Eazyprinz : the Firebird Wing - Pamela Sue, my 1977 Pontiac Firebird

Pamela Sue

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1977 Pontiac Firebird

Production total 1977 : 30,642
Id. : 2S87C7N-
Engine : 231 cu. in. (3.8 L) V-6.
Annual traffic tax : 1,180.94 €
Daily driver 1992 - 1996
Status : awaiting restoration

Pamela Sue Martin

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I named her after my favorite starlet way back in the seventies : Pamela Sue Martin .

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She was the first '77 Pontiac Firebird I saw in the flesh and she was for sale. It was the summer of '91, I had just finished school and more important, I had just found a job.
It looked like fate had a crush on me.

Asking price was a little less then the factory price in '77: $4.615.
A bummer was that I couldn't drive her immediately. She still needed some minor work and I had to drive my Volvo 244 for another year.

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But in the beginning of the following summer, she was ready for the road and so was I.

I ruined the engine already in the first month. As it appeared I had bought an old car with an old engine. Dad (luckily a mechanic) had to install another one.
A '78 Monte Carlo donated its 231 V6 and this was installed without major problems to replace the wrecked original 231 and I became a more careful driver.

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For the next 4 years I drove the car day in day out - through sun, rain, wind and snow.
Every working day 50 miles to the job and 50 miles back home and during the weekends I did of course the occasional cruising trips. We were quite happy together.

Not once did I cross the path of a similar beauty, not even another 2nd generation Firebird.
Even on local US car meetings she was a rare bird and - what made me really happy - a pretty one.

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She was remarkable easy to drive and during those 4 years she only let me down twice.

Once I ended up stranded on the highway while driving to work early in the morning. I had to call the towing services to take her home. Cops stopped by two times but where very helpful and friendly (I guess I didn't look much like a criminal, the type of guys usually associated with these cars).
The problem was caused by a malfunctioning HEI distributor.

Drivers side, shortly after I bought her...

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The other breakdown was during a photoshoot with a girlfriend in a scenic but remote faraway place. I had to call in dad (very impressive for girls) and he fixed the problem right away being the starter.
I strongly suspected my car of being jealous.

On another occasion the passenger door jammed - luckily not on a date but I was just about to date a really nice and gorgeous girl - a true rival for Pamela Sue.
The occasion slipped by... and the door got fixed.

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Two breakdowns during 4 years of service, quite remarkable for an 18 year old car with almost 300.000 kms (187.500 miles) credited.

I always treated her gently and with care. We never got a speeding or any other ticket and I was only pulled over once for a routine check.
Everything was okay but the police asked me politely to clean up my license plate - the only part of the car I always skipped when cleaning up this lady. I'm (still) not that proud of that license plate you know.

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The end came when she had the annual car inspection in '96.
Due to the many deteriorated roads in our country (I daily had to take the E313, a highway locally known as the abortion road), the old corroded chassis in the front suffered a lot and it became slightly bent. It was irreparable in a short time.

I had to put her aside.

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I couldn't part with her - call me sentimental - so I was glad I could put her in the back yard of my brothers place, pending future plans.
It was amazing to see how fast a car deteriorates in the open. So after a year I decided to rent this garage box - now her home for the last few years.

She now gathers dust peacefully, and she's quite good at it too.

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She was the most fun ride I ever had.
She had it all, great looks, great handling and a reliable spirit - though having a mechanic in the house was a great help all the time.

Maybe there will be a day she hits the road again...

The people who build those gorgeous cars...

the Pontiac Firebird Wing : Pamela Sue - Mylène - Franka - Firebird Trips - Firebird Links
the Music Wing : Jesus & Mary Chain - John Mellencamp - Mylène Farmer - INXS - Neon Judgement
the Scale Model Wing : My Plastic - Dads Plastic - Guide - Plastic Gatherings - Links to Plastic
the Cool Clickings Wing

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