[scott70]

IMO,,,,spolier with no vinyl. I would of probably not bought my GTO back in the day if it had a vinyl top or bought it and removed it. The roof styling on a gto or firebird needs to be seen,,,it's a good looking part of the car with a nice flow. Vinyl just messes it up to my eye. Not even a big fan of a convertible as far as looks go compared to a hardtop. And a spoiler just makes the look to a back of a firebird. Like the formula hood too.

[OCMDGTO]

Add the spoiler and heave the vinyl top

[Firedup6975]

If it were mine, I’d leave it just the way it is. No spoiler, and keep the top! As mentioned you just don’t see that many of them.

[amcmike]

IMO, a first gen can get away with no spoiler. but on a 2nd it always looks like something is missing. Plus, they really are functional.

Hopefully there are no surprises under the vinyl. Even the cleanest cars can have hidden issues. They can look good, but they're not good for the car.

[TAKerry]

Seems to be a consensus. BUT, I say NO spoiler and LEAVE or restore the vinyl top. I think these cars look great without one, they retain the European vibe they were originally intended to be. I remember when Vinyl tops were the normal on cars, so I like the look on this firebird, makes it classy. Easy for me to say being that I own a couple of Trans Ams, but one never sees nice Firebird examples anymore. We need more of them.

[66sprint6]

That’s a nice looking car. I wouldn’t change a thing, but that’s my opinion of course. Uniqueness is what turns me on and that one is unique. Also, I wouldn’t change anything from factory.
I always thought that the rear end without the spoiler looks classy, like understated elegance. That being said the only spoiler that I really liked was the low profile one on the second gen Camaro.

[Greg Reid]

TA or Formula hood scoops, fender vents and flares=spoiler
No hood scoops, fender vents or flares= No spoiler.
I think that particular car looks good without it myself, including the vinyl top.

[bird72]

THANKS for comments (and votes) so far!!!!! Mind spinning!

Couple of questions came up. Keeping Revere Silver. Car did have factory side stripes. I just heat gunned them off (PIA). That may be next poll (side stripe Y/N).

Car right now is stealth, HO, sway bars, T400, putting Formula steering wheel in, and tight ratio box also. I like the TA in a bird wrapper thing.

Here is last one I had, a no spoiler no top example. (That car was triple white originally!)

[tooski]

I bought my 75 Formula new without a spoiler. Didn't want to spend the extra money. It did not take me too long before I put one on. To me any 2nd gen looks so much better with one.

[Gator67]

Originally Posted by amcmike

...Plus, they really are functional....

Can someone please elaborate on this point? I've always thought spoilers on these cars were more about appearance. If there's a net performance benefit, I could change my mind...

[FirebirdHank]

29 responses, 29 different answers. Should make your decision easy.
I really like silver with black accents, so my vote is leave the top on and the spoiler off. I had a '70 Camaro with a vinyl top and was considering no vinyl when repainting. My body guy talked me into leaving the top on and I was glad that he did. You don't see a lot of 2nd gens with vinyl so that makes them stand out .

[David Jones]

I'm a big fan of the spoiler.

[Greg Reid]

Originally Posted by Gator67

Can someone please elaborate on this point? I've always thought spoilers on these cars were more about appearance. If there's a net performance benefit, I could change my mind...

I don't KNOW this for a fact but I recall reading back when I had a TA that wind tunnel tests proved that the Pontiac 2nd Gen spoiler was not effective. The engineers came up with a spoiler more closely resembling the 2nd Gen Camaro spoiler but that the aesthetics were better on the Pontiac and aesthetics won the battle over function.
If you look at both designs you can see that the Poncho spoiler is nearly vertical compared to the angled Chevy design. I'm thinking 'wind resistance'. I do like the look better though.

[jerry455]

I have a 1976 Firebird and glad it had a spoiler on it when I bought it. I would have put one on it. They just look like a spoiler should be there. I love your silver color. My old 1971 GTO looked great with a black vinyl top. It was a butterscotch gold and looked great with the black top. If I would have had a spoiler for that I would have put one on it also. I like spoilers. When I find a formula hood for my Firebird I will put one on it. Not the correct 76 formula hood but the early 70's formula hood. I think they look fantastic It is your car and you have to like it. I sure what ever you decide it will look great, its a Pontiac Firebird after all.

[RAJ7395]

Yes on the spoiler. Otherwise the car looks like a dog squatting to piss.

[Formulajones]

Originally Posted by RAJ7395

Yes on the spoiler. Otherwise the car looks like a dog squatting to piss.

Perfect analogy

[Formulajones]

For me though, doesn't matter much either way. The original owner of my 70 Formula went back to the dealer in 71 and had the spoiler added. Been there ever since. Had the car for more than 25 years now, so I'm not taking it off any time soon. But I could live without too if I were ever so inclined to repaint the car and remove it. But my wife likes the spoiler so I doubt I'll be removing it, lol.

[RocktimusPryme]

On first gens I think the spoiler, both front and rear were the only design points Camaro got right over the Firebird. I still think the 2nd gens look better with them too. So I would if it were mine.

The only thing that stopped me with mine, is the 67s never got them. And I don't like the 69TA spoiler. Ultimately I think I am going to at least put the front spoiler on, snow plow comments be damned.

I also agree with ditching the vinyl top. No doubt this will be an unpopular opinion, but vinyl tops scream nothing but "Old Man" to me. I cant help but think of a guy chain-smoking with the windows up in a 1981 Brougham or something when I see any vinyl top. PHS said mine got one, but it also said it got a 326 and two speed. I ditched all of that. Don't feel bad about any of those decisions.

[unruhjonny]

Originally Posted by RAJ7395

Yes on the spoiler. Otherwise the car looks like a dog squatting to piss.

nah...
the car's stance, and balance definitely plays into how it looks overall, but I'd not go that far - it's also about the angle viewed;
I'd suggest that a flat hood car with a spoiler seems unbalanced.

here is another other great looking spoilerless car with a vinyl roof and a nice looking exhaust to consider.



The Esprit model, with it's large rocker trim looks incomplete without all the original brightwork, and the vinyl roof trim certainly does play well with the chrome that the Esprit has - it just happens that the above Formula has all the Esprit brightwork (less rocker trim), and the vinyl roof chorme.

[Sidponcho]

Originally Posted by PunchT37

Spoiler on 2'nd gen f bodies. No spoiler on a bodies. Unless it is a real Judge.

This is 100%
But no fender flares unless you are off-roading