Hello...

I'm a new member and lover of low-production convertibles, no matter what the heck they are. Personally, I just recently took the plunge for the first time since I owned an original '67 Camaro convertible back in high school, and came up with a relatively-rare-color 4th-Gen Firebird Formula convert.

Anyway, this looks like a great site and I like to share information, so wanted to post that there are two virtually complete Third-Gen F-bodies at the local Pick-a-Part in Monrovia, CA. One is a straight-but-well-worn coach-built Firebird, circa 1987, with a Trans-Am nose and rear bumper added... I could not get either door open to see if there may be a coach-plate/sticker inside the jamb. Someone had literally ripped the fiberglas trunk lid from its crude box-steel frame.

The second is a much more-common white 1990 5-liter RS Camaro, with a bad roof but nice hard tonneau. Note: I assume those tonneaus have electric releases... if you know how to pop it manually, please let me know...!

The place is easy to get to from either the 210 or 10 freeways for anyone who is local or has local contacts... I'll try to check here if anyone has questions. Sorry, no pics, but I'll try to shoot some MP-4s and maybe post on YouTube.

- Don

 

There should be two small thin steel cables that attack to the latches on either side for the tonneau release. THey generally extend out behind the speaker panel towards the trunk area. Pull both to release the cover.

 

What color interior did the camaro have?

 

Thanks for the info, Impaqt. My82... I think it was black cloth, as I folded down the back seat and remember black. There were a bunch of body parts inside so I didn't try to check out the interior. I'll be going back tomorrow, if I can find the time. BTW, what color is that convertible in your avatar?

 

Its my burgundy 89 Iroc....If you do go back and the interior is indeed black Id be interested in the front seatbelts,rear lap belts and the belts that mount on the underside of the tonneau.LMK as I would pay for the shipping

 

[quote=3rd-gen fan;5064194]Hello...


One is a straight-but-well-worn coach-built Firebird, circa 1987, with a Trans-Am nose and rear bumper added... I could not get either door open to see if there may be a coach-plate/sticker inside the jamb. Someone had literally ripped the fiberglas trunk lid from its crude box-steel frame.


did it look like this?

http://www.firebirdfever.com/pages/1985transamta.htm

 

I,m a lover of all firebirds, what rare combo Formy do you have?

 

No, MSETA, not a "two"-seater with 'glass tonneau... more like what this Forum category shows as a Custom Coach, International, or CAR.

So far I only got the passsenger door open ---- just don't have a large enough crow bar for the driver's.

Shot a Flip MP-4... YouTube pending.

 

TX T/A: I shouldn't say "rare", but just low-production color/Formula convert: Medium Dark Purple Metallic. I was told they built less than twenty of Formula convertibles in that color over the two-year (95-96) period it was offered (plus probably a hundred or two V-6s and another thirty or forty Trans Ams...?), but have never been able to find a site that lists production numbers for those years to verify what I was told.

... but, to put it into perspective: over that same four year period I found only eleven 4th-gen Formula convertibles for sale in ANY color in ANY condition ANYwhere here in California on CL, E-Bay, Carsonline, etc. I also only found four other Formula convertibles in Med Dark Purp Met for sale across the entire country during that time, plus one not for sale.

I had fell for an original-owner one that got away from me years ago, and waited four years to find another --- turned out in the same SoCal town, but both purchased in the Midwest originally! What are the odds of that...?!

 

Here are the two MP4s on YouTube. Note that it says "'82" on the side of the 'Bird, and the junkyard is usually right. BTW, I removed the coach-fabricated interior rear seat vinyl side quarter-panels from the two metal-fabricated bulkheads they were attached to in the Firebird. I'll probably advertise those on CL and later on here when I have the status to post classifieds. I have a video of those as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIu0wMMuqB8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHYyVH0APDw