I have a 1969 firebird 400 numbers matching automatic cameo white I am in the process of restoring. I have the PHS documents for the car. I am trying to decide the route to take with the car. I like the looks of the trans am and was thinking of doing a trans am clone with it. I also like the looks of a wider tire in the back so I was thinking about doing the dse mini tubs. I do not want to destroy the value of the car. I figured this is the best place to get options on what to do with the car. It seems the pro touring/resto mod is the direction alot of these old cars are going. The questions I have 1) are the mini tubs going to destroy the value of the car? The second question is turning a numbers matching 400 car into a trans am clone going to hurt the value? I am planning to have the 400 hood painted with the car so if someone ever wanted to put it back they could. Any help would be appreciated.

Welcome! Looks like a reasonably clean ‘69.

Okay, my two cents…
The purest here will want it restored and rightly so as it is a well optioned numbers matching car. Me, I’m more of a it’s your car, build what you want kind. The big question is what do YOU want? Do you intend to keep the car or are you a build it, drive it a couple years then pass it on. If so, a correct, superb restoration may not be for you. If you keep, is it a trailer queen, limited driver or driven a lot? I will tell you, even 2000-3000 miles a year in perfect weather still takes tremendous effort to keep looking show perfect.

I can’t answer the value question. IMO Firebirds are way under valued in the market place. Anything less than a perfect restoration or an LS/LT powered, full DSE equipped build,
brings far less money than a similarly built Camaro. Very easy to invest way more money in these cars than the market will return. That said, a perfect restoration or well done pro-touring build bring big dollars but are expensive to build.

What ever you decide, research combinations and parts, build a plan you are happy with, including a realistic budget and stick to it. Changing mid stream or scope creep gets expensive.

Thanks for your input Dennis! I'm more of a build it and keep it kind of guy. I do want to be able to drive and enjoy the car. I am not a big fan of building them and stuffing them in a garage. I would guess no more than a couple thousand miles a year. If the car had more rust it would be a no Brainer for me to modify the car. My biggest hangup is because it is so solid and a numbers matching 400.

Since you asked for opinions…

Build it stock. Don’t mutilate it for tubs and put reasonable size wheels and tires. 15” wheels max. There are enough fake trans ams around. Celebrate the car for how cool it was in 1969.

Signed
Purist

You have a long way to go. But a plan is nice... all my plans change half way through so I'm a bad example.

Doing it all original is nice but get tedious in less that is really your jam. It is a labor of love.

My 2 cents... make it run and drive well. A new built sub frame saves a lot of time and it will turn and stop like a champ. Build whatever motor you have to whatever makes you happy. Put a color on it that brings you joy. Personally I like an interior to feel like an old car.
Do that original. Except the tunes of course. That's a car you will never be afraid to drive, do a burn out, enjoy.

These days a numbers matching drive train is pretty much "numbers matching". Trans Am clones are well... clones. But if you like the spoiler... hell its your car.

Value: numbers matching and appropriate restoration to original maximizes value…BUT, you will never recover your full cost. Keep that in mind. This is not an investment. It’s a hobby. Have fun.

It’s your car. Build it. Drive it. Enjoy it. If you want to drive a clone, build it.