The first two Firebirds ever built.... Kissimmee 2021
 

Kissimmee 2021 is to have the first two Firebirds ever built for sale

https://www.mecum.com/lots/FL0121-44...d-convertible/
https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...8&d=1606948246

https://www.mecum.com/lots/FL0121-44...tiac-firebird/
https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...9&d=1606948269


Prior thread on the build located here:

https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...irebirds+built

Restored by Richard Rawlings.

This Richard Rawlings?

http://spankmymarketer.com/richard-rawlings.html

:biggerGri:pound:


Probably!


:D

were they the first EVER or the first from that plant?Tom

There was only one plant in 1967. Lordstown Ohio. I wouldn't buy anything that came from Assmonkey Garage......John

There is a thread on these cars when they were 1st 'found'. (lots of good info I believe)

Then another thread on when Rawlings got them.


:)

Lots of debate on the legitimacy of these being cars 1 and 2 and the quality of the restoration but still seems to be a cool story.

Here is another thread on PY from 2011 by swfirebird, who acquired the cars years earlier and was looking to get "...these into the right hands..." but the photo bucket link doesn't seem to work now. http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=684160

A few photos from the Gas Monkey site with two build sheets and the data plate of "Show1".
https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...7&d=1607017266

https://gasmonkeygarage.com/no-1-and...e-this-sht-up/

White letter tires, red center caps and lugnuts on 67's, the restorer doesn't know his Pontiac's very well.

Built 2 months apart with the oldest built in February?

Weren't they supposedly sold for 650k for the pair? How was that the case and now being sold from the personal collection of Richard Rawlings?

ALL SMOKE AND MIRRORS

Are they being auctioned as a pair or selling individually?

Appear to be listed individually

They were both built 12B on trim tags
Both were originally internal invoiced on Feb 16 1967

The Hardtop (car #2) has two BHC's on file
Whomever posted the copy of that BHC - did so in small error.
That could cause more skeptical conjecture is all, but the cars are legit.
#1 and #2 V8 cars by VIN

The one pictured by Pepper for car #2 is it's second billing when it got further use by PMD Defacto in Pontiac,Michigan.
Note the invoice prefix of V on it's 2nd billing (posted by Pepper)
It's first billing is prefix J , like the Car #1 Convertible

Here is a copy of BHC #1 - for Car #2

I followed these cars for a while, until after they were restored.
They were originally sold in project conditions on eBay as a pair and went fairly cheap. imo
A chevy-based flipper bought them back then (original eBay auction) , he posts on the Yenko site.

https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...1&d=1607228853

Both cars were purchased as basket cases off eBay by Chuck Alekinas. Gas Monkey filmed an episode where they purchased them. According to Chuck it wasn’t Rawlings that purchased them it was his partner. What was broadcast was just for show. They were supposedly sold for $650K. I know this is not true, They were offered back to Chuck for less than half that.
As for the restorations they are not concourse. I’m sure that’s the reason they have been on the market for six years with no takers.

On the show they made it out to be they were restoring them for a client.
There was a deadline/drama/etc ... and a heavy financial penalty involved if they weren't finished by the deadline - and also meeting the client's expectations.

The "client" sort of resembled Hoss from Ponderosa
Big fellow, with a 10 gallon hat - iirc

Pontiac world never really seemed to embrace the cars all that much.

#2 needs to stick close to #1 - or #2's value will probably dwindle