Words: Tommy Parry

Several years ago, Phil stumbled upon this Pontiac Firebird corroding in the corner of a shop in Montana. He and his wife were looking for a new project and despite the rust, they saw the potential in this aging Pontiac. The price was right, so the couple packed up and took an overnight drive to claim the car. Though far from perfect, it would serve as a strong foundation for a “strong resto-mod with a few modern touches,” as Phil put it.

On the long drive back home they took a detour to his father-in-law’s garage, as their own garage was stuffed to the rafters. There, they put the car up and scoured every inch of its tarnished hide in search of the impact of the elements. It wasn’t hard to find. They sidestepped a lot of headache by pulling the floor pans completely, then began thinking of the right type of subframe connectors to give the Firebird some much-needed rigidity.

While the rust inspection was happening, they removed the Firebird’s rear end and modified it with a KORE3 C5 brake kit. With a matching set of C5 disc brakes in front, they would be comfortable getting after it on the road course or the autocross.

The plan for the drivetrain was to use what could have been an available option for the car, while also improving power and driveability with modern features like overdrive and multi-port fuel injection. It had to do long hauls well, so a reliable powerplant was a must.

After scouring through a local boneyard, Phil dug up a '67 400ci block along with a set of 061 heads, then picked up an Edelbrock Pro-Flo kit once the new version became available. For the overdrive, Phil chose the 200-4R - another BOP option to suit the theme.

After trying a dual-snorkel intake from a Corvette and realizing it wouldn’t fit, Phil opted for an Airaid unit with the benefit of a nice provision for the PCV fresh air hose. Then came the 2.5” exhaust with an x-pipe, a Corvette fuel pump and an ECU he mounted on the other side of the heater delete block off plate. Along with a beefy Thunderbird fan and an auxiliary transmission cooler, they wouldn’t have any issue running this Firebird on hot Midwestern afternoons.

Phil could then focus on the Firebird’s cabin. Time and the elements had made their mark on this Pontiac’s rough interior but a set of Fiero seats - yet to be reupholstered - and a karting-style steering wheel helped give it some form. Though they plan on fitting it with some suspension upgrades to handle the autocross a bit better, the car needs to be comfortable. “A lot of our decisions were made to make it so we could drive the car long distances without too much strain on the car itself,” Phil added.

They’re progressing at an astonishing rate, especially considering the state the car was in when they bought it, so there’s plenty to expect in the coming months. To keep an eye on the progress of this inspiring Firebird, one which is destined for a life of autocrossing and showing, you can visit its build thread here.