Wanted a nice driver 68 or 69 Firebird 400

[JChlupsa]

not a 400 but still might be worth a look

http://forums.performanceyears.com/e...mp;m=880100916

[Chris396]

I really want an original 400 car. I'm not really looking for another convertible but this one calls to me.

[JoeG]

You think the seller will put you under or give you a local anesthetic-------

[NCGuy68]

[ QUOTE ]
I really want an original 400 car.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yep...you, me and about five thousand other guys want one as well. Originals are far and few that have the factory drive-train. Unmolested originals fetch well over $13K. when they trade.

Good luck in your search and hope you find the right car

[Chris396]

I want a driver car not a spotless show car. Firebirds are still a lot cheaper than Camaros for some reason. I've seen a few for sale a few months ago before I had money that were in my range.

[Belair62]

Don't need a kidney....got any ear drums laying around ?

[Chris396]

I have two of them only slightly damaged by chambered exhaust and Led Zeppelin.

[hvychev]

Ear Drum still screwed up from that 02 Dick Harrell car?

[Tim Greer]

Hi,

Here's a story and a possible car for you. There's someone in my town that has a '67 or '68 Firebird 400 that's a convertible. I don't know if it's original, but I am told it is and is mint condition (the guy bought it 20+ years ago as "an investment" and has apparently kept it in a barn (more like a garage than a barn) since).

I don't know the condition of it, but my brother used to live near it and said he walked up to it and it was straight, no rust, looked perfect inside and out. I also don't know if it's an auto or manual, or anything else.

It's yellow, which I don't like, but my brother asked the owner about 10 years ago (or about, maybe a little more) if they'd sell it. The guy shrugged and said "erh... I don't know, maybe $4K?" My brother didn't have the money and didn't tell me about it until much later.

The car is still there. I saw the tail end of it. It's down a very scary road in a sleazy part of town. You literally drive down a dirt road between old, run-down looking businesses, and there's fields of washers and old refrigerators rotting and rusting (ugly place).

In the back, there's two small dilapidated houses that look like the house Jason from Friday the 13th kept his mother's head in (with all the candles).. you know.

There's their garage/barn back there and it's their "shop" for their heating and air conditioning 'business' (read: these people look and act like paranoid, unbathed drug dealers--I really don't see anyone doing business with them).

Nonetheless, I was talking to a friend about it last year and he just had that look like "BS!" on his face (one of those "way back somewhere, there's a perfect Firebird convertible 400, and the guy only wanted four grand for it!" stories.

So, I got all into the idea and stopped by the bank, got $4K cash, stuffed it in an envelope and drove down there (they have big dogs too, I think Rottweilers (seriously)). So, I brave it out, walk up to knock on the door of the 'business' (read: barn door) and hoped I didn't get shot.

Well, no one answered. So I pick up my cell and call the number on the door. Some lady answers rudely and I explained I was in front of the 'business' and inquiring about "some old Pontiac convertible 'thing' my brother saw and asked about several years before".

She says "You mean the Firebird?". I said "Yes. I'm interested in buying it". I tried to get some information after she said she was the "answering service lady", but she knew way too much about the car and seemed to be upset I was asking about it.

My brother says he thinks she's married to the owner's son. The husband's father being the owner of the business (and the car--apparently some old man that's been in prison or something). They clearly didn't want to pass the message along--probably because they hope the old guy will die and they'll get it... or they can be the middle-man and make some cash off it.

She wouldn't give me the owner's name or number and I didn't want to "demand" she did (that would just make it worse). So, I had to leave my name and number. She said she'd give the message to the owner. I waited and never heard back.

After about a week, I came by again, no one answered, I called on the cell and "she" answered again (I cringed. Damn it!) So, I said "Oh, I called the other week about the car. I don't mean to seem pushy, I was just out of town and my answering machine wasn't plugged in (dang thing!), so I was just hoping I didn't miss the call".

She didn't really want to help at all. She just got an attitude. I asked if she knows how much he'd want. She says "How much do you think you'll pay?" I said that it depends, of course, I've not even seen the car. She says "Well, I don't know how much you think you're going to pay, but he's going to want 'a lot'".

I tried to find out what "A lot" meant ($8K? $15K, $30K, what!?). She said that she gave him the message, and that was pretty much it. I drove down the road a couple more times, but it's like a long dirt drive way to hell--but the road is worse and the dogs are meaner.

The last time I drove down the road, some psycho redneck about tore the baseball cap off his head toward the ground, like he was throwing it down for a fight. I figured that's probably not a positive sign and I would get nowhere. I backed out and drove off. I gave up.

I bought a '67 Camaro RS convertible a few months later (which I preferred anyway, so things worked out), but I still would have liked to found out how much they wanted. I was going to go to the city clerk and find the name and address of the business/property owner and send him a letter, but I figured if I went through that trouble, he'd think the car is worth a million dollars.

I know this is a long story, but there's not a lot of these around this area, and I can't believe someone that has something for "20+ years as an investment" wouldn't bother to return calls of someone that's obviously very interested. So, there's a chance, if you want to deal with these fools, that it could at least go to someone that's not an A**hole.

Just for kicks, give them a call and see. You never know. Maybe they'll sell it, or you can at least give them grief about how stupid they are and send them to CarsInBarns. :-) Their business information (from the phone book--if they are still in business (they have been for a long time)), is:

EM & Sons Heating & Air Conditioning
2130 Pray Rd, Redding, CA. 96001
Phone: 530-244-1736

If you bother (and I can guess you _really_ want to, now, after that story :-), then good luck. At least maybe you can find out what they want. If you do, let me know (I'm just curious, I don't want to bother anymore). It might be a good price--just don't pick up the car alone. :-)

[NCGuy68]

Thats one hell of a tale! Beats any 'ole car in a tobacco barn' story I've ever heard. Sounds like something in W. Virgina rather then CA.