American car show organizer Goodguys Rod & Custom Association has named the winner of its coveted PPG Street Machine of the Year Award for 2021: a custom 1969 Pontiac Firebird that was built by Mahomet, Illinois-based shop BBT Fabrications.
This heavily customized 1969 Pontiac Firebird is barely recognizable as such, with virtually every inch of the exterior sheet metal having been tucked or modified by BBT’s expert fabricators. In addition to the custom sheet metal, this head-turning street machine also boasts a custom front fascia with custom LED headlights, along with aftermarket split five-spoke alloy wheels.
Under the hood of this over-the-top Firebird sits a twin-turbocharged GM LSX V8 engine that was built by Lawrenceburg, Tennessee-based shop Butler Performance. With Edelbrock cylinder heads, MSD ignition, custom-fabricated headers and exhaust, a Ron Davis radiator and Billet Specialities accessory drive, this 482 cubic inch (7.8-liter) engine doles out an estimated 1,400 horsepower. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a Bowler T56 six-speed manual transmission with a heavy duty McLeod RTX clutch.
Just like the exterior, there’s not much left of the Pontiac Firebird’s cabin. Interior mods include a custom dashboard with a custom instrument panel and gauges, an aftermarket steering wheel, a tall shift lever with a gloss black cue ball shift knob and bolstered sport seats with red leather upholstery. A sport pedal box, gunmetal anodized switches and trim and a custom leather-wrapped center console complete the cabin overhaul.
Goodguys COO Andrew Ebel said this 1969 Pontiac Firebird, which is owned by Dallas-based enthusiast Brad Sather, is “among the best,” custom vehicles in the country at the moment – netting it the company’s highly sought-after Street Machine of the Year designation.
The search for the 2022 PPG Street Machine of the Year Award recipient is currently underway as the Goodguys Rod & Custom car show tour continues its trek across America this year.
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Comments
That looks awful. Firebirds never looked as good as their Camaro cousins but they look a lot better than this. And do I really see red seats in a green car? That combination only works with Christmas decorations or with salsa in New Mexico.
I’d agree – the simple sharp angles on the nose are not an improvement given the flowing curves of a firebird. It looks like an afterthought.
Car does not have an LSX as stated. Car is running an aluminum 482″ Pontiac built by Rodney and David Butler at Butler performance. I personally think it looks great. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea but the detail is amazing. Remember, red and green are opposites on the color wheel/spectrum and actually compliment one another. Merry Christmas.