This 1974 Pontiac Firebird Formula 350 is being sold by a dealer in St. Louis, Missouri. It amazingly has only 9,000 miles on the odometer and is said to be all original except that the original owner opened the hood scoops to be functional like an early 1970’s Formula. The car is listed here on eBay with a starting price of $30,000. There are two days left in the auction and no bids have been placed.
The exterior of the car is painted Code 75 Buccaneer Red and the black deluxe interior looks immaculate. The car does not have air conditioning but is equipped with a console, Formula wheel and automatic transmission. This Formula 350 is said to have never been in a wreck or altered in anyway. The car drives straight and runs well. A copy of the original title comes with the car and the seller states that the car has had two owners.
There are a number of excellent pictures of the car in the eBay ad, if you are interested in this car. Just over 14,500 Pontiac Formulas were built in 1974 and they were all equipped with V8 engines. The 350 cubic inch V8 engine was the low performer. A buyer could also select a 400 cubic inch engine, a 455 cubic inch engine and the famed Super Duty 455 cubic inch engine. Only 58 Pontiac Formulas were built with the SD455 engine in 1974.
The Pontiac 350 cubic inch V8 engine only generated 155 horsepower in 1974. James Garner opted for the 400 cubic inch engine for his gold Formula in The Rockford Files. He also preferred the flat hood and had the twin scooped hood switched out for a flat Firebird hood. This 1974 Formula 350 looks showroom and would be fun car to enjoy any day of the week.
Remember when this car was for sale three years ago? Pepperidge Farm remembers
That seems like such a random comment that I am fascinated.
I am at the edge of my seat. Could you elaborate?
Was the cookie company’s Tv advertising tag line back in the 1970s
Maybe more confused after the explanation.
Why would you ever run these cars with the hood scoops closed. Pontiac closed the scoops to keep the government happy. The seller saved you the effort by opening them up. My buddy opened his up on his 1977 Formula, my other buddy opened them up on his 1972 Cuda and I opened them up on my 1978 Z28.
Opening the scoops served no purpose unless the air cleaner assembly was modified so that they seal to the to the bottom of the hood. The problem was, the inlets for the factory air cleaner was farther forward than the outlets in the hood for the cold air. Ram Air air cleaners were very expensive, around $500 for a used one in the early-1980’s, since reproductions hadn’t yet become available. It was pretty common for owners to modify the hoods, I owned a couple of Formulas which had the hoods modified, I also bought several hoods at the wrecking, yards most of which been opened too. However, you rarely, if ever, saw someone go the extra step with the air cleaner.
Steve R
Yes Steve, you probably are not gaining any horsepower due to the ram air effect, and we never hooked up any probes to verify that we were actually reducing under hood temperatures. But there is no denying that the open scoops let more of those wonderful secondaries wail for all the passerbys to hear.
853 okg
Super nice car, but that’s an aggressive “starting” bid for a base Formula 350. For that kind of $ I’d want a 400 version. We’re talking the lowest performance engine here coupled to an automatic tranny and no A/C. Furthermore, that is the base, not deluxe interior (though that doesn’t bother me). That said, it is a beautiful ‘bird.
I had 78 and 79 Z28s and I recall the hood scoop as being kind of a bolt on thing. I don’t see how you would have gotten the air from the front of the scoop, through the hood and towards the air cleaner unless you also hacked a hole in the hood.
I don’t think that would had much power for the amount of time and effort that would take. If it’d even add any. If you are going to go through that trouble, it would make sense to get an actual air induction hood with an air cleaner with a seal on it.
Yes. Rubber bumper Camaros were pretty cheap in the 80’s -90’s, you would unbolt the hood scoop, cut a hole in the hood and bolt the scoop back on. Ran an open element air cleaner.
The seldom seen today 1 year only ’77 PAINTED STEELl bumper z28s i think look the best of all the big bumper 2nd gens, & the graphics are not too “loud” as well. Would not want to touch the hood on these – maybe rig an air cleaner to cowl/firewall setup like on some 1st gen camaros. Or run simple snorkle hose(s) to the extreme front of the car. Or just an open element air cleaner.
http://i.ytimg.com/vi/OeW2xGajogQ/maxresdefault.jpg
http://www.2040-cars.com/_content/cars/images/63/110163/001.jpg
Car sittin too high front & back. Steering wheel appears to not be original with a seam around the exterior perimeter. Rear part of rear leaf springs & gas tank reprayed grey in 1 pic?
Should that much grease around bottom/lower sides of motor & trans be expected with such low mileage? Should not the headliner have perforated holes in it? The hood scoops still appear to still be sealed up.
Holes or no holes in the hood, its a good looking car, just add some horsepower.
That muffler is sure a disaster. Looks like it rotted out from only being started and moved around without getting hot enough to rid itself of the water vapour left in it from being cold.
Nice car though, and I would look good in it.
ok guys…. I bought a 1974 formula brand new – 350/2 bbl – deluxe interior – ac – power windows – AM radio – this car “looks” original except for some the underneath pictures – I am not a certified mechanic so I’m asking for YOUR opinions – most of the pictures look correct but I’m still concerned about pics – also I am positive the car is sitting too high all around – thanks Ray :)
forrestcrows@gmail.com
James Garner drove Esprit’s on the Rockford Files.He didn’t like the nose on the 1979’s,so 1978 would be the newest one used.
Jim Rockford exclusively drove Formulas.
The brake pedal and the engine say no way on the 9K claim. There’s wear on the brake pedal, and the engine bay looks cleaned, but not all that well, and there’s chipped paint on the valve covers that just would not be there on a 9000 mile car.
Why does barn finds always fall for this?
Wow you are right – I never thought to look there… thanks! …and the mileage of 8,999 seems rather too perfect
I’d also note that the front seats look recovered — and the more you look, the worse the job — to me. Just compare the fit of the covering material to the rear seat.
I noticed those as well – geez I’m a bit disappointed… I wish this car was exactly as the seller described :(
Pretty car and red no less. The color alone will relight ones 70s adolescent hormones and it looks pretty nice or at least nicely cleaned up. I too am dubious on the mileage. It will be interesting to see if he gets a buyer at that price. Still it could be a nice C&C cruiser bought at the right price.
Rockford was driving an Esprit 400. Not a Formula.
…. I checked the bidding on this car and as far as I can tell there were no bids on this car…. just says it “sold” for 30,000 ….I guess people knew this car may not be the real deal?
car has been relisted 21,000 asking price