A heavily customized 1968 Pontiac Firebird restomod managed to fetch a massive $187,000 at a recent Barrett-Jackson auction.
There’s not much 1968 Pontiac Firebird left in this particular restomod, but with a near-$200,000 price tag, that’s probably to be expected. The car, which took nearly three years to complete, sits on custom front coilover suspension with tubular A-arms and Detroit Speed Quadralink rear suspension, while power comes from a 6.2L LS3 V8. The engine has been mildly upgraded with an aftermarket camshaft, rods and pistons and is paired with a GM 6L80E six-speed automatic transmission, which sends power to the rear wheels through a Detroit Speed 12-bolt rear end with 3.73 gears. Bringing things to a stop are Wilwood disc brakes at all four corners and Wilwood brake master cylinder.
Inside, the ’68 Firebird features modern bucket seats lifted from a 2006 Pontiac GTO, along with custom seat and door panel upholstery, a Vintage Air heating/cooling system, power windows, a custom center console, Momo steering wheel and tilt steering column.
There are some minor body modifications, as well, including shaved door handles, shaved roof rails, a custom front lower valance and a custom rear spoiler integrated into the trunklid. The body has also been refinished in a coat of eye-popping Viva La Red PPG metallic paint and has matching painted brake calipers.
According to Hagerty, a bone-stock 1968 Pontiac Firebird 400 Coupe in mear-perfect concours condition is valued in the mid-$50,000 range. This car is far from stock, of course, but we’re still a bit surprised to see it fetch such an insane price at Barrett-Jackson’s Fall 2020 auction this month. Think it’s worth it, or did this auction attendee overpay? Check out the listing at this link for more information and photos and decide for yourself.
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Comments
The console looks very cheap.
Four-figure kit car console on a six-figure car. The seats, door panels, and shifter knob are underwhelming at that price point, too. You can tell where the money was spent.
Otherwise, it’s lovely.
no supercharger you could build your own as nice cheaper do not forget 10% for craig “B.J.” jackson
The buyer didn’t just overpay-he WAY overpaid for that car. Paint is nice, engine is nice-the rest? Unimpressive.
“Did this auction attendee overpay? ” LMAO.
Seriously? Are you kidding?
I sure hope that knucklehead got kissed, because he sure did get screwed. I shouldn’t be surprised though; historically, most BJ bidders are multi-millionaires who know little about cars who find themselves in bidding wars with other multi-millionaires who also know little about cars, and just can’t let their egos take the hit of ‘losing’ a bid.
BJ has been exploiting these-type bidders for years, to the point where all of them (bj owners) are, themselves, now multi-millionaires.
Obviously it was worth it to the buyer.
As the old saying goes….there’s one born every minute…
He had four hundred thousand building it
If you were to find a good body ’69 Firebird with little rust, then buy everything as added to this resto, you’ll spend at least $75K in parts, maybe $100K. ($10K in body and paint)? Then add hundreds of hours in labor. It might seem to be a bargain when some have more money than talent and tools to build such a gorgeous vehicle. It’s just not another well worn 68 ‘bird.