There are few cars that bring the respect of the car enthusiast world as the 1973-1974 Pontiac Super Duty 455 (SD-455) Firebirds. The SD-455 engine was legendary and as only produced in the Pontiac Trans Am and Pontiac Formula for these two years. This 1974 Pontiac Formula SD-455 is painted in Pinemist green with a camel (tan) interior. The car was originally an automatic and was converted to a 4 speed manual. Pontiac produced 943 Trans Ams with the SD-455 engine and only 58 Formulas in 1974. If you want this car, you better hurry. It is listed here at ACC Auctions with only a day left in the bidding. It is currently bid to $58,000 and is owned by a dealer.
Pontiac used internal codes to identify specific engine options and streamline production and ordering. The Super Duty 455 engine, for example, was designated by Pontiac with a UPC (Universal Product Code) of LS2 and an RPO (Regular Production Option) code of 35X. These codes helped dealers and factory workers specify exact engine configurations for vehicles. The Super Duty 455 was factory-rated at 290 horsepower and 395 lb-ft of torque, although many enthusiasts believe these figures may have been conservative, as official ratings were often based on specific engine RPMs that understated real-world performance. The base engine for the 1974 Formula was the L30 350 cubic inch V8 but Pontiac still offered several optional engines including the L78 400 cubic inch V8 and the L75 D Port 455, which differed in intake and exhaust port design (“D Port” refers to the shape of the cylinder head ports) and was only offered with an automatic transmission that year. The top dog was of course the SD-455 engine.
The base camel interior presents very well and has the correct standard steering wheel, manual windows and the wood grain bezel. This Formula does not have air conditioning but does display an 8 tract player in the console. In 1974, Pontiac produced 73,729 Firebirds in total. Of these, 10,255 were Trans Ams and 14,519 were Formulas. After 1974, Trans Ams would out sell the Formula model. Does the change to the 4 speed manual transmission from an automatic increase or decrease the collectability of this rare bird?
Importantly, 1974 marked the final year before Pontiac—and the auto industry as a whole—introduced catalytic converters to comply with new federal emissions regulations. Catalytic converters were designed to reduce harmful exhaust emissions, but their implementation effectively ended the era of “true” dual exhaust systems. This shift, along with stricter emission standards, led to a noticeable reduction in engine performance and marked a turning point in the muscle car era. We appreciate Curvette for sending us this listing. Previously, this car was listed for north of $100k. Do you think it will reach reserve?
Pontiac perfection 🏁 Had to be about the fastest factory car in 74′
This is how you spec a car if you actually want to drive it fast. No screaming chickens on the hood to attract unwanted police attention.
Except for the SD 455 on the air intake
For the last time, the screaming chicken was always OPTIONAL on T/As (except possibly on SEs & anniv T/As?). A RED firebird was way more likely to attract a cop, as well as earlier T/As with racing stripes.
Not ordering a rear spoiler or rally wheels & removing sd-455 decals & installing whitewalls & full wheel covers on this car would have really fooled the cops.
For me, the manual swap increases desirability because ift means that if I could afford the car, I wouldn’t have to do the swap myself.
Have never seen an SD455 Formula in person but they come up for sale occasionally. I like the colors on this one and Dave is right, I don’t think the manual swap hurts it. I don’t think it will bring $100k in the current market.
I don’t play the lottery, but thinking of buying a ticket today…Wow!
Imagine ordering and having your request for this processed fifty years ago. You’d be on cloud 9. Colors look great together, classic 70s. Spec’d to fly under the radar without adding attention. I love the stock steering wheel and wood tone inside. Very cool Pontiac.
If it was a 73 ,it would hit 6 figures easily (including my bid ) , and probably will anyway .What a find !
Question for the Pontiac experts – has the hood been changed from the normal Formula dual air intakes, or did the SD455 engine option come only with the shaker hood more typically associated with the T/A ? This configuration looks like a T/A with no bird, not a Formula, but I have learned that things were done differently back then.
The SD Formulas all came with the T/A Shaker Hood.
Sorry,no longer 1 of 58 with transmission change.
Agreed. It’s still cool, but it’s not 50K cool…
1 of 58 Produced: 1974 Pontiac Formula SD-455, and how many of them were Brewster Green??
Zero. This is Pinemist green for ’74.
Is it just a trick of the light? The dash seems more a greenish gold than the rest of the tan interior.
It’s a bit darker as was the case with most of GM’s interiors (outside of black and pearl/white/parchment) of the time where the dash was a shade or two darker than the rest of the interior.
Pretty car. Love Brewster green and though purists may not appreciate the trans swap, I think it will minimally impact the value. The soft market may hurt it more.
I suspect that some of that may be the light reflecting off of the green hood, making the top of the dash pad look a bit darker than the rest of the interior, but it’s hard to tell.
Love it, but with my knees gotta have the original AT. Years ago, I bought a 1970 Esprit with a blown motor. I swapped in a 400 and played the sleeper role!
I’m sure it runs better then my new 1974 Formula 400 Firebird.
Great car in a great color combination! If it was gold, it would be perfect, as I could live out my “Rockford Files” fantasies, LOL! I can almost picture James Garner behind the wheel with a 455 SD under the hood! GLWTS!
“Hello. This is Jim Rockford. Leave your name & number, and I’ll get back to you. Beep.”
Loved the Rockford Files still watch it on Prime. Remember John Wayne played a cop in the movie McCue he drove a Brewster green 1973 Trans Am super duty.
Here’s link to the IMDB page on the movie:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071824/?ref_=fn_all_ttl_1
Loved the Rockford Files still watch the reruns on Prime. Remember a movie John Wayne played a cop McCue he drove a 1973 Trans AM super duty in Brewster Green.
You would need to prefect your “J” turn, then you are all set !
Beautiful Firebird! I still love all the greens and blues from the 60′ to 70’s.
Can someone explain the Shaker TA scoop and if that was available on a Formula instead of the two bump out scoops on Formulas ?
I had the pleasure of driving a red 73 Formula SD 455, factory 4 speed about 20 years ago. What a car. The power was unreal. A kid in high school got a new Admiralty Blue 74 SD 455 TA for a graduation present. He drove it all the time. I haven’t seen in about 45 years. He took very good care of it.
Man, only seen one of these SD-455 Formulas in person and that was at a World of Wheels in the 80s.
I’m guessing that there were faster (just by a hair) than a comparable SD-455 Trans Am, the same was how a 5.0 Mustang LX was faster than a comparable Mustang GT.
sold for 100k w fees. so, there you go. it what it is especially in Brewster green
Just sold for $100,800. Most ‘74 SD TAs are currently getting around 75k. Being this is probably the only SD Formula you will ever see, I think it is a fair sell. Good thing too. I would have been kicking myself if it sold for 75. Would have sold both of my cars to make room for this in the garage.
Any SD formulas built with manual steering, manual brakes, &/or column shift automatic?
What is the switch to the right of heater controls. I’m thinking rear defogger. Could it be power locks. It’s not cruise control. Any ideas 💡
Rear defroster indeed.
Not sure if that exhaust system is correct for an SD.
SOLD Just over 100 grand with fees