We had three really nice third gens for this months COTM. After the final voting okfoz and his rare and beautiful 1989 Formula 350 Convertible emerged as the victor! Congratulations!!!
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/auto...vertibles.html

okfoz | 1989 Formula 350

 

Congratulations!

This is one of those cars that I just drool over. I own a GTA now, but I've had two Formulas in the past and have to admit that they're still my favorite Firebirds. Your convertible Formula is rare and beautiful. I don't think any car looks better as a convertible than a 3rd gen, and your conversion was just beautifully done.

 

Congrats

 

Congrats sir, very nice formula.

 

Congratulations!!! Awesome, super rare Bird!!

 

I wanted to thank everyone who voted for my car, I am deeply humbled. Both Vinny R and 86FyrBrd have beautiful cars and awesome builds, their detail to their craftsmanship is amazing.

John

 

Congratulations! It's a beautiful car.

 

Congrats!!!!

 

Congrats! Awesome car!

 

Congrats J, which one are you bringing to the T/A nats this year?

 

I am planning on the Yellow one right now... It has AC and my wife would melt.

 

A fan plugged into your A/C adapter and blowing across a cooler full of ice should cover that!

We do need to get a few 89 verts together at the show sometime

 

Lol. I did that for 2 years going from Austin to San Antonio 10 years ago in my old 82 S10 pickup using one of those fan coolers in my igloo. Kept temp at a about 82 degrees.

 

Are you planning on bringing yours this year?

I could see if I could get the AC fixed

 

Still on the fence about bringing a car at all. Would like to bring the JY formy again but it hasn't seen any progress since last show.

 

You have an awesome '89. Did you have the vert package put on when new or was it done later in its life? My '91 TA is original but I would have preferred the 350 as you have in your Formula.

 

The car appears to have been ordered and intended to be a convertible as it does not have rear defog. The GM Dealer invoice shows early June and It was converted by ASC the end of June 1989, so it was modified just as any other Factory ASC convertible, the dealer ordered the vehicle, drop shipped it to ASC, they could have had it delivered then shipped to ASC to be converted, but that seems unlikely. It was sold new from Sheehan Pontiac in FL as a convertible.

Because the 86-89 ASC Firebird convertibles are technically conversions, they were available with options which were not otherwise optional, for example the 350 engine was not available in the factory Trans Am because of fuel economy concerns. Fuel economy would also be the biggest factor to why the convertible was NA as a direct Pontiac option on the Firebird from 87-89. They would have probably been limited to the Trans Am with the L03 with the convertible with those years, which probably did not seem like a good idea since the TPI was available on the Camaro.
Keep in mind the TA and GTA were right on the cusp of fuel economy, even in 1987 in the USA with the GTA and 350 engine, not only could you not get T-tops with the 350, you could not get the rear shade or the subwoofer controls, it came down to weight and the EPA...
Structurally the car is fine with the stock 350, in spite of what people might think or say, or what they have been told, it all boiled down to Fuel economy.

John

 

Sheehan is still in the conversion (van) business and in normal sales times, has dozens upon dozens of conversion vehicles. I could not imagine in the late 80s, walking onto the lot and seeing your firebird.

How many conversions did Sheehan get?

They are still a GMC Dealer, and also have the Buick franchise, which probably replaced Pontiac:
https://www.sheehanbuickgmc.com/

 

Sheehan Got 6 for 1989.
3 GTA 350's (All with a Tan Top)
3 Formula 350's (All with a Black top)

I sent them an email asking if they had any information from 1989, I think I have done it a few times, and they never get back with me.

I do not know the whereabouts of the other 5.

John