awhile ago i was driving down the highway and i spotted a early 3rd gen bird(id say between 82-85) and it looked like the original paint job and in pink letters it said "secret"(yes it was in quotation marks) formula

i was just wondering if they actually made a "secret" formula firebird and if anyone has any info on them thatd be cool too

 

Yes, and it was a SERCRET!:lala: :lala: :lala:

 

i am 99.9 sure that GM would not put out a car that had "secret" Formula on the doors...

I guess Pontiac had the "Judge" and as some of you knwo that was actually a joke, taken from I believe "Laugh in" back in the late 60's early 70's.

John

 

Actruely there are Secret Formulas, they were early 1982 Firebirds and I have one. I didn't know that it was considered a Formula till about 4 years ago, when I ask the insurance company for a reason why the insurance was so expensive. They told me it was a Formula. After than, I went to two other insurance agents and they verified the same infromatoin. One of the insurance agents said that they go by the VIN number. I purchase the 1982 Firebird brand new in Jan of 1982. As a fact, it was the very first 82-V8 powered Bird delivered to the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia. The Car was acturely shown on the local TV station a few times. AT that time it was plain looking, no wing, no fancy wheels, and no pin stripes. The sole fact is when the car was assembled a lot of the parts were short supply.

Two weeks after taking deliverey of the Bird, the right side headlight lift motor went out. The service manager told me that the part was not available and Pontiac told them that it would be two months before they could send out a new lift motor. I got mad and pull the motor off of the car, and repaired it. That same lift motor was finally replaced two years ago.

A few months after getting the car the wing became available for it and I had it installed. At that time, I also had the pin-strips added. The car up-till last Nov was mostly orgianal except for the 350TPI motor that I had put in back in 1998 and complete paint job back in 96. The Bird ran great and was a joy to drive up until last Nov.

After it was hit in November,the 82 has gone though an extensive repair and rebuild job. As of today, the body work is completed and its heading into the paint booth on Monday.
It will get some upgrades to inprove it handling.
The following items are being installed after its painted early next week, SFCs, STBs, Lowering Springs, New 16inch wheels with 245/50-VR16 tires, Adjustable Panrod, and LCA rolacation brakets.
The Steering box was replace with quick ratio unit. The front suspension is all new componants.

 

bruce do you have any pictures of the "secret" lettering on the side?
im curious...

 

There was not any lettering on the side.

 

The car was not and is not considered a Formula, the companies don't know anything. It sounds more like an incomplete Trans Am or base Firebird with a V8.

There is no such model as a secret Formula, that was put on by some1. Although there was 1 that could be considered secret, which is the 88 VHO.

 

BruceEmbry, I hate to tell you this, but your insurance company is cheating you. You have a base firebird, and here's why:

1. There is ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY NO WAY to tell if a Firebird is a "Formula" by the VIN alone. None. Period.

2. The first official Firebird Formula's were sold in 1987.

There are very specific RPO codes that a car MUST have to be a Formula. Because the Formula was not designated with it's own VIN code, the standard VIN decoder will only indicates the car *could* be a Formula. As a result *most* insurance companies will automatically charge you the Formula rate, especially with a v-8 under the hood.

I personally would bring this to the attention of your insurance agent and demand a refund for all the overpaying you've been doing.

As for the original post, I too have never heard of a Formula badged as a "secret". It's more than likely someone's attempt to customize or personalize their car.

GL! HTH!

 

Wow, that is funny stuff. A secret Forumula.

 

Yeah buddy! It sounds like it would be pink and have **** interior if it was ever made.
Bruce, post some pics of what the car originally looked like, or any original documentation you mikght have. Lets see what the secret is?...

 

I'd say a customizational joke. It works, however The Secret Formula is better

I'd like to see Bruce's Bird after all the work's done. Sounds nice.
Even though 1987 is mentioned for the start of the Formulas, they had been done on earlier generations of F cars
Bill

 

Insurance companies are trying to screw people or something . Recently I've been checking around and a few of the agents punched in the info and said "now that's a Z28 V8, right", "OK, 82 Camaro Z28 V8", etc. That info from the vin number? I laughed told them it was just a V6 plain Camaro--one guy argued with me. I guess they figure some will agree when they find out they have a Z28/formula/whatever, when they actually don't--thinking they have something special and paying more for insurance.

 

thanx for the input all, i do agree that a "secret" formula bird sounds better

 

This reminds me of this car I saw last year in Saugatuck MI. It said "Benz Concept" and had a whole bunch of parts from different cars just bolted to it. I checked the VIN, and the first four digits were JH2K, thats an Acura Legend!!! Ha, this guy was trying to pawn off his butchered Legend as a "Benz Concept"!

 

I redid my insurance last month and the agent didn't care that it was rare... didn't even comment when mentioned. I got a square deal. (American Family hehe)
Bill

 

my insurance just charged me for the camaro. didn't matter if it was a 50hp iron duke or a 1000hp 502!
As for the secret formula . It would be cool to put that on the side of a sleeper bird.