BF Exclusive: 1991 Johnson Phantom
- Seller: James A
- Location: Hampton, Iowa
- Mileage: 33,000 Shown
- Chassis #: 1N9PC11HXMD000214
- Title Status: Rebuilt
- Engine: 5.7 TPI V8
- Transmission: Automatic
Now, this is one you probably haven’t seen before! It’s a 1991 Johnson Phantom, of which Johnson Motorcars may have built 60. There were a few companies in the ’80s and ’90s rebodying production cars with wild fiberglass bodies, most of which were based on Fox Body Mustangs. Interestingly, this one is said to be riding on a 1991 Pontiac Firebird and the seller believes it has a wheelbase of 145″. It’s a project that needs finishing, but the seller was able to drive it around the yard. One thing is for sure: its next owner will have one of the most unique cars on the road! The seller is asking $6,500 or best offer, so if you’d love to finish this project, make them an offer!
The Firebird’s original wheelbase is 101″, so I would love to see how Johnson stretched it. The seller has measured it, and the car is 222″ (18.5 feet) long. To put that in perspective, a brand new Chevrolet Suburban is about 225″ long, so this car is nearly as long as a seven-passenger SUV! Most of that length is at the front of the car, so driving it has to be a unique experience.
The interior is standard Pontiac Firebird, except for the wooden steering wheel. It will need interior work, but it looks like the major pieces are here. Given the car’s unique styling, you would expect to find a more luxurious interior, but its next owner has endless options for how they want to appoint it. The easiest route would be buying stock Pontiac parts and reusing any good components. We would be tempted to reuse what we could, but install leather seat upholstery, new carpets, and have some lambswool style floor mats made for it to give it a higher-end feel.
The engine is said to be a 5.7-liter V8 that produces 240 horsepower. As previously stated, the seller was able to start and drive the car, but it had old fuel in the tank. The engine turns over freely but won’t run now, so the fuel system will need to be flushed and serviced to get it running again. The TPI system works well and is relatively simple, but swapping it to a carburetor is always an option that would simplify the engine bay.
This is one of the more interesting and unique finds we’ve seen in a while. It’s going to need a lot of work, but since the mechanical parts are right from the GM parts bin, it shouldn’t be challenging to get it roadworthy. Making it look nice, on the other hand, might be tricky. Most of the body components appear to be fiberglass, but the trim and the grille might be hard to source. Hopefully, those parts were off the shelf items. Do any of you know more about Johnson Motorcars and the Phantom? If so, we would love to hear about it! And if you have any questions for the seller, please leave them in the comment section.
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Comments
Wonderfully hideous!
Maybe the Leata Cabalero would be more to your liking. It’s not so austentatious!
I had to look up what a Leata Cabalero looks like… what a patchwork quilt of an automobile! It’s like an orgy of car parts, assembled into one lump. It will be difficult for me to unsee this now! To each, their own! 👍🏼😅
Astoundingly grotesque!
You know, it seems that anyone that had access to an industrial size fiberglass “Vac-u-Form”( remember those? They got incredibly hot!) made their own rendition of a car. From dune buggies to, um, well, this. Can’t blame them, really, it’s the foundation of our society to be creative, or used to be, and there are so many people, that even an unusual idea could have a chance. Look at AMC. I had to look up what a finished one looks like, and looks cool, although, like all these( except Excalibur) they all seem to have the proportions way off. I hope someone has the energy and resources to finish it.
Howard, I am guessing the “Vac-u-Form”, just like “Jarts” and diving boards would not be considered safe for kids today.
@Howard A- That looks like it was done with an array of Easy-Bake Ovens.
I wonder how difficult it is to get a cover for a Johnson.
Cost would certainly be a factor. It’s a pretty long Johnson.
A couple yards of dirt shouldn’t be that hard to find.
I wonder how difficult it is to turn it back in to a Firebird.
@John Eder
Ok, I’ll play along.
John, that’s called a condom.
I’ll have to look this up also to see what it’s suppose to look like. Also need to look up a Leata Cabalero. Never heard of any of these.
When the writer said they made 60 of these my first thought was just like Tucker Automotive. (Although they only made 50)
The interior has a lot of potential but why, why are they always pretty much stock of the original car?
Its primary function would be to protect that fabulous fiberglass finish and what remains of a Firebird from further environmental damage, obviously…
It’s missing the major parts that make for a neo-classic… the huge bumpers, the chrome horns and the huge shiny grills. I looked up pictures of complete examples, and the aren’t nearly as well proportioned as a Tiffany or Excalibur.
Always been a genre of cars I don’t quite understand, but some people love them.
Parts if needed are available. If someone had a genuine interest. It’s certainly not your typical cookie cutter car.
I’d need a fake mustache, dark shades, and a wool hat pulled way down to be seen driving this bad boy.
Then you could be a Phantom Johnson driver.
Velvet Jones.
Good car to have if there is another pandemic, because you’d want to be wearing a mask while driving it.
There has to be at least one spot on that car that isn’t ugly….
An LS would fit, but why bother.
(No matter how fast it could run it would still be buttugly when stopped)
You can’t outrun ugly!