American man pulls abandoned 1987 Pontiac Firebird out of the woods and attempts to get it to run
Published on Jun 13, 2025 at 4:24 AM (UTC+4)
by Claire Reid
Last updated on Jun 13, 2025 at 3:06 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
A man rescued this 1987 Pontiac Firebird that had been abandoned in the woods for 22 years and decided to see if he could get it going.
Pontiac introduced the Firebird in 1967, and by 1987, it had entered its third generation.
The third generation was given a complete redesign from earlier models, including a large glass-dominated rear hatchback.
A little over 88,600 Pontiac Firebirds were built in 1987, and one of them ended up abandoned in the woods for two decades until recently.
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The owner of the 1987 Pontiac Firebird had fitted some new Goodyear tires on it in 2008.
He then seemingly decided he didn’t want to spend any more time or effort on the vehicle and left it parked in the woods for 22 years.
The Firebird’s owner recently got in touch with his friend who runs the B&C Motorsports YouTube channel and asked if he’d like to take the car off his hands, for free.
The free Firebird was too tempting an offer for the car enthusiast to turn down, and he headed out to rescue the long-forgotten car.
However, releasing the car from where its parked was no easy task.
Trees and vegetation had to be cut away, and the Pontiac Firebird had to be partially dug up after sinking into the soft ground.
After hours of work, the 1987 Pontiac Firebird was freed and pulled up onto a trailer, and taken to its new home.
As you might expect from so many years exposed to the elements, the car needed a good clean to wash away years of dirt, dust, and grime.
So, its new owner grabbed a pressure washer and got going.
With the dirt gone, he was able to spot some slight rusting and a couple of dents on the driver’s side fender, but otherwise the car looked in pretty good shape.
The interior was a different story and was completely covered in mold and cobwebs, but nothing that a thorough clean-up couldn’t salvage.
With cleaning done, it was time for the moment of truth: would the Pontiac Firebird run?
The YouTuber put in some fresh fuel and attempted to turn the V8 engine; incredibly, it fired up.
“There is no way,” the shocked new owner said.
“I must say it runs pretty good given that it just sat 22 years.”
It certainly does.
Here’s hoping this classic is ready to hit the road again one day soon.
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Claire Reid is a journalist who hails from the UK but is now living in New Zealand. She began her career after graduating with a degree in Journalism from Liverpool John Moore’s University and has more than a decade of experience, writing for both local newspapers and national news sites. Claire covers a wide variety of topics, with a special focus on cars, technology, planes, cryptocurrency, and luxury.
