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Congratulations, live4formula, you and your car are TGO's January 2020 Car of the Month!
Everybody has a story, but some stories start back in the day when these cars were new. Such is the case with our winner. A car sold, regret, and the fun of reclaiming the past. All the stuff that good stories are made of! Read on to hear the story of live4formula and his 1989 Firebird Formula.
My story starts on September 12 1988. I went to Rogers Pontiac in Dayton Ohio to reward myself for my hard work. I ordered a 1989 Formula with the 5.0L TPI, 5 speed manual transmission, T-tops in bright red with grey interior. I kept it under a cover in the garage and only drove it on sunny days. After 5 years, like many stories, life happened. I got married and bought a house. My wife said I had too many toys and something needed to go, so I sold the Formula. Yes, I cried as I watched it drive away. I knew i made a mistake, but it was too late.
After a few years I started watching the used car papers and eventually used car web sites, but never saw another Red Formula with the 5.0L TPI 5 speed combo until April 9 2014. I saw one for sale in Canton Ohio. The only thing missing was the T-tops. I drove there the next day, wrote a check and drove it home. It was a very clean rust free car with a lot of paint chips, scratches and bad repaint of the top half of the drivers doors. There was enough bad paint to warrant a new paint job, so I went for it. Thanks to Fisher's Body Shop in Springfield, I get a lot of compliments on the new paint.
The shifter had been replaced with a Hurst shifter, which I have kept in the car. I removed window tint, red interior bulbs (why would anyone do that?) and an aftermarket stereo system. I have replace the tires, shocks, fuel injectors, carpet, and headliner, but the rest of the car is original with 61,000 miles.
I have registered it at the Trans Am Nationals the last 5 years and took second place in my class in 2016.
A friend of mine from high school had a 1985 Trans Am when I bought my first Formula in 1989. We posed for a picture in front of his dads house in 1989. Notice the 80's sweaters and sunglasses. We have remained friends and actually live about 2 miles apart 30 years later. Last summer we met at a local cruise in for a re-shoot. He still has the same Trans Am and I now have a new Formula (without T-tops).
It has been a blast reliving my past with this car. If you have ever driven one of these cars, you know what i'm talking about. I am still looking for a T-top version and a convertible version to add to my collection. Let me know if you see one out there.
Thank you all for this honor. What an awesome Christmas present. There are a lot of beautiful cars and touching stories in this forum. To be nominated and chosen is quite a thrill. Merry Christmas to all !!
Thanks Dagwood. I love your Trans Am too. You did an awesome job on the restoration. Will we see it at the Trans Am Nationals this year?
Thank you for the compliment! The Trans Am will only go to local shows around home. My daughter that drives it just got her license about 6 months ago, so I don't let it get too far from home lol
She has a 2013 Impala for a daily driver, so the TA doesn't get many miles put on it
Congrats!! I have a very similar story... In late 1992 I purchased a 1990 base Firebird with a 5L, 5 speed, and T-Tops while in the Navy.
Being a irresponsibility kid, it was repossessed around 1995. I wanted to find a 1990 Formula 5L, T-Tops and a 5 speed. I literally just gave up this year and was going to buy a 1990 Corvette, and I found the 1990 Formula LB9, 5 speed T-Top car I was looking for!!
You are correct, such a fun car!! Congratulations again!!
Congrats!! I have a very similar story... In late 1992 I purchased a 1990 base Firebird with a 5L, 5 speed, and T-Tops while in the Navy.
Being a irresponsibility kid, it was repossessed around 1995. I wanted to find a 1990 Formula 5L, T-Tops and a 5 speed. I literally just gave up this year and was going to buy a 1990 Corvette, and I found the 1990 Formula LB9, 5 speed T-Top car I was looking for!!
You are correct, such a fun car!! Congratulations again!!
Great story! Hopefully we are smart enough to hold onto them this time!
