Apologies in advance for highlighting two Pontiac Firebirds in successive days for the Hemmings Find of the Day, but this 1969 Pontiac Firebird 400 convertible for sale on Hemmings.com is worth the repetition, it being the Firebird used in two different guises on I Dream of Jeannie: first in stock form (albeit loaded up directly from Pontiac), and second in George Barris-modified form. From the seller’s description:
Here is the background story on this very interesting Pontiac promotional car. In very early 1969, Pontiac produced this Firebird 400 convertible. It was Carousel Red (Orange) from the factory with a white deluxe interior and top. The car was loaded, as most promotional cars are, so as to feature as many available options that consumers could choose while ordering their own new Pontiac at their local Pontiac Dealership. This Firebird 400 Convertible actually was on the I Dream of Jeannie TV show in two different looks. First, it was on the show as Major Nelson’s (Larry Hagman) car in its regular, factory production car look at the end of the 4th season. Then during the show’s hiatus, Mr. Jim Wangers had the great idea to talk PMD into sending the car to George Barris to be customized. Pontiac agreed to the idea, and sent the car to Barris’s Van Nuys shop for some custom work and paint. They decided to send the Orange 1969 Firebird 400, which had already been on a few episodes of the IDOJ show, to Barris to be customized. Barris hand-made the fiberglass, twin scooped hood, as well as, the metal rear quarter panel side scoops and the metal, three-piece, adjustable rear wing. He then gave the whole car a fantastic metallic green paint job with white racing stripes. The car was modeled after the all-new and yet to be released 1969 Firebird Trans Am (1969 Trans Ams weren’t built until May of that year, which would have been too late for TV production purposes). According to Mr. Jim Wangers, this was the only car the Pontiac Motor Division ever sent to Barris to do. Barris has done lots of other Pontiacs for TV show production companies, but none were commissioned or paid for by PMD directly. After the car was finished, it appeared on the IDOJ show again, this time as Major Healey’s (Bill Daily) personal car.
See more Pontiacs for sale on Hemmings.com.
UPDATE: McGean pointed out a few cameos by the Firebird in a pair of YouTube videos showing all the Pontiacs in the show.