Mecum will auction off the first and second production examples of the 1967 Pontiac Firebird at its upcoming Kissimmee 2021 sale.
Both of these early production run muscle cars are currently owned by Richard Rawlings, founder of Dallas, Texas-based restoration shop Gas Monkey Garage and star of Discovery reality show Fast N’ Loud. Rawlings bought the vehicles off of former NBA basketball player Chuck Aleksinas and had them restored by his Gas Monkey Garage crew for an episode of Fast N’ Loud that first aired on Discovery back in 2014.
The first production 1967 Pontiac Firebird was a convertible model finished in Regimental Red with a red interior and black convertible top. It retains its original L30 326 cubic inch V8 engine and two-speed Powerglide automatic transmission and shows 80,389 original miles on the odometer.
The second car is a hardtop coupe that was finished in Silverglaze metallic paint with side stripes, a black vinyl roof and a matching black interior. This car was a bit more performance-focused than the car that rolled off the line just before it and as such, features a numbers-matching L76 High Output version of the 326 cubic inch V8 with a Rochester four-barrel carburetor and original four-speed manual transmission.
Both cars have undergone a full frame-off, nut-and-bolt restoration to their original factory specifications and are described by Mecum as “essential,” pieces for any respectable collector of noteworthy first-generation Firebirds.
These early 1967 Pontiac Firebird examples will cross the auction block at Mecum Kissimmee in mid-January, 2021. Mecum did not provide an estimate for what either may sell for, although considering their early production run status and celebrity ownership history, we think these two will definitely attract considerable interest when they go under the gavel next month.
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Comments
I want the coupe! The hood tach and the taillight s made me fall for the firebird .seeing them for the frist time .I tore out the adds from magazine s and pinned them to my walls along with 67 bronco , 67 el Camino adds In grade school that’s all we talk about where cars
I hate to throw a “Monkey Wrech” into this story but I have a black and white picture from GM archives showing the !st production 1967 Firebird off the Lordstown assembly line. It is a convertible but it is definitely not red. The VIN number would be the deciding factor, Would have to see that to confirm which one was right and why the discrepancy.
Cars do not come off the assembly line in VIN order, Mustang #1 was not the first car off the line, it was saved for the photo op.
Not everything in archives is true, And if it was black-and-white how the hell could you tell the color?!
The cars that are owned by Richard Rollins we’re never supposed to be sold they were not set up as number one and number two to be sold they were supposed to be destroyed and that never happened by general motors and a subsidiaries so the individual that commented that these were the first two production cars to go off the line doesn’t know what he’s talking about check the original episodes and check with the former basketball player who owned them those two cars were never supposed to see the light of day Pontiac intended to destroy both cars.
They did use the VIN tags to determine the authenticity. 001 and 002 were the numbers. Many pontiac and gm folk were enlisted before Rawlings spent a dime. The cars needed tons of work and master Pontiac mechanic was there to oversee and aid in the restorations. Watch the appropriate episodes. His car flip buddy was also involved in the purchasing of the 2 vehicles.
These cars were used for advertising and dealer promos. They were supposed to be destroyed but were sold. The #3 and 4 cars are presumed destroyed. I however am the owner of the #5 car. It is a 400 convertible auto. Its restoration is just about complete
You probably already know this by now, but #4 was found here in Auburn, CA last year. It’s the Skydiver show car.
These cars were preproduction and had a different VIN type than production models. I think that means the 1st and 2nd production models would have a 5-digit number following the VIN coding and not the 3-digit shown on preproduction cars.
Nice job , I would still have the cars looked at. Rawlings over estimates the value of his cars. If he takes a loss on them it won’t be the first time
Whatever they are , it’s always good when Americana is saved and restored.
Love these old versions. I have a 1968 convertible I need to have restored. Someday…..
Same here….1968 convertible, red, 350 and a 3 spd. Hurst. 2nd owner…..someday….
Good luck at auction. R&R. If anybody deserves a fair deal of cards it’s you. Seems the better one is the more others criticize. RR you show them this time those two fire chickens. Go get it done. I’ll come to texas to have a beer over it. Again good luck at auction.
hmmmmm i have body number 001 serial number00012,,engine number 000015 in a 1966 grand prix
Who the hell cares.you guys r not going to buy them so stop trying to rain on somebody’s parade.good lord I’ve never seen people so quick to judge.
I have to agree with Pete Baker on this stop down playing the cars be happy for the man that owns this beautiful car’s. Way to go Richard I love the firebirds and I watched the episode wear you bought them both I hope you get a truck load of money for them both.
I have a 67 convertible Firebird, in my garage, waiting in line for restoration, too. While I love seeing these timelessly classic cars restored.. it is rather aggravating seeing reality show people, throwing unlimited TV show budget money at these projects.
Personally, it is more gratifying, seeing privately owned vehicles built, and restored, by their owners. That would seem more motivational to the rest of us, than financially unrealistic “reality TV” builds.
There was a story, that Factory Five put in their promotional DVD. It was about a father, who purchased a kit car from Factory Five. He was later diagnosed with terminal cancer. His son, and extended family, all pitched in effort to complete the build, before the father’s passing. The man got to enjoy the car for a while, before he died. And, Factory Five did a feature on it, after his passing. ..outlining the build. Then, they drag raced the kit car against (if memory serves) a late model Corvette. The kit car won.
THAT story was inspiring.
No matter who restores those cars or no matter the money put into them, vehicles are worth what someone is willing to pay for them. Who ever purchases them will see them as an investment that will only increase in value over the years, providing they remain in their current condition. Based on today’s built vehicles, those birds are what quality’s about in engines, cast iron and not scrap aluminum.
They cama with Buick super turbine transmission . Completely different 2 speed automatic
How do you do a frame off restoration on a uni body car?
I have had 3 Firebirds in my life and absolutely would want a 400 4 speed with the tunnel ram with tach on the hood ! I had a 1969 that was scary ASS fast machine and the most enjoyable car running through the powerful low end torque the 1969 compared to the 1978 4 speed i had but the 1978 had T Tops that i loved ! The 67 -69’s are my favorite years with these BEAST ASS MUSLE. CARS!
I wish I cohld have the red one I love it dream car jhezzzzz
Due to its two-speed with torque converter design, the Super Turbine 300 is often confused with Chevrolet’s Powerglide — which was also a two-speed torque converter transmission, but the ST 300 had a different design from the Chevy unit, which had been around since 1950.
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Somebody said tv show money at it. Shows he has no ideal at restoring cars . Only cars getting restored and done correctly all have to have the same investment regardless who owns or does them . Just because he didn’t take 15 years of penny pinching and cobbling it togather doesn’t make difference.