Home nicecars Revealing the untold story of a 1968 Pontiac Firebird kept hidden for decades with dark secrets

Revealing the untold story of a 1968 Pontiac Firebird kept hidden for decades with dark secrets

nicecars · April 12, 2024 · 0 Comment


But as this 1968 Pontiac Firebird proves, bringing barn finds back to life isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. With dirt and rat droppings caked onto every surface, it took some serious dedication to restore this vintage muscle car to its former glory.

Imagine discovering a muscle car that’s been hidden away for decades, untouched and forgotten. That’s exactly what happened to this 1968 Pontiac Firebird, and it’s not for the faint of heart. The body is covered in a thick layer of dirt, and there’s evidence of some unwelcome tenants – rodents.

But with the help of YouTube’s “GTRobby”, the Firebird is back in the light of day, ready to be restored to its former glory. Despite its rough appearance, the car is surprisingly complete, with minimal rust and just a few parts missing. With some elbow grease and a few trips to the scrapyard, this Firebird could become a head-turning beauty once again.

The interior of this barn-find Firebird was a disaster area. Not only was the rear bench missing and the front seats shot, but the trunk was also filled with a mountain of debris. And let’s not forget about the mouse poop that covered every inch of the floors and trunk – a disgusting situation that required a Herculean cleaning effort.

But despite the mess, the owner was able to salvage the floor panels, dashboard, and door panels, all of which are surprisingly intact for a car that had been abandoned for so long. With its original red and black color combo, this Firebird must have been a real beauty back in its heyday – too bad someone decided to cover it up with a haphazard black paint job that looks like a toddler’s finger painting.

As the owner of this 1968 Pontiac Firebird found out, rescuing a barn-find classic isn’t always a clean affair. The mouse-infested interior was a mess, with missing rear bench, destroyed front seats, and a trunk filled with debris. However, the cleaning revealed some good news – the floor panels were still solid, and the dashboard and door panels were intact.

The red and black interior, which was likely stunning in its day, gives a clue to the car’s original Solar Red exterior. Sadly, the body has been sprayed with a thin layer of black, leaving swirls and stains. But even with its rough exterior, this Firebird is a diamond in the rough just waiting to be polished to its former glory.

Get ready for some good news and some bad news about this 1968 Firebird’s engine. While the engine bay looks rough after years of storage, the fact that the engine is still there is a promising sign. Our host claims it’s a big-block V8, although we don’t know if it’s the original numbers-matching unit. However, it needs a full rebuild before it can start purring again.

The 1968 Firebird had several engine options, ranging from an entry-level inline-six to beefy V8 powerplants like the 400-cubic-inch L67 and L74 H.O., which delivered 335 horsepower. Despite the engine needing a complete overhaul, the owner is considering an LS swap for this classic car.

Although it may be too far gone for a full restoration, the Firebird has great potential as a restomod. So, take a look at this video and see how this classic muscle car was saved from the crusher and given a new lease on life.

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