1973 Pontiac Firebird

Coupe

8 - Cyl.

Manual

Clear

Gasoline

Here is a very original (last paint job was in 1979) Firebird. This car started life as a regular Firebird 350 in 1973 and was upgraded with formula parts in 1979 by the original owner. It is one of only 541 equipped in 1973 with a factory four-speed gearbox, making it a very rare car indeed. It is finished out in Pontiac racing white with blue stripes like their Trans-Am racing cars of that year. The paint was renewed in 1979, but I believe it was the original color. I purchased the car with the idea of making it my regular driver. It sat in the garage this winter with periodic short drives on dry days to keep it nice. With the idea of keeping the car, I’ve just sunk over $1300 in the air conditioning system to make it operational. This isn’t for sure yet, however, as the rebuilt compressors from O’Reilly are not up to the task. I have ordered a genuine AC Delco compressor, and I will update the listing when that is installed next week. Rest assured I am doing everything I can to make this work. The Navy is sending me to SC, a wet climate, and in the end, it’s just too nice of a car to be subjected to the daily grind, so I would like to pass it on to a collector who can give it the loving care it deserves. CONDITION: Engine: The original 350 w/2bbl carb runs great, is tractable and smooth as one expects from a car that is right. With it’s electronic ignition it runs very cleanly, uses NO oil and does not smoke, even on startup (a common ailment for ageing American engines). It is very strong and has good power delivery. There are no knocks, sputters, or other engine noises that would point to something being wrong, and there is no evidence of a rebuild. It appears as if it has hardly even been touched, other than regular maintenance. That is very rare on an American car this age, as most of them have been “upgraded” in some way or another. If you prize originality, here it is. Exhaust: The dual exhaust is in excellent condition, with no holes or leaks, and sounds great. It’s not loud, it’s not objectionable, and it sounds right. Gearbox: The extremely rare factory four-speed gearbox is tight and works flawlessly. There are no synchro problems like many cars this age, and the engagement is positive and quick. The owner in 1979 equipped the car with a Hurst shifter package, which adds a period improvement to the shifting motion. Speed shifting is an option, something that the Alfas I’ve owned or even my BMW 2002 wouldn’t even want to think about. I bought this car because it had a manual and they are so rare, and shifting it brings to mind that connected feeling a muscle car should have. Clutch: The clutch engages early, positively, and with no slippage. There is no problem with adjustment or getting the car into gear, and it works just as well as it should. Steering: The car tracks rail straight, is effortless to drive, and the steering is very tight and light due to the factory power steering. There is a tight turning radius for a car of this size, and the padded drilled spoked steering wheel is very nice to use and look at. It is definitely a huge improvement over the bar type original, and I believe was also added in the seventies. Suspension: The suspension is stock except last fall I replaced the tired original shocks with the very best new Koni Red adjustable shocks.. These transformed the handling of the car immediately, and it can go through corners with surprising ease. The ride is comfortable with no knocks or rumbles, and the car corners very well sucking up bumps in corners and unpredictable surfaces much better than before. Body: There is no evidence at all of any type of accident, and only minor surface rust where the paint has cracked or is missing that could be corrected with a couple of hours of time. There is also no evidence of any type of bodywork conducted on the car. The bottom of the car was coated early on with undercoating and rustproofing (it came from New York). The doors shut and latch easily, and engage firmly. They are aligned well with no droop. The underside of the car is rust free due to the undercoating, with completely solid floors, frame, and even the rear pan. There is a bit of rust on the bottom of the body panel by the rear wheel where the paint cracked off, but it does not appear to have rusted through and is probably easily repairable if you know bodywork (which I don’t). There is no rust around the windows. Glass: The glass is in good shape, clear, not cracked or pitted. It does have minor scratching on passenger window but doesn’t have the ghosting that comes with delamination around the edges due to age and sun exposure. HVAC: The heater core, motor, and distribution valves work well, and it makes the car nice and toasty when you want it. The A/C has had the compressor, drier, lines (custom made for $350) etc. replaced. This work cost over $1300. That is essentially the whole system new except for the condenser. Right now I am waiting for the shop to fine tune the system, and then it should work as new. If you live in any sort of warm climate, this will be extremely nice in the hot summer months. Paint: The paint is in good condition and is a multiple coat job, but was applied in 1979. On account of this, it has cracked off in some places, most noticeably above the left front headlight (no rust has formed there). It looks amazing from 20 feet, but on closer inspection there is revealed blemishes that would need to be corrected if you want it to look great close up. Electrical: All the lights, switches, and motors work. The headlights are bright and good, the turn signals work fine, as do the hazards. The interior lights work.. The original AM only radio is even still in the car, but has been disconnected in favor of a period Craig cassette deck with FM. The speakers are actually surprisingly clear and high quality on the rear deck, and the power of the system is very good. Another reason I got this car is because everything works, which it still does. Interior: The interior is all original and in pretty good shape. The driver seat has cracks and has been repaired with black tape, well applied and long lasting. Both the driver and passenger seats could be recovered for $269 from Classic Industries or you could put a cover over the drivers seat. I have just been using them as is, and it works fine. The rear seats are supple, comfortable, provide firm support, and have good vinyl. The overall level of fit and finish is very high in the interior, and nothing rattles, squeaks, or is loose as is commonly the case with these cars. The woodgrain dashboard has no cracks and fits well. All told everything in the interior is extremely nice, and it feels like it has been taken care of for its whole life. Brakes: The disc brakes work well, stopping the car easily without pulling or fading or any drama. The rotors are in good shape, as are the calipers and the cylinders. An extra set of brake pads for the front will be included with the car, but there is no need to install them for sometime as the ones on the car have plenty or pad left. Tires and Wheels: The tires have tons of tread left on them, and the stock wheels look very nice, with Pontiac racing blue accents to them. CONCLUSION: You will not be disappointed with this car. If you had one of these back in the day, expect the same sort of driving experience you had back then, as this car has been given TLC all its life. It’s not exactly a time-warp, but it is a really nice original Firebird with no funky mods that mess it up. Keep in mind I am not a professional mechanic, and this was not a 100 point GM Certified Pre-Owned Inspection. It is based on use and experience with the car, as well as years of experience in saving cars . This car has never suffered any down time that I know of either. Please feel free to ask questions, and I encourage local inspection so you can develop your own opinion about the car. The car is currently located in South Bend IN, about 70 miles from Chicago. I will assist in the shipping process and can drive it to be picked up. If you want to fly in and drive it home, I know it would make it just fine based on the past few months with the car. I drove it 900 miles from New York in October and it ran flawlessly the whole time.