Re: Ricks Fitch Firebird...very rare Bird
 

I like it. Get it cleaned up, put some new shoes on it and cruise it. Neat car!

Re: Ricks Fitch Firebird...very rare Bird
 

Cliff, congrats! Very rare car!

They did make more than one V8. I have several publicity photos of one that has a/c and power brakes, an aftermarket steering wheel, and a couple huge toggle switches on the dash to run the wipers and flashers. It also had the trademark Fitchbird grille mesh, but did not have the auxiliary lights in the valance panel like yours does. I would imagine that the few Fitchbirds that were built were all customized depending on the customer's taste, or perhaps however John Fitch wanted to customize them.

Mike

Re: Ricks Fitch Firebird...very rare Bird
 

[img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img] [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

Re: Ricks Fitch Firebird...very rare Bird
 

Hi, my car was retained by Pontiac (per PHS) for development and not sold till 1968 (per the guy I bought it from)

Cliff

Re: Ricks Fitch Firebird...very rare Bird
 

I'd have to wonder if our company owner would be interested in helping with the restoration. If not I may be able to get you some kind of assistance discount and my hands if need be. It's an interesting piece and I think the needs to see it again.

Ricks Fitch Firebird...very rare Bird
 

Very cool Fitch car and welcome here Cliff!
A clean up and detail would go a long way but before touching it, wouldn't this be a great as is display find @ MCACN '16?
I really liked Markus' story too[img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/3gears.gif[/img]maybe the same car?
[img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif[/img]
~ Pete

Re: Ricks Fitch Firebird...very rare Bird
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: PeteLeathersac</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Very cool Fitch car and welcome here Cliff!
A clean up and detail would go a long way but before touching it, wouldn't this be a great as is display find @ MCACN '16?
[img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif[/img]
~ Pete </div></div>

[img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

Re: Ricks Fitch Firebird...very rare Bird
 

When I did a google search for &quot;Fitch Firebird&quot; another one popped up linked the this site fully restored with an SOHC sprint motor. Could be a good reference point. It was posted by Belair62 back in 05

Re: Ricks Fitch Firebird...very rare Bird
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Craig_Maiorana</div><div class="ubbcode-body">When I did a google search for &quot;Fitch Firebird&quot; another one popped up linked the this site fully restored with an SOHC sprint motor. Could be a good reference point. It was posted by Belair62 back in 05 </div></div>

Craig, look at the beginning of this thread [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif[/img]

Re: Ricks Fitch Firebird...very rare Bird
 

Sorry .... I'm a knucklehead [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/dunno.gif[/img] [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/hmmm.gif[/img] [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/worship.gif[/img]

Re: Ricks Fitch Firebird...very rare Bird
 

Every time I would see it at Pomona, I would think the same thing. Didn't know what it was. I guess it was around 2001, when I quit going...good cars where drying up.

Re: Ricks Fitch Firebird...very rare Bird
 

Hi, I used to drive it to Pomona to get a up front parking spot, that way if I bought something I would not have to carry it very far, I drove it there for about 10 years, one time when I was driving in a guy was running backwards filming my car and almost fell down and run over, that is when I stopped driving it, I felt someone was going to steal it, it just brought to much attention, I had a Continental Air Line Pilot that used to try to buy it more than once at that swapmeet, at that time I told him I would take $60,000.00 (I'm glad he didn't but he was close), I could never drive it anywhere without someone wanting to know about the ugly fins, then I was there for about 15 Min. telling them about the car, after a while I got tired of the drama, I'm going to sell it now. Who knows what it's worth, I guess I going to find out.

Cliff Murray

Re: Ricks Fitch Firebird...very rare Bird
 

I think since you have stirred up some interest of the registry you should definitely keep these guys posted on the status of the sale. Someone here may want it and it would be great to see her come back to life.

Re: Ricks Fitch Firebird...very rare Bird
 

Craig-it's all good!

Re: Ricks Fitch Firebird...very rare Bird
 

Super cool car, Cliff. Thanks for posting the pics. Just want to add that this is not the Fitch Firebird I saw at Pomona. The one I saw was on a trailer and was a project car. Definitely had the tell tale flying buttress fins and other cues. This was maybe within the last 10 years. I don't remember the color. It may have been red but I don't remember for sure.

Re: Ricks Fitch Firebird...very rare Bird
 

I'm tryin to buy it but not much luck...

Re: Ricks Fitch Firebird...very rare Bird
 

If you do manage to get it Charlie please let me know. I'd like to help out whether it be through an effort by Classic Ind. or just personally.

Re: Ricks Fitch Firebird...very rare Bird
 

Hi, there are some fakes, and I am not sure how to tell the difference, I think the value of my car is that it was retained by Pontiac. (per invoice)

Cliff

Re: Ricks Fitch Firebird...very rare Bird
 

Would be fun to unveil at MCACN

Re: Ricks Fitch Firebird...very rare Bird
 

Best of luck Charley.

Re: Ricks Fitch Firebird...very rare Bird
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Charley Lillard</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Would be fun to unveil at MCACN </div></div>

Indeed it would... [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/3gears.gif[/img]

Bashton

Re: Ricks Fitch Firebird...very rare Bird
 

Hi, more stuff to look at, look at the plate it's the one on my car.

Cliff https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...-fitch_040.jpg
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...-fitch_041.jpg
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...-fitch_042.jpg
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...-fitch_043.jpg
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...-fitch_044.jpg
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...-fitch_045.jpg

Re: Ricks Fitch Firebird...very rare Bird
 

way cool!!

Re: Ricks Fitch Firebird...very rare Bird
 

Very cool!!

Re: Ricks Fitch Firebird...very rare Bird
 

Were just a few hundred thousand apart on price. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif[/img]

Re: Ricks Fitch Firebird...very rare Bird
 

https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...-fitch_028.jpg
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...-fitch_029.jpg

Re: Ricks Fitch Firebird...very rare Bird
 

Look at this
http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2014/...ock/?refer=news

Re: Ricks Fitch Firebird...very rare Bird
 

Hi Cliff,

I own the yellow OHC 6 Fitch Firebird, would like to talk to you sometime about the cars. I believe your car and mine were the first two. I've heard some info about your car over the years. Thought I'd never see it surface.

There is at least 2 other 400 cars, one disappeared in the late 80's, the other was said to be sold new to someone in Italy. Private message me if you'd like to talk. When I talked to Fitch he said about 5-6 car were made, all 400's except the one OHC 6.

Rick

Re: Ricks Fitch Firebird...very rare Bird
 

Mike (stealthbird) I'd be interested in seeing your pictures if you'd like to share. My car has the flasher and wiper toggle switches, mesh and light monitoring panel.

Rick

Re: Ricks Fitch Firebird...very rare Bird
 

Hi Rick, I have known about your car for a long time, at one time (late 80s) I took my car over to Pontiac Enthusiast Magazine, they were in the city of Orange, CA at the time, the editor spent time looking at my car and also gave me a magazine with your car in it. I also talked to John Fitch about the same time. The first cars were owned by Pontiac (no emblems on the sail panels) the next cars were bought by John Fitch modified and sold (with emblems on the sail panels), I have a lot of history on my car (which may or may not be true), John did tell me that there were less than a hand full of cars built, give me a call.


Thanks
Cliff

PS [email protected]
or 562 988 7611 (work)

Re: Ricks Fitch Firebird...very rare Bird
 

Rick, sorry for the delay, I just saw your post asking for photos. Here you go! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif[/img]

Mike

Re: Ricks Fitch Firebird...very rare Bird
 

What is the knob just below the ignition switch? Looks like another one on the LH side next to the headlight switch. TAZ

Re: Ricks Fitch Firebird...very rare Bird
 

it says flasher TAZ

Re: Ricks Fitch Firebird...very rare Bird
 

One on other side says &quot;wiper&quot;

Re: Ricks Fitch Firebird...very rare Bird
 

Is that a shifter boot,or a litter bag?..Can it be any taller?

Re: Ricks Fitch Firebird...very rare Bird
 

I thought they looked like a push-pull knob.

Re: Ricks Fitch Firebird...very rare Bird
 

Thanks for posting the pictures Mike, those are great, never saw them!

Those pictures look to be taken at the Trinity Episcopal Church across the street from Lime Rock Park Raceway in CT. In the rear looking forward picture Lime Rock is in the background. Fitch lived about 1 mile or so from there.

The switches on either side of the gauge pod are Lucas &quot;One Time&quot; touch switches, meaning all you have to do is tap then to work. The &quot;Flasher&quot; switch (below the ignition)flashes the high beam lights, which Fitch replaced with Lucas &quot;Flame Throwers&quot;. The switch on the left makes the wipers make one pass when touched. Interesting to note, in the photo Mike posted the wiper switch is mounted up higher then in my car (see my interior picture on page 1 on of this post). I have a feeling Fitch did my car first and figured out that almost every time you get in the car your knee hits it(mine does) and the wipers make a pass!

The labels on the shifter plate to the right of the shifter must refer to the mods Fitch made to the automatic transmission (he modified the auto trans on the Olds Toronado he did too).

The piece under the ashtray to the left is the Light Monitoring Panel. That box was missing in my car. You could see my attempt to reproduce it in the interior picture on page 1 of this post. The panel looks for a change in voltage to figure a bulb went out. The wiring for this was very crude. You can see part of it in the engine shot Mike posted (lower right corner cylinder below the cross brace).

Thanks again for Sharing!

Re: Ricks Fitch Firebird...very rare Bird
 

Thanks -- they did appear to be &quot;add-on&quot; switches of some sort ... TAZ

Re: Ricks Fitch Firebird...very rare Bird
 

Hi, this is a GREAT forum, I posted info and pictures of my car (Fitchbird) and have received HUGE interest
and some offers (sight unseen), many people willing to help me with history, who would know that a 1 to 5 off (best guess) car would cause so much talk and E Mails, I guess John Fitch was known to more than I ever thought, and thanks to all the guys at Lime Rock Park who have taken the time to E Mail me.


Thanks a lot

Cliff Murray

Re: Ricks Fitch Firebird...very rare Bird
 

Here are couple pictures of the only remaining Olds Toronado (2 built). Interior shows the altered shift level and Light monitoring panel. The seats have holes in them and fans under them to cool people. Fitch added a folding sun roof too.
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...tch.olds.t.jpg
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...tch.olds.1.jpg
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...2-mvc_990s.jpg
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...3-mvc_996s.jpg