This Code 50 Solar Gold 1979 Pontiac Formula is located near Spokane, Washington in Chatttaroy, Washington. It was listed last summer but apparently did not sell. We appreciate Rocco B finding this new listing and sending it to us. It is listed here on Craigslist. The seller is asking $25,900 or best offer. The odometer reading shows just over 64k miles. The car looks to be in great condition.
The Formula is powered by an L37 301 cubic inch V8 engine that was rated at 150 horsepower in 1979 when equipped with a 4 barrel carburetor. The engine is backed by a Borg Warner T-10 4 speed transmission. The seller states that only 1,530 Formulas were built with this engine, transmission and T-Top combination. I am not sure that is something to brag about because the 301 cubic inch V8 engine was the lowest horsepower V8 option in 1979 for the Formula. Many more Formulas (7,736) were built with the optional Oldsmobile 403 cubic inch V8 engine that produced 185 horsepower and 315 lb ft of torque in 1979. 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 367 Formulas were built in 1979 with the W72 engine.
The interior of this 1979 Formula is indeed well cared for. The pictures show the car to be equipped with the deluxe interior covered in camel hobnail cloth. The car does not have power windows or air conditioning but is equipped with tilt steering. The door panels have been cut to add front speakers. The car rides on 15×8 snowflake wheels and, if original as the owner states, the car is equipped with the WS6 special performance handling package which came with 4 wheel disc brakes. If it was late in the production year, the car could has the WS7 handling package which had all the goodies but Pontiac ran out of rear disc brakes so the car has drum brakes in the rear.
Of the 211,000 Firebirds that Pontiac produced in 1979, 24,850 were Formulas. The majority of the Firebirds (117,108) were Trans Ams.This is a beautiful and unique car. The two tone W50 paint, blacked out tail lights, dual splitter exhaust all come together to make a great car.
There cannot be very many 79 Formulas built like this, 4 speed, t tops, no ac. Sad it has the anemic 301.
These 301 V8’s are cringe worthy .
Had many of them .
So horribly underpowered .
Nice car but , hit the gas and wait
No A/C does not help either!
Vastly OVERPRICED given condition and options.
4 Speed does not help that much at all with a 301!
I know where there’s a 79’ Formula 400 car sitting in some shops lot that’s wasting away. It appears to have had some sort of restoration going on as it’s in primer that’s been on it a long time, and it’s all taken apart. I don’t have a place to put it right now or I’d go do some wheeling and dealing. It’s been there for many years and I don’t anticipate it going anywhere anytime soon.
The 301 is why this car is still around. Most likely ordered as a pleasure vehicle without the pressure of having to perform the stop light contest. Lovingly maintained and not thrashed into nonexistence. Nice enough to keep that way.
Agreed. Leave this car to someone that appreciates it for what it is. A 301, 4 speed, WS6 Formula is a rare, nice driver. Plenty of beat to hell 403 Trans Am cars out there for less money that would make a good candidate for a 400 W72 swap.
The T-tops would be a “killer” here in Houston….would be like an oven in the hot Texas sun!
Nice shape for a classic, unfortunately you can find a Trans Am for almost the same price
T tops are a big negative to me and that 301 is pushing hard at complete ridiculous. It’s to bad because the car is pretty nice.
These always remind me of the Rockford Files (I realize he had a Firebird 400, though). Really nice color combo on this one, but price does seem high.