Introduced in February 1967 as Pontiac’s entry into the pony car market, the Firebird remained in production through 2002, when it was discontinued alongside the Camaro. But unlike Chevy’s muscle car, the Firebird never made a comeback. The Pontiac brand was phased out in 2010.
Decades later, the first and second-generation iterations of the Firebird have morphed into desirable classics. The third and fourth-generation versions, on the other hand, aren’t very sought-after, and many populate junkyards and barns. This 1991 example is one of the unfortunate ones. But unlike most of its siblings, it’s a rare bird.
Documented by YouTube’s “Classic Ride Society,” this derelict Firebird was born about a year before Pontiac laid the third-generation pony car to rest. The 1991 model year brought a notably restyled version into showrooms. Highlights included a front fascia based on the Banshee IV show car and a wrap-around wing for the Trans Am.
The model lineup remained largely unchanged, but Pontiac added the 1LE performance package to the Formula trim. More importantly, it reintroduced the convertible version. The latter returned after a whopping 22 years. These were produced by ASC. Originally the American Sunroof Corporation, ASC had been making “official” low-volume convertibles of various cars since 1982.
The company actually made Firebird drop-tops long before Pontiac made an official request. Between 1986 and 1989, ASC built over 600 ragtops. Significantly more “official” units were produced in 1991 and 1992, but volume was still low compared to the overall Firebird output. Records show ASC made 3,718 examples, accounting for only 4.8% of all Firebird production.
Only 1,626 of them rolled off the assembly line in 1991, and only 989 units were non-T/A models. This black drop-top is one of them. The VIN confirms it’s a real convertible and signals the presence of a 305-cubic-inch (5.0-liter) V8 under the hood. The Firebird was also available with a 191-cubic-inch (3.1-liter) V6 and a turbocharged, Buick-built 231-cubic-inch (3.8-liter) V6.
The V8 was available in three flavors, and this one appears to have the less potent TBI version with 170 horsepower and 255 pound-feet (346 Nm) of torque. It’s paired with a four-speed automatic gearbox.
Unfortunately, the Firebird is in pretty bad shape and has lost three of its Trans Am-style wheels. The amount of dirt covering the body and the interior suggests the car has been sitting for a few years. The odometer reads over 240,000 miles (386,243 km).
The top is still in one piece, which is surprising, but this Poncho needs a full restoration to shine again. Is it worth saving? Well, with restored 1991 Firebirds selling for an average of $13,500 at public auction, the answer is yes only if you want to make it a labor of love.
