[tom bryner]

I have a yellow 73 formula 455 with auto transmisson. I looked up the production #s and it looks like 503 of these were made. Is that right? Well what my question is, is there anyway to know how many came in yellow with black interiors? Also I would like to know how everyone feels about repainting a car other than the stock color? Iv'e always liked this color combo but I was thinking of a little darker yellow or even a copper color. What do you all think? And one last thing would this car be considered rare?

[2manyT/A'S]

My Call: In a production run of 10,000 1973 Formula's,503 would be considered low production but NOT rare.
It's probably the third or fourth most DESIREABLE 1973 Formula,with the SD cars & 4 speed D-ports ahead of you.
Have you PHS'ed it to see if it is/was a RAM AIR car?
I don't beleive that color break outs are available for F-cars.
That's only available for the "old guys" with GTO's
I've seen a number of Yellow/black 73's but they are not as common as Red/black.
If your 73 is a NICE low mileage,original type car,it will likely be worth more if original color is maintained.

If it is non-original engine or modified,the color change is not really a big deal,but I think most people buying these early 70's birds want STOCK or CLOSE to it.

[sixgunsblazing]

Where can I find a decoder for my body tag on my 73 formula?
I don't thnk the original exterior is black..

[2manyT/A'S]

It's probably NOT originally BLACK.(that was a special order color in those years.
If you post the PNT & TR data from your cowl tag, we can tell you what it should be.

[bird72]

I think rare can be looked at in different ways.

Rare for a 455 one in yellow (maybe 1 of 50, just a WAG)

Rare for surviving 455's like yours (maybe 150 of the 500 survive, another WAG).

On those criteria, it is rare.....

Rare for one of 10,000..... but really, do the 350 / 400 / 455 split and it seems rarer, but it is borderline.

For the yellow.... it will seem smarter in ten years that you kept it yellow, when they are worth a gazillion bucks. Don't change it. IMO

[tom bryner]

Thanks for the input. I did get the PHS papers and no it's not ram air. It does have a 455 but not the original. I agree with keeping it yellow too. The paper work shows it came with ( rally ga&cl ) and ( cstm trm grp ). Is this the engine turned dash? I bought the car in Florida, original Florida car so you know this things got some rust. I don't see a lot of parts for the 73 so this resto might take some time. I just got it last year and it's so fun to drive I hate to stop. Thanks for the help it's my first resto. Oh, do all 455 go side ways when you give it the gas?

[2manyT/A'S]

Rally gauges & clock is a GOOD THING. (easy upgrade to tach if you choose)
You'd be surprised at how many Formulas DIDN'T come with gauges.
Custom trim is also GOOD.
I think you will have a SMART lookin' car when you're done.
ALL Formula's got woodgrain gauge bezels until 1979.

PS: Remember to put your turn signal on when you are going sideways.

[giles]

Yellow has become an extremely popular color in the last 4 or 5 years so I think you can't go wrong with staying with it.
The rally gauge and clock option meant that you got oil press., water temp, voltmeter and a large clock where the tach is supposed to live.
The custom trim group consists of upgraded seats ("horsecollar" style in 73-77), unique door trim panels with pull straps, assist grip above glovebox, stainless pedal trim, and perforated headliner cloth material on an early '73. Later '73s received the one piece headliner that (I think) was the same for standard and custom trim.
I don't think that you could get an engine-turned dash panel in a Formula until about '78 or '79. Yours should be faux mahogany.
Isn't that "sideways-motion" called torque steer? (lol)

[tom bryner]

Yes, it's got a big tach, small clock. Last owner told me the engine turned dash was original and he also told me that not very many came with that dash. Was he giving me a line or could some formulas have come that way? Is there any way to find out? My car also came with vynl stripes and (mld-sil&hood ) any idea what this means? Thanks again

[x-bird2]

mld sil and hood (RPO B85) are two small chromed aluminum moldings on the top back edge of the fenders (attach with a screw thru the underside iirc) and one that goes along the back edge of the hood by the windshield. the hood one is a slip on, and it's a tight fit. formulas got wood grain dash. the engine turn one is from a t/a. do you have the rpo code for the vinyl stripe option? sounds like the side tape stripes (RPO D98) that ran from the quarter to the nose, not an option you see all that often.

[unruhjonny]

I'm gonna stick my neck out;

In my book a legit '73 Formula 455 is rare.

I don't see your car being 1/10,166 -> I see it more over as 1/773

In my mind calling your Formula 1/10,166 would be the same as calling a '70 RAIV Trans Am as 1/3,196 instead of the more common 1/88.
(just to clarify, no offense was intended by that 2manyTA's)

The argument (which my opinion is largly bsed on) is that the early Formula Firebirds appear to have a very low survival rate - the highest rate of survival appears to be the 71-74 Formula 350 versions.

I still hear of Formulas being parted out to restore Trans Am's.
The Trans Am's (as far as 1st & 2nd gen Firebirds go) have always been regaurded as a special vehicle... and as such, they appear to have a very high rate os survival.
-> Look around at any car shows, if a Formula shows up, it's definatly one of few.
I see a ratio of probably 4:1 or better for early Trans Am's versus early Formulas - and considering the 70-73 production was more around 3.5 Formulas for every one Trans Am, that should (hopefully) illustrate just how many have been wrecked.

'73 Formula Production Numbers:
Formula 350 = 4,771
Formula 400 = 4,622
Formula 455 = 773*

* - this is the only 1973 Formula that has an engine/transmission breakdown:
L75/M40 = 503
L75/M20 = 227
LS2/M40 = 33
LS2/M20 = 10

I have seen one '73 Formula 455(M40), it was in a scrapyard, and the yard owner would not sell it.

[sixgunsblazing]

Here's my trim tag:
ST73 2FS87 N 0576YO BDY
TR 236 A51 97 97 PNT
01D W66
030488

Any help is appreciated

[Brewster]

I found a 1973 yellow 455, ram air, m20 car that has a black custom interior. It needs work but is solid and all # matching, and original sheet metal.
Im trying for it but dont know if my buddy will sell?
Wish me luck,
Brewster

[tom bryner]

Yes, I do have the (RPO D98) vinyl strips, does anyone know what color they should be? It is also the L75/M40 combo according to the option list from the dealer. Torque-Steer, thats a good thing right?

[x-bird2]

going off of an ancient memory of the one formula i've seen with them, i believe they were a yellow/brown orange/red combo. they actually started at the back of the door and went to the front of the fender. there is such a limited demand for them, that i don't think they've been reproduced. give the company below a call, ask for Ralph. he'll do custom stripes and may have a sample of these even if he hasn't put them out. no guarantees, but worth a shot. otherwise, if you can find an NOS set, they'll probably set you back quite a bit. who knows, if you can get the part number, you may even be able to search out a set through gm.

STENCILS & STRIPES UNLIMITED
1108 South Crescent
Park Ridge, IL 60068 US
phone: (847) 692-6893
fax: ( 847 ) 692-6895

[Held for Ransom]

sixgunsblazing, Navajo Orange w/black standard interior.

[Brewster]

Yes, Held for Ransom is correct. It would be the same strip thats on my Navaho Orange 73 Formula which looks great.
What other options does it have?

[sixgunsblazing]

Originally Posted by Brewster

Yes, Held for Ransom is correct. It would be the same strip thats on my Navaho Orange 73 Formula which looks great.
What other options does it have?

Standard interior, AC, 350 forumula, Auto, ralley gauges (but no tach) console.
Is there any other info available off the trim tag?

[2manyT/A'S]

Originally Posted by sixgunsblazing

Here's my trim tag:
ST73 2FS87 N 0576YO BDY
TR 236 A51 97 97 PNT
01D W66
030488

Any help is appreciated

1st line; N is for Norwood assembly plant.
2nd line A51 Buckets seats (which they ALL had)
3rd line 01D Body build date.
W66 Firebird Formula
4th line Body tub sequence #

[tom bryner]

I just checked out the trim tag on my 73 formula and like sixgunsblazing it's: ST73 2FS87 N 188109 BDY
TR 242 A51 51 51 PNT
O7C W66
930093
rpo#: a01,b85,c24,d55,d98,l75,n41,pl4,u80,y90,b80,b96,c6 0,d80,jl2,m40,n98,u69,w63, date shipped 07-30-73. Any thoughts on these, good or bad?