[jhein]

Nice looking car. 72 455 HO 4 spd Formula.

https://www.hemmings.com/stories/202...e-profile-0222

[RicksGTO]

A good looking car that is driven and enjoyed. The 2nd generation Firebirds were ahead of their time compared to anything made then and the combination of torque and handling makes them a lot of fun to drive.

[jhein]

Originally Posted by RicksGTO

A good looking car that is driven and enjoyed. The 2nd generation Firebirds were ahead of their time compared to anything made then and the combination of torque and handling makes them a lot of fun to drive.

Wow, that's a pretty rare car and you have it's almost-as-rare auto sibling! Nice.

[jhein]

And another uncanny coincidence is that the owner of that car has a 73 SD bird and you have a 74 SD TA. The article doesn't say if his SD is a TA or a Formula though. Although if I had to guess I'd say TA just based on the numbers but who knows.

Edit: the owners name is Frank Gatarz. I looked him up and it looks like it is a SD TA that's also blue...

[SD455DJ]

Originally Posted by jhein

And another uncanny coincidence is that the owner of that car has a 73 SD bird and you have a 74 SD TA. The article doesn't say if his SD is a TA or a Formula though. Although if I had to guess I'd say TA just based on the numbers but who knows.

That is Frank Gatarz's Formula and his '73 TA is a Brewster Green auto with A/C, loaded like his Formula, with the tuxedo (white/black) interior. I parked next to Frank's '72 Formula at the 2017 TA Nationals with my '71 Formula.

Dennis

[RicksGTO]

one of these days I have to get up to the Nationals, so many nice cars in one place. The tuxedo deluxe vinyl interior is my favorite.

[SD455DJ]

Originally Posted by RicksGTO

one of these days I have to get up to the Nationals, so many nice cars in one place. The tuxedo deluxe vinyl interior is my favorite.

It is a great show for sure! The TA Nat's, the Ames Perf. Nationals (Norwalk) and the Pure Stock Drags are the highlights of the summer for us. Almost 500 Firebirds at last years TA Nationals (497?)!

Dennis

[jhein]

Originally Posted by SD455DJ

That is Frank Gatarz's Formula and his '73 TA is a Brewster Green auto with A/C, loaded like his Formula, with the tuxedo (white/black) interior. I parked next to Frank's '72 Formula at the 2017 TA Nationals with my '71 Formula.

Dennis

Beautiful cars! The TA looks OK too...

[74SDformula]

Under "Specifications" for Frank's 1972 455HO Formula it says approximately six four-speed cars were produced with air conditioning. I believe I have seen the figure of 82 for 455HO Formulas with a four-speed. Was just wondering if anyone has ever heard the figure of only six 455HO Formulas with a four-speed and AC? To me that figure seems way too low.

[77 Canamman]

For its October 1971 issue, Motor Trend tested a non-A/C four-speed car, equipped with 3.42s, and recorded a 0 to 60 mph time of 7.6 seconds, with a quarter-mile ET of 15.5 seconds at 89.5 mph.

That was an absolutely horrible time for that combo. Either a poorly tuned/assembled engine, or lousy driver, or a combination.

I like the Formula in question, except for the vinyl top. Fortunately, few were such optioned...

[SD455DJ]

Originally Posted by 77 Canamman

That was an absolutely horrible time for that combo. Either a poorly tuned/assembled engine, or lousy driver, or a combination.

I like the Formula in question, except for the vinyl top. Fortunately, few were such optioned...

Those are terrible times for an HO Formy, but M/T never turned good et's in any car they tested it seems. I think you're right obout terrible tune and leaving it in drive for the quarter mile runs.

My Formula had a vinyl top like Franks, Dark Brown over Canyon Copper. The car was repainted the wrong shade of CC and the top replaced with a lighter tan color...just plain awful looking! I couldn't put it back on when Darrel Davidson did the body work and paint back in 2015/16...they just don't look right on that slick body. The shot of the sport mirror removed shows the original CC paint underneath well compared to the repaint color that was more umber colored.

Dennis

[SD455DJ]

Originally Posted by 74SDformula

Under "Specifications" for Frank's 1972 455HO Formula it says approximately six four-speed cars were produced with air conditioning. I believe I have seen the figure of 82 for 455HO Formulas with a four-speed. Was just wondering if anyone has ever heard the figure of only six 455HO Formulas with a four-speed and AC? To me that figure seems way too low.

Agreed...there were certainly more than six 455HO 4-speeds with A/C in '72. Formula's were pretty option laden in those years. I found this quote from Fred Simmons (don't recall where now) about the 82 M-22 455HO Formula count.

Dennis