When I was younger, I used to sit glued to the television through every episode of The Rockford Files. This wasn’t so much because I was a devoted fan of the show. I always waited for the briefest glimpse of the Pontiac Firebird driven by the late James Garner’s character. I may have been a Ford man, but I longed to own a Firebird with every fiber of my body. I have never been lucky enough to own one, but that doesn’t mean you need to miss out. This 1974 Firebird Formula 400 is a solid and healthy survivor that features a desirable drivetrain combination. The seller is only this classic’s second owner, and after years of enjoyment, he’s decided that it is time for this gem to have a third owner. Therefore, he has listed it for sale here on Craigslist. The Firebird is located in Tallahassee, Florida, and the owner has set the sale price at $29,500, although he may consider reasonable offers. I have to say a huge thank you to Barn Finder Pat L for once again spotting an excellent survivor for us.

The original owner purchased this Firebird from a dealership located in Lufkin, Texas. The car’s history is slightly vague, but I believe that the seller probably purchased the vehicle sometime in the 1980s. That means that this Regatta Blue classic has split its time between the favorable climates of Texas and Florida. That makes it no surprise to learn that the car appears to be rust-free. There are no issues visible in any of the usually prone spots, while the owner doesn’t mention any problems in his listing. However, he does use the word “excellent” when describing the body, which I find reassuring. The paint holds an impressive shine, with no glaring flaws or marks. It isn’t clear whether the Firebird has received any restoration work, but if it hasn’t, that makes the paint condition particularly noteworthy. The original owner ordered this classic with Soft Ray tinted glass, and this appears to be in excellent condition. The exterior trim shows no evidence of problems, and the original Rally II wheels are equally impressive.

By 1974, engine power was being sapped by tightening emission laws. That meant that it took something special if potential buyers wanted to scratch their performance itch, and Pontiac tried to oblige. Our feature car is a Formula 400, so naturally, the engine bay is occupied by the company’s 400ci V8. When it was new, this beast churned out 225hp that found its way to the rear wheels via the desirable four-speed manual transmission. The original owner also chose to equip this classic with power steering and power front disc brakes. If that owner had pointed this Pontiac at a ¼ mile, the journey would have been over in 15.6 seconds. The Formula remains numbers-matching, although the seller holds documentation confirming that the original owner treated the V8 to a rebuild in 1979. The motor wears aftermarket headers, along with an updated ignition system and carburetor. The owner recently replaced the fuel tank and lines and says that this is a genuine driver. The fact that he actively encourages test drives is a reassuring thought for potential buyers to consider. It suggests that he has nothing to hide with this car.

The date stamp on this interior photo indicates that it is a few years old, but it seems that things have taken a turn for the better since 2015. The interior already looked pretty tidy, but the owner has installed new seat upholstery since he took this shot. The dash and pad are in good order, as are the remaining upholstered surfaces and the plastic. Someone has cut the door trims to install aftermarket speakers for the radio/cassette player, but it’s the console that has me scratching my head. Its general style looks original, but the silver studs along the side and the cupholder certainly aren’t. It appears that someone has made an attempt at customizing, and I can’t say I’m a fan. If I were to buy this car, I would probably bite the bullet and spend the $390 on a replacement console. Otherwise, the interior isn’t loaded, but the updated air conditioning should make life pleasant on warmer days.

The 1974 Pontiac Firebird is the car that very nearly wasn’t (if that makes sense). The company came close to dropping it from their range during 1972, but the Firebird received a last-minute reprieve. This decision proved to be a fortuitous one because sales went from strength to strength in the following years. The 1974 model year marked the most successful to date for the Second Generation Firebird, with 73,729 buyers parking one in their driveway. Finding an original and unrestored example that is also rust-free can be a battle, but that’s what this car seems to represent. The person who buys it should experience years of classic motoring pleasure, and I’m not ashamed to admit that I will envy them for that. Will you be the person that I’ll envy?