14K Original Miles: 1988 Pontiac Firebird Formula

In addition to wearing great colors, this 1988 Pontiac Firebird Formula also has just over 14,000 miles on the clock. The car is well-optioned and has been kept up as a collector car since new, with the original tires still mounted. The seller calls it well optioned, but it’s not necessarily a full-on performance model in terms of what the original owner chose – but it does feature the desirable 5.0 liter TBFI V8 engine along with locking T-tops and the W66 Formula package. The Firebird is listed here on eBay with a Buy-It-Now of $19,000 and the option to submit a best offer.

The car’s condition leaves little doubt as to the integrity of it odometer, as the cosmetics are flawless and the limited photos of the interior reveal a cabin that hasn’t seen much seat time. The curious thing about preserved muscle cars like these is that when you compare them to the modern day offering, this is basically a basic model in terms of equipment, but made more interesting because it isn’t a six cylinder car. A Firebird today with an automatic, V8, and some extra decals wouldn’t get much of a look at the dealer, but one from this era with next to no miles on it will likely catch a few collectors’ eyes.

If it had the base engine, we wouldn’t even be talking about it. If it had the rare five-speed manual, different story altogether because now it’s a very basic car with the best performance options offered aside from having the optional handling package and limited slip differential. The asking price seems a touch high to me for that reason, as the options the seller mentions really aren’t the kind that most collectors are seeking out. Still, there’s no denying the condition is excellent, and that the Firebird has been kept in excellent cosmetic shape over the course of two previous owners’ tenure.

The colors are excellent as well, as teal over gray is a peak 90s color scheme. The standard alloy wheels appear to be in mint shape, though the seller recommends replacing the original tires if you intend to drive it a fair distance. The T-tops may drive some Firebird fans to bid, as that option alone can make a car like this more desirable than one that has a solid roof (and that theory can work in reverse, as well.) The seller claims it’s been in heated storage since new and never abused, and that clearly comes through in the photos. How much would you pay for a clean Formula like this?