of tea, but the overall package looks awesome. And, as you said... to each his own.
Nice job!
Pretty cool that your Mom got to see the car in its finished form... she was only 76 when you started!
Ok, I never thought about her being 76... that is funny. My mom still drives and has a 2006 Grand Cherokee. She still travels and flew out to Colorado this summer to go to the mountains. She can shoot like you wouldn't believe and kept 4 sons and a daughter in line. And NO I won't let her drive my car! LOL
Very cool. Always good to hear another bird made its way back into the land of the lucky living. Nice to see your mom enjoying it too. Last year I told my 86 yr old father with me out on theSonoma Raceway for a few " parade " laps during lunch break at the vintage races. My mom tells me the next day that he hadn't stopped talking about it since he got home. He told her, " you know that Rob likes to drive fast". LOL. I enjoyed giving him that as much as he enjoyed he experience. Should've made him wear a helmet too but that might've been too much.
