The 1970 model year heralded the arrival of the second generation Pontiac Firebird, debuting midway through the year to critical acclaim for its sleek European inspired styling. Pontiac expanded the Firebird lineup into four distinct submodels: the base Firebird, Esprit, Formula, and Trans Am. Total Firebird production for the shortened 1970 model year reached 48,708 units, with the performance focused Formula accounting for 7,708 of those vehicles. This example is located in Leetonia, Ohio. It is listed here on eBay with 3 days remaining in the auction. The Formula does not have its original engine and is currently bid to $10,600 and the reserve is not met. It is located in Leetonia, Ohio and the vin is 226870L108967. We appreciate Curvette for sending this listing to us to review.
Factory engine offerings for 1970 spanned multiple displacement tiers. The base Firebird utilized a 250 cubic inch inline six producing 155 horsepower, while the Esprit carried a 255 horsepower 350 cubic inch V8. The Formula 400 featured a standard 400 cubic inch L78 V8 rated at 330 horsepower. Performance purists could option the high breathing Ram Air III V8 generating 345 horsepower or the range topping Ram Air IV producing 370 horsepower. Under the twin scoop hood of this Formula is a 389 cubic inch V8 sourced from a 1966 Star Chief. The non-original engine is paired with an automatic transmission conversion completed in 1985.
Showing 91,622 miles, the vehicle includes its original window sticker and factory dealer invoice from June 1970. These documents confirm the car left the factory in Michigan painted Verdoro Green with a 400 V8, a four speed manual transmission, factory air conditioning, and a Safe-T-Track differential. The car now wears an older Black Cherry repaint over a custom purple interior.
Graded as a Condition 3 driver by a certified third party appraisal, the car balances honest mechanical wear with verified provenance. A recent Blackstone Laboratories oil report confirms healthy internal engine wear, backed by bottom end work in 1987 and top end service in 2001. Additional updates include side exit exhaust with Jones Flow Path mufflers, Fluid Film rust protection, power front disc brakes, and a Rally tachometer. Known defects are disclosed openly, including oil pan and transmission fluid weeping, dried rear window trim, seat upholstery tears, and minor paint cracking. Overall, this 1970 Firebird represents an accessible, well documented cruiser built to be enjoyed on the road.
I see a money pit here! I was interested before I read that so much non-original changes had been made! The deal breaker was the manual to auto change.
No manual. No sale.
No improvements were made. They dropped the AC, dropped the 4 speed, repaint looks horrible, downgraded the engine. What the hell? This thing would have been worth a lot more without any modifications.
Even if the paperwork shows it’s a real Formula, it missing the 400, one year only seats, one year only 12 bolt rear end and has a TH350 which wasn’t even available in 1970 Formulas. It’s best to value this as a generic early-1970’s Firebird with a Formula hood in similar condition.
Steve R
I have a 1970 YS 400 if interested for this bird.complete shortblock.
This is pretty much a shell of the car it originally was. It has a 73 or up T/A dash instead of the wooden Formula dash, with apparently the only working gauge is the speedometer. The dash AC vents are gone, and to cap it off,. the tackiest Grant Challenger steering wheel. The fan shroud has been hacked up, with a cheap replacement fan sitting completely outside the shroud screams overheating. Painted rear bumper, added antenna on the fender while originals were windshield antenna equipped, etc, etc. The trunk floor appears ready to let go completely. This poor bird is a mess.
My brother bought one new just like this car. But, it came factory with a HURST 3 speed manual.
When he too me to look at cars the dealer also was a jaguar dealer and he was considering a XKE. Both were new. I think he knows he made a big mistake. The firebird rotted and the whole body was rust from it shedding its paint.
Wow!! Nearly completely original.. only the engine, transmission, wheels, seats, steering wheel, tachometer, … yup just a few minor changes…and that colour combo with painted rear bumper… just…. wow.
Best hood ever imo!
Having been a owner of a 1970 firebird myself, I feel ashamed. This thing has the ram air hood with no dual snorkel! Yeah I agree with a lot of the others that the wheels suck, automatic transmission sucks and painting the bumper. At least it looks like a Pontiac engine block instead of a GM.
I agree with all the other comments. This car could be a nice ride again . It is ok as is but nothing spectacular . I have put interiors in old fire birds like this , this one is a ness. The original paint was green with a tan seats. It will take alot to put this back to original . The biding ended at $14000 reserve not met.
Oh well. I thought I’d help my dad who’s going through chemo sell his car. The car was already swapped and converted when he bought it in 1985. He did paint it that color it was supposed to have been the same color as the Monte Carlo ss in 1985 dark cherry but the color turned out more plum purple. When dad bought the car the interior was completely bright red. My guess the previous owner took the interior from the red bird esprit because it had the bright red formula wheel. Why dad decided to paint it and just not leave it red was beyond me. Whomever had it before him took the time to paint everything red as even the inside door panels are red, the firewall you can see red still there and inside the trunk you can still see red in parts
I’ll list it again in the spring. It was appraised at 24,000.00 I had the reserve well below that. I do have an ls motor if anyone is interested in doing a resto mod with this.