[bossbirdta]

just saw this.....looks like the old Gas Monkey may have hit the jack pot...


.http://nypost.com/2014/04/17/holy-gr...n-conn-garage/

[highway star]

"Holy Grail of Firebirds", prototype.
Could be big money. Here's the holy grail of prototype Honda's:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1969-HONDA-S...t_3975wt_57246

[keith k]

The '67 Firebird w/ VIN # 001 was advertised on this site a couple years ago, and was a red convertible if I recall. The seller was in Michigan, but I don't know if the buyer was a site member or not.

[Jerry H.]

Aaron on that show has some skills, but Richard is a typical used car salesman. No way would I buy one of those cars that was restored in 60 days. Much less for $600,000. Something is fishy here.

[KS circutguy]

Originally Posted by Jerry H.

Aaron on that show has some skills, but Richard is a typical used car salesman. No way would I buy one of those cars that was restored in 60 days. Much less for $600,000. Something is fishy here.

Exactly - ratings on the show falling that far?

[Scarebird]

Holy Grail?

Bollocks. That would be DeLorean's 389-in-a-Tempest prototype from March 1963... the original GTO.

[muscle_collector]

I would take any ra car over a firebird with the vin 1 or 2 considering it is just a 326 car

['ol Pinion head]

Old news. In January, the Gas Monkey bunch were looking for a hardcore Pontiac restoration expert to guide the restoration of these two Birds. This just might be the first reality car show episode that I will waste time to watch. It would only be to see who was credited & if the result was "just presentable, or a very well done job. I'm betting on the former. Rome wasn't built in a day & "100 point" (the words they used) high end restorations aren't completed in 60 days.

[Ram4king]

Something is very fishy here. Both those cars were just bought a few months ago off ebay for around 25 grand by a flipper in Connecticut. He's the guy they bought them from and I'm eager to see what story they come up with about the purchase. No big deal here they are nothing car's in my opinion. Now if they were ram air cars or something at least rare besides the vin number then I'd think we have something here. How the he'll can they be worth 600k. I'm really starting to lose faith in all these reality shows.

[richard sargent]

All scripted, all bs, cars were in garage in Michigan, not barn finds, were on ebay for the world to see, not much action. Went pretty cheap BECAUSE they weren't that collectible.

Since the vins were different on the six cylinder, V-8, verts and coupes there were four different 001 cars.

[Garry Sr]

# 1 & 2 Firebirds in Gas Monkey Garage at the same time, it's the Holy Grail for them and it's all over the internet. Gotta read the fine print.

[Half-Inch Stud]

...i probably owned the LAST 1st gen F-body made. norwood plant, 1970 build, real darn good condition & properly optioned for fun & value. tough to prove "last from the line" and becomes a tinny sound when mentioned. Not clear if 1st or last of a model is a durable value point.

[Singleton]

How far into 1970 were the 69's produced?

[GT182]

Rawlings is a big time AH of the first degree. And I'd love to say that to his face. He was in PA this last March for a show but thank God I missed it. I'd probably gotten punched right back.... maybe. LOL

[Alvin]

Originally Posted by Singleton

How far into 1970 were the 69's produced?

Certainly there is someone with the exact information and dates here on PY. Until then; In general here's the 1969 Firebird Gen 1 end of production story:

"Due to engineering problems that would ultimately delay introduction of the all-new 1970 Firebird beyond the usual fall debut, Pontiac continued production of 1969-model Firebirds into the early months of the 1970 model year — until the end of calendar year 1969 (the other 1970 Pontiac models had been introduced on September 18, 1969). In fact, by late spring of 1969, Pontiac had deleted all model-year references on Firebird literature and promotional materials, anticipating the extended production run of the then-current 1969 models."

[Birdguy]

One thing about "reality" shows you can be sure of is that they have nothing to do with reality. They are like a child throwing a temper tantrum. If people quit watching them they will eventually go away.

[MikeNoun]

The 1969 Firebird went into the 1970 model year, but not the 1970 calendar year. The original announcement by John DeLorean (an introduction to the press on the 1970 models) stated that 1969 Firebird production would go through December 1969, but I think the latest invoice anyone has seen in 3rd week of November 1969. The new 1970 Firebirds debuted in February 1970.

Since they had to print up brochures for the 1970 models before the model year, the extended 1969 Firebird run led to some confusing artwork and photos, and many times a 1969 Firebird would be seen in the background in an ad for a new 1970 Pontiac, but they never referenced the 1969 Firebird as a 1970 model, they just sort of blurred the lines.

[Singleton]

Thanks for the info Mike & Alvin. Guess that's were the term 1970 1/2 comes from concerning the f-body's.

[hada76]

Originally Posted by Birdguy

One thing about "reality" shows you can be sure of is that they have nothing to do with reality.

got that right...and why is there always some "do or die" deadline looming over every build, it gets old fast.

one news story mentioned an ex NBA player somehow involved in the sale as well

[MikeNoun]

The hype continues.

“We found the cars in a garage in Connecticut,” says Rawlings. “They were in a dilapidated barn and are the very first Firebirds . . . they were hand-made . . . and were used by GM to decide if they wanted to build the Firebird.”

Soooo.....Pontiac made two production Firebirds, with VIN's, and THEN they decided if they wanted to build Firebirds?