quadgoat

iTrader: (1)

Well guys, a couple weeks ago I picked up this '85 Firebird S/E on Long Island for $400. The car belonged to this guy's aunt since it was brand new. He couldn't find the title for it and told me he thought it needed a headgasket. Title is no problem because in Maine you only need a bill of sale to register a car if it's 15 years old or more. On the headgasket I ran the car for quite a while and saw no signs of any issues aside from needing valve seals (160,000 miles on the engine). I put plates on it and drove it from NY to ME (7+ hours on the highway) with NO problems whatsoever and it even got 23.5 miles per gallon on the 2nd tank of gas I ran through it! Once I got it home I washed it, clayed it, and put a coat of Meguiar's #26 wax on it. I figured I'd brag it up some in here. There are more pics of it here:

http://vspace.vassar.edu/paphillips/firebird

Let me know what you think!

-Paul

85 T/A WS6

Exceptional car, I have always thought the interiors on the SE were nicely laid out as far as color schemes go.

You got yourself a good deal !

quadgoat

iTrader: (1)

Thanks! I'm can't complain about it one bit! I would be interested to know if anyone has any information about the number of these cars built with certain options. I know there were only 5,208 S/E's built in '85, and the standard engine was the 2.8. I'd be interested to know how many were built with t-tops and the LG4 along with power windows and locks and both the hard cargo cover and the retractable soft cargo cover. I kind of doubt that these kinds of production numbers are broken down anywhere, but it seems to me like this car may actually be somewhat rare option-wise. Thanks again for the compliment, keep 'em comin!

nolanr0413

400 , thats a steal. i would buy it for that much even though i dont need one. I see the ta hood and ta lights. I like the rims too. Lower the car now. Do it the cheap way , cut the springs. Did u get the hood fixed. It lookes like it isnt adjusted or latched?

quadgoat

iTrader: (1)

The hood and lights were standard on the S/E and you're right, the hood wasn't latched in some of those pictures. It is also slightly misaligned as the gaps aren't even from side to side. Nothing major, but I'll try and fix it eventually. I'm probably going to be reselling it this summer to try and make a few bucks, but it's going to be hard to part with it because it drives so nicely. My fiance drove it with the t's out the other day and now she doesn't want me to sell it!!!!

stiers

iTrader: (1)

Awesome find! The interior looks mint! I wish there were cars anywhere near me for that cheap that look that nice. It is good to know that these cars are out there if you look hard enough and have some patience.

nolanr0413

well thats news to me, cool , i learned something today .

quadgoat

iTrader: (1)

Yeah, the S/E was kind of an interesting mixture of base Firebird and T/A in terms of appearance items. The S/E basically filled the niche of the Formula during the years the Formula wasn't offered. '85 was the first year for those grid-style taillights and they were standard on the S/E and Trans Am.

quadgoat

iTrader: (1)

I just did some quick looking around and I may be wrong in saying that the hood was standard issue on the S/E models. I've found some with the louvered hood and some without. I'm pretty sure it was standard, but I'll have to check into it some more. Maybe my handy little Firebird history book at home will tell me. Or maybe someone on here knows 100% for sure? The car is all original though (it has been repainted, but I was told it was never wrecked, which I believe, I think the nose was bumped in a parking lot or something to slightly misalign the hood and driver's fender) so the hood is original to this car. Anyway if someone knows for sure about which hood was standard on the S/E I'd be very interested to know!

85 T/A WS6

The 85-86 S/E's used a special hood that was available on S/E's only. It was a T/A hood without the vents by the hinges.

quadgoat

iTrader: (1)

Ah HA! Thanks so much! I was pretty sure that hood was standard but I did notice that it wasn't exactly the same as the T/A hoods of that vintage, so it kind of threw me for a loop. The S/E seems to be kind of an interesting beast...