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1967 Pontiac Firebird Convertible
Sometimes, having your car turned upside-down can be a good thing.
We're not talking about rolling the dice on the black ice. This mid-air suspension concerns Sam Edwardsen's '67 Firebird rag, currently nearing completion at Rudy Lick's Area 51 Restorations. "It started out as a paint job," said Lick. "After we peeled it down and told him what was wrong with it, he decided to start from scratch." The rotisserie treatment is all in a day's work at the Area, which specializes in the updated definition of a vehicle restoration. "It's the old school look with today's comforts," said Lick.
Comfort has come a long way since the days of low-back buckets and Astro Ventilation. The challenge with a restoration project is how to incorporate the well-padded standard equipment list of the daily driver into the Sunday cruiser, without leaving too many hatchet marks. "Cosmetically, this car will look completely original," said Lick, who is nearing the final assembly stages for this rare first-year Bird. A true survivor, this Winnipeg original saw minimal winter use, with most of its exercise enjoyed at the dragstrip.
The problem with many muscle cars from the period was their platforms, or lack thereof. The Firebird/Camaro chassis consists of two separate subframe cradles, bolted to the body structure. While proven, the long-term effects of throttle mash, torsional twist, and road-scraping ride height can result in open-frame surgery. "The front subframe tends to get hammered quite a bit on these," said Lick. The frame rails of the subframe were returned to their original contours by opening the rails, allowing access for pneumatic rams to be placed within the dented cavities.
With the subrames removed, it's a perfect time to tackle the task of renewing the front suspension and brakes. Every bushing and ball joint has been refreshed. with new lines and hardware for the brakes front and rear. While the Firebird will hit the road initially with its original-spec drums, front disc brake conversion kits are readily available. Updated stainless steel lines are used to provide a much longer service life for the braking and fuel delivery requirements. A new gas tank solves the issues that can arise from 42 years of sediment.
Pontiac carved many a displacement from its mid-1950's V8 block design, such as this Bird's 326 cubic-inch mill. It's mated to a Turbo 400 slushbox, which feeds a 10-bolt Posi-Trac rear end. While the build sheet wasn't handy, it's possible that this Bird could have been a rare 326 H.O. model, the designation assigned when this mill was fitted with a 4-barrel carburetor. Stock specs put output for an H.O at 285 horsepower. Side stripes would have also appeared, as well as stiffer suspension bits and dual exhaust.
Whatever its pedigree, the Edwardsen Firebird will look showroom fresh, thanks to numerous restoration parts from Classic Industries. (www.classicindustries.com) This is definitely one of the go-to guys for Firebird renewal. Lick acquired everything from stunning reproduction trim, to a full interior kit. Pro Body Parts isn't just about everyday collision replacement bits for the River City; they can even source vintage reproduction sheet metal, such as the new front fenders and front and rear valances used here. The rear quarter panels were done some years ago, using a technique that Lick has dubbed "butchered-ized". He removed the quarter panels completely, butt-welding them back into place with alignment bordering on factory.
Whatever its pedigree, the Edwardsen Firebird will look showroom fresh, thanks to numerous restoration parts from Classic Industries. (www.classicindustries.com) This is definitely one of the go-to guys for Firebird renewal. Lick acquired everything from stunning reproduction trim, to a full interior kit. Pro Body Parts isn't just about everyday collision replacement bits for the River City; they can even source vintage reproduction sheet metal, such as the new front fenders and front and rear valances used here. The rear quarter panels were done some years ago, using a technique that Lick has dubbed "butchered-ized". He removed the quarter panels completely, butt-welding them back into place with alignment bordering on factory.
A quick glance at the interior trim might miss the improvements to climate control and sound quality. The Vintage Air system even has retro-styled lettering on the OE-look control unit, which is anything but mechanical. (www.vintageair.com) "It uses the original sliders," said Lick. Upgrading to the Vintage Air system requires the removal of the stock blower fan and heater core cubby from the firewall. It may look a little empty once removed, but the underdash guts of the system are far more efficient than the OE could ever hope for. Custom Autosound Manufacturing (www.casmfg.com) provides an audio head unit that fits into the stock dash cavity for the AM radio that most likely started life there. It can allow for USB plug-in, and shuffles the music for you, with a trunk-mount 10 CD changer.
Edwardsen had expressed interest in adding a factory console for his Bird. While it looks like it grew where it lies, there will be something a little shifty about the new set-up. "You can't buy parts for the original shifter," said Lick, who has opted to add a Lokar push-button unit for reliability. A new convertible top and motor assembly are obvious improvements, as well as a new Painless Performance wiring harness. (www.painlessperformance.com) "No sense in doing all this work and having it go up in flames," said Lick. While most purists will be quick to note that the undercarriage has a lot more colour than ever appeared from factory, the Poncho faithful will be glad to hear that this Bird will ride on period-correct Rallye II wheels, with redline rubber.
The Edwardsen Bird is a good yardstick to use when it comes to build times and costs, assuming that you are dealing with a qualified restorer. The car arrived in May of last year at the Area. The completion state shown carries a total investment of parts and labour of approximately $35,000. While you could definitely buy a very respectable example for that kind of bread, the one question that must be asked before you get sucked in by the Barrett-Jackson gavel is this; is the car done right? "He'll never have to do it again," said Lick. "Eventually, his kids will get to enjoy it." I wonder how he feels about adopting a 39 year-old...
Whether it's a project or pristine, tell us about your dream. Email Michael Clark at The Carport today. carport@mts.net
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