MOTION FIREBIRD

[Plowman]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: motionbird</div><div class="ubbcode-body">it is 74 firebird </div></div>***Pictures,pictures,and pictures would help out to help us to help you.

[SS427]

The first thing you need to consider before you start, are you restoring the car for your own personal collection and intend on keeping it or are you going to sell it soon after the restoration? If you intend to keep it then I do not believe getting a value of the car post restoration should be a true deciding factor. Many people spend $70k on a one ton dually F350 only to watch it depreciate drastically the moment they drive it off the lot whereas your car will likely appreciate every day from the restoration forward. Depending on what you paid for the car I think you will be ok even with a concours restoration.

[Plowman]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: motionbird</div><div class="ubbcode-body">i belive it a shop car heavily modified and fully documenentad. if i do frame off restoration on this car what will it be worth. this is a 74 firebird not TA. I woud like to know how much money to spend on it. </div></div>***With out pictures and someone{ a Professional } to look at it to put a &quot;what will it be worth&quot; is real hard to say.

[MosportGreen66]

From what I remember on this car, it was a project car sitting outside for a long while. Could be the Firebird on the cover of the Pontiac Performance Guide and Catalog. Documented both by Joel and the original work order. LS6, aluminum heads, Th400, currently red, black interior, no L88 hood, don't remember if it had pipes...

This car is identical in build to the &quot;Rat Bird&quot; which just traded hands last for like $45,000. Your gauge should be some where around that mark. This is odd ball and while rare, it does not mean desirable. Just in the nature of the Chevy vs. Pontiac argument, I surmise a Camaro is going to be worth 25% more.

Dan

[Lynn]

This one is tough to peg.
Most Pontiac purists aren't in the market for a 454 powered Firebird, even if it is a Motion car. Most chevy guys want.... well, a Chevy. Then you have the whole &quot;big bumper&quot; thing. Many guys just won't consider anything after 73.

So... if you are planning to sell, you are going to have a limited market. That normally means less $. However, if it is in an auction, it just takes two to drive the price up.

I don't believe anyone can give you an accurate &quot;finished&quot; number. Too many variables. You may have posted this already, but does it have the engine that Joel installed? If not, the price just went way down, in my opinion.

If you like the car and want to keep it, I don't know that it matters THAT MUCH what it is worth other than for insurance purposes. You can get a policy from one of the classic car insurers for any reasonable amount.

If you are wanting maximum return on your investment, then I am betting you are going to make the most money selling it as is to a Motion freak.

[StealthBird]

Agree 100% with Lynn. Very well said. Pontiac collectors have very little interest in any Chevy powered Pontiacs (at least the pre-1982 era) and Chevy collectors would only be interested in the Motion connection as it pertains to Motion history, not to the whole Chevrolet/Motion mystique.

The car would draw leers at any Pontiac show, regardless of the Motion connection, because nothing offends a Pontiac, Buick, or Oldsmobile fan more than seeing a Chevy engine under the hood, even if it's a nasty LS6. It would be like buying an autographed football with Hank Aaron's autograph on it.

As for value, recall the 1975 Yenko Trans Am that proved to be a really tough sell, or the 70 Buick Motion GSX.

[Tracker1]

<span style="font-style: italic">As for value, recall the 1975 Yenko Trans Am that proved to be a really tough sell</span>

that car is a good benchmark for the discussion here. had a ton of paperwork - no sale at $82,500

[COPO]

You will likely never break even from investing in a true concours restoration on this particular car, however, most of us look at the financial return as a secondary consideration, and the intrinsic value as the primary motivation for restoring a car. If you are just looking to maximize your financial gain, you're better off selling it prior to restoration. Sounds like a cool car.

[StealthBird]

That Yenko Trans Am went through Mecum in 2010, no-sale at $82,500, and a year later it was put through Mecum again, this time only bid to $73,000, still no-sale

After a few years off, it's going through Mecum again n Jan 2014.

I thought it was a pretty cool car, but again, a Chevy powered 1975 Pontiac isn't very appealing to Pontiac collectors.

[Astock]

Funny, I just posted about that engine in the new crate engine LS7 thread yesterday. Before I sold that TA to Ed (rip), I took it out one more time to try and get the pedal to the floor. Doing around 100 in 4th, I tried to ease the pedal to the floor, no luck, just started to spin. It had vintage McCreary stars and flag tires though.