1969 Firebird, TT Pontiac engine

[Hemi8]

So what reasoning do you tell yourself when you look back at 12 years of work and probably a million dollars spent on an old muscle car that can't even be driven? Hope you are able to insure it. I think all the trick fab work is quite beautiful but Jesus, might as well light your money on fire.



Mike

[69Phoenix]

So what reasoning do you tell yourself when you look back at 12 years of work and probably a million dollars spent on an old muscle car that can't even be driven? Hope you are able to insure it. I think all the trick fab work is quite beautiful but Jesus, might as well light your money on fire.

Mike

Well.... you know what they say... if you’re going to do a job, do it right. Certainly many ways to peel the onion and get to a similar ending on a car build. Things always have a way of spiraling out of control and one thing always leads to another. Definitely not a million dollar car, not anywhere close and in the end it won’t be an old muscle car anymore, it’ll be a new muscle car in an old skin. Why buy a Ferrari or Lamborghini just to be a guy driving an off the lot car? Always good to be different IMO. I love fabrication and machining, it’s the industry/business I am in personally and how I make my living. Working with builders like the folks at BBT Fab is enjoyable as I can relate to what they are doing and am involved on many levels. We made the grill and heat exchangers for the hood ourselves, in our own factory so at least we saved a few bucks. As for lighting money on fire. In the end it is just paper right? Can’t take it with me and would certainly never “waste” it but at some point as we age we have to either “sh*t or get off the pot”. I am choosing to “sh*t” a little bit before I get too old and don’t get to make such a decision for myself anymore.

Insurance... yeah... its out there and won’t be any fun to pay but at least if something happens to the car it won’t be a loss.

As for “can’t be driven”. Bah-Humbug. This thing is going to spend a few weekends at the Texas Mile in Victoria Texas and I can assure you it will get driven. The car is not being built just for show... the go is there too and I intend to use this vehicle. Not a daily driver but it’ll be put through the motions and I’ll be sure to keep the juices flowing regularly.

[76TA]

It's certainly not a vehicle I'd ever consider building (or rather be willing to pay to have built) nor owning but the craftsmanship is there and I can appreciate that.

With that said, at some point a build becomes more of a show piece than a car and this has definitely crossed that line regardless of how many miles are put on it in the near future; let's not kid ourselves!

Lots of man hours behind this and I can't bring myself to scoff at that.

[69Phoenix]

It's certainly not a vehicle I'd ever consider building (or rather be willing to pay to have built) nor owning but the craftsmanship is there and I can appreciate that.

With that said, at some point a build becomes more of a show piece than a car and this has definitely crossed that line regardless of how many miles are put on it in the near future; let's not kid ourselves!

Lots of man hours behind this and I can't bring myself to scoff at that.

“It has certainly taken on a life of it’s own and I won’t ever build another car like this one. Definitely not what was intended when we started the project but there’s no turning back now and so we forge ahead. Parts for us are cheaper to have machined outside our shop here in Texas but we are making as many of the pieces as we can. Next Firebird (1970 T/A) will be the milder probably more fun to drive vehicle. Not as much to worry about if you get a door ding!”