LOL, I can't see Banshee's car sitting idle in a garage waiting for a show...

Nor mine. I don't drive it every day, I don't drive in winter, but I do drive it everywhere I take my daily drivers.

Guess being an old guy who paid $500 to $1500 back in the 70's for these cars with low miles/rust free keeps me cringing at todays prices.

I also wont own one i could not drive every day and worry about theft or a total collision.

I hear that! And Grundy rocks!

Sorry to say the days of these cars being considered merely old gas guzzlers is long gone (though it's still true...)

Insure it and drive it. Stuff happens, whether it's in the garage, the driveway, or the highway.

Agreed with everyone writing on here. Im definately not in it for the money. I love working with my bird. I could have gone out and bought any other car restored but then i would have no attachment to it. I love my bird and i never plan on getting rid of her. And i do plan on driving her all the time.
As for the car which this thread was started with, that i why im holding to my position that our firebird prices will sky-rocket along with everything else. you have many uneducated buyers in this market that will pay anything so they can tell there friends that they have an old car. Im not saying there is anything wrong with that but if a first gen conv just went for 10K and needs say 15k+ do the math. and it wont be worth that when your done with it. however, as time goes on, there arent many on the market restored, you have to buy em like that conv. so dont be surprised when more and more firebirds in poor condition go for those prices.

Gotta love that bird glass, Banshee!!!

Jordan, I agree with post 74896..

I love the bird glass as well...bought another set of glass a few days ago.

I paid 11k, with 15k in restoration, the car is worth technically $26k correct?

The book value of a correct 68 HO 4 speed is roughly 31-37k Correct paint, correct down to every aspect of PHS barring wear items.

There is absolutely no decrease in value for wear items such as brakes or hoses.

You replace with NOS, the base price increases by 10-15%.

If this were a numbers matching 400 4 speed, you would not do as well as there were 7450 400 4 speeds (WZ) and 1410 HO 400 4 speeds (WQ)

Banshee:
That looks like a great car!! (And love the bird glass also!)
Did you get it out of California?


To me, restoring these cars is my main enjoyment. Some do stamp collecting, model trains, model cars, baseball cards ect, my hobby is restoring them. I don’t think I’ve ever sold a car that I restored for myself that I did not loose money if you add up what my time is worth.

I really do not even drive them much in the summer; I’m too busy working on the next one.

Brian

When I looked at the car, checked the numbers, called Jim about the PHS, I was holding my breath regarding. Jim called me back in an hour and everything checked out fine. The LEIN VIN check shows a possible lein somewhere. It was a California car and has CA plates from 78.

Only problem was the carb ad the manifolds. I have conflicting information that early 68 HO 400's came with regular manifolds and the later came with long branches. So far I am 6 for 8 stating the reg manifolds are correct, which only leaves me with the carb, but no big deal.

I too am pleased on the bird glass...a bonus.

I am in for the long haul. I have been looking for a Verdoro Green HO 4 speed car for 13 years. If I overpaid, unlikely. But at least I have 1 of 1410 produced, and likely 1 of less than 400 left that are numbers matching, shell only or badly decomposed.

I be quite happy once I get her rolling.

I know the bird glass looks really good but i was wondering the segnificance of it?

Congratulations on your find.

Rare and very sweet looking.

It's interesting how some topics turn into discussions about why we have these cars - as if there is a "right" reason.
I bought mine because I had a 67 convertible in high school (1976). It was the nicest car in my HS school in my opinion and it was just a plain original 326. I resisited many telling me to put on headers and a 4-barrel carb etc. My car was not the fastest by a long shot but it was the best in my eyes - I just liked the idea of keeping it original. I think I'll scan a picture of it and start a new topic about our first Firebirds.
I now have a 68 Firebird that I found and that is the replacement for the one I got rid of in 1982. I didn't expect to "restore" it becasue I liked the idea of making a driver out of it and keeping the original paint etc. But I got sucked in. As I looked into all the various parts that needed replacement, I ended up stripping it down. I will not end up with a professional restoration and I doubt it will be worth much more than I put into it but that's not what I'm after. I want to make it close to original (not show) and enjoy having my second oldest son (high school senior) involved with it.
My Rule of Thmb:
Take the original estimate in time and money I expected to put into the car and triple it.
Banshee:
The car you found is terrific in all aspects. From an investment point of view it's a great deal. From a Firebird lover who appreciates an original rare car - it's awesome! (or as we say in the Massachusetts "it's wicked awesome". (I've learned from my son who attends U of M that anyone who says wicked in MI stands out as an obvious Bostonian:)
Yellowbird:
It's appears that you're becoming a Firebird collector by the number of cars listed in your profile - we want a picture of you with all those cars?!

Was the glass bird a factory option?

Dont remember if a factory option..didn't see it in a parts group list though.

I know of 18 Birds that don't have it, 2 that do.

"Bird glass ....no one can pin this one down as I've had every possible combo get these don't think it was a late model addition or early model deletion".

"*MYSTERY: Why did some Firebirds come with Deluxe Seat Belts when it wasn't noted on any of the documentation ? My '68 RA I Conv. has it's original, date coded correct Belts (deluxe) yet, the documentation says nothing about Deluxe Seat Belts. I've never seen any correct, original '68 Firebirds with the 'Coach' emblem Button (not to say none were built with them) Seat Belts are yet another mystery- right up there with the 'Bird' Glass."

My 68 has the bird glass - I though most of them did.

What is the date code of your motor if original and the chassis build date?

I posted the chassis as 07D
I don't know where the engine date code is but the manifolds are coded:
intake G098
exhaaust G088 and G108

The bird glass was rare, dw, and as far as which cars got it, noone knows for sure. It was only in 68 and came on very few cars. It isnt specific to any trim package, model, or plant, and isnt documented.

Dave,

Your chassis build was 4th week of July and you have second week of July motor. Usually the engines were 4-8 weeks behind chassis builds. Since your car was close to the end of the year, I suspect the chassis caught up to the motors cast.

After thinking awhile, realized i was being a hypocrite.
Here i was saying the conv in the ad wasnt worth 10K, and i have nearly 15K(drive train) in a plain 68 coupe.
Fact is, i would love to have a RA/H.O. conv. at the price Banshee paid.
And i have owned a 67 Tyrol blue 400/4spd/3.36posi-pwr disc brk-p/s-hood tach car since 77 waiting for me to restore since 93.
Gone through many others cars while this waits...
And now have a solid body 68 GTO that needs a repaint.

Guess what i'm saying is 15K is a good price for these cars.
And one just isnt enough is it?
LOL...

One can be enough if it's the right one. The hard part is knowing what you want.

Banshee, like others, i too am waiting for the exhaust manifold mystery to be solved.
Never seen an H.O. FB with long branch manifolds.
From my researh, the only diff's between them and the RA cars were 067 vs 068 cam, diff. jeted carb, diff curved distributor, and cold air a/clnr.
And of course rear gears.

Even less difference in 69. They used the WQ for ram air III.

Banshee, if that is the one we talked about here in Indiana I am jealous that it was so close to home and I didn't find it first. Nice purchase. As for my car I paid $8000 purchase price then spent another $20K on a complete resto. Maybe a bit much for a 69' 350 auto convertible but I did a ground up and did it right. In the past I (mainly do to youth and lack of fundage) had cut corners on some other cars. I decided that regardless of cost I wanted it done right. I personally know about every nut and bolt on the car. It started as a solid NOM car with great documentation and well optioned also. Now after 3 years I am ready to drop the top and enjoy.

I know I paid over what both my 'birds were worth. My convertible was $17,000 and the coupe was $7000. I should have done research when buying the drop top. I possibly could have saved a couple grand. The coupe I felt was worth $6K for a fairly original car, given its road worthiness and interior color change. The car did come with V-8 the PO was going to put in the car. And I though I could get some money out of it. But that hasn't happened. But both cars are worth my time and money, when those elements are available.



It's also nice to have a 'bird you can get out on these cold sunny days and go for a drive as you, John and I did yesterday. So what my cammer got a little dirty. The thumbs up, and the folks that ask about the car give a good deal of satisfaction as well.

Looks like you'll have to get some biz cards made up if folks come out in the cold to kick tires with ya Vikki.

LOL, it was your car that did the trick...I wonder how long that guy stood out in the cold waiting?

There definitely was not the amount of salt on the roads in southern Ohio as we see in the Detroit area; you saw my car's disguised color. Clean, it is very close to the color of John's car.

Passing over the Rouge River bridge south of Detroit is a mound of road salt covering probably 3 acres and 100 feet high. That's a lot of car solvent. Any car driven year-round here has a limited life expectency no matter what type of corrosion protection is used.

If not for the salt I'd drive a 'bird year round too.

LOL! Car solvent... I now have a new way to look at the mineral.

Ponch,

Yes, the southern Indiana Bird.

Picking it up tomorrow. If you are around, call me.