[north]

There were 4 base price periods for 69 birds, first up to Dec 31 1968, then a $17 increase Jan 1, then a price cut in April and finally a price increase in September to coincide with 1970 pricing.

The Price of the TA option was a real mess, with different prices depending on the billing date, bodystyle and which transmission.

The power top option had a 75% take rate. I’ve never seen a heavily optioned TA. I think the very high option price for the TA itself must have spooked dealers about adding more than the basic options.

Pricing of OHC cars is tough to nail accurately given how few survived but I’d say the base 1bbl engine would sell cheaper than a 350 car when the car is rough but for a nice quality resto or survivor I think there is no discount Over a base 350.

Two things I’ve noticed about Fbird pricing compared to say a GTO or LeMans is that in Fbird the spread between ragtop vs coupe is greater and the spread between big and small engines is less.

For example a FBird ragtop seems to pull almost double what an equivalent coupe does versus say a 50% ragtop premium on A bodies. Inversely the price spread between a 350 2bbl and a 400 Firebird seems way less than say between a 350 2bbl LeMans and a regular 400 GTO.

[thews]

Originally Posted by north

There were 4 base price periods for 69 birds, first up to Dec 31 1968, then a $17 increase Jan 1, then a price cut in April and finally a price increase in September to coincide with 1970 pricing.

The Price of the TA option was a real mess, with different prices depending on the billing date, bodystyle and which transmission.

The power top option had a 75% take rate. I’ve never seen a heavily optioned TA. I think the very high option price for the TA itself must have spooked dealers about adding more than the basic options.

Pricing of OHC cars is tough to nail accurately given how few survived but I’d say the base 1bbl engine would sell cheaper than a 350 car when the car is rough but for a nice quality resto or survivor I think there is no discount Over a base 350.

Two things I’ve noticed about Fbird pricing compared to say a GTO or LeMans is that in Fbird the spread between ragtop vs coupe is greater and the spread between big and small engines is less.

For example a FBird ragtop seems to pull almost double what an equivalent coupe does versus say a 50% ragtop premium on A bodies. Inversely the price spread between a 350 2bbl and a 400 Firebird seems way less than say between a 350 2bbl LeMans and a regular 400 GTO.

WOW... mad knowledge here. Thanks North. Prices for these cars is peaking IMO. I plan on listing my 2 350HO 69 Firebird Convertibles next month. We'll see what the market thinks they're worth.

[north]

Sooner may be better than later, I have a sneaking suspicion we may be in for a recession. But who knows, I’ve been wrong before.

[wovenweb]

Originally Posted by north

Sooner may be better than later, I have a sneaking suspicion we may be in for a recession. But who knows, I’ve been wrong before.

Not sure about the recession and just by gut feel, I do think for the most part we are just past the peak for collector car prices, in particular for '60 -'70s era American made muscle/pony cars. Individual car prices will always vary depending upon model/options/color/condition, etc. but the latest round of auctions brought lower numbers than we were seeing in January and February.

And FWIW, asking prices for real estate in some areas particularly near me(Austin, TX) are starting to come down.

[thews]

Originally Posted by wovenweb

Not sure about the recession and just by gut feel, I do think for the most part we are just past the peak for collector car prices, in particular for '60 -'70s era American made muscle/pony cars. Individual car prices will always vary depending upon model/options/color/condition, etc. but the latest round of auctions brought lower numbers than we were seeing in January and February.

And FWIW, asking prices for real estate in some areas particularly near me(Austin, TX) are starting to come down.

I agree that the recession is looming, but real estate prices coming down I think is driven more by raised interest rates. Not sure what to think about what the classic car market will be like in 10 years with electric cars taking over. I can envision a time where you can't take a car that isn't self driven on a highway. I would think you could still drive around town, so there's gotta be some charm in using a classic car just to drive around town in. /JMHO

[eaglesan13]

Here is a PHS document from the same selling dealer for comparison purposes. Note the spacing, abbreviations, and punctuation differences.

[johnta1]

Usually the PHS lists the options in numerical order from left to right.
The only thing I found is that the TA option code 322 and the decor group 324 are not in order across all the 1969 PHS for the TA's?
(didn't check other models or years)

A list of 1969 TA's and their options:

354 - 4 sp trans
382 - radio pb
324 - decor group
454 - whls Rally 2
472 - console
532 - glass ws
322 - TA

351 - TH400
382 - Radio pb
472 - console
531 - glass all
322 - TA


354 - 4 sp trans
382 - radio pb
454 - wheels Rally 2
532 - glass frt
322 - TA


354 - 4 sp trans
382 - radio pb
532 - glass ws
322 - TA


347 - RA IV
358 - 4 sp close Trans
382 - radio pb
414 - horns
431 - seat belts deluxe
444 - gauge/ tach & clock
454 - Wheels Rally 2
472 - console
532 - glass ws
322 - TA


354 - 4 sp trans
382 - radio pb
454 - wheels rally 2
322 - TA

354 - 4 sp trans
382 - radio pb
424 - mirror remote
324 - decor group
454 - wheel rally 2
472 - console
532 - glass ws
322 - TA


354 - 4 sp trans
382 - radio pb
444 - gauge/ Tach & clock
454 - wheels Rally 2
472 - console
322 - TA
661 - lamp courtesy
664 - lamp glovebox


351 - TH400
382 - radio pb
424 - mirror remote
444 - gauge/ Tach & clock
324 - decor group
454 - wheels Rally 2
472 - console
531 - glass all
582 - AC
322 - TA
631 - mats frt


351 - TH400
388 - radio stereo
421 - Mirror visor
424 - mirror remote
432 - belts deluxe
324 - decor group
454 - wheels Rally 2
472 - console
484 - rally gauge/clock
492 - deck lid control
504 - tilt steering wheel
531 - glass all
554 - custom trim
322 - TA
631 - mats frt
632 - mats rear
652 - lamp luggage

[north]

The 324 decor group was placed numerically between option 444 and 451 (I suspect because 451-deluxe wheelcovers was part of the group). The 322 TA option was also out of sequence, sometimes as is a Cordvoa Top.

[north]

Originally Posted by eaglesan13

Here is a PHS document from the same selling dealer for comparison purposes. Note the spacing, abbreviations, and punctuation differences.

However that other PHS is for a 70 model, they did make some changes to the look of the invoice between 69 and 70. Also interesting that they show the model as a Firebird 400 rather than a Formula (in 69 they all list model as just Firebird since all engine packages and the custom interior were options not models).

[einstein]

I just noticed that's the same selling dealer as the 69 Van Nuys TA I owned from 87-96. Yes, I have the PHS invoice, somewhere...