Jim Wangers' 1968 Firebird "Most Famous Street Racer" Black Bird

This is Jim Wangers' " The Blackbird"
This is a serious piece of Pontiac's History.
Jim Wangers "God Father of The Pontiac GTO" favorite street racer is available. Jim owned this car twice.
What began life as a low option 1968 Firebird Ram Air I ordered by Mike Knieper through his racer brother Tony Knieper at Stan Long Pontiac ended up in Jim Wangers' stable.
Jim Wangers had a mission to be the fastest street car in Detroit. To show Pontiacs are still the fastest cars on the street. With the help of Pontiac Engineering Jim acquired a 455, Ram Air IV heads ported by Butch Elkin at Diamond Engineering, special ground cam cut by General Kinetics, Edelbrock PB4 intake and 1,000 cfm Thermoquad. The original engine was assembled, tuned and maintained by Brian Ballish, at Royal Automotive.
"Wangers was one of the most street savvy competitors, at the stoplight. While touting the car as 'all steel', he never mentioned the hood bracing and hinges removed - requiring two people to remove the then-flimsy piece of sheet metal - along with the door guard beam and other inner braces." as quoted in "Pontiac Enthusiast" September/October 2006.
The original engines bottom end is long gone. The original Ram Air IV heads by Butch Elkin are mounted on the current engine which was built by Jim Wangers' personal engine builder Duncan Michael as a 440 with more modern technology.
Many of the cars past racing history parts are included. Additional pictures can be sent to serious buyers.
There are a couple minor scratch's. Original driver's side bucket seat shows wear in the outer bead (circled). Trunk is solid but has holes where the fuel pumps, and Nitrous was once mounted. Brackets included. Sheet metal had been trimmed at the inside trunk edges to save weight.
Mileage is estimated at less than 18,000 miles with many rear end changes to Speedo registers faster then actual speed.
For more information Email through ebay. Inspection is always recommended.
NO BROKERS
The car appeared in several venues starting in 1971. See resume below