This 1969 Pontiac Firebird still wears original paint, runs, and now needs a complete restoration.
A 1969 Pontiac Firebird that has spent years sitting in California is now up for auction on eBay. The 57-year-old car needs a complete restoration, but it still has several features that make it an interesting project, including its apparent original paint, complete interior and running Pontiac 350 engine.
The Firebird is not roadworthy, and the seller does not provide many details about what happened to the car during the past several decades. Its condition suggests that it has been sitting for a long time and now needs extensive work, particularly if the goal is to return it to its original condition and factory specifications.
The Trans Am was not yet part of the Firebird lineup when the 1969 model year began. It eventually became the most recognizable version of the series, reaching its highest sales a decade later. Pontiac sold more than 117,000 Trans Ams in 1979, when the company introduced the Tenth Anniversary Trans Am.
In 1969, however, the base Firebird remained the lineup's best-selling version. It was also the entry-level model, with several engine and transmission combinations available.
The standard Firebird came with a 250-cubic-inch six-cylinder engine producing 175 horsepower and a three-speed manual transmission. Buyers could also choose a four-speed manual, a two-speed automatic or a Turbo Hydra-matic.
The same six-cylinder engine powered the Firebird Sprint, where a higher compression ratio increased output to 215 horsepower.
The V8 lineup started with the 350 small-block. The Firebird 350 used a two-barrel version producing 265 horsepower, while the Firebird HO received a four-barrel engine and heavy-duty three-speed transmission, producing 325 horsepower.
The Firebird 400 was offered with three different engines. The four-barrel 400 produced 330 horsepower, the HO version made 335 horsepower, and the Ram Air IV was the top configuration with 356 horsepower and a heavy-duty four-speed manual transmission.
This particular Firebird has a Pontiac 350 under the hood, although the seller does not say whether it is the original engine or a replacement.
The engine does run, but the car is still nowhere near road-ready.
“We got it running, but it is not road-worthy,” the seller explains. “It’s only been fired up and moved a little forward and backward.”
The photos show a Firebird with a solid overall appearance but plenty of work ahead. The most notable detail is the paint.
“This is an original California car and appears to have the original paint,” the seller notes.
The California history is also reflected in the car's relatively limited rust issues. The body still needs attention, but the original paint could make the Firebird an appealing candidate for a restoration that preserves its existing character rather than replacing everything.
The interior is also complete and appears to mainly need a thorough cleaning after years of sitting. Its completeness suggests that the car has not been stripped for parts to support another project.
The auction is already underway, with the top offer at $7.10. Fifteen bidders are currently competing for the Firebird, while the reserve price has not yet been met.
That means the car could fail to sell if bidding does not reach the seller's reserve. If that happens, it could potentially be listed again.
The Firebird is located in Las Vegas, and the buyer will need to arrange transportation because the car cannot be driven home. The auction ends in two days.