There is a strong band of individuals out there who really have great affection for the Firebirds from the mid-1970s, and I have to confess that I am one of them. There is just that certain something about the look of the car that I have always liked, and I know that the Firebird of 1976 was no longer the fire-breathing monster of days gone by, but it was still a comfortable and competent car. Barn Finder Pat L spotted this particular Firebird Formula, so I have to thank Pat for that. It is located in Temecula, California, and is listed for sale here on Craigslist. It looks like a very nice example, and it can be yours for $18,500.
As 1976 dawned, there was serious talk in the boardroom at Pontiac that the time was coming to kill off the Firebird. This decision was all but a foregone conclusion, and the end of the 1978 model years was the preferred date. However, the success of the film “Smokey and The Bandit” ensured that the Firebird, and more specifically, the Trans Am, lived for many more years. Prior to the movie success, the Firebird was really only limping along, with Pontiac throwing very little money at the model for upgrades or development. While that may not have seen many major developments or upgrades occur, what it did was ensure that the Firebird was a tried and true package that could provide acceptable levels of quality and reliability. This is reflected in the fit and finish of the Firebird when new, which was at least as good as many of its contemporaries, and better than a lot of them. This particular Formula really reflects that quality, as it has survived in largely original form for the last 43-years. The owner says that the paint is original and that it has been kept in a garage for its entire life. It certainly presents very nicely, and a close inspection of the photos indicates that the owner’s claims that the car is rust-free may well be true. There may be some slight fading of the paint of the front bumper, but the overall impression with this car is very positive.
Under the hood are the 350ci V8 and an automatic transmission. This is a numbers-matching car, and the owner also claims that the car has only covered 62,000 genuine miles. The owner doesn’t indicate whether they have documentary evidence to back this, so we need to take the claim on face value. Given the general overall condition of the rest of the car, I actually find the presentation under the hood to be a little disappointing. However, at least it’s obvious that no-one has gone ballistic under the hood with either rattle-cans or detailing sprays. The Firebird is also fitted with air conditioning, but the lack of a drive belt indicates that this may need some attention.
While the Formula didn’t provide you with an interior dripping with luxury appointments and accessories, it was still a comfortable place nonetheless. The interior presentation of this Formula is extremely good, with no obvious signs of tears, rips, or stains. Even the relatively light colored carpet has held up well, as this was one area that was prone to becoming dirty and stained. The Formula is fitted with an aftermarket CD player and speakers, and I’m not sure whether or not I like the speakers fitted into the floor console. I guess that it is preferable to hacking into the door trims. I hate to see this sort of thing, but I think that it’s something that I’d learn to live with.
The Firebird, and particularly the Formula, is an interesting car. Values for these plummeted a few years ago, and it was possible to buy a reasonable example at a very competitive price. However, they have rallied incredibly strongly over the last 18 months, and this has resulted in a price increase of upwards of 50% during that period. A really nice example can now fetch $25,000 or more. If this particular car is as good as it appears, then the asking price might represent a very competitive buy.
The Seller actually used his name in the posting! How much more open can you be than that? I’d like to know the story behind the Michigan bicentennial plate on the back. For what it’s worth, I like this car!
My college car! Same color scheme inside and out. Only a couple little nits to pick…the grille nacelles would not have been entirely black, and on my 76 the steering wheel was not a three spoke, standard Pontiac. That interior was indeed a bear to keep clean, and my pale carpet turned to a dreadful mustard yellow after a few years.
Pretty slick, but where are all the Buick GNs?
We featured what we find and I’m sure there will be more soon!
Jesse…I think you may have missed the sarcasm in Dave’s keyboard strokes.
Hater!
Thank GOD.
Nice find. As always on these cars the first thing that I would want to do is grab my Dremel tool and make the hood scoops functional. Some people may disagree, but the earlier models had functional scoops. While I have the tool plugged in, the catalytic converter would probably also go missing.
I’ve owned a ‘74 (bought new) and a ‘72, neither of which had functional scoops for what it’s worth.
I has a 72 Formula 455 with functional hood scoops. Nice round rubber flex grommets seated on an air cleaner housing with a port for each. Bought it 74 from a Delta Airlines pilot when I was in my senior year at high school. Loved the way you could roll along around 20 to 30mph, romp on it and burn rubber with an automatic transmission! Lived at home, had a job to pay for it and thought that was great. Hard to get kids to work much less drive these days unless you po at for it all, yep, those were the days!
Lest I digress though, I have never seen or heard of any Formula with the hood scoops anywhere but at the front of the hood? (At least not from the factory)
Anybody else seen them where they are with this one?
Ah….maybe that’s the difference. Mine both had small block 350s. The scoops were slid back to the middle of the hood from ‘76 on. I thought the biggest motor you could get with the Formula was a 400 and the 455 was reserved for the Trans Am.
Nice car. I am a big Firebird Fan. My favorite color. I believe in the 62K original on this one. It is solid because it was Ziebart Rust Protected when new (yellow plugs in doors). It would be nice to have some pics of the undercarriage.
A little confused, your write up says the car is $18,500 which I think is a bit too much for this car. The Ad on Craigslist says $15,500?? The $15K is not a bad price IF there are no significant rust issues……
Automatic Trans is not a plus for me.
1976 = NO HP = :(
CA location excited me for no rust and being solid THEN I saw the MICHIGAN plates. That is a bit scary. If it has primarily been a MI car then you better check out the undercarriage very thoroughly because MI & RUST go hand in hand. If you buy it and I am right then for you it becomes “MY RUST”.
Good luck, this will sell fast.
Great little Firebird! Always found this ‘mid-generation’ of the 2nd gen Firebirds far better looking than the ‘Bandit’ variant – probably I watched to many episodes of Rockford Files… I’ve also always been a sucker for such undefinable camel-diarrhea interios in any 70s cars.
It’s hard to imagine these previous wife-beater mullet-head cruisers are catching this kind of $ now
I’m right beside Michigan in Ontario. A lot of you guys forget that we put our hobby cars away in the fall for the winter. I’ve seem plenty of cars from the snowbelt in excellent condition. Most high horsepower cars don’t do to well out in the snow. That’s what winter beaters are for.
No doubt. Absolutely correct. However, this is not one of those high HP cars, in fact, the opposite.
Rock On is absolutely right on cars taking a nap over the winter months. I have the Vette and T-Bird put to bed right now due to the snow and salt out there. Between tire width, low clearance and hate to see the salt damage, better to have something else to drive in Winter.
I also agree on Ziebart Rustproofing if you want to keep a vehicle around here. I’ve gone over 15 years on one with no indication of any rust damage to protected cars.
Both my 70’s Trans Am’s came from Canada and neither one has ever had any rust issues.
Keep in mind, the winter storage of hobby cars as described starts AFTER they are driven as everyday vehicles when new. Ziebarting helps– my Pennsylvania 1968 Buick had it — but after 40 years even that begins to decay and rust forms. This car looks cleaner than my southern 76 Firebird. When I traded it ten years on it had no quarter panels and rust bubbles around the rear window that had been repaired twice.
@Tom- we know this car is not really high performance, but back in the day it was pretty hot. I bought many cars that have had the Ziebart treatment. My parents applied it to all of their cars. Even better now these days are applications like Krown and Rust Check that you apply annually. Every time that I am under my car or have the wheels off, I give it another shot with an aerosol can.
Used oil and a Wagner power sprayer work wonders at protecting cars from rust
Rock On, yep, not disagreeing just trying to point out anything after 1972 had very low if not, no performance by in large. Again, big Firebird fan.
As far as the products you mentioned, yes but the issue is “having to apply annually”.
My family were the first Ziebart dealers in Illinois starting in 1964 after Kurt Ziebart invented the process in 1959 in Michigan. We left Ziebart after 40 years of what became an abusive relationship to the Franchisee by corporate….same story in most companies that grow.
My company, in Illinois, is still applying the original formulation from Z Technologies which when applied correctly, is pretty much a ONE AND DONE for a lifetime process.
Rust Protection is like anything else, IF YOU DO IT RIGHT, IT WORKS. Many 21st century rust protection, including Z, the people applying the material suck so they don’t take the time to get the material where in NEEDS to go (where you can’t see it) so it can do it’s long term job like Alexander mentioned.
Ziebart guys back in the 60’s and 70’s were pretty good …that was back when people cared, had a solid work ethic and quality meant something.
THE BIGGER PROBLEM MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW WHEN STORING A CAR is that WHEN you store a car in a garage that your DAILY DRIVER shares, pulls in next to your classic, daily driver full of moisture, snow, ice and salt….the daily driver is saturated THEREFORE the classic is going to receive all of the moisture which carry’s the salt over and ends up rusting your “stored” vehicle. EVEN WORSE IN A HEATED GARAGE…..everybody thinks a heated garage is better BUT in temps below 32 degrees….by in large ice and salt are really not activated. When you warm them up, create melting, moisture, humidity, which is all full of salt, if your classic is not stored CORRECTLY, you will find it full of rust over time.
We have been Rust and Corrosion protection experts now for 55 years and have awesome options for vehicles, that are new AND, that are not new where the undercarriage is not great but solid. Where your goal is to have great curb appeal, have a driver that you can show, roll the clock back on some of the rust and corrosion, stabilize it, again make it look great and protect it moving forward WITHOUT having to do an annual reapplication AND it is now protected from your daily driver winter roommate that wants to share it’s winter salt and corrosion!
I would absolutely love this car! I think the price might be a little high, even after it was lowered to $15,500, but someone will buy it. $6,000 less & I would be a potential buyer…if I had the funds lol. I don’t so I guess I am just talking crap!
Last year for conventional round headlights too. Very nice find!!
James Garner would love it!