There’s no denying that early production models are worth their weight in gold these days. Once discarded like yesterday’s news, more and more early production models of vintage cars are showing up these days with skyrocketing prices. But nothing could have prepared the industry for what the guys from Discovery Channel’s Fast N’ Loud show came across. Check out their incredible find in the clip above.

Images: Fast N’ Loud via My Classic Garage

Okay, so in this case, we’re talking about pre-production models; ones used to determine if the Firebird was worthy of being mass produced. As you know, that decision was eventually made and first-generation Firebirds continue to be highly collectable, but not quite as collectable as this pair of prototype models.

Known only as #1 and #2, according to My Classic Garage, the two pre-production Firebirds were found in a dilapidated old garage in Connecticut, thanks to word-of-mouth and a Gas Monkey Garage client that had recently heard of the two cars’ location.

Though the cars were definitely in rough shape when the Fast N’ Loud crew got to them, having rusted out over the years with their engines sitting on the floor nearby, they were confirmed to be the first two Firebirds ever made, making them one hell of a barn find.

With the owner of the two cars never planning to restore them, show host Richard Rawlings secured them both for a whopping $65,000. But before the crew could even get the Firebirds back to their shop in Texas, they pretty much had them sold for well over what they paid.

That’s because someone who was trying to open a Pontiac museum in North Dakota wanted the cars for his display and ended up paying Gas Monkey Garage $650,000 for the pair to be fully restored in just 60 days. Though it was quite the time crunch, the Firebirds were ready to be shipped out in just two months, exactly as they had been the day they rolled out of Pontiac.

Wanting to showcase the two unique pre-production Firebirds and all the work that went into getting them back in as-produced shape, Fast N’ Loud is running a two-part special on the cars. The first part of this special aired Monday, April 21st, while the second part will air on the Discovery Channel on April 28th at 9pm/ 8pm Central Time.

Be sure to tune into Fast N’ Loud this coming Monday to see the two Firebirds take shape and head on to their much-deserved final resting place!

If you missed last Monday’s show, check out another clip from the special below.