1970 Pontiac Firebird Formula 400

Description

If a 1970 Pontiac Firebird Formula 400 is what you seek, good luck finding one nicer than this. Matching numbers, awesome colors, lots of documentation, and being a rare factory 4-speed Formula, it's the F-body to own if screaming bird decals aren't your thing.

Carousel Red is a purely Pontiac performance color, and code 65 is this car's original hue. It's been fully restored and while it's not perfect, it's pretty darned nice. The car obviously led a very good life as a cherished piece of Pontiac performance, but during the restoration all the sheetmetal was smoothed and massaged back into shape, the gaps were set precisely, and it was block sanded for hours and hours in preparation for that glowing red/orange paint. Nothing coming out of GM showrooms in 1970 looked this good and if you want to cause a stir at the next Pontiac national meet, this is the car that'll do it. The Ram Air hood is fully functional and includes a cool hood tach, and while the look isn't exactly subtle, the lack of spoilers and flares give this F-body a cleaner look than its Trans Am siblings. Details like the grilles, headlight buckets, and the emblem on the nose are in excellent condition, and it wears its ducktail spoiler with distinction. Chrome, lenses, window glass, and the Ram Air decals on the hood are in outstanding condition and look fantastic.

You might expect black upholstery in a car like this, but this highly unusual Firebird sports code 217 Medium Sandalwood instead, and we have to say that it works quite well. It's as nicely restored as the bodywork, including new seat covers, carpets, door panels, and dash pad, all of which match well, perhaps better than new. The woodgrained dash appliques are bright and crisp, surrounding gauges that are bright, crisp, and fully functional. There's no console, but the 4-speed shifter sticking out of the floor suggests that this Firebird Formula was built for one thing and one thing only and it shows everywhere you look. There's an AM radio, which is the original component that was put there in 1970, but there's nothing else in this car that would slow it down or hinder performance in any way. Rubber floor mats protect the light-colored carpets and the trunk is lined with a reproduction mat and equipped with an original-style space-saver spare and jack.

Formulas are a rather rare bird this day and age and this is the original, numbers-matching L74 400 cubic inch V8 (with wicked #12 performance heads), rebuilt to stock specs and detailed for show. The twin snorkels on the hood feed a trick air cleaner that sits atop a Pontiac Turquoise engine block, which is a correct WT code casting. It shows almost no signs of use, no burned engine paint, no crusty exhaust manifolds, and all the correct finishes are still bright and clean. Things like the hose clamps, fasteners, and decals are all correct and yes, it runs extremely well with all 335 horsepower showing up ready to party. The 4-speed rocks through the gears without effort and the 12-bolt rear end doesn't seem to mind. The only non-stock component underneath is the custom dual exhaust with X-pipe and exhaust cut-outs, just in case you can't get enough attention with the paint. Stock Pontiac Rally II wheel with polished faces look great and carry fat 245/60/15 BFG radials for the perfect stance.

Documented with a factory build sheet, reproduction window sticker, and other PHS paperwork, this may very well be the finest 1970 Formula 400 available anywhere. Call today!