While the second generation Trans Am was limited in colors in many years, Pontiac made sure the Formula could be ordered in an array of unique colors. For 1979, that included 11 different colors of which many were shared with the Trans Am. The new color in 1979 was Code 29 Nocturne Blue. It was a dark blue with some green in it as well as metallic flake. This 1979 Pontiac Formula is being sold here on eBay. The dealer is asking $24,995 and the listing has been up for a week or so. We appreciate Curvette for sending in this ad. The car is located in Milwaukie, Oregon.
The light blue vinyl interior looks like it should for a 56k mile car. There is some fading most likely due to the sun of the seat backs and door panels. That was common with this lighter color. Pontiac offered the second generation in 4 distinct models – base Firebird, Esprit, Formula and Trans Am. This Formula is equipped with power windows, the custom interior option and the WS6 handling package. The WS6 handling package came with 4 wheel disc brakes.
In 1979, Pontiac offered the Formula with several V8 engines that ranged from economy cruisers to the powerful Pontiac W72 V8 engine. The standard engine was the L27 301 cubic inch V8 with 140 horsepower. The optional economy minded engines on the order form included the L37 301 cubic inch V8 with 150 hp, and for California, a Chevrolet LG3 305 cubic inch V8 at 133 hp or LM1 350 cubic inch V8 at 160 hp for high altitudes. Pontiac also offered the larger Oldsmobile L80 403 cubic inch V8 produced 185 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque (automatic only). The top performer was the rare L78 W72 400 cubic inch V8 paired with a Borg Warner T-10 manual, WS6 suspension, and dual turbo mufflers—only 367 units were made.
The seller states that this car has the 4 barrel L37 301 cubic inch V8 engine. This Formula also does not have the rear spoiler which I think makes the car look clean and really unique. I have a 1979 Pontiac Formula that did not come from the factory with a rear spoiler but a prior owner added it. So what do you think of the price of this beauty? Is it worth it?
Everyone knows Milwaukee is in Wisconsin. Fake ad.
The rear spoiler was included in the W50 Formula appearance package which this car has. So the spoiler has been removed from this car.
As to whether it’s a good value, I once had a 301 (in a Bonneville) and it’s kind of a stone. It’s built more for economy than performance. It was acceptable for the time period but it would be very unsatisfying today. If I was going to be spending this kind of money (and using garage space, which is no small factor), I would wait for a W72 400 car or at least a 403.
No spoiler makes this Formula one of the finest looking cars I’ve seen in sometime. Great pics from seller, including build sheet. Thanks BJ.
I can’t comment on the ‘79 model year, but my oldest brother bought a new ‘80 Formula and it did not have a rear spoiler. Absolutely gorgeous car! I have pictures of it somewhere, but I can assure you that’s the way it came from the factory.
Check out the vintage brochure page that describes the option packages. The rear spoiler was standard with the W50 package
https://www.hemmings.com/stories/how-would-you-have-optioned-your-new-1979-trans-am-formula-esprit-or-firebird/
Tom, you are correct. The spoiler was optional on the Formula and had to be ordered by checking RPO code D80 at $57.
210CayenneGTS – I just pulled up the 1979 order form and you are right! It appears to show that a Formula buyer could order a rear spoiler (RPO D80) individually but if you order the RPO W50 package, it included the rear spoiler. See the note to the left of the attached. I appreciate you handling this discussion so pleasantly.
Thanks, Bruce. I tried to post this earlier but this is Not a W50 car. My bad. I got thrown off by the 2 tone paint and wheels. But I checked the window sticker, which I should have done initially I admit lol, and while this car has the WS6 package, it does not have W50. If it did, it would say “FORMULA” on the bottom of the doors and, of course, it would have a rear spoiler
It looks like we’re both right, LOL. The beauty of the site is you always learn something new. But back to this car, you have a WS6 301 without W50 and that was ordered without a rear spoiler. That has got to be a unicorn even in 1979 when they built a lot of Firebirds.
2010CayenneGTS, Thanks for your contributions and information. I have a 1979 Formula with the W72 engine. Here is an article on it.
https://www.hotrod.com/features/is-the-1979-pontiac-firebird-formula-w72-the-last-muscle-car
Excellent!! I love those 1978-79 W72s. I always wanted a ’79 TA or Formula with W72/4-speed but they were hard to get even back in the day. The bulk of them were 403 automatics. Yours is extremely rare indeed with only 367 built.
Interestingly, for 1979, it looks like the paint scheme on the W50 and non-W50 Formulas was almost the same. The difference is the door lettering. There was more of a delineation in the earlier models, which helped confuse me, LOL!
I’m somewhat of an F-body nerd. I don’t currently have one but I’ve had a 1969 Camaro SS350, a 1978 and a 1979 Z28, a 1987 Formula with the L98 350, a 1991 Z28 with G92 and the LB9 5-speed, and finally a 1999 Camaro SS in the past. Of that group, I particularly loved the Formula and wish I still had it.
210CayenneGTS, I have to disagree with you on the rear spoiler comment. The W50 package in 1979 was only graphics. When I look at the build sheet on my 1979 Formula, the rear spoiler was a separate option.
My comment where I included a link to an article which has vintage 1979 literature showing that the rear spoiler was part of the W50 package was deleted. But if anybody wants to Google it, it’s in a Hemmings article published in 2019.
I mean, obviously, they might have changed things at a different point during the model year. But I have never seen a W50 Formula without a rear spoiler , and I have seen a lot of these cars. Though I realize that it’s really not something there’s a lot of documentation on today.
I guess another way to be sure would be if they published the build sheet for this car, or somebody had a build sheet for a W50 car without the spoiler, which it seems like you might?
You said you had a Formula, but was it a W50?
Ok, in true read before you type fashion, I note there’s a window sticker in the photos. From that, this car did not have the W50 package, at least insofar as I can tell. I was thrown off by the paint scheme. It does have the WS6 performance package, but not the W50 package. A W50 would also be two tone but would say ‘FORMULA” in big letters below the door. My bad!
I do like the look sans spoiler. Very clean, almost sexy look of the rear quarter of a ’66 Toronado (not any other year).
The main issue with the 301 is unlike say, a Chevy 305, there is nothing you can really do to improve its performance in a meaningful way, as almost no aftermarket exists for this engine. They use awful heads on them (3 intake ports per bank!), so noone made even an aftermarket intake manifold for them. Without a good fuel curve you can forget headers, etc. With this engine you either accept it as-is (still reliable and smooth) or pull it out.
The top of that drivers seat is bent?
That does look weird. I wonder if the foam in the seat deteriorated or shifted down.
That’s not foam up there, that’s the metal seat back frame.
Has that wonderful “Rockford” persona, sans the unbecoming rear spoiler. Color is right on. The only 2 much needed changes would be 1) needs the Olds 403 or, wonder of wonders, Pontiac’s W72 400, & 2) Should’ve had the velour fabric interior. Make those things happen & you’d have yourself 1 SWEET Formula!
rather have a s/b chevy than a 301 slug
Oddly, i remember reading that the ’74 GTO with heavier Pont 350 was faster than the ’74 Chevy Nova SS with small block 350.
The exterior looks good , the color of the interior is less desirable. The 301 in it is stopping the sale at this price .