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Words: Tommy Parry
It had been a long time coming. When Bill picked up this pristine Firebird some 36 years ago, he had big plans for the machine. However, reality intervened, and a house, marriage and college tuition for the kids put the Firebird in to a dusty corner of the garage. For a while, it seemed it would never become the car of which Bill had once dreamed.
Fortunately, he’s a determined, patient man. When the kids had left the nest and the mortgage was paid off, 32 years after picking up the car, he commenced the build that would turn it into pretty remarkable car. He began by sending the waterlogged 455 to a local engine shop, where it was rebuilt with forged pistons, forged rods, a mild cam, a relocated oil filter, mild head work, HEI ignition and a port-matched stock intake with a tailored Q-jet. With a T56 out of a 2001 WS6 sending power to a Strange S60 rear, he had the drivetrain a proper muscle car deserves.
That big-block torque, matched to a modern gearbox, meant impressive acceleration. With a car that punchy, he needed to make several improvements in the stick and deceleration departments. To quell that newfound speed, Bill wisely added a set of C5 Corvette brakes at both axles, underneath the 17x9” Rally II wheels wrapped in Bridgestone BFG rubber.
Unfortunately, the same elements which waterlogged the engine also corroded the floors. To rid the Firebird of rust, Bill installed a new set of floorpans, cleaned out three decades of crud and doused it all in black.
As handling was a prime concern with this build, Bill stuck the battery in the rear for improved weight distribution. Continuing on that note, he installed Hotchkis’ TVS suspension kit, Global West’s tubular upper control arms, Fox shocks, Del-A-Lum bushings and F-body subframe connectors. With the footwork sorted, he turned his attentions to the aesthetics.
After Bill blocked the car four times, he took it to a local paint shop for a coat of Liberty Blue. “The car looks amazing but I do wish I would have made some space in my garage and shot the color myself,” he reflects.
Inside, a pearl white leather interior gave the Firebird a classy look that suited his aims. The stockish appearance, only modified by a Hurst shifter and a Walnut console top, fits with the rest of the Firebird and its understated style.
His weekend cruiser, this Firebird is Bill’s way to blow off steam after a long week. With the intention of keeping it in the family, Bill’s kids will get to enjoy a project that’s spanned half of their father’s life, and appreciate just what someone can create with the right amount of tenacity and style.
For more on this immaculate Firebird, you can view its build thread here.
