One thing you may have noticed in the past is all the cars I've featured were built in Canada. This month, to start the new year I thought I'd change things up a bit and feature a car that wasn't built in Canada, but was sold here. Heck, we also love the American Pontiacs like the Bonneville and Firebird, so why not?. Speaking of Firebirds, a certain 68 Firebird caught my eye recently when Mark Lennon joined the site. His 68 Firebird is one of those cars that makes you look twice and say "Man, that's a NICE car". And you all know how I feel about redline tires! Here's more about this beautiful 'Bird in Mark's own words:

"This is my 1968 Firebird coupe that I purchased in August, 2006 in Fonthill, Ontario. I believe I am the 5th owner.



The car features its original 350 c.i. engine with a 2-speed automatic transmission (2.56 gears). It was red when purchased but has since been returned to its original colour, Aleutian Blue, as part of an extensive 2-year restoration. Some performance parts have been added under the hood but the car remains mostly stock. I was also fortunate enough to have the original owners manual, Protect-O-Plate and build sheet included with the car.





This car was built in Lordstown, Ohio, with a shipping date of January 12th, 1968. However, it was sold and I believe has remained in Canada its entire life. The Protect-O-Plate states the car was sold June 20th, 1968 by Grant G. Brown Motors (later York Mills Pontiac Buick, according to GM Canada) in Weston, Ontario (west-central Toronto) to an Edward Brooks of 25 Pinehurst Crescent in Islington, Ontario (another area of west-central Toronto). Information received from GM Canada Vintage Vehicle Services confirms this was one of 5,507 1968 coupes imported for sale in Canada.



One rare feature of this car (one which is a real conversation starter at shows) is the custom interior Strato Bench option. Few first generation Firebirds (or few of any first generation F-bodies, for that matter) had this feature. Though most of the interior components were either refurbished or replaced during the restoration process, the seat upholstery remains original and is in excellent shape. And the vehicle documentation confirms this car was born with a bench! "