1977 Pontiac Firebird

Formula Coupe

301 V8 4 bbl

Automatic

2U87Y7N107095

Clear

Gasoline

This auction features a real nice base for low cost project car with outstanding potential to be a great car to cruise and take to car shows. The car is complete and is in very good operating condition as is, and needs very little to be just good transportation. It has the correct, numbers matching, low mileage Drivetrain, made up of a 301 Pontiac V8 equipped with 4 bbl Quadrajet, 350 THM automatic transmission, and open rear-end (3.08:1). When you look at what $2000 buys you these days just in the transportation caliber of cars this car reigns pretty high on the list of potential car project candidates based on body shape and mechanical condition. As it sits, the car starts right up, runs well and looks pretty nice, but also has some great potential to be refurbished further only enhancing the value of this classic piece of American Muscle History. So if you are a car guy on a budget this is a great start with which you could drive right now and fix up as you go. As you read through the write up you will see there is has been quite a bit of maintenance items repaired or replaced already. That said I initially was looking at this car to make a low budget street machine/daily driver. Maybe drop a 455 or 400 Pontiac V8 it in (direct bolt in), give it an inexpensive but decent paint job with the factory Formula decals, refurbish the interior, install a nice Pypes dual exhaust system, put some new rubber on it and replace a few missing or damaged trim pieces and have for under $9000 a really nice driver that would no doubt thrill at the stop light or at the cruise in. Car has been parked for about 10 years in a storage unit. Finish -- Grade C-: Bright red paint is 13-15 year old acrylic enamel paint job. I believe this is the original color of the car, but it has been repainted. The paint is starting to fade but has been waxed and from 20 foot looks alright. There are some scratches chips through out the car; however shine/luster is still pretty good and looks as good in person as it does in the pictures. Front Endura bumper paint is great with no cracking so correct flex paint must have been used. Good driver quality, to get you by as you work on the rest of the car Body -- Grade C+: Car is all original factory sheet metal and is a solid essential rust free body. The biggest concern is some minor surface rust on the passenger side in front of the rear wheel well opening and just under the rear window on the passenger side. There are some rust spots on the right rear corner of the car by the rear spoiler (See Photos). There is a small dent behind the driver’s door as well. Doors are clean with some minor rust on the bottoms. Floor boards are clean and free of rust with the exception of the driver’s side front floor. If I was going to keep the car I would weld and patch this area with metal, I don’t think it needs a full floor. Rear quarters look great with no bubbling behind the wheel openings and solid quarter panels. The trunk floor is clean and solid with no issues VIN Reads 2U87Y7N107095 2 = Pontiac U = Formula 87 = 2 door coupe Y = 301 c.i.d. 2 bbl V8 (This car is equipped with a factory 4 bbl and cast iron intake) 7 = 1977 N = Norwood Ohio 107095 = sequential number I have not ordered a the original PHS documents, but the car is pretty low on options, and the VIN supports it is a true Formula…..so if you want it, I guess you can order it. Frame -- Grade A: Is straight and free of any rust or scale, no signs of any metal repair from accident Bumpers - Grade B-: Front and rear Endura Bumpers are straight and free of damage however the paint is solid. All are original, straight and free of rips or cuts. Bright work -- Grade B: All original stainless is present and is in good shape requiring only light buffing to restore. Door handles have a little light pitting/patina, but function well and are driver plus quality. Glass Grade B+: Glass is all original Soft Ray Glass with correct date codes. Front and rear windshields are free of chips or cracks, but the front does have some light wiper scratches on the driver’s side, my class guy says these will buff out easily. Rear window and Side windows are also free of chips, but have some light scratches. All weather-stripping and window "fuzzies" are in very good shape and appear to have been replaced at the time of repaint. Interior D-: Interior is nearly all original but in rough shape. Vinyl seats are all original and driver’s and passenger seat have tears in them and will need to be recovered. Seat adjusters work as designed. It will need carpet and a headliner (cardboard is present). Other options include NK3 Formula Steering wheel, which is in good shape some wear on the rubber rim, (driver quality), and D55 Floor Shift console which is in great shape. Dash pad looks great and free of any cracks or tears. Dash features "idiot lights". Lenses on gauge pods are clear and clean, fuel gauge works. All dash trim is original. I think it might need a headlight switch and a dimmer switch (running lights work but no headlights and dimmer switch is not working) and the cigarette lighter is intact but untested. Radio is an aftermarket AM/FM * track but does not work, but is unplugged from the harness. All weather-striping is in good shape, usable as is. Wheels Grade B: Original Pontiac 15 X 7 Rally II steel rims, body colored, original acorn lug nuts, the center caps are missing but the original trim rings are present and in driver plus quality free of scratches, scuff or dents. Tires Grade C: Used BF Goodrich Radial T/A white letter tires. Car features P275/60R15 size tires in the rear and P235/60R15 size tires in the front. They have about 3/8 of an inch of tread on them, some early signs of weather checking on them. I wouldn’t drive across country on them but they probably have 8,000 miles still left on them. Suspension Grade OK: Features factory Power steering with variable ratio, rear air shocks, and factory front and rear stabilizer bars. Steering components are all in good working condition. Vehicle tracks straight, with a firm but comfortable ride. Exhaust Grade D- : Single exhaust, Factory Cast Iron manifolds, solid 2 inch pipes (not mandrel bent), into transverse muffler that is rusted out, with good tailpipe. There is no catalytic converter. Pipes look good and solid, if you installed a muffler you would be good to go for driving, but a nice true dual 2 ½” exhaust, “X” pipe, with some Dynomax Super Turbos and chrome Trans Am Splitters would be so cool! Rear-end Grade OK: Factory 10 bolt rear-end 3.08:1 rear axle ratio. Factory correct, original rear differential option. (Numbers matching) Unit is free of leaks, no noises or clunks, and functions as designed. Ignition Grade OK: Stock appearing factory style HEI distributor, new plug wires and AC spark plugs. Heater Grade OK: Factory Non-A/C Car, fan is operational and heater blows warm. All controls work as designed. Transmission Grade OK: Original numbers matching 350 THM automatic transmission. Transmission is free of any leaks. I don’t know anything about the transmission internals but it appears to be all original. Trans fluid is clean, and free of any burned smell. Shifts crisp as designed Brakes Grade OK: Factory equipped with Power Front Disc brakes. Brakes new master cylinder. Brakes perform to factory specifications. Engine Grade OK: Original 301 V8 with 4BBL Quadrajet and factory cast iron intake (VIN says it should be a 2 bbl, but looks like factory installation) Engine is clean and is free of any noises or knocks, and there is no smoke upon start-up cold or warm, and is free of any oil or coolant leaks, supporting the claim of low original miles. Engine is equipped with functioning factory style electric choke that works as designed by the factory. Engine pulls smoothly under acceleration, no black smoke, and carburetor responds like they did new. Engine features a fresh tune-up with cap, rotor, wires, and plugs. Brackets are all factory and in good shape. Summary: This car is “25 footer” that looks pretty good driving down the road, and frankly, even up close, it is presentable, maybe not for dates but if I could have this car in high school in this condition, I would be happy!! It is a very nice car to drive with smooth acceleration, with a ratty but comfortable cabin. The car has the numbers matching Drivetrain is a real plus, and doesn’t hurt its investment value. Ride is firm, and comfortable for a long drive. Operation is very reliable and without issue. The car as is would make a great reliable, daily driver that would be a blast to drive everyday to work as you restored it more. It is really a fun car to drive and even in unrestored condition gets lots of thumbs up. This car offers a lot of potential with some paint and light body work which will only improve the value of this car. The paint is probably presentable as is for now but it should be noted a full repaint would really finish this restoration off nice. It's a perfect car for someone who has painting skills, but if you had to wait a year to save up for paint there is no shame in driving as is, it looks good! If you are a paint guy you could easily drive and enjoy this car now and then come repaint it yourself and show it or turn it over and make some money. Other then that, this car needs nothing other then a headlight and dimmer switch to make it road ready for cruising at night. Mechanically it has been totally checked out and you can drive this car literally without issue. So if you are handy and looking for a great project to mess with while you drove it then this is the car for you. When you consider the full restoration numbers matching cars run $15-20K plus and most of the cars at this price probably don’t run or are not even worth $2000, then this little cruiser is a real bargain with some potential to even make you some money. If you can paint and are handy I think another $7000 and some elbow grease you have a great car for $9000. This car has some serious value either way! This said, car sold as is without any warranty implied or otherwise. $500 Deposit required 24 hours after the end of the auction. Delivery and cost is the responsibility of the buyer, but that said let me know if you need the car delivered, and I can give you a quote to trailer the car to you myself. (Cost of gas and expenses only) Questions.....call me at 231-935-3840 ask for Reggie.