Located in Las Vegas, Nevada, this 1978 Pontiac Firebird Formula is listed for sale here on eBay with 3 days remaining in the bidding. The current bid is $3,550. The car still runs and drives and its condition is somewhere between a survivor and a project car. The odometer shows 59k miles but it has probably had one trip around the block after all these years.
The Firebird Formula is equipped with its original 403 cubic inch V8 engine. This engine was built and provided to Pontiac by the Oldsmobile division. It delivered 185 horsepower and 320 ft lbs of torque from the factory. Unfortunately, Pontiac mated this engine with a 2.41 rear ratio so its performance was sluggish of the line but it was a great cruiser.
The black deluxe interior shows the car was equipped with air conditioning, automatic transmission, Formula wheel and gauge package. The seat material is worn and the steering wheel is toast. With the sun damage on the interior, it will probably need a complete replacement.
The seller states that the car is equipped with the WS6 suspension package. However, to have WS6, the car should have 15×8 snowflakes aluminum wheels not Rally II wheels. The blue exterior is mostly gone on the flat surfaces but the car appears to have been equipped with the W50 paint scheme. Without the performance motor for 1978, how much do you think this car will go for?
Its at a good starting point. Clean engine up and swap all belts, vacuum and rad hoses and flush fluids. Check the brakes too. Put new bucket seat covers and door panels (speakers) and a steering wheel. Start watching ebay for correct wheels , period correct ac compressor and paint.
I would take sun 🌞 damage over midwest rust any-day .
I would bet its a 7800 ebay sale….
I’m betting the max bid will be $5,100. I like this game.
Good candidate for a resto-mod. If you’re planning on replacing suspension/wheels/motor/seats etc anyway, why not start here?
If it went for $4k I might even take it on, and the last thing I need is an impractical track project.
I had two of these brand new in the same colour combo. I traded the first one in because I wanted the “t” roof. And I up graded to the 400 (which include the silver tips on th exaust )from the 350.. back when I was too young but had a great job. If i had the time I’d buy this. Wow so many good memories , 8 track tapes and all. The wheels look correct to me. Have to get the photo album out
I would pull out that boat anchor 403, put some real gears in the rear end, maybe go through the tranny, and plop an LS3 in there. Drive it and work on the interior… Oh, and some snowflake wheels…
I could never understand why someone would buy the 403 when the true Pontiac 400 was available. Maybe it was a CA car?
Or even think of getting a 2.41 rear!!
I know the pontiac 400 was in short supply by ’78 in any interation, soon to be phased out.
I think the grills are supposed to be black with the W50 Formula Appearance Package aren’t they? So either the paint burned off in the sun or the grills have been replaced.
I fondly remember these new and serviced many in my career.Performance was done BUT the styling was still attractive.Id do whats needed to make her roadworthy again,install the missing AC compressor and get the AC going,tidy up the interior,dust off the 8 Tracks and have at it!! I want my 70’s!! And folks,stop with LS’s already!!! Leave her alone for gods sake!!!