Today’s Nice Price or No Dice Firebird may not be not a rip-snorting V8-powered Trans Am, but it does have some of that model’s looks and a T-top roof. Could this more economical model prove the better bargain?
Do you remember a time when Ford’s Lincoln Motor Division offered only luxurious cars of ample proportions like the 2018 Lincoln Continental Premiere we considered yesterday? Pepperidge Farm remembers. In order to survive, Lincoln has followed the market down the crossover/SUV rabbit hole, and that has caused precipitous depreciation among cars like our Continental. That was obvious in the $16,995 price tag our car carried. And, that was also low enough to engender some nostalgia amongst many of you, giving the Lincoln a narrow but undeniable 53 percent Nice Price win.
Like most Lincolns of yore, yesterday’s Continental didn’t have a less-pricey analog over at Ford, as did the lesser Mercurys. Sure, it shared a lot of common corporate parts under the skin, but at least visually, it was allowed to stand out. Such parts sharing under a veneer of individuality has been common practice over at General Motors for decades as well. Today’s 2000 Pontiac Firebird is one example, sharing everything from its glass T-top roof down to the fender tops and the entire chassis with its F-body platform-mate, the Chevy Camaro. Adding to this being a family affair, the 3.8-liter L32 pushrod V6 under the Firebird’s hood comes from Buick.
Now, it would be nice if this Pontiac instead carried the LT1 V8 from Chevy, but with 200 horsepower and 225 lb-ft of torque, plus the L32’s exceptional reputation for reliability, this should prove a reasonably frugal and fairly fuss-free cruiser.
According to the ad, there are a couple of issues that need addressing before that era of exceptionalism can commence. The first is a non-functioning A/C. That could be a bad compressor or minor leak to a dash-out replacement of the evaporator. With summer just days away, that’s a serious consideration.
The other problem is an apparent electrical short in the power window circuit for both doors. Chasing down electrical faults can be time-consuming and frustrating, but at least the windows are stuck in the up position, making the car secure at the moment.
Other than those somewhat major worries, there’s not much wrong with the car. Obvious issues are a loose piece of door guard on the passenger side, some scratching and abrading of the paint on the front bumper, and clear coat failure on the wing mirrors. Those seem to be minor aesthetic demerits rather than real problems.
The cabin looks to be in great shape, save for the presence of an ill-fitting carpet toupee on the dash. That could get the heave-ho leaving whatever horrors it hides as a more pleasing result. The rest of the interior looks fine, although this Firebird does come from the era when Pontiac chose an interior design that centered around bulbous buttons and dashboard plastics that lend the car a look as though it had been stung by many bees.
On the plus side, the seller says the 3.8 V6 and four-speed automatic drivetrain “Runs great,” boasting that the car is “fun to drive.” It comes with the T-Top roof, which is an additional bonus as long as the seals are solid. There’s also a clean title and a reasonable 112,380 miles under the car’s belt. What might something like this be worth?
Per the seller, a $3,995 price seems fitting. That obviously takes into account the aesthetic and functional issues, none of which, it should be pointed out, would prevent the car from being driven.
What do you think? Is that a good starting point for a fun and flamboyant car that needs a little work to be whole? Or is $3,995 just the tip of the iceberg on a car that won’t ever give back what it takes?
You decide!
Stockton, California, Craigslist, or go here if the ad disappears.
H/T to Tom Paulson for the hookup!
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