[Ganggreen]

More pics

[Ganggreen]

More car pictures

[johnta1]

KEEP THAT CARB.

[Baron Von Zeppelin]

John I'm pretty certain that is one of the "restamp restoration" carbs from PY catalog back in late 80's to early 90's . Notice it has no date code - or pick code .

I bought one back then for a 7040273 - stamped the same way.
On top of that - mine is a Carter Qjet - not Rochester.

They were said to have been built to correct application specs and sold outright.

GangGreen that 7043270 is the application number for 73 SD Automatic.
Its not real , but I'm sure it works as good as a real one would.

[Baron Von Zeppelin]

I bet your brother really cherished that Formula.
Sharp car in great condition.

[johnta1]

Thanks, BVZ. I didn't look real close, just saw the number.
Later saw it didn't have date or 'pick' letters.

[Ganggreen]

Vin# 2U87Y3N142276
Head- # 96 , from 1971 400
Head date- E1711
Intake- E142, 1972 ( intake)
455 Block- 003286YC
Quadrajet- # 7043270
Body- 07 B body date = 2 nd week of July 1973
WR66- formula

I believe this is what you guys are saying, putting in a file, yes my brother loved this car, only had it for less than 10 years but made me promise to bring it home. Beings the appraiser is wrong, what should we insure this car for, in your opinion?

[johnta1]

On the block where this is - 003286YC, down lower by the timing cover is another stamped set of alpha/numbers. Looks like 23N1xxxxx with x=digits and the 3 and N may be different.


That would be the vin of the car the engine came from.

[Baron Von Zeppelin]

The retail market value with what I can see - I would guess 28-32k
With original engine and interior corrections maybe 40k
Others are welcome to share opinions.

They only made 43 examples of 1973 SuperDuty Formula's
33 Auto & 10 4spd
If it were one of those 33 Automatics in its current condition with matching numbers engine
You would be looking at 100-125k , perhaps more.

There was only one built in Navajo Orange , it is Automatic.
Special ordered new by a lifelong Pontiac celebrity named Nunzi Romano
He still owns it
His would probably be 150-200k due to his status , maybe even more.

Would be entertaining to hear what the appraisers value was on the car.

[Baron Von Zeppelin]

John or Ransom might be able to tell how many Y-Code 455 Formulas were built.
Maybe even break it down into 455 Automatic with RamAir.

[Held for Ransom]

Originally Posted by Ganggreen

Vin# 2U87Y3N142276
Head- # 96 , from 1971 400
Head date- E171
Intake- G142, early 1973 (bet it's casting 492744)
455 Block- )003286 YC (bet it's an early '73 455)
Quadrajet- # 7043270 (restamp)
Body- 07B body date = 2nd week of July 1973
W66- Formula

Corrected and added my thoughts.


Air cleaner looks like a '73 RA unit but vacuum hose routing is incorrect. Was there a tag on the drivers side?


https://www.phs-online.com/order-info-packet/

You can order Pontiac invoicing from PHS that will let you know how it originally was made. Takes a few days to get by E-mail and the $110 cost is high, but if you want to insure for 35-40K, it's nice to use for appraisal.

[Baron Von Zeppelin]

Formula 455 Auto = 503
Formula 455 Manual = 227

I have seen numerous Automatics , but think have seen but one documented Manual
Where'd they all go ?

GangGreen is there an EGR valve on the passenger side of your carburetor ?
Or a block off plate ?
Will be right around the choke mechanism.

[Baron Von Zeppelin]

I can see what looks like ...724 ..on the intake in one picture.
Probably a 491244
Early early 1973 intake

With G of 72 date

I thought it was a C date , and Green called it an E date.
Not a clear picture

[Held for Ransom]

Originally Posted by Baron Von Zeppelin

I can see what looks like ...724 ..on the intake in one picture.
Probably a 491244
Early early 1973 intake

With G of 72 date

I thought it was a C date , and Green called it an E date.
Not a clear picture

I know '73 had several different numbers. I thought the 491244 was always a misread.


Correct numbers on the standard Formula 455.
533 RA's (WU3) made. No breakdown on 400 vs. 455.

[Baron Von Zeppelin]

In this picture it "looks like" partial number .9724.
The 7 is probably a sloppy 1
Wallace lists the 491244
,..............and the 492744

I get to cheat using a tablet and do the pinch-out to zoom in.

[Baron Von Zeppelin]

GangGreen , the way the date codes work is the first letter is the month
A - Jan
B - Feb
C - March
D- April
and onwards

Next two numbers are the Day of month

Last number is always the Year

Then you have to know when the production breaks are for model years.
And other factors. lol

Your Heads are May 17 1971
On top of that we know they are 1971 model heads by the #96 casting number.

Your block could be 71 72 or 73
We know that from the leading " ( " in the EUN .
You can close that gap if you find the partial VIN.
You can pinpoint that gap if you decipher the block date code.

Would be of best scenario to verify it , and have it be a 73 model block.
Might match up with the early 73 Intake.
Its not going to be the matching number engine , but it would be year model and application code correct replacement.
That does win back some lost points in value.

[Baron Von Zeppelin]

Hagerty doesn't even list value for 73 Formula 455, skips from a 400 to SD455

Formula 400 in good condition 17k
Formula SD455 in good condition 116k

Y-Code Trans Am 455 in good condition 29k

I'd say this car is probably in-between good and excellent

[65madgoat]

I noticed that with Hagerty valuations. Odd.

What I have seen with respect to values for a 1973 Formula 455 is them being close to or around regular 1973 Trans Ams prices --- with the lower production 1973 manual trans Formula 455 easily equaling or bettering the standard 1973 Trans Am (non-SD).

[Baron Von Zeppelin]

I pretty much agree with that.
If its a factory RamAir equipped car , would value it pretty equal to a Y-Code 455 TA Automatic.

I tried to buy a loaded 73 Formula 455 RA Auto car about 30 years ago with a locked up engine.
Florentine Red (burgundy) with Deluxe OxBlood interior.
It was for sale , but he thought it was a gold mine.

[Baron Von Zeppelin]

Originally Posted by 65madgoat

I noticed that with Hagerty valuations. Odd.

I think we have stumbled on the reason why the appraiser proposed/declared it to be a SuperDuty.
He probably used the Hagerty value guide , and didn't apply research/logic.

Probably handed GangGreen a 6-figure appraisal quote.
ouch

Green,
the Y-Code 455 was rated 250hp
the X-Code SD455 was rated 290/310hp ... (Hagerty and some others use 310 , but that version didn't go into production line cars)