If you don’t need to tote around more than one extra person (who packs light), I’ve long believed that a ’70s Firebird is one of the most practical collector cars. They drive and handle like a much newer car, they have plenty of power, they’re comfortable (once you’re inside), and they look great. All the better if your ’70s Firebird has 44,812 miles and has been owned by the same family since new. Barn Finds reader Mitchell G. found this beautiful Persimmon-painted ’75 Formula 400 at a dealer on eBay; located in Newfield, New Jersey, it’s not being offered at a fire-sale price, but $36,900 or best offer is not out of whack for such a superior specimen.
Before delving into a detailed look, I have a question for the good readers of Barn Finds: Have you ever seen this “1/4 Vinyl Top” on a Firebird? The seller says that it’s factory original, but I can’t find any documentation of it in brochures or other materials. I own a ’74 Firebird and have had mine documented through Pontiac Historical Services, which includes a copy of the original order form. Of course, options may have changed for 1975, but the only vinyl top I saw listed was a full Cordova top. Personally, I prefer Firebirds without a vinyl top, but 50 years on, you sometimes have to make sacrifices for condition.
While we’re staring at the top, and as many Barn Finds readers are aware, 1975 was the first year for the wraparound rear window, which offered a subtle but noticeable change to the rear view of Camaros and Firebirds.
And this Firebird is excellent. The Formula came with a standard 350, but this one has the optional 185-horsepower S-Code 400 backed by a three-speed automatic. Because the new-for-1975 catalytic converter took up extra underbody space, all automatic Firebirds and Trans Ams had the smaller Turbo 350; the Turbo 400 was no longer available. In addition to the automatic, this Formula has working air conditioning in addition to its standard power steering and front disc brakes. “Radial Tuned Suspension” was standard for 1975.
The interior looks as clean as the exterior and engine compartment, with black vinyl high-back bucket seats and full instrumentation. It also has an 8-track player because it’s a ’70s Firebird, making it practically a prerequisite.
The only flaw I see in the pictures is that the replacement filler panel beneath the grille has not yet been painted body color, a small detail that’s easily remedied (I’ve had to replace and repaint mine). The selling dealer says that the Firebird comes with its original dealer paperwork and is ready to drive. Unfortunately, the 1974 to 1976 Firebirds tend to be among the least popular of the second-generation models, but the car itself is fundamentally the same. That saved me a lot of money on my ’74, and although this ’75 is not inexpensive, it’s one of the nicest examples I’ve seen for sale on Barn Finds.
Toth, never seen a 1/4 vinyl top, but looks smart w the no spoiler backend and black interior. Neat car, lo-po 400 still has 315lb-ft of twist, but hamstrung by the economy gears probably a 2.56.
Be a dreamboat on the highway at 3700lbs+ they aren’t liteweights.
Why would you think it has 2:56 gears? I have a 76 Formula 400 and it has 3:73’s
The standard axle ratio for the ’75 400 with a Turbo 350 was 2.56:1, according to what I’ve read.
Aaron is correct … 1975 Firebirds equipped with the 3-speed automatic and a 350 or 400 CID engine came standard with 2.56:1 rear cogs and there weren’t any optional axle ratios available. (4-speed versions received a 3.08:1 rear axle ratio)
I’m glad I have a ’74. My Esprit has the 350 two-barrel with factory dual exhaust, a Turbo 350, and the “performance” axle ratio: 3.08:1. It’s actually just about right; I think 2.56s would feel a bit sluggish.
In ’76, the firebird 400 w/4 speed got a 3:08 rear, but only a 2:41 with automatic! The 455 was only avail with a 4 speed & got 3:23.
Older heads & ram air 4 package would have this firebird giving the word! Not sure that turbo 350 would be up to doing battle but cars & zebras would know
I’ve never seen that type of vinyl top either and it ruins it for me. I’d venture that this was done at the dealer not the factory. It was fairly common for dealers to add vinyl tops at the time; looked at a used Camaro about this time and went back two days later, it had a white vinyl top. Nice car but I’d rather find a driver quality’73-74 T/A for that money but it wouldn’t be a super duty.
I don’t mind a vinyl roof on these but I don’t like the half vinyl landau deal. I don’t think this was an actual option. It was probably done at a custom shop after the car was purchased. At least it didn’t get an opera window on the C pillar like a lot of these got at these shops back in the day. Yes that was a thing.
I remember those. They looked cheesey & didn’t fit flush.
Would love to see a PHS on this car to understand how it was built. odd combo with no spoiler, body side moldings, half roof, JC Whitney mud guards. Looks like someone wanted a sleeper secretary car.
I didn’t see any pictures of the documentation in the ad, but it would be interesting to see if the current owner ordered the PHS docs.
Nice car, can anyone tell me what radial tuned suspension was. I looked inside a few firebirds over the years and I never knew what that badge really stood for. I had a buddy that had a 79 TA and it got plowed into while parked by a guy going to fast and ran off the road. Alcohol was involved also. Anyway we were standing there looking at the right front looking at the tire leaning in and Dwight said that the car will never be fixed right because it had radial tuned suspension. I said its metal and it can be fixed but I really didn’t think RTS meant anything special. This was in 1982 right before we moved out of Amazonia
Pontiac came out with the RTS dash plate in 1974. It meant it was supposedly tuned for radial tires. Cars had primarily been using bias ply tires up until then and radial tires were a new cool thing at that time.
The “RTS” then developed into a new sort of brand thing for Pontiac and they kept using it throughout the 1970s, even though by the end of the decade bias ply tires were virtually extinct and pretty much all new cars were designed to run with radial tires.
I was thinking it was something Pontiac trademarked, looked cool but didn’t really do anything
A beauty, i’ve seen slick tops and full vinyl but 1/4 top like that never. It actually makes it that more interesting. Engine bay is magnificent. It’s a worthwhile investment
I had a 1971 base Firebird with a full vinyl top. By 1970-71 it was definitely an odd bird as not many second-gen Camaros or Firebirds got ’em! I like the factory Rally II wheels here which appear to be chrome plated instead of Argent with trim rings.
Beautiful. That roof, body and paint color are sharp.
I still have 1 pic of HS pal Pat’s ’69 Firebird with 400, hood tach and 4 speed back in ’77. Even in 3rd gear it would jump when the Rochester yawned open with a little throttle.
In contrast to this Firebird’s performance image:
What a horrible,
strangulated single exhaust system even before it clears the engine … even the choked bend at the axle is half diameter.
Envy the next caretaker and their opportunity to drive this Gem to show what classics actually look like vs. The sea of identical SUVs in White or Grey jamming the roads today.
Top has to be aftermarket. The chrome surround molding is just butted together at each 90-degree bend. Any factory top would have a cast 90-degree piece.
That landau top is simply fugly. I would also bet it was a dealer add-on, not factory. The only vinyl top I’ve seen on 2nd gen Firebirds and Camaros that looked decent was the front 3/4 style (from front pillars to rear of side windows. Still, I’d opt for no vinyl top at all. I do like the color and the formula hood. I suspect the vinyl top will be the ultimate deal breaker (or price reducer.)
I liked the front end on the 1970-1973 better. 1974 began the tougher years in the US new car development and 1975 was not much better even with the mandatory catalytic converter. Performance really dropped off. I would look for a 1970-1973 if I was in the market.
Be prepared for more & more cracks developing in the heavy ’70-73 endura nose/bumper – just sitting in the garage.
I have never seen a vinyl top like this on any Firebird or Camero. It is not my taste but every one has different taste. I think this car would look a lot better if it didn’t have the vinyl top and had a rear spoiler instead. This is one of the few Formulas I have seen without a rear spoiler, If I was in the market the vinyl top would not stop me from buying this car.
The factory vinyl top option (C09) for the 1975 Pontiac Firebird was a full roof covering. (from the base of the A-pillars to the bottom of the new for ’75 wrap around rear window)
Ugh. Shaking my head. The partial vinyl top is not doing this Formula any favors. Back when I dealt with such cars, the back lots of tote the note used car dealerships were filled with such unicorns. Especially after the second energy crisis about the time this car was accumulating miles. Just another used gas-hog. I scouted Formulas, Esprits and base model Firebirds with all sorts of distracting options (and standard features deleted) which were “rotting on the lot.” Hopefully that landau fabric hasn’t added any tin worm to the roof over the years. Love the color!
When I was ordering my ’81 Camaro, the salesman tried to convince me to take one off of the lot and he would make me a great deal. The ones that he had were either ugly, odd colors, stripped, or fully loaded. It was like GM was forcing them to take these cars.
I told him no thanks and ordered the car I really wanted.
74-76 era are least desirable? I’m not that big of a Firebird fan, but as ugly bumpers go, this version was closest to the cold, cruel beauty of the original front clip for this gen. Each evolution after made it look more like a cow catcher.
Most people seem to prefer the ’70-’73 or the ’77-’78 (probably because of the Bandit). I think the ’74-’76 is neck and neck with (and maybe a little ahead of) the ’79-’81.
Since I bought my ’74, that’s the pecking order I’ve noticed on the Pontiac websites.
I think they got progressively less attractive as the years went on.
The vinyl top looks like a mans toupee that gotten half blown off in a convertible.
Hey Aaron Toth,
We’d like to see pictures of your car.
Here it is, Frog.
At least the 74 was the last year without catalytic converters and the small rear window.
A friend picked up a 74 Y-code Trans Am a few weeks ago, it’s pretty rusty for a California car, but has faded original Admiralty blue paint and it’s NOM is frozen, but is complete.
Steve R
Steve R there are many west coast vehicles that are transplants from salt states that belonged to military personnel. Or they have been exposed to salt states and brought back.
The Demi-top has gotta go. Beautiful otherwise.
My 73 came from right here on barnfinds Dec 30 last year! Stock, it is the only one of my cars I cannot open the doors on when it is sitting on a car trailer.
Low rider stock. Gotta love the 160 speedo too
Pontiac and Chevy sure got a lot of mileage out of those shifter knobs.
Camaro and Firebird automatic shift knobs were slightly different, the Chevy version had a little dip in the center presumably for one’s thumb to push in the button. While the Poncho version had a flat top with a bird emblazoned on the pushbutton. The Ventura, Phoenix, Lemans and Grand Am that year also used this style for floor shifters and used the Pontiac “V” in the center.
nice car in a not often seen color. the v/top kills the car. no way it’s a factory top. that paint is a lot shinier than factory. still a good-looking ride
Does anyone know what that device is running off the crank between the alternator and the air conditioning compressor? Is it some sort of emissions equipment? Also, why would the car have a ram air hood but bot the right air cleaner to connect to it?