!!Let's see those Firebirds!!

[Mr.VENGEANCE]

that thing is f**king SICK!!!

[Pontiac Chris]

Here are some pics of my 68.

https://www.pro-touring.com/forum/vb...?do=view&g=858

Chris.

[Mr.VENGEANCE]

bad bird..

[curly]

Aweome bird, and a very interesting history !

[Smock67]

damn that hot nice color you got there

[WS6]

damn it. seeing all these sweet first gens makes me want to get a 69 and turn that into my cruiser with my 79 being my mean machine.

I love the gray with the tinted windows, Chris.

[Pontiac Chris]

Thanks for the nice words guys, the color is a Jaguar Gunmetal Grey. Here's a pic of what it started out like back in 1995! It was originally an OHC 6 Sprint model, although it had no motor or trans when I bought it. It did have alot of rust tho! I'm glad to see so many sweet pro-touring Firebirds out there!

Chris.

[MrQuick]

I remember those ***** cat air cleaners! Sweet. edit: WHAT I Can't say **** cat?? ***** LOL nice ***** car dood.

[Pontiac Chris]

Thanks MrQuick, thats one of those cat induction hoods, rare factory option. Here's a shot of the VIN tag on the firewall

[WhiteG240]

Pontiac Chris: How do you like your 5 speed with the 2.41's? How's it off the line and how is the highway cruising? What are your RPM #'s at those speeds?

[JLM]

All dones with paint, but stilla a long way to go.

[68topls]

what color code black is that? who painted it?

[JLM]

what color code black is that? who painted it?

Color code is GM. WA 805K

Auto Restorations in Greeley Colorado performed the paint work, and a few body items. Price was fair, excellent service. I'd certainly go back to them.

[Pontiac Chris]

Pontiac Chris: How do you like your 5 speed with the 2.41's? How's it off the line and how is the highway cruising? What are your RPM #'s at those speeds?

WhiteG240, The Richmond with 2.41's works pretty good, I'd prefer a TKO 500 with 3.08's as the TKO has the same first gear as the Richmond (3.27). So the TKO would be better off the line and better at 80 mph, 2000 rpm as opposed to the Richmond's 2500 rpms. I bought the Richmond in 1996 or 97, there wasn't much choice for manual trannys back then as there is today.

Chris.

[CliffS]

Thanks MrQuick, thats one of those cat induction hoods, rare factory option. Here's a shot of the VIN tag on the firewall

Chris,

It just got to me. Did you had a fire in your garage back in England which partly destroyed you car? Turned out awesome!!

[Pontiac Chris]

Hey Cliff, yes thats me, its a real FIREbird! Here's some of the damage from the fire back in 2000, I had no insurance and it set me back another 2 years from getting it on the road - bummer




Cliff I see you're located in Amsterdam! Congrats on your car, its awesome, I love the 69 TA hood, is that a hydraboost behind the Wilwood master I see? How do you like it?

Chris.

[CliffS]

Ai..I have been feeling you pain back then...
Thanks Chris, Yes I'm located in Amsterdam and it is a Hydroboost unit. One of the best investments I made! The stopping power is unbelievable. A lot of HP & Trq is nice as long as you can stop your Bird too! An almost unpleasent happening in a traffic jam (with one of my kids onboard) made me realise that.

We're in he process of rebuilding the engine now after an oil starvation issue(engine was build by a US reputable engine builder) :(.

I see you moved to the US. Saves you a lot of shipping, VAT and import charges!

[Pontiac Chris]

I may go with a Hydroboost down the road, the 9" dual booster works fine for now, only a couple of times I've noticed lack of vacuum and had to blip the throttle.

Yes I moved to the US in 2002, my shipping bills are WAY cheaper!

Good luck with the engine rebuild.

Chris.

[WS6]

Ok, that explains why the picture of the car in 95 doesn't look anything like AZ. Never mind the giant license plate sitting right there that I didn't notice.

Why Antwerpen for the body tag? Was the car sent there or was it actually built there? I know GM had some over seas assembly plants.

[Pontiac Chris]

Ok, that explains why the picture of the car in 95 doesn't look anything like AZ. Never mind the giant license plate sitting right there that I didn't notice.

Why Antwerpen for the body tag? Was the car sent there or was it actually built there? I know GM had some over seas assembly plants

.

WS6, The picture from '95 was taken in London England, thats where I'm from, yea that license plate's pretty isn't it!

The car was originally built at the GM assembly plant in Antwerp, Belgium, as an OHC 6 Sprint 4 speed model in Alpine Blue. Most of the cars built there were equipped with small V8's or 6 cyls as Belgium had a tax on engine size back then. I spoke with Jim Mattison from Pontiac Historic Services and he had no information on the overseas built cars, only that they were partially assembled here in the US and shipped over for final assembly to avoid the tax on imported cars.

According to the records I got with the car it was imported into England in 1980, it was in Street Machine magazine in 1981 with a small block Chevy, black paint, hood scoop and graphics down the side. Then I found it in 1995 as a rusted out roller, the guy I bought it from wanted the small block in it and left the car under a tree in his backyard. Even tho it needed quarters, trunk floor, outer wheel houses, door skins, inner fenders, fenders, and hood due to rust I'd always wanted a first gen and they are hard to find in England, so I couldn't pass up the $425.00 he wanted for it.

Thanks for listening!

Chris.