1971 Pontiac Firebird Esprit 400 V8 Muscle Car Original Owner Restored Running

Pontiac Firebird 1971 Description

You're purchasing a garage kept 1971 Pontiac Firebird Esprit 400 with 1 original owner and a free and clear title. It has 133,785 original miles. It features an 8 cylinder 350cid/250hp 2bbl engine. This classic muscle car which is the same one featured and driven by James Garner on the iconic 70's tv show the Rockford Files is a 2 door coupe with a near complete restoration featuring a flawless black hardtop and a nearly flawless and restored interior. The car runs and looks great. The body is in excellent condition. This is a California car than has had zero exposure to snow and road salt. The car was never driven overly hard and was expertly maintained throughout its 46 year life.
This model year was the second year they made the firebird.
The original owner passed away very recently and the car was given to me (his friend) and the longtime doorman of our building by his daughter as a gift. She has transferred the title to us which we have free and clear. I have ridden in the car over the years and over the course of our friendship so I know it well. Since being gifted the car it has not been driven. I started and ran the car to verify that it was operating and fully functional which it is.
Having said all this I am not a car guy so if my description is not in the language of car culture please forgive me. I have described the car as best I can as a lay person.
Included with the car is the original owners manual, a repair manual as well as a bound booklet which extensively details the entire restoration ($14,500 spent). This includes an appraisal, dated receipts, names of shops used and their addresses, specific restoration details and mileage verification. The book was put together as part of an appraisal from 2008 that valued the car at $25,000 at that time. I have included a photo of the booklet summary page attesting to work done and a summary of the restoration details. The booklet that will accompany the car has roughly 50 pages of receipts for all the restorative work and a great deal of the car's history. You are not purchasing a mysterious car with a dubious past where you have to fill in a lot of blanks. This has been a well cared for and looked after vehicle.
Current NADA guides estimates the value at:
Low retail....9,281Avg retail....19,500High retail...36,125
I've done some research and studied some comps so I know my opening bid price is totally reasonable. Given that I acquired this car as a gift I feel no need to "max out" on my ask price. I'm happy to let the lucky new owner get a sweet deal whether they choose to keep it and personalize it or resell it. Keep in mind that since it does not need any body work (and that the gaps are straight and line up correctly) you will not have to sink a bunch of money into bodywork on the car.
I have uploaded the max amount of pictures which is 24. Please let me know if you would like more photos of anything specific on the car. I will be happy to provide them. This is an honest car sold by an honest private party. I have not taken any photos to fool or mislead or misrepresent the car in any way.
It has a V8 engine and a 2 barrel carburetor. It came with front disc brakes, high-back bucket seats, carpeting, hidden radio antenna, wood grain vinyl dash, hidden wipers, air conditioning and dual horns.Given that the car is from 1971 the vin number only has 13 digits. (224871L112916). Though admittedly the paint job is rather dull it was repainted in an attempt to match the original nordic silver which plays really nicely with the perfect black hard top.
The car was made in Van Nuys, California and the 1971 production total for the Esprit was 20,185.
The car gets a bump in value because it was made with a V8 engine and has a/c which was not standard on the regular model.
Condition
Exterior: The car is in overall very good condition. The car was hit while parked in 2008. The body was repaired and the car was then repainted. (this fact was mentioned in the appraisal letter I have pictured). The paint job is a dullish gray color that approximates the original nordic silver. The exterior is in overall very good shape with some minor flaws. A few cracks in the paint and some very very minor areas with specks of rust. A few very small dents can be seen. The hardtop is fully restored in a jet black color and looks great. Glass is perfect. Chrome is also excellent all around. Tires are newer and the rims are also in very good shape. The hidden wipers are working but operate very slowly.
Interior: This car has a near full interior restoration and looks outstanding. The vinyl bucket seats front and rear are clean and in like new condition all around. The dash is clean with the wood vinyl grain being pristine. The interior ceiling looks new. The front and rear seat belts are complete and operational. The air con blows on the two lowest speeds, not on the top speed. It does not blow cold. The only flaws to the interior lie with the front carpeting. Both driver and passenger sides have spots of wear. (pictured) The rear carpeting is good with no wear spots. The only other flaws I can see is one razor thin tear in the passenger door arm vinyl that doesn't distract and two small holes in the material under the back window on the drivers side. These are minor issues.
Engine: The car runs well. The alternator and battery were just replaced. I have taken photos of the engine.
Extras: Lights and directionals are working well. One side parking light is out on the front passenger side.
Flaws: As mentioned the car was hit while parked in 2008. The body damage was repaired and the car was repainted. The paint job is a gray dull color which in itself is not necessarily a flaw but it doesn't sparkle. There are some small cracks in the paint job in a few spots but overall it's in good shape. There are a few very minor specks of rust. Some can be seen on the trunk above the key hole which is pictured but rust is minimal. As mentioned there is one rip to the vinyl on the interior and the front driver and passenger carpets need work. There are two tiny holes in the material under the back window. Size of a finger and barely noticeable. Wipers work but slowly. Air con doesn't work on highest speed and does not blow cold. There is a small dent under the rear bumper near the tailpipe that is not noticeable but can be seen in the rear photo of the car.
It is my hope that anyone interested in the car can come inspect it in person or have someone inspect it prior to purchase. Please know that I am 100% ok with an inspection of the vehicle and I strongly encourage it. Sending someone to look at it or inspect if for you will only help the sale on my end. This is an honest car with nothing to hide. I have worked to provide the most accurate description of good points and flaws but nothing beats a look in person. If you're interested in the car and are a serious buyer please message me. I will be happy to provide my phone number and we can discuss any details you would like clarified. I want to reiterate that if you need more pictures please ask as I have a great deal of them. If ebay would let me I would be comfortable displaying 100 pictures.
Kindly note my 1,450+ perfect transactions and 100% feedback rating. While this is the first car I am selling my feedback should offer you a clear indication of my reliability and trustworthiness.
I require a small deposit which can be made via paypal. If you purchase in person I will accept cash or a cashier's check. The cashiers check will have to be verified and cleared before you take possession of the title and car. If this transaction will not take place in person then I require a cashier's check that will be sent and held until it clears. At that time I will mail you the title. If you are going to have the car shipped then those arrangements will have to be made by you and the car can be picked up after your payment clears.
Thanks for looking!