This 1968 Pontiac Firebird has solid pedigree: it competed in several 1968 Trans-Am races and has been driven to victory by Jerry Titus in the 1969 24 Hours of Daytona. However, its pedigree also shows that it started out as a 1968 Chevrolet Camaro.
Here’s the story: late in the 1968 racing season, Jerry Titus left Ford and formed a new racing team, TG Racing. Pontiac would provide the cars and Titus would serve as builder, chief mechanic, team manager, and driver. As the 1969 models had yet to arrive, Titus needed a car to finish the 1968 season, therefore needing to get his hands on a 1968 model. So he approached Jon Ward, a former sprint car driver who had driven his self-prepared Camaro to 4th place in his first Trans-Am race, thereby obtaining the Camaro, which he converted it to a Firebird then “set a new track record and qualified on pole in its first race.”
When the 1969 model years finally became available, Titus sold the quasi-Firebird back to Ward, and it eventually ended up racing in Mexico. Today, it’s been fully restored in 1969 24 Hours of Daytona regalia.
Do you like it? If so, you’ll have an opportunity to buy it in a few weeks in Arizona, as it will cross the block at Russo and Steele’s Scottsdale auction running January 14-18, 2015.
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