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Old 11-29-2022, 02:04 AM
1965gp 1965gp is offline
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Default Found my third gen unicorn

Edit- I apologize in advance for this being so long. For some reason ‘I wanted one of these for a long time’ didn’t seem to cut it.


This is one I have waited on for a loooong time!

In college (‘95-‘00) I worked the summer of 95 at a Nissan dealer to be able to afford a nice enough car to go to school in TX while my parents were stationed at the Pentagon. Only a Firebird would do- I ended up with a Flame Red Metallic 87 GTA, 350 tuned port with a digital dash. It was beautiful! When I got to Sam Houston State to meet up with my best friend from high school (Rob) he showed up in a black ‘88 Formula 350 tuned port car. We couldn’t have felt cooler! In a sea of 5.0’s we were known as the two dudes with the TA’s. Damn did we have fun with those cars.

As you would expect we pretty much ruined them. Everything super chips or TPIS sold was on those cars. We hung out at a stereo/speed shop so they eventually got big stereos, neon, lowered and so on and so on.

Rob and I were like twins- looked the same, both loved Trans Ams and GTO’s, Smokey and the Bandit and Dazed and Confused. We LOVED our third gens, the only thing better than our cars was the elusive yellow Formula 350 with the throwback stripes. It was even better than the Jamaica yellow 92 GTA. We both loved yellow cars - I had my yellow ‘65 Grand Prix and he had his yellow ‘76 TA. We always thought it would be cool to get a Formula in yellow- but there just weren’t that many available. We didn’t want the yellow ‘86 TA, we didn’t want the 305 Formula and definitely did not want T tops.

I honestly don’t think we ever saw one out in the wild.

I think the best guess is less than 100 made in ‘87 and like 60 something cars built in ‘88. ‘88 has actual production numbers- but I think its safe to say there are less than 100 around today. Probably less than 50.

I’ve looked at several on eBay over the years and almost gave in on a 305 T top car. It had the look, just wasn’t perfect. Well, earlier this year my dad sent me a post of a yellow Formula 350 for sale in Indiana with 48,000 miles. I was in AZ for work and immediately changed my flight to meet him in Dayton and go look at the car.

The car was nice, but the terrible 80’s paint had faded at all different rates, there had been some paint work done….. it was not the low mile car I flew across the country for. However- the car had absolutely no rust, none at all. No significant accidents we could find and had a new set of 88+ Formula wheels (my preference) and tires. The owner wanted it to go to a good home so we talked about our collection and how it fits in. A deal was struck while we were at the TA Nationals and the car was on its way to Houston the next week.

After receiving the car it needed a tune up and new injectors. Ultimately I would like to add headers and a looser converter. I picked up a mint pair of black FlowFit seats for my Saleen, but they may find their way into this car. I took it to my friends shop and he painted it immediately- I think the car was done in 10 days? He knew how long I had been looking for this one and really took care of me.

I installed the decals and just couldn’t get over how amazing it looked. Everything about it is right! I will do a few things to it- add Trans Am tail lights (already have them), LED parking lights and of course two 12’s in the back to jam Biggie, Puff Daddy, Dre and Slim Shady!

Thanks for riding down memory lane with me. Rob passed several years ago but I know he would love it just as much as I do!

Here are a few pics my friend took last week
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Old 11-29-2022, 02:10 AM
1965gp 1965gp is offline
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Here is a pic of my GTA at our shop we hung out at
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Old 11-29-2022, 02:12 AM
1965gp 1965gp is offline
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Aaaaaaaaaand after I dropped it buy cutting the coils (too far) but Damn did it look cool!

That was Robs light blue S10 Blazer- surprisingly a lot of fun!
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Old 11-29-2022, 03:26 AM
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Verdoro 68 Verdoro 68 is offline
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Loved hearing this story. It looks great! We’re roughly the same age, so I totally get it. Some cars just stick with you. I went through a similar search to find my Comp T/A. Itch scratched.

I think my 3rd gen choice is a light blue metallic ‘91 Formula 350. I looked at a used one when I was in college but made the practical choice on a new ‘95 S10. My son loves GTAs, so maybe there’s a 3rd gen in our future at some point.

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Old 11-29-2022, 08:54 AM
poncho-mike poncho-mike is offline
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Of all the cars I've owned, the one I miss the most is a 1964 Buick Riviera dual quad 425. I bought it in 1976 at age 19 and drove it until about 1980 when I parked it. I was in college at the time and just couldn't afford it. I stashed it in a barn, and finally sold it around 1992 when I needed funds for a new house after being relocated with my job. I've seen a few nice early Rivieras here and there, but few dual quad cars. In 1964, the dual quad 425 was an optional engine, but in 1965 it only came in the Riviera Gran Sport. I came close to buying a 65 Riv Gran Sport in the early 2000s, but didn't pull the trigger. I regret it now.

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Old 11-29-2022, 11:28 AM
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Skip Fix Skip Fix is offline
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Flame Red was a great color! Buddy painted his 70 Camaro that color! One of my receptionists bought a new 1988 GTA that color.

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Old 11-29-2022, 11:55 AM
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Rocky Rotella Rocky Rotella is offline
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That's a great story and a great looking Formula! And I agree, the '88-up wheels look so much better than the 1987 units.

I, too, am a third-gen Formula fan. I wrote about the '90 Formula 350 we had here:

https://www.pontiacv8.com/blog/2018/...-third-gen-fan

A '91-92 Firehawk is one I want own to own someday...

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Old 11-29-2022, 11:58 AM
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unruhjonny unruhjonny is offline
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congrats on the "new" Formula 350!
Those are for sure neat cars, and I am in the same boat as you, for those cars yellow is the best colour.

My uncle (only ten years older than me) had an '88 GTA (it was a metallic burgandy car; it was a 305/digital dash car; fully loaded) - I absolutely loved that car.
At family get togethers, it wouldn't be unusual for me to sit at my grnad parent's living room window and stare at it...
My Uncle got married in 1994(?), and traded it against a four door ho-hum green 1995 Grand Am when they were expecting their first son.

Years later I met my uncle's first cousin (who I refer to as my (second) cousin) - at that time he still had his '87 GTA that he bought brand new - his was the same colour as my Uncle's, but instead of leather, it had red volour interior (I prefer cloth), instead of the "disney" dash, it had special order(?) analog gauges, and to top it off, it had the 350.
He ended up selling the car a couple years later, but it's still around here - a local who is in the local Firebird club owns it.

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1970 Formula 400
Carousel Red paint on Black standard interior
A no-engine, no-transmission, no-wheel option car.
Quite likely one of few '70 Muncie three speed Formula 400's left.


1991 Grand Am: 14.4 @ 93.7mph (DA corrected) (retired DD, stock appearing)
2009 Cobalt SS: 13.9 @ 103mph (current DD; makes something north of 300hp & 350ft/lbs)

Last edited by unruhjonny; 11-29-2022 at 12:05 PM.
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Old 11-29-2022, 12:30 PM
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kingbuzzo kingbuzzo is offline
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Great story and nice score.

I'm finding those third gens more appealing everyday as there aren't that many around anymore - especially nice ones!

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Old 11-29-2022, 12:51 PM
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My best friend and I had identical 87 trans ams in high school we beat those things like crazy. I also had a white 69 bird convertible and he had a white 70 lemans sport . We were maniacs in those cars. Lost our licenses several times street racing.
I ended up rolling my 69 convertible and sold off what was left of my 87 TA. .built a nice 69 convertible yellow pictured from the white 69. That was the start of 21 69 firebirds I’ve owned.
Had all kinds of other stuff lifted jeeps. All kinds of fun cars but the most fun may have been those 87 TAs
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Old 11-29-2022, 01:57 PM
1965gp 1965gp is offline
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Thanks everyone

Rocky that was a great article you wrote. You nailed on these cars becoming collectible….. see Bring a Trailer.com for reference.

I wish I still had that 87 GTA, but like most I sold it when I was graduating college to lease a new truck. The guy I sold it to drove it like he was playing the video game outrun with a stack of quarters. He lived in the same apartment complex and it was hard to watch. Those years of Mobil 1, scotch guard on the seats and Meguires yellow wax were long gone.

I am torn on the seats in the car, they are not the nice seats that the GTA’s and Trans Am’s had, but there aren’t bad. The Flow Fit seats would be a nice period correct mod though.

My friend that took the pics (actually my friends son) said it might be his new favorite to drive. He’s 20 and was amazed how well it handled in stock form and how torquey they made the TPI motor feel.

My dad bought a few other third gens when they were trailer park cars but as Ken said, none of them scratched the itch. The 89 Turbo car is amazing, but drives completely different than a TPI car. The 86 Iroc is dark red ( I don’t think it’s the same as flame red metallic) and it’s a Camaro. The 91 TA is a convertible and while cool, just doesn’t drive anywhere near the way this Formula does.

I really couldn’t be happier with the car. I will get the AC fixed and have already replaced most of the missing little plastic interior pieces. I may not even put headers on it. It has manga flow exhaust on it that sounds good. I mean if it’s a 15 second car now is it really with headers and a converter to make it a 14.40 car that my daughters 6 cyl mustang can beat?

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Old 11-29-2022, 02:40 PM
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72projectbird 72projectbird is online now
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Awesome story, and super cool 3rd gen!

I love the 3rd gen TAs, Formulas and Irocs. That yellow is pretty damn rare, and sharp looking.

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Old 11-29-2022, 03:11 PM
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Great stories and great acquisition! You got a pretty good friend there that turned around that paint in 10 days.

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Old 11-29-2022, 03:25 PM
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Verdoro 68 Verdoro 68 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rocky Rotella View Post
A '91-92 Firehawk is one I want own to own someday...
Bucket list car for sure. The 1LE cars are neat too. Both of those are already $$. What’s cool about this Formula is that it’s a regular production car with an unusual combo rather than something that was limited from the get go.

Can’t wait to see you enjoy the hell out of this car.

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Old 11-29-2022, 04:18 PM
1965gp 1965gp is offline
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I would love to have a 3rd gen Firehawk but I think that ship has sailed for me unless I want to sell a few cars.

It’s been a lot of fun just taking this car on local errands. I’ve been stopped a few times asking if it was a special edition. I guess yellow was just a little too loud for most people when it came out. It’s the car they used to advertise it so they clearly thought it would be popular. I’m not sure if you could get it on anything except a Formula.

I’ve never had a problem with bright cars- but I can imagine most people are hesitant when buying new and agreeing to pay for it over time.

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Old 11-29-2022, 10:32 PM
gtospieg gtospieg is offline
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I'm liking the 67 Tempest in that pic of your car at the stereo shop....just sayin'

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Old 11-29-2022, 10:32 PM
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There’s a 3rd gen firehawk near me that sits outside on the side of a house, I really really don’t need another car but man I want to rescue it.

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Old 11-30-2022, 12:50 AM
1965gp 1965gp is offline
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That Tempest was a beast!

In all honesty that was probably a 13 second car.

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Old 11-30-2022, 12:59 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 1965gp View Post
Thanks everyone

...

I am torn on the seats in the car, they are not the nice seats that the GTA’s and Trans Am’s had, but there aren’t bad. The Flow Fit seats would be a nice period correct mod though.

...
Oh!
The period Pontiac "sports seats"! (I probably have thier name wrong)
Those seats are awesome;
They were standard fare in GTA's, but could also be found in Turbo Sunbirds, and for a couple years, were optional in Grand Am's!
I think I might have two sets of them tucked away right now...
(yes, I am hopeless)

The next best were period Fiero seats - no adjustability like the "GTA" seats, but sat better than those base Firebird/Grand Am/Sunbird ect seats.
The base seats worked, but there was room for improvement.

Those "GTA" seats were sightly tweaked but carried forward in the Firebirds for several years... but most were not grey cloth.
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1970 Formula 400
Carousel Red paint on Black standard interior
A no-engine, no-transmission, no-wheel option car.
Quite likely one of few '70 Muncie three speed Formula 400's left.


1991 Grand Am: 14.4 @ 93.7mph (DA corrected) (retired DD, stock appearing)
2009 Cobalt SS: 13.9 @ 103mph (current DD; makes something north of 300hp & 350ft/lbs)
  #20  
Old 11-30-2022, 01:45 AM
1965gp 1965gp is offline
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I secretly want a turbo sunbird every time I see one in a junkyard. But only with the half flip up lights.

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