thinking of getting a new play thing

[stormforce]

I have got the chance of buying a Pontiac firebird think its a 6.6l 1979
at £1500 its got a couple of months of tax but no mot but the only trouble with it is the previous owner decided to try and weld a crack in the manifold and buggered it up but need to find out if i can get a manifold for it b4 i decide.Any of you guys out there have any ideas if this will be worth it and if you know anywhwere to get a manifold
TIA

[Panrixx]

Stormforce,

I know it's a long way from Camborne but you could try speaking to the workshop foreman at Mildenhall Auto Centre, in Suffolk (Tel. No. 01638 713962).

They are located close to the USA air base and do loads of work on cars brought over by the Americans. They did the light conversion work on my C5 Corvette. They are Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ford and GM dealers but I'm sure they have worked on most American cars.

The 79 Firebird is not going to be cheap to run and will probably require lots of TLC and cash to keep it looking and running good, but I'm sure you already know that.

Hope this helps.

[BUSHWHACKER]

http://www.americanstores.co.uk/carparts/index.htm


I'm not going to add any more to this thread 'cos I am incredibly jealous now!

[stormforce]

Stormforce,

I know it's a long way from Camborne but you could try speaking to the workshop foreman at Mildenhall Auto Centre, in Suffolk (Tel. No. 01638 713962).

They are located close to the USA air base and do loads of work on cars brought over by the Americans. They did the light conversion work on my C5 Corvette. They are Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ford and GM dealers but I'm sure they have worked on most American cars.

The 79 Firebird is not going to be cheap to run and will probably require lots of TLC and cash to keep it looking and running good, but I'm sure you already know that.

Hope this helps.

Thanks Brian if i do go for it then it will just be a sunday car so to speak
i will try to get a pic of it later and put up.If i dont go for it then if anyone else is interested i will get the guy's details for you

[Philip]

The only brand new car i have ever owned was a Pontiac Firebird about same time as yours. I part exchanged a Ford Mustang for it.
After a few weeks went to a garage for something and guy said that the chassis had a kink in it and lots of rusty bolts underneath.
After going to Lendrum and Hartman in Hammersmith who were main importers for this make, they said that as car had been damaged in transit from Holland, where most USA cars go first, or at least used to, they told me that they would make it as good as new. I told them i didn't want it repaired and that i wanted a NEW car. After looking at another court case about same thing, the guy lost the case as technically the car is still new.
Ended up not paying HP and they came and took it away after few months.
The Mustang was bought by someone who lived in the West Country and it would appear that on the way back with his new aquisition, the engine blew up. Honestly nothing wrong when i took it in to garage.
Hope you buy the Firebird, its one hell of a car.
Philip

[Vultch]

Ahem... I had one, the exact same year and model...many years ago the late eighties...
Anyhow... Parts were generally not a problem , there were plenty of mail order specialists found in exchange and mart with 24 hour delivery if required.
To give you an idea of cost... the thermostat for a BMW 2002 in 1988 was £46.00 the trans am was £13.00

The cars are very reliable and so easy to work on everything is so big.

I throughly enjoyed that car and i think its still a good looking beast, enjoy.. i hope that helps...

[Panrixx]

Stormforce,

My best advice is that if you do get the Firebird hang onto it.

When I was a motor mechanic, in SW London, at the much younger age of 18-20, I had a convertible 1966 289 Mustang (Blue metallic with a white electric roof and 8 track stereo).

I sold it a few years later and now they are much sought after cult cars, especially in America. Then again so is the 3.4L Mark 2 Jag I once owned!!!

[stormforce]

Stormforce,

My best advice is that if you do get the Firebird hang onto it.

When I was a motor mechanic, in SW London, at the much younger age of 18-20, I had a convertible 1966 289 Mustang (Blue metallic with a white electric roof and 8 track stereo).

I sold it a few years later and now they are much sought after cult cars, especially in America. Then again so is the 3.4L Mark 2 Jag I once owned!!!

he has also got a jag that i think is going up for sale too but i will get some more details on it's spec

[stormforce]

here's a couple of pics

Thanks Brian if i do go for it then it will just be a sunday car so to speak
i will try to get a pic of it later and put up.If i dont go for it then if anyone else is interested i will get the guy's details for you

not sure what the quality is like

[BUSHWHACKER]

not sure what the quality is like

Hmmm, looks like it's been tweaked, plus welding is needed on the exhaust manifold. To me that says it's had a hard life. I would make sure the transmision is o.k. and the rear axle still works. They're supposed to be bomb proof, but you never know..........

I bid on this one but it went past £50!!!!
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PONTIAC-FIREBI...QQcmdZViewItem




p.s. I am no way bitter or twisted.

[da SLUG man]

me and my mate have been looking at US cars for months!...

the idiot's gone and bought a 1984 Nissan 300zx!!... hardly the same thing!... but he's convinced it's the same!... well, it is a T top!... and it matches he dodgy 80's style!