[oldbirds]

I'd say its personal taste, but vote for no spoiler on a 70. My 70 came with a spoiler and I took it off and welded the holes. Attached some before and after pics to show the difference - the plain, pure look is growing on me.

[bird72]

Originally Posted by oldbirds

I'd say its personal taste, but vote for no spoiler on a 70. My 70 came with a spoiler and I took it off and welded the holes. Attached some before and after pics to show the difference - the plain, pure look is growing on me.

wow, comparison shots, can't ask for better than that.....

I do like the baloney tip exhaust no spoiler look....

[poncho-mike]

My 70 Formula has no spoiler and the original poverty caps on 14x7 steel wheels, no trim rings.

[1973Formula]

My '73 Formula 455 had a spoiler when I got it, but it is not original. I will not be putting one back on. I prefer the no spoiler look also. I think the spoiler only looks good on Trans Ams with the additional valance and fender spoilers. I also prefer a level or slightly rear down stance on a Formula. I say let the hood scoops stand out.

No Spoiler.........

[bird72]

Great responses...... I like that there is little or no middle ground in opinion Funny thing is I have added spoilers to this car and one other 74 Bird I had. First response.... "That thing needs a spoiler" wham.... done...... Another thing.... look at early Pontiac press releases, ads, and magazine road tests and reviews...... LOTS of no spoiler Formula's in attendance there..... One, they were appealing to the more car traditionalist crowd, and spoilers were a new (since about what 68) notion of what to put on a car, not as readily approved of as now. Some even mocked the TA look at the time...... so I think there is a generational acceptance thing also.....

[CaptCrunch]

My 70 wont be getting one........I think they look ok but i remember back in the day that everybody that had an F-body (Pontiac or Chevy) put one of these things on it and it started to be the wanna-be trans am /Z-28 look..........these cars have great lines and dont need a piece of plastic tacked to the rear end to look good...........if it came with one though I'd leave it on...........


edit.....also, as years went on spoilers where added to almost everything and lost their coolness.....nowadays 4 cylinder honda's and just about everything else has one.........

[oldbirds]

Originally Posted by bird72

Great responses...... I like that there is little or no middle ground in opinion ..... Some even mocked the TA look at the time...... so I think there is a generational acceptance thing also.....

Couldn't agree more. In August of 1970 I was shopping for a replacement for my 69 Mustang Mach 1 and finally decided on a Firebird Formula 400, 4 speed, silver with red interior - and couldn't find one or order one (too late in the model year). A salesman told me they had a Trans Am out back that I could get a great deal on. For whatever reason I didn't even know about the TA, but walked out back to take a look....and almost didn't even take it for a test drive. Garish stripes, spoilers everywhere, shaker hood scoop - my first reaction was that it was a cartoon car with every muscle car cliche combined on the same car. Took a test drive, couldn't stop grinning, found one with a 4 speed at another dealer the next day and bought it on the spot (at a huge discount). After a few weeks it became the best looking car I have ever owned, and my favorite muscle car of all time. In 1999 searched for and found a project car with the same specs - blue/blue with M21 four speed and a console - and spent 2 years restoring it. The 70 TA is still my favorite car - and I almost didn't even sit in it because of a first impression.

[1973Formula]

Had to post this pic:


Maybe the extended rear wheel flares help, but I think that looks awesome without the spoiler.....

[turbo69bird]

Originally Posted by oldbirds

Couldn't agree more. In August of 1970 I was shopping for a replacement for my 69 Mustang Mach 1 and finally decided on a Firebird Formula 400, 4 speed, silver with red interior - and couldn't find one or order one (too late in the model year). A salesman told me they had a Trans Am out back that I could get a great deal on. For whatever reason I didn't even know about the TA, but walked out back to take a look....and almost didn't even take it for a test drive. Garish stripes, spoilers everywhere, shaker hood scoop - my first reaction was that it was a cartoon car with every muscle car cliche combined on the same car. Took a test drive, couldn't stop grinning, found one with a 4 speed at another dealer the next day and bought it on the spot (at a huge discount). After a few weeks it became the best looking car I have ever owned, and my favorite muscle car of all time. In 1999 searched for and found a project car with the same specs - blue/blue with M21 four speed and a console - and spent 2 years restoring it. The 70 TA is still my favorite car - and I almost didn't even sit in it because of a first impression.

Man that silver w red interior would have been a stunning car.
What a great color combo that would have been.