1969 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Tribute

Description

There's probably not a lot of crossover between Pontiac guys and Chevy guys, but if you're merely looking for the nicest F-body around, you'll be hard-pressed to find something nicer than this 1969 Firebird. More unusual than a Camaro, and packing a 400-inch big block and a bit of a Trans Am look to it, how about treating yourself to a cool piece of vintage muscle with a few new tricks?

Bright silver paint will make this Firebird stand out in a big way anywhere it goes. The bodywork very good, and in 1969 at least, Pontiac was sticking with a minimum of add-ons to dress up their bodywork. The Trans Am got a few visual upgrades, like the Ram Air hood and the unique spoiler on the trunk, and they're faithfully used here to give this F-body a performance look. The urethane nose with a chrome grille surround would define Pontiac muscle for a generation and the vents on the front fenders suggest a lot of performance lurking underneath. Sure, the paint looks deep, rich, and impossibly shiny, but it can only look that good because the bodywork is straight; just check out the razor-sharp crease running along the flanks as proof. The Pontiac guys also have a few cool details that the Chevy guys didn't get, including the slick Firebird rear side marker lights, bright '400' callouts on the hood and trunk lid, and neat little round marker lights up front. What little chrome Pontiac left is in excellent shape, including the rear bumper, which has a cool cutout for the license plate just below it.

The government mandated headrests in 1969, and the buckets in this Firebird have been fully reupholstered with fresh blue seat covers that show a lot of detail and an inviting look. The door panels are nice, too, matching the dash pad and fresh black carpets on the floor. The center console is original equipment, including the burled walnut appliques that gave the Pontiac cars a more upscale feel and the factory gauges were dumped in favor of a Trans Am setup with aftermarket temperature gauge underneath. A steering wheel that should look familiar to Pontiac fans everywhere, and there's an AM/FM/cassette stereo head unit in the dash. You'll also note that this is a factory A/C car, although the system needs the blower serviced, which should be easy. The trunk is fitted with a full-sized spare, and one glance inside will remind us all that clean cars are not that easy to find these days.

You know the 400 cubic inch Pontiac V8 is built for combat when you see the dyno sheet that accompanies it. It isn't radical, but it runs extremely well and makes big torque that launches the Firebird with authority. There's a Ram Air V camshaft inside, new valve train, and an .030 overbore on the block. It's finished in Pontiac Turquoise with a few chrome dress-up pieces, as well as a 4-barrel carburetor up top. It was rebuilt in 2012, so it's still quite fresh, and the way it runs and drives will prove once again that there's no replacement for a big motor in a small car. Long-tube headers cackle through a pair of Flowmaster mufflers that sound muscular, but not over-the top. A heavy-duty TH400 3-speed automatic transmission just shrugs off the horsepower and there are discs at all four corners to reel it in on the big end. Nevertheless, it keeps a low-profile thanks to stock Pontiac Rally II wheels with 255/60/15 white-letter radials.

Deceptively stock, seriously fast, and tons of fun, this Poncho is just the answer for the guy who needs some GM muscle and is looking for something that not everybody has. Call today!