One of 1284 Firebird Sprints built in 1969. Fun to drive, older restoration, nicely documented with PHS papers, restoration photos, receipts, and more. Cool to open the hood and shows and watch the crowds form. A neat piece of Pontiac history!

Built when John DeLorean was able to direct Pontiac’s eyes toward Europe, the Firebird Sprint packs an unusual 250 cubic inch six-cylinder overhead cam engine. Used in the Tempest and Firebird, it was the base engine but hardly a consolation prize. With a 4-barrel carburetor, it generates a rather substantial 215 horsepower. In this bright Carousel Red Firebird coupe, it makes for an entertaining coupe with a decidedly different personality. This one is number 1250 out of 1284 built in the final year of production and was treated to a fairly extensive restoration a few years ago. New quarters were installed, so all the critical areas are fresh steel, and the finish quality is quite good. It’s not a show car, but arriving in this cool coupe will get you a lot of second glances once you pop the hood. The white graphics aren’t standard for the Sprint, but they look great and give it a distinctive performance image that suits the Firebird just fine. This car wears a familiar chrome grille, hood tach, and rear spoiler, and aside from a few signs of use, it looks quite fresh.

The black interior was almost all new when it was restored, including seat covers, carpets, door panels, and a fresh dash pad. A smaller diameter steering wheel works well and helps add to the sporting feel of the Sprint, and a center console houses a Hurst T-handle shifter for the 3-speed manual transmission. The factory gauges cover only the basics, but auxiliary gauges for temperature and oil pressure were fitted down on the console. Black floor mats protect the new carpets, and it looks like the headliner is the only original piece left. The factory radio is gone, but that’s an opportunity to install the entertainment system of your choice to really make this a fun cruiser. It’s also worth noting that the quarter windows don’t roll down. On the other hand, there’s a fresh trunk mat in a very clean trunk.

But the real reason this F-body is special remains under the hood: the Sprint 6 engine. Overhead cams were completely unheard-of in 1960s America, but Pontiac took a chance and developed the engine to deliver performance worthy of the Excitement Division. With a 4-barrel carburetor, it was capable of revving to more than 6500 RPM, although 1969 versions were redlined at 5500. It also features a timing belt instead of a chain, so it’s quiet and easy to maintain. Documentation included with the car suggests the engine was recently rebuilt and it does run rather well, starting easily and pulling through the gears with an eagerness that’s quite unlike the usual V8. And given how few of these still survive (most were subject to V8 swaps at some point), you might appreciate a change of pace. It’s neatly detailed in corporate blue paint with a distinctive finned cam cover and a chrome air cleaner assembly. Other niceties include power steering and power brakes, so it’s easy to handle, particularly with the lightweight engine up front, and this is quite likely the best-handling first-gen F-body you’ll ever drive. It exhales through a dual exhaust system with Flowmaster mufflers and the front disc brakes are powerful given 200 fewer pound on the nose. The original floors are in excellent condition and it spins 3.55 gears which give it plenty of punch (the six doesn’t mind spinning a little faster than its V8 siblings). A new gas tank hangs out back and Pontiac Rally II wheels carry 195/75/14 radials that are just about the right size.

Documentation includes a full PHS package of paperwork, a restoration photo album, owner’s manual, reproduction window sticker, and receipts.

Seldom seen, this is a cool piece of F-body history that’s also remarkably affordable. Not perfect, but a great driver that will be fun to drive, and just think of all the conversations it’ll start at the car shows. Call today!

Harwood Motors always recommends and welcomes personal or professional inspections of any vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.