It's the classic 1960s muscle car dilemma: everyone loves the style and the sound and the power, but actually driving a 50-year-old car isn't as glamorous. This is where restomods come in because they have all the good old stuff with just enough modern tech and conveniences to make them worth taking out on regular weekend drives.
Joseph Goceljak of Sparta, New Jersey, encountered this after purchasing a 1968 Pontiac Firebird that had recently undergone a complete rotisserie restoration. In its previous remodel, the Firebird was bestowed with a big-block 455 engine shifted by a TREMEC 5-speed transmission. It also was converted to disc brakes all around—so not a numbers-matching restoration by any means. In fact, it was essentially a restomod already, but Joseph wasn't quite satisfied yet.
Once he took possession of the 1968 Firebird, he decided it needed a few personal touches. "I partnered with a local shop, Blue Sky Performance and Restoration," said Joseph. "They spent about 4 months transforming the engine bay into the jewelry box it now is. In addition, they lowered the car a few inches to give it a better stance and upgraded the brakes with The Right Stuff Detailing big-brake kit, custom painted to match the Pontiac Blue of the engine, along with US Mags Bandit-style wheels wrapped in Diamond Backs true Redline tires. They also added a Vintage Air A/C system."
Inside the Pontiac, Gillin Auto Interiors in Middletown, New York, continued the modern upgrades by adding tech such as push-to-start and a backup camera along with Dakota Digital gauges. "The car has been to many shows over the past two seasons and has won dozens of awards including multiple Best in Show trophies," Joseph tells us. With the build-quality and style apparent in this 1968 Pontiac Firebird, we believe it.
Joseph Goceljak's 1968 Pontiac Firebird Build Specs:
- 455 ci big-block
- TREMEC TKO 5-speed transmission
- Flambeau Burgundy paint
- Right Stuff Detailing 4-Wheel Signature Big Brake Kit
- US Mags Bandit wheels
- Diamond Back redline tires
- Vintage Air A/C system
- Dakota RTX gauges
- Push-to-start
- Backup camera
