1968 Pontiac Firebird 81838 Miles Light Blue Convertible 350 V8 Automatic

Fun cruise-night cars don't get much more desirable than this bright blue 1968 Pontiac Firebird convertible. Someone has poured impressive sums of time and money into the restoration, and the result is an eye-catching drop-top with V8 power, the perfect recipe for summertime fun. The paint looks a great deal like code P Barrier Blue, which is one of the better choices for the late 1960s. It's in fantastic shape and probably looks a lot better than it did back... when it was just a few years old. Of course, this car received much more than a simple repaint; before they fired up the paint guns, the restorers spent hours and hours straightening the bodywork, block sanding the substrate, and getting everything nice and straight. A great deal of time was invested getting the doors to fit properly, the hood to sit flush, and the pesky deck lid to align with the quarters. Once all that stuff was right, THEN it was time to lay down the new paint. And seriously, it's hard to go wrong with bright blue on your convertible, so the choice was a good one. It's also nice to see that it hasn't been dressed up to be something it's not, and I, for one, have always appreciated early F-bodies without the wings and spoilers to interrupt their graceful lines. All the chrome remains in very good condition, and the Firebird offers neat details like the subtle trim inside the quarter panel "gills" and the coolest side-marker lights ever made. The only notable addition is a chin spoiler, but it's subtle and in keeping with the car's low-key look. The beautiful Parchment vinyl bucket seat interior was also restored and offers an upscale look that somehow eclipses its Camaro cousin. Pontiac was obviously looking for an upscale buyer with the early Firebird, and dressed the interior accordingly with big, round gauges and simple European-looking stitching on the seats. It's hard to say whether the gauges have been restored or not, but they look awesome with crisp markings and clear lenses with few signs of age, and the dials under the center stack are a nice addition. There's a center console with T-handle shifter for the 3-speed automatic transmission, and a later AM/FM/cassette stereo takes the place of the original AM unit. Seal out the weather with a tight-fitting white vinyl convertible top that features a crystal clear rear window, while the trunk has been properly finished with a correct mat set and full-sized spare with cover. The engine is a Pontiac 350 cubic inch V8 that's been dressed for success. Pontiac made their own small block, and it was famous for its durability and torque production, emitting an entirely different sound than the venerable Chevy powerplant, too. Finished in Pontiac Turquoise paint with a set of Mickey Thompson finned valve covers, it is nicely detailed, and includes upgrades like the Holley intake and carb, HEI ignition system, plus a chrome open-element air filter complete with reproduction decals. A slick TH350 3-speed automatic transmission delivers power to a heavy-duty rear end, while the fumes are routed through a set of long-tube headers and Flowmaster mufflers. The tub is reinforced with a set of subframe connectors and beautiful Pontiac Rallye II wheels wear 235/60/15 white-letter radials, a welcome improvement. The more we look, the more impressive this Firebird becomes, and we can't think of many better places to spend a warm summer afternoon than behind the wheel of an unusual F-body. Call today!