Firebird is a nice alternative to pricey vintage Camaro

There was a time not so long ago that if you wanted a 1960s Chevrolet Camaro, you could get a nice one for less than $20,000. In fact, the only 1960s Camaro I have owned was a completely original ’68 with a factory 400 V8 with a 4-barrel carb and I paid $7,500 for it in 1996. 

Sadly, those days are over and these days any ’60s Camaro is likely to cost north of $40,000. However, there is an interesting alternative that I learned from my friend and Camaro enthusiast Morgan Duffy: Instead of a Camaro, try a Pontiac Firebird. 

I did this and with the exception of the Trans-Ams, Firebirds sell for quite a bit less than their GM F-body Camaro cousins. 

The Pick of the Day is one of these cars, a 1968 Pontiac Firebird, this one finished in red paint over a black interior and offered by a dealer in Greeley, Colorado, advertising the car on ClassicCars.com

The dealer describes this car as one equipped with a factory 400 H.O V8 engine with a 4-speed manual just as it left the factory. It is a highly optioned car, with the Safe-T-Track rear differential, power steering, power brakes, hood mounted tach, tinted glass, Rally gauges, Rally wheels and handling package. Happily, the options and engine/gearbox specifications on this specific Firebird seem to be backed up with documentation from the seller.

A Camaro equipped with these kinds of potions would likely cost somewhere around $50,000 today and personally (sorry Camaro collectors), I prefer the styling of the Firebird over the Camaro. Also, there are quite a few people out there who think that the build quality of Pontiac’s Firebird is just a little bit better than that of Chevrolets Camaro. 

The pictures in the ad are quite extensive and seem to show a car that looks to be in nice condition without a ton of aftermarket liberties taken outside of an aftermarket stereo. They show a solid car, with no evidence of rust issues, and with a clean engine compartment.

So, if you have been priced out of the ’60s Camaro market, you should take a long look at this 1968 Firebird because with an asking price of only $29,999 it looks to represent a great deal.

To view this vehicle on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.