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October 2015 COTM **WINNER**

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Old Sep 30, 2015 | 11:30 PM
  #1  
Linson's Avatar
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Car: 89 Formula 350, TTA
October 2015 COTM **WINNER**



This picture alone speaks volumes. When this picture was posted in the *Nomination Thread* I think there could have been no doubt that this car was a serious contender for COTM.

Congratulations, 12welvemonkeys, your '88 Formula 350 has been voted by the Third Gen Community as October 2015's Car of the Month.

There are some things about this car that make it appealing while uncommon and also set it apart from other COTMs.

It is a Formula 350 - not an IROC; not a Trans Am. It is yellow - not white, black, blue or red. It has slick TPI era performance upgrades - not an LS conversion, and it isn't bone stock. Very cool car I guess is what I'm saying.















I purchased it in late 1988 from Packer Pontiac in Pontiac Mi. Around 1991 when the Firehawks were being talked about and test cars started to show up on the roads etc... I decided to purchase what I could from SLP to get as close as I could to the 92 Hawks: SLP aluminum heads, SLP Runners, 58mm throttle body, injectors, headers, Firehawk catback, SLP airbox, TPIS cam and prom chip and more. Never could afford the T Ram at the time : (

So, the car is stock in appearance from the outside and inside, down to the factory cassette deck. She sits at just over 28,000 miles on it as of today. I have taken 2nd place at the TA Nationals in Dayton OH 2 years in a row (2013-14) and have placed multiple times in numerous cars shows over the years.

Yellow was a rare color in 1988.... especially with a 350 with black interior and no T-Tops. Unfortunately Pontiac has no production numbers in 1988 to tell me how many were made in this color combo.
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Old Sep 30, 2015 | 11:32 PM
  #2  
Linson's Avatar
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Car: 89 Formula 350, TTA
Re: October 2015 COTM **WINNER**

i'm also a big fan of the black interior and the slick top.
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Old Sep 30, 2015 | 11:50 PM
  #3  
Linson's Avatar
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Car: 89 Formula 350, TTA
Re: October 2015 COTM **WINNER**

congratulations to all the other nominees. 12welvemonkeys' Formula 350 and Buggy Disaster's awesomely done LS conversion took most of the oxygen out of the room, but they were all very fine Third Gens, and all do the Third Gen Community proud.

and i would be remiss if i did not thank those of you who made this month's nominations for yet another fine and eclectic group of pics.
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Old Oct 1, 2015 | 09:12 AM
  #4  
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From: Adirondacks, New York
Car: 92 Camaro RS
Engine: 5.0L
Transmission: AUTO, 56k orig
Re: October 2015 COTM **WINNER**

nicer ride!! congrats!
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Old Oct 1, 2015 | 09:19 AM
  #5  
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Re: October 2015 COTM **WINNER**

Congratulations, great looking car.
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Old Oct 1, 2015 | 10:04 AM
  #6  
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Engine: 5.7TPI
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Axle/Gears: 3.27
Re: October 2015 COTM **WINNER**

Congratulations, 12welvemonkeys! Beautiful Formula 350
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Old Oct 1, 2015 | 10:14 AM
  #7  
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Car: '89 Iroc Z28-15,100 Original Miles
Engine: 350 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: Limited Slip, 2.77 Ratio
Re: October 2015 COTM **WINNER**

Congrats!
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Old Oct 1, 2015 | 11:06 AM
  #8  
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Car: '18 Chev Camaro SS 1LE
Engine: LT1 6.2L
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Axle/Gears: 3.91
Re: October 2015 COTM **WINNER**

Awesome, just amazing!!!
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Old Oct 1, 2015 | 04:33 PM
  #9  
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Car: 1986 IROC Z-28
Engine: 383 Gen I SBC 11:1
Transmission: Rebuilt TH700R4 for 500+HP
Axle/Gears: 4th Gen 10 bolt Eaton Truetrac 3.23
Re: October 2015 COTM **WINNER**

Nice win! Man was that close race.
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Old Oct 1, 2015 | 06:20 PM
  #10  
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Car: 1988 Trans Am
Engine: L03
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 10 Bolt 2.73 Open
Re: October 2015 COTM **WINNER**

Beautiful Firebird! Congratulations.
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Old Oct 1, 2015 | 09:46 PM
  #11  
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Car: 1989 Formula T-Top
Engine: 350 TPI, twin turbo
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Re: October 2015 COTM **WINNER**

Rolling sweetness!
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Old Oct 1, 2015 | 10:32 PM
  #12  
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Car: '84 Firebird TA & '87 Camaro LT
Engine: 350 V-8 & V-6
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23 & 3.42
Re: October 2015 COTM **WINNER**

Looks fantastic! Congratulations!
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Old Oct 2, 2015 | 06:35 AM
  #13  
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From: Brighton, MI
Car: 1988 yellow Formula 350
Re: October 2015 COTM **WINNER**

I would like to thank all of the members who voted for my car and a special thanks to Erik for the nomination ; ) It's greatly appreciated and unexpected.

I'm truly shocked that I won over so many beautiful 3rd gens..... You guys have some amazing cars!!! And after looking at some of the photos posted... I really need to do a better job of detailing my car inside and out.

And to keep the car with era correct mods, I just found a NOS Vortech supercharger for it and hope to have it installed within the next few weeks, then back away she will go into storage for the winter.

Thanks again,

Joe V
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Old Oct 2, 2015 | 01:58 PM
  #14  
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Car: 1991 Trans Am Vert
Engine: 5.0 TPI
Transmission: T-5 baby
Re: October 2015 COTM **WINNER**

great looking ride and rare color bird man! love it!
I was at nats and saw your car but we havent met. will rectify that next year
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Old Oct 3, 2015 | 02:06 AM
  #15  
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From: millsboro,de
Car: 1986 firebird
Engine: 305 v8
Transmission: auto
Axle/Gears: 2.73 ?
Re: October 2015 COTM **WINNER**

congrats !!
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Old Oct 4, 2015 | 08:17 PM
  #16  
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Car: '87 IROC-Z
Engine: TPI 5.7
Transmission: T-56
Re: October 2015 COTM **WINNER**

man what a cool car!
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Old Oct 8, 2015 | 08:23 AM
  #17  
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Car: 88, 89 & 91 GTA
Engine: 355 Super Ram/350
Transmission: TH-375/700R4
Axle/Gears: Currie Ford 9"/3.70
Re: October 2015 COTM **WINNER**

Saw this car at a couple different Trans Am Nationals.

It looks even better in person. Clean. Well detailed. Rare color. Enough said.

It certainly deserves to be COTM.

I snapped these in 2013, TA Nats:





2014 TA Nats;


I also have pictures of what I believe is it, from 2012 TA Nats, but it had TT wheels.

Last edited by 86TA355SR; Oct 11, 2015 at 09:17 PM.
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Old Oct 9, 2015 | 05:58 AM
  #18  
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Re: October 2015 COTM **WINNER**

Nice win. That is a great looking Formula.
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Old Oct 9, 2015 | 09:36 AM
  #19  
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From: Northern Indiana
Car: 87 camaro
Engine: 350
Transmission: th350
Axle/Gears: auburn 4.10
Re: October 2015 COTM **WINNER**

Been looking for a formula. Nice to see one that's original looking and in this condition. Beautiful car.
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Old Dec 4, 2015 | 01:45 PM
  #20  
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Re: October 2015 COTM **WINNER**

Wow!! Amazing car!!
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Old Apr 7, 2019 | 08:33 PM
  #21  
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Car: 1990 firebird,1989 Iroc z,1986 fire
Engine: 3.1lt,5.7tpi,3.1mpfi
Transmission: auto,auto
Axle/Gears: 273?277
Re: October 2015 COTM **WINNER**

This yellow formula can have a answer to his production numbers now there is a book on the subject.
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Old Sep 25, 2021 | 05:39 AM
  #22  
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Car: 1991 B4C Interceptor
Engine: 5.7 L98
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Re: October 2015 COTM **WINNER**

Just wondering what ever happenned to this thread. Would be a hella cool way to continue to show off some beautys within the community. Might even make for one hell of a Calendar opportunity.
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Old Sep 25, 2021 | 10:47 AM
  #23  
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Re: October 2015 COTM **WINNER**

Congrats! Beautiful Car!
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Old Sep 25, 2021 | 03:29 PM
  #24  
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Re: October 2015 COTM **WINNER**

Originally Posted by greg812003
Would be a hella cool way to continue to show off some beautys within the community.
I'd give you the link to the sticky, but I'm afraid you would post in it saying this should be a sticky like you did earlier today in the other sticky.
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Old Sep 25, 2021 | 06:35 PM
  #25  
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Car: 1991 B4C Interceptor
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Re: October 2015 COTM **WINNER**

Originally Posted by QwkTrip
I'd give you the link to the sticky, but I'm afraid you would post in it saying this should be a sticky like you did earlier today in the other sticky.
Lmao no doubt. Not a big user of forums. I am more than a bit lost atm learning how to navigate this all haha. I found the sticky moments after the comment btw lol.
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Old Sep 25, 2021 | 07:55 PM
  #26  
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Re: October 2015 COTM **WINNER**

Good deal
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Old Oct 24, 2025 | 12:58 PM
  #27  
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Re: October 2015 COTM **WINNER**

I'm thinking about going with the Wilwood 140-11275-D kit - anyone have a good example of what they used for lugnuts/covers? The kit comes with 1/2-20 studs so a new set of lugs/covers are req'd

I want to continue to use the stock 16x8 black crosslace wheels on the Trans Am....

Thanks!
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Old Oct 24, 2025 | 01:55 PM
  #28  
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Car: '18 Chev Camaro SS 1LE
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Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 3.91
Re: October 2015 COTM **WINNER**

Originally Posted by ParkerTPIz
I'm thinking about going with the Wilwood 140-11275-D kit - anyone have a good example of what they used for lugnuts/covers? The kit comes with 1/2-20 studs so a new set of lugs/covers are req'd

I want to continue to use the stock 16x8 black crosslace wheels on the Trans Am....

Thanks!
You're in the wrong thread... off topic!!!

But here's a quick answer. I had the OEM lug nuts rethreaded to fit the Wilwood studs 1/2-20. Looked stock!!








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Old Oct 24, 2025 | 02:00 PM
  #29  
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Re: October 2015 COTM **WINNER**

Not sure what happened there - but LOL, good way to get a quick response.

That's a solid idea/solution - Thanks!
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