SEMA 2009: Pinkee's ignites lust for a Pontiac Firebird
1977 Pontiac FireBird by Pinkee's Rod Shop - Click above for high-res image gallery
This year's SEMA show might have been a bit smaller than in years past, but there were certainly some heavy hitters in the crowd that proved the old "quality, not quantity" adage. Take, for instance, this super-clean, super-fine 1977 Pontiac Firebird. Like the Ringbrothers "Afterburner" Fairlane and the Goodguys Street Machine of the Year 1962 Corvette C1-RS, the look is modern, yet definitely retro. Dreamed up by hot rod artist Jimmy Smith, it was crafted to life by Pinkee's Rod Shop of Windsor, Colorado.
It has a smooth-as-glass appearance with its gloss black paint dripping off its shaved and streamlined form. Elegantly simple billet wheels, naked headlamps and a restyled rear complete the exterior look. The interior hasn't been forgotten either, as it is fully custom and equally straightforward. The same can be said for the engine bay, which looks like a surgical O.R., with its LS7 engine resting neatly in a fully customized bay. It was easily one of our favorite cars at this year's show.
Gallery: SEMA 2009: Pinkee's FireBird
Photos copyright ©2009 Frank Filipponio/Weblogs, Inc.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Aki 2:27PM (11/06/2009)
So cleanly executed, and no attention to detail was spared. Love it. The only minor criticism would be those front seats--I know they're like that to keep it old school, but I can't help but think it'll be uncomfortable without a headrest, especially with an LS7 engine to snap your head at every launch =P
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Silly Pickle 2:32PM (11/06/2009)
Sa-weeeeeeeeeeeeeet!!!!!!!!! :-)
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xcrunk 2:37PM (11/06/2009)
Long live the FireChicken!
What, no love for the Sunbird? What about the Sunfire?
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fmwso 2:39PM (11/06/2009)
Wow, this is one clean car, everything seems to be pretty well done. It really looks like a brand new car.
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Kaveh 2:41PM (11/06/2009)
Thats how you do it, nice and simple.
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toronado455 2:44PM (11/06/2009)
Absolutely horrible. A perfectly good 1977 Firebird... ruined.
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AirRaid 2:50PM (11/06/2009)
Are you hitting the pipe? This car is beautiful, inside and out.
Commander Cool 2:54PM (11/06/2009)
I agree. That thing is hideous...
Shiftright 3:40PM (11/06/2009)
It's clean, but the round headlamps take away so much essence of the original, and the new dash looks cheap, especially when compared to the original with its turned aluminum surround
Bobmarley 2:46PM (11/06/2009)
as crocodile Dundee would say...Vary Noice kah
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Franz 2:49PM (11/06/2009)
Sweet.
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tanooki2003 3:40PM (11/06/2009)
Sorry but the round lights just ruin the classic Pontiac fascia was carried all the way down to the Pontiac 6000 introduced in the later years
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Shadow26 6:21PM (11/06/2009)
agreed
Shiftright 3:41PM (11/06/2009)
Round headlamps and home-made dash are fails, but the rest looks clean. Dig the rear.
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El Sunbird 4:13PM (11/06/2009)
Put the square headlights back and I'll take it.
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neptonium2000 4:27PM (11/06/2009)
I've got a 1978 TA, but I'm cool with customized versions. People should be able to transform their cars into anything they want even if it looks shabby, as long as it makes the person happy. You can try to be unique than the rest of the pack. I love the exhaust pipes!
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liamlunchtray 4:40PM (11/06/2009)
My only complaint is that I think its dropped a little too much. I'd raise it back up an inch or two. Beyond that I think this is amazing. I love the round headlights and I think the dash is a huge improvement. The fit and finish on the factory interiors was just horrible and this corrects all of that. This era of GM product was so overwrought with chrome bits and doodads and fussy trim - this car eliminates all of the tacky elements and lets the real core design show through. It looks completely modernized yet it doesn't lose its original personality or charm. Gorgeous.
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Stumpy 9:47AM (11/07/2009)
Wow... That thing is darn near perfect. What a great job putting that together.
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JDM Life 2:17PM (11/07/2009)
Shxt thats clean....
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