1968 Pontiac Firebird 400 H.O. Matching Numbers - 51K - Not Ram Air - Rare Auto

Description

This is a matching numbers car. It is still in it's original colour of Cameo Ivory. It is a California car but was exported to the UK in 2014. The car was restored in 2011 by an F-body specialist.
This is a rare 400 High Output car using the same engine as the Ram Air and the GTO. There were only 684 Firebird 400 H.O. cars built with an auto box (3 speed hyrdro matic) so this is a pretty rare car. The odometer says 51K. It could be original, hard to tell as so much has been restored. It still drives really well so could be.
The underneath is all rock solid with no signs of welding or repairs that I can see. It's had new shocks, anti roll bars, some suspension polybushes, new exhaust silencers. The chassis is excellent with no signs of repair or corrossion.
The paint job is excellent, super smooth with no orange peel. There is the odd tocuh up or tiny blemish as it was done 7 years ago. The vinyl roof was also replaced.
The front grill chrome is excellent other than a light scratch, as are the wing mirrors. There is some pitting to the chrome of the door handles/rear bumper so I've bought some new handles and a rear bumper could be replaced with a new one for only $149.
The interior is excellent with new deluxe OE vinyl seats, headlining, door cards, and carpets etc. Chrome switches, handles etc. are original with patina so could also be replaced cheaply to make it like new inside.
The wheels are genuine American Racing 17" alloy wheels with almost new tyres. Worth decent money so could fund original Rally wheels if you prefer?
The engine bay is original save for a polished washer bottle.
The car has been pampered since restoration and looks like it's never been in the rain.
Based on Hagerty's decriptions of condition, with condition #1 'concors' better than new, national show winning; #2 'excellent' being previous concors and capable of winning a regional show; #3 good having some small flaws, I would say our car is certainly 'good' and it would be quite achievable to get near 'excellent' with a few thousand spent replacing patina parts, etc.
The car was exported to the UK in 2014. We have a roadworthiness test here called an MOT. Due to the age of the car, it is exempt from the test but I have put it through one to make sure it is roadworthy. I am happy to help all I can with arranging transport to the UK docks so the car can be exported back to the USA, but the buyer is to pay all transport costs. I am professional car dealer and have sold cars to people all across the UK and to overseas (Ireland, Germany, France). As the car has originally come from the USA, it may be exempt from import duty? So the buyer would only have to pay for shipping? I don't know. I am listing it on here as it is such a rare model people don't appreciate it in the UK and compare it's value to any old Firebird! Payment to be made by bank transfer.
Documentation
I have a copy of the Certificate of Title from California
Import charges payment letter from HM Revenue & Customs 17/1/11
Import Vehicle Post Clearance Checks Satisfied letter from HM Customs 26/11/14
DVLA number plate authorisation document V948 11/12/14
MOT certificates from 12/11/14 and 18/3/16 and August 2018
'News From Pontiac' Press Release dated Sept 13th 1967, a 4 page document giving details on the new 1968 model.
AMA Specification Sheet, a 15 page document giving thorough specifications of the car.
V5 document showing 2 keepers of the car since importing into the UK.
Pontiac Firebird Production Numbers sheet showing 107,112 Firebirds were built in 1968, of which 90,152 were hard tops. As stated above, our car is one of only 684 top spec, 400 H.O. cars with the auto gearbox option
Original Build Data Sheet (50 years old and partly illegible)
Build Data Sheets from Pontiac Historic Services showing the options the car had from the factory as some are not legible on the Original Build Sheet
Original Owners Manual and Warranty Booklets, 50 years old
Fitted Factory Options
400 cu. in. 4-Barrel Quadra Jet Premium Fuel V8 Engine
Fully synchronized heavy duty 3 speed - Upgraded from manual transmission to Hydra-Matic, a 3 speed box only available on the 400 as the others only had 2 speed
Radio, pushbutton with manual antenna. (Radio and aerial has been removed and replaced with period dials for water temperatore, oil pressure and battery voltage)
Centre console (another option was a bench seat, no centre console)
Dual exhausts
Power Steering
Power Brakes
Soft Ray Glass - all windows
Custom Air Conditioning (pulley is there but a/c removed)
F70 x 14 Red - Wide Oval Tyres. (Wheels are now genuine American Racing polished 17" 5 spoke alloys)
Specific exterior identification (H.O. stripes)
Special hood with dual simulated air intake scoops
Pontiac 'Vee' crest on front bumper centre peak
Bright centre grill bar
Chrome plated rocker arm covers, oil filler cap, and air cleaner
'Power Flex' high strength stainless steel fan with variable pitch blades
High performance starter motor
Heavy duty 61amp battery (Obviously been replaced)
Heavy duty radiator
Hagerty Valuation
Some valuation sites are not listing the 400 H.O. valuation. Here's why:
[From Firebird400HO.com] I sent an email to Glen Arlt, Hagerty Historian asking why the rare 400 H.O. was skipped in their valuation report. He sent my email to their valuation expert who responded as follows:
“After researching the market for these cars, we have found that we cannot find a distinguishable difference between values of the 400 H.O. and the Ram Air I. We have been able track sales of cars both at public auction and EBay listed as having the 400 H.O. engine and have seen them selling for the same price range we have listed for the Ram Air I."
Therefore, the Ram Air I should be valued the same as our 400 H.O.
400 (standard, not the H.O.)
Concors $49,900
Excellent $36,200
Good $18,400
Fair $13,200
Ram Air I (value same as our H.O.)
Concors $83,000
Excellent $60,200
Good $35,900
Fair $23,300
Ram Air II
Concours $128,000
Excellent $95,100
Good $60,900
Fair $40,100
About Me: I am an independent car dealer based in the village of Rockfield, three miles outside of Monmouth, which is on the South Wales/England border. I have been buying and selling used cars for over 30 years and selling from my home address since 2007.
I have been trading on ebay since 2001 and have 100% positive feedback due to my honest descriptions and service. I have references from customers some of whom have bought cars from me unseen and had them delivered. I have sold cars to people from Scotland to Penzance, from Ireland to Kent, and to France and Germany.