[Judge273]

Maybe you can get some more engine pictures? Bottom of air cleaner? Studs or no studs?

Carb and choke? Stove and elbow? Etc...

[TA455HO]

Headlights look like they could be the Power Beams

Chad

[Transamric]

Originally Posted by muscle_collector

great car but im going with 106k based on the wear on the brake pedal. no way you are going to get that much on 6k

Exactly what I was thinking.

[mlewisariz]

Re vinyl top, clips look like they are the type that go on welded pins. Also ,tags indicate last registered for 92. seems like 20 years is a long time for only 6k+.

[tdavidl]

Originally Posted by Transamric

Exactly what I was thinking.

note to self....replace all pedal pads at 200k miles prior to a sale at 206k miles...

[bird72]

220 lb dude with Alaskan steel toed logging boots wear da pedals more than pencil neck Wall Street slip ons

[tdavidl]

Originally Posted by tdavidl

note to self....replace all pedal pads at 200k miles prior to a sale at 206k miles...

EDIT: note to self....replace all pedal pads at 200k miles prior to a sale at 206k miles and drive with my wall-street pencil neck geek slip-ons...

[weranc55]

Originally Posted by Transamric

Exactly what I was thinking.

I think it’s closer to 6k than it is to 106.

[mlewisariz]

I think there's more to indicate lower miles than 106k. Look at rear bumper chrome, tail light bezels(no obvious pitting) and trunk weatherstrip. Also rear wheel wells look relatively clean. Interior is very nice and no wear on carpet next to accelerator pedal.( My 70 was worn almost through at 50k) Interior plastic would show wear and decomposing just from 26 years of weather exposure even with windows closed.If block nos. match I'd say it's a real 455 HO car with matching drive line. I think the new owner is still smiling. These deals don't come along often regardless of miles.
One thing I would ask,was the folded heat riser only on HO as opposed to the stamped variety. That would indicate a correct part for this car.
As for the valance, I thought early cars (Prior to Jan72) came with steel valance. Plastic started after production resumed in 72. This is a Nov. car, possibly damaged early and replaced. The other anomaly would be non original exhaust.

[Transamric]

Originally Posted by mlewisariz

As for the valance, I thought early cars (Prior to Jan72) came with steel valance. Plastic started after production resumed in 72.

I'm not sure there are so many comments about calendar year 1971 Firebirds being built with steel valance panels. There have been plenty of unwrecked, original cars turn up from that time frame with plastic panels.
I recently sold a 09A Formula and still own a one family owned 10D Esprit both equipped with their color matching original plastic valances.
As has been mentioned in many posts, we believ the reason so many think their early '72's came factory equipped with steel panels is because they were damaged either right off the assembly line or in transit to a dealer. The dealers would simply have ordered the steel valance repair kit which included all the necessary parts to make the swap. The new owners would not have had a clue that a repair had been done.
Here's a pic of the Esprit.

[Transamric]

Here's a better pic from a show in Tacoma more clearly showing the valance panel.

[necdb3]

I think all 72's came with plastic valance. As stated by others, my original 72 formula 455 (first car) was an early 72 with plastic. Think of any reason for it to be changed, accidents, cracking, parking abutment, etc.

[71GP76TA]

125,000 miles... original interior. ….. I could easily pass it off as a 25,000 mile car..




I have a 69 Grand Prix with 166,000 miles.. Original interior looks like a 20,000 mile car

[unruhjonny]

nice...

I hope that in time I have the resources, and opportunity to purchase a nice original early Formula... because one is never enough.

[Baron Von Zeppelin]

Originally Posted by 71GP76TA

125,000 miles... original interior. ….. I could easily pass it off as a 25,000 mile car.

I have a 69 Grand Prix with 166,000 miles.. Original interior looks like a 20,000 mile car

The question is -
Did those sit outdoors naked in the elements parked in the same spot and neglected for 20 years ?
Probably not
Makes a huge difference.

This had to have been a very well preserved car to still look even close to what it does now after 20 years of just sitting outdoors neglected.

No idea what took its spot away inside the garage.
But hope it wasn't just a riding lawnmower and some old furniture.
I'm amazed it still holds as much dignity as it does.

[AkCamaro]

Originally Posted by Baron Von Zeppelin

No idea what took its spot away inside the garage.
But hope it wasn't just a riding lawnmower and some old furniture.
I'm amazed it still holds as much dignity as it does.

It was the husband/fathers Cadillac, that took the spot in the garage and ultimately got the formula parked in the driveway.
The formula was the wife’s car, who then left if to her daughter. I’m not sure if I made that clear earlier.

I sorry I haven’t updated the thread yet, I have not been back out to see the car since I took the initial pictures.
Sky still doesn’t have the title in hand, as I believe the health of the previous owner is poor, and they may not be prioritizing finding the title or getting one reissued from the dmv. Like I said earlier, the title may prove my assertion of the miles to be wrong.
There will be snow on the ground, and maybe on the formula, in about three weeks. So hopefully I can get some more detailed pictures before we are locked into our hibernative state.

[unruhjonny]

I hope it's put into hibernation inside a garage now, and that you are able to (even slowly) start cleaning it up!!

[coonhunter70]

Absolutely amazing, what a find, I hope he gets it put in the garage.

[AkCamaro]

I had the chance to impromptu swing by again a few days ago, and I called another buddy Dustin who just built a 72 pro touring formula. Dustin and Sky had not met before so it was nice to introduce them to each other as they both live relatively close and they both have November 71 built Norwood Formulas.

[AkCamaro]

Some more close up pictures.