Low mile cars from the 1970’s are getting harder and harder to find. This 1979 Pontiac Formula has traveled just 19k kilometers or approximately 11K miles since new. The interior is pristine and, while not a heavily optioned car, it presents as new and should be desirable. It is listed here on Craigslist for $25,900 and is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Pontiac Formula is one of four models offered by Pontiac for its 2nd generation Firebird – base Firebird, Esprit, Formula and Trans Am. We appreciate PRA4SNW sending us this listing.
This low mile survivor is painted in Code 63 Sierra Copper with the lower portion painted in Code 69 Heritage Brown. The interior is the tan upgraded deluxe hobnail cloth. This appears to be one of the only interior options the car has because there is no air conditioning, tilt steering, power windows or power locks. The car was equipped with the rear defrost option. The seller states that the car runs and drives like new. All 1979 Pontiac Formulas were painted in two tone colors and the W50 decal package added the large FORMULA script. The lower colors on the cars were either charcoal, blue or brown.
This car is equipped with the base engine for the Formula in 1979 which was the L37 301 cubic inch V8. It was rated at 155 horsepower when fed by a 4 bbl carburetor. Many Formulas in 1979 were built with the optional Oldsmobile 403 cubic inch V8 engine that produced 185 horsepower and 315 lb ft of torque. This more powerful engine was only available with the Turbo 350 automatic transmission. The rarest engine in a 1979 Formula was the W72 Pontiac 400 cubic inch V8 engine which was rated at 220 horsepower. This engine only came with a 4 speed, WS6 suspension and 3.23 rear end in 1979. Only 364 Formulas were built in 1979 with the W72 engine.
This car appears to be the same Formula that was listed for sale in Joplin, Missouri last summer for $16,000. It was offered originally with 15×7 snowflake aluminum wheels but the seller at the top was offering to include a refinished set of 15×7 steel Rally II wheels which now reside on the car. The car appears to be rust free and in like new condition with the exception of a replacement console lid on the interior. It has new tires and appears ready to be driven home.
A very beautiful and original Firebird for sure.
I can “almost” hear the theme song from the Rockford Files playing in the background, with James Garner at the wheel……
Best wishes to the new owner who should be very happy indeed! 👍😎
James Garner!!!!——Having Oakland Raider season tickets, he attended many games ( down on the sidelines) .He was a huge Raider fan. Of course he is no longer with us ( he always dressed in black) and I say ” sc___the Traitors. I had season tickets for 28 years!!!! To bad they did not keep Carr so they would continue loosing.
A Pontiac firebird was the car Jim Rockford drove on the Rockford Files. You see a gold or bronze colour car you can here the theme song playing
just because the ad has kms doesn’t mean its Canadian. There is nothing in the ad stating it is Canadian.
Pick of the Speedo shows KM/h on top and larger so made for Canada market
Mike, here is the paperwork showing it was built for Canadian export.
This car was sold NEW at Addison Pontiac, Buick, Cadillac in Toronto, Canada. A 5 minute walk from where I lived in Toronto in the 1970’s.
Must be an impressive console lid to add over 10 grand to the price
I like this !! At one time I owned a ’79 301 4bbl Formula (Turquoise/Blue w/Blue & Oyster(White) interior. While the 301 wasn’t the fastest… I couldn’t kill it either!! Believe me I tried!(That would’ve been the only way my wife(now ex thankfully) would’ve let me change the engine). I beat on that car for 5 or 6 years (87-92?) & couldn’t kill the motor – eventually I sold it to a friend that was “restifying” a ’76 T/A & wanted my recently replaced suspension components that I didn’t want to remove. I almost wish I had the cash!!
So many people want to bash the 301 and say it was a junk engine and that’s simply not true! I had an ‘80 301TA and a ‘79 GP SJ with a 301. My brother bought a new ‘77 GP and a new ‘80 Firebird Formula, both 301 powered. Neither one of us had any engine problems with those cars. No, they weren’t powerhouses like the old 400’s and 455’s, but that wasn’t what they were intended to be. The 301 was designed as a reliable economy engine with decent torque, and that’s exactly what it was. Pontiac was trying to meet ever tightening EPA regs and was trying to keep their V-8 engine alive and competitive. I loved my ‘80 TA! Easy 20 mpg and it had no problem keeping up with traffic
Tom, I think once a few too many “bad experiences” get out there, an engine’s reputation has a hard time recovering…..at least that’s been what I’ve seen and heard….all the best, and Happy New Year! 👍
Tom, I agree – maybe what I wrote was misconstrued. I did get decent mileage & it did have decent performance (I just wanted more). It was the older technicians that told me to stay away from it. That said though, I can’t even imagine a 301 in an old (’77) GP.!!
I really like the colors and the presentation. Just a bummer bout the drivetrain. No clue on the money ask but would be cool to drive. Instead of changing out the motor, I would try do some period mods to increase hp. Exhaust and intake. Maybe swap in a decent manual? Focus on handling. Would be a fun daily that you could drive to the track and have fun. Good luck seller and buyer. It’s a unique and fun piece.
There “might” be 1 aftermarket intake made for that motor – period. Headers – if I can recall… Headman & maybe 1 other made them for that motor. While it is a Pontiac, the heads has SEVERELY slimmed down ports. Also, unlike other Pontiac motors, you can’t just “swap” better heads on it without a lot of machine work.
Honestly, my experience with mine really wasn’t that bad. A few years earlier I had worked for a large Pontiac dealer & had bought my ’79 T/A 403 & all of the guys always said not to by a 301 car because of “it’s issues”. I too like this color combo & also agree with your “stick” comment.
Can it do a “Rockford”?
I understand that the Firebirds used in the series were actually Trans Ams, disguised as Esprits, to fit with Rockford’s low budget image.
“Rockford’s” Espirit’s were always Formula models ordered without the rear spoilers & the hoods/steering wheels changed & Espirit badges installed. Lots of documentation of this.
Boy, did this one ever catch my eye. Not so much that eyebrow raising price, though. I’d hold out for a Pontiac 400 T/A.
But, if you’ve had your heart set on a 301 Formula, here’s your car. Probably none better.
We’d all rather have the 400 instead of the 30. But you’d better be holding out with about twice that much money for a low mileage Firebird Formula 400, and even more for a 400 T/A
This is a nice ride , but the 301 in it is junk I had a one , after talking to many mechanics they were all weak crank shafts in them . if it had a 350 with a 350 trany it would be Werth the money, as is not so much , about $10,000 less.
My wife had ordered a new yellow Formula in ’79 (way pre Me ) with a 400 4bbl/auto, but with woodgrain dash (hates the “engine turned” look), and knowing her it may have been sans hood scoops (hates those and stripes too).
Guess she loaded it with options.
Built during the strike ,(of course), and it had “Blackfoot forever” written inside the air cleaner and a coke bottle inside one door. It had been rushed thru production, ( they didn’t want to wait the six months they were told it may have normally taken ), because her then husband worked for a company that was a GM supplier.
Looking at this motor, 1 might be fooled into thinking its a 400 or 455. Even the valve covers, water pump & radiator inlet on top look the same.
Quite empty under the hood for a ’79 even w/o a/c – less emission controls on a Canadian car in ’79? Does have the pancake cat conv, tho.
They must have a shortage of side post batteries up in Canada.
lol