How does a car like this survive 42 years and only accumulate 2,568 miles? Painted in Code 77 Carmine Red, this 1979 Pontiac Formula qualifies as a survivor. It is located at a dealer in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The Formula is listed for sale here on eBay for a price of $24,900. The seller is also accepting a buyer’s best offer. There were 24,851 Formulas built by Pontiac in 1979.
This Formula is well optioned with T-Tops, Formula wheel, rear spoiler, power windows, WS6 suspension, automatic transmission and air conditioning. The car is fitted with 15×8 aluminum snowflake wheels. If these were originally on the car, it would indicate that the car has the WS6 Performance Handling option which included 4 wheel disc brakes. Some time late in production, this popular option ran into a problem sourcing rear disc brakes so Pontiac offered the WS7 options which had the handling package and no rear disc brakes. According to Car & Driver in 1979, the WS6 optioned Firebird was the best handling car produced in the US.
The interior is the upgraded deluxe interior with hobnail cloth in red fabric. A red interior does not quite match the Carmine Red exterior which is closer to a maroon color. The standard engine for the 1979 Formula was with the L37 301 cubic inch V8 engine that produced 150 horsepower. Pontiac offered two optional engines in Formulas including the K code 403 cubic inch V8 engine. This engine was an Oldsmobile engine supplied to Pontiac and only came with an automatic transmission. It was rare but 367 Formulas were built with the W72 400 cubic inch V8 engine which only came with a 4 speed manual transmission and was rated at 220 horsepower in 1979.
The Formula was not the top line model offered by Pontiac. It was one level below the Trans Am for the Firebird model. Pontiac offered the base Firebird, Esprit, Formula, and Trans Am. However, it could be equipped with the same performance options as the Trans Am. This is a nice car and, if original, would be a great classic to own.
Again, I have to call BS on the mileage claim. Looking at the odometer, you can clearly see that it has either rolled over or was turned back. All numbers should be in the center like the 1/10th digit is.I once owned a 78 Firebird and my odometer never looked like that. My guess would be that it has rolled over. The car has spent some significant time in the sun to fade the plastics to that level. My Firebird had 70K miles on it and there was no fading at all. Also, why a steering wheel cover on a 2000 mile steering wheel? Just another “low mileage” shifty Ebay special…
Mechanical odometers were actually designed to “misalign” if they rolled over or were molested. It’s impossible to keep the numbers aligned once that occurred. This car’s mileage claims are bogus. From a dealer no less. I’m shocked.
I am with you, why would you have that steering wheel wrap , dead give away..
lol
That wrap looks a lot better on thinner bigger steering wheels.
I’m surprised they even make them in that small size.
Even a dollar tree elastic steering wrap would look better here, that is, before 1 of the thin elastic rubber bands inside broke. lol
That’s a 100,000 mile car. A very nice one. But nonetheless the wear on many items says 100K.
Who only drives a car 2k miles but puts an aftermarket stereo in it? My dad said bullsh*t has a detectable aroma. Well I’m smelling it here.
A lot of scuff marks on the seat backs.
Is this a joke? I went through the eBay pics and must have 20 things that clearly indicate this a high mile car. Steering wheel, shift nob, wore out front seats and don’t even get me started on the engine bay and underneath shots. Now it is a nice car but a clearly a 100k car.
I do not get why sellers do this. Just scares folks away. Just present the car as is. 100,000 miles does not make this a bad car. Means it was driven, and not often at that. Honesty goes a long way.
Beautiful Formula.
Not quite sure why Bruce left us hanging on the motor in the write-up.
Regretfully this one is saddld with the ulta-low performance 301 and the automatic. It is also not a WS6 car as it doesn’t have rear discs.
Considering all of this, the seller should consider themselves lucky if they receive an offer 40 percent of the ask. $25K ain’t gonna happen – no way, no how.
Lazy write-up Bruce, you could have saved us all a lot of time.
I’m not shy about correcting inaccuracies or adding missed details, but I try not to criticize the writers directly. I don’t think it’s right to directly call out the authors who bring us so much wonderful content for free.
I understand CC, just a helpful observation that’s all.
Bruce has been around long enough to know that I am only offering constructive criticism, he can handle it.
Wow!! A boatload of people came to your defense, Bruce. That is awesome, and heartwarming!
So the anemic 301, T-tops and a phony mileage claim. 3 strikes.
Beautiful Firebird, but definitely is not a WS6 car. Has the 8 inch wheels … but not the Special Performance Package. Too bad PHS docs are not shown …
Interesting how the dealer does not mention the most important thing about this car in the description…the mileage. It is only listed in the heading. Now if it really had 2k miles, that would be the main topic in the description and the seller does not even mention it. Sneaky.
If the dealer really believed this had 2k miles, they would be asking a heck of alot more for this car, regardless of the low performance engine.
Had the very same car, except had black interior! Had the 301 in it, that’s all I could get in it!
I bought a car from this place. They aren’t necessarily a “dealership”, but more of a broker who stores and sells cars for other people. More of a middleman. It’s worth noting that they do whatever it takes to make the car look nice. My car seems to have been sprayed with some kind of an oil (possibly wD40) to make it shine like crazy. A year later, I still get very strange oil droplets and discolorations that I can’t begin to explain when the car gets wet or washed. Aside from the extreme over priced cars, there’s something fishy about the way they present and detail them. Also, they have no dealer tags available so you are not allowed to test drive anything.
I doubt WD40 – expensive & does not work anywhere near as good as the following …
an old used car saleman’s trick is to use a little auto trans fluid on a smooth sponge. Works better than anything to KEEP the shine, but a good rain will wash it away. Works wonders nonetheless on faded spoilers, hiding scratches, & even fading plastic trim, & even bringing back the color on steel surfaces.
But again, only until the next big rain. lol
Beautiful car…..in the photo’s! where are the interior, undercarriage, engine and inside trunk photo’s? Where is the clear photo of the odometer? If you want to sell high end cars, spend a little on quality photo’s. To me this represents a nice used car. Top price 10K. Now if it were a 70-73 that would be a different story!
The dealer makes no claim that the mileage is original, just lists the actual odometer reading. car is very clean, especially on the outside. Has all options except tilt wheel and heated rear window. If it could be had for 12-15k, it would be a great driver/cruise-in show car after a 220 horsepower 400 Pontiac is swapped in. The 301 has to go.
I own a car exactly like this. 66,000 miles. The plastic trim does fade, but not like this. This is heavily scuffed and it should exactly match the seats and carpeting. They should have sprayed it. Mine looks showroom. The gear elector trim should have silver/gray edging. This has been sprayed in uniform black and it is cracked. The base of the steering wheel is the wrong color. It should exactly match the rest of the column. the pwr window switches are all scratched. This is a sham.