The New Project: Part Deux!

[njsteve]

Here's the car now. Looks like the second owner added the rear spoiler in the late 1980s.





And the interior. It has a perfect dash pad and steering wheel. When I arrived it still had the 1977 bucket seats that were installed in 1987 when the car was broken into and the seats stolen. Once I arrived from my 3000 mile flight, Grant and I spent an hour or so, installing the new seats that he had located over the past year.





Original mileage with every piece of paper to back it up.



Funny thing I found from reviewing all the dealership paperwork is that they seemed to have changed the starter every time they did an oil change. Looks like they tossed the heat shield during the first starter repair in the early 70's and from that point on they just kept cooking solenoids and never bothered to repair the problem, instead of chasing the symptom.

[SS427]

Wow. Black, a 455 and a Formula. What a neat car. What are your plans? You gonna see if you can start an even longer thread..... [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif[/img]

[njsteve]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SS427</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> What are your plans? You gonna see if you can start an even longer thread..... [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif[/img] </div></div>

Them's fight'n words!

This better not take no freaken 7 years!!!
[img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/no.gif[/img]

[Xplantdad]

Awesome Steve...congrats! I LOVE Formula Firebirds. It was my brothers first car and my first muscle car ride! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/headbang.gif[/img]

[njsteve]

Here's a Canadian Question for any of you guys up there:

On the top of the PHS it says:

&quot;Charge to: GENERAL MOTORS of CANADA, LTD, OSHAWA, ONTARIO&quot;

Is this the normal way a Canadian PHS looks? Or would the original dealer nomrally be in that spot on the form?

[grantprix]

Awesome Formula, congrats!

[StealthBird]

In talking to Steve, he suggested I add this to the thread.

I think I remember this car from London, Ontario. The LMP dealership on Richmond St. was pretty well known. I used to ride my bicycle by there, with my best friend, on the way to our favorite hobby shop, back around 1974-1975.

My dad was an exec at GM's Diesel Division in London Ontario from 1973-1977. He special ordered a new 1974 Trans Am 455 (Buccaneer Red) for his 3-month/3,000 mile company car. My oldest brother began street racing that brand new 74 Trans Am 455. While I was young at the time, I recall my brothers always talking about a black Formula (without spoiler) as they cruised the 74 Trans Am around London (Dundas Street being the center of the cruise scene). I remember them chatting abut various cars they would see every weekend, and they used to mention this black Formula they'd see now and then. I remember back then, as my brothers were teenagers, it was memorable when someone would give them a wave as they passed. That made them feel really cool. Anyway, I remember they said that one Sunday afternoon, the &quot;guy in the black Formula&quot; gave them a wave as he passed them on Richmond Street heading into the city.

As a sidenote, my brothers ended up getting busted at Airport Rd. in London one night, when about 30 cars were there watching street races. The London police broke them all up, but gave a written warning to my oldest brother. I guess seeing a teenager in a brand new red 1974 Trans Am was an easy target. That was the end of my dad bringing home &quot;cool cars&quot;. From then on it was Oldsmobiles and Buicks for his executive ordered drivers. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/frown.gif[/img]

I believe all the Pontiacs destined for Canada were billed to &quot;GM Of Canada&quot; (at least the invoices I've seen). I attached an invoice of a 1971 Judge 4-speed for reference.

Again, cool car Steve, and a great find! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

[njsteve]

Mike, That had to be this car since it was from that exact neighborhood from 1972 to 1985 and the only black Formula up there at the time. Give your brothers a heads up about this thread. I'd love to have their opinions and stories, too.

Great info on the PHS adddress, too.

That's what I love about this site, people sharing their stories. It's really amazing what a small world it is. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif[/img]

If you are in Chicago in November, I may bring the car to MCACN if Mr. Ashton thinks it fits in the &quot;as found&quot; class. I'd love to have you and your brothers see it in person.

[bashton]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: njsteve</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Mike, That had to be this car since it was from that exact neighborhood from 1972 to 1985 and the only black Formula up there at the time. Give your brothers a heads up about this thread. I'd love to have their opinions and stories, too.

Great info on the PHS adddress, too.

That's what I love about this site, people sharing their stories. It's really amazing what a small world it is. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif[/img]

If you are in Chicago in November, I may bring the car to MCACN if Mr. Ashton thinks it fits in the &quot;as found&quot; class. I'd love to have you and your brothers see it in person. </div></div>

An absolute MUST for MCACN 2012! And I can pretty much assure you...there will not be another black 455 Formula in the show! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/headbang.gif[/img]

Bashton
MCACN Managing Member

[njsteve]

Well, I don't know???? They did make a second black one for the US market and I think it's in Kansas.

I wouldn't want to be that person who ends up wearing the same prom dress as another attendee. You know how truly embarassing that would be? [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/shocked.gif[/img]

Never again! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/no.gif[/img]