Dealers all made a big event out of the release, and “preferred customers” got invited to a “preview”, the night before. I remember that certain completely new models, like the ’70 Firebird were kept locked away in a separate building, or under car-covers. Dealers were under strict orders to keep the cars hidden until the official date. What about you?īack in the day, the big 3 (and maybe others) released their new car models on a set date in the fall. There is rust and rot around the front and rear windows. The seller states that the trunk pan will need to be replaced but the frame is solid. The bottom of the car is probably rust too based on the condition of the exhaust. The body doesn’t look too bad but it will need a new vinyl roof and paint. The car has an abundance of surface rust on many of the components and body parts. While this car is said to run and drive, it looks like it will need restoration to make it safe to drive on the road. The 1970 Pontiac Formula could be optioned with the lower performance L78 4 barrel 400 cubic inch V8 engine that was rated at 330 hp or the slightly more potent L74 Ram Air III 400 cubic inch V8 engine rated at 345 horsepower.
#PONTIAC FIREBIRD 1970 CODE#
Starting in 1971, Pontiac added the Formula 455 which could be ordered with the Y code 455 or the HO 455. The Formula had two sub-models designated by the engine size – Formula 350 and Formula 400. The Firebird was completely redesigned and Pontiac offered four models including the base Firebird, Esprit, Formula, and Trans Am. Actually, it was a mid year introduction. Pontiac introduced the second generation of the Firebird in 1970. While not modified, most of the original interior parts are worn or covered in seat covers. The car has been sitting for a while and looks like it was just rolled out of a barn. There are three days remaining in the listing.
After 49 bids, the car has reached a price of $8,000. The Formula 400 is located in Stafford Springs, Connecticut and is listed for auction here on eBay. This 1970 Pontiac Formula 400 is one of them, as long as you don’t look too close! This is a project car even though the seller states that it runs and drives fine. It’s simply amazing, especially considering that after the show the car will go straight to the track for a good run at wide-open throttle.There are some cars that look good even though they need a lot of work. The only work on this thing that Riley didn’t do himself was the paint and powder-coating. The results of his work, all of which took place on the side yard of his parents’ house, is nothing short of stunning. While we always like to think that things were better before, especially when it comes to racing, sometimes it really is the truth.īut there have definitely been some advancements, particularly in terms of safety, that make race cars today much more appealing what they lack in personality they make up for in reliability and driveability. So, what if you were to mash up a bit of today’s tech on a built-from-scratch tube-frame chassis with the magical nostalgia of a 1970 Ponitac Firebird Trans Am? The racing is more clinical and the cars lack character.
#PONTIAC FIREBIRD 1970 FULL#
Full tube-frame chassis compete in the top classes, and even in the production-based groups the barrier to entry is exponentially higher than it was some 50 years ago.
Looking at Trans-Am racing today, it’s completely different ball game. But there’s plenty of literature on the topic and highlight reels are still bouncing around today tales of long nights in a small garage followed by the sweat and tears of race day are still told in racing families. There’s evidence enough to know that this was an era where privateers could wrench on a project and reasonably compete on the world stage of carburetor-fueled, wheel-to-wheel madness. Are you old enough to remember the magic of the Trans-American Series in the 1960s and ’70s?įull disclosure, I’m not, and neither is car builder Riley Stair.
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