Hey guys, I have got a 91' Firebird, 305 Tbi. I was checking the Vin# 1G2FS23E0ML228726 ... When running the Vin, It is listed as; Firebird/Formula ... Another site lists it as; Firebird/Base Formula ... My insurance card reads; 1991 Pontiac Firebird/Formula .... The reason i am asking for clarification, is the car has been painted, ( wrecked perhaps ) It still has the 305 Tbi, but has a TA hood,( Not the bulge hood ) Gta wheels. no formula decals..no ws6 suspension, well now it does ( sway bars anyway)
... So Can anyone tell me if i have a base model formula, Or do all the vin # come up that way?
Thanks!!!

 

No WS6=Not a Formula.

RPO codes still in the car?

 

All Firebirds from 87-on with a V8, were titled as Formulas for insurance purposes. but as MadMAx said, if there is no RPO code WS6 or W66, then it's just a base 'Bird with a 305.

 

I have been over this,

This is NOT true for all years, my 87, only states "Firebird" on the title and is insured as a "Firebird" No where does it state that its a "Formula" Yes I have the proper codes.

somewhere between 88 and 90 this changed and V8 firebirds got the Firebird/Formu on the Title. In Michigan, the LA is cut off of Formula on the title.

I suspect it may have been either 1990 or 1988 as the change over year. If you remember correctly the Marketing for the Formula, and GTA changed in the later years. Originally they were options, but eventually they became their own vehicle.

This seems to crop up on mostly 91-92 Firebirds, I am not aware of someone posting this on the 1990 or earlier cars.

I would like to know what people have on their titles for a V8 Firebirds without the Formula option, does it state "Formula"

JOhn

 

Here in NY, my 87 Firebird w/ an LG4 was titled Firebird/Formula. It might be different from state to state. My 88 formula comes up as a Formula Firebird on my insurance policy, and my 91 comes up as a Firebird/Formula.

 

Rpo codes are gone, I am thinking that all 91-92's are listed this way.. Unless it is indeed a Formula, Listed as Formula Firebird.. Thanks for your replies!!

 

Since the Rpo codes are missing, Is there anyway to find the codes for your particular car, or once gone there gone?

 

Try a dealer, I think they can go back to 1990 for the RPO sheet, and print you a new one.

You can also get a dealer invoice that has the same information. The differences are pretty basic, where the RPO sheet will spell out every RPO, the dealer invoice sometimes seems to combine RPO's, for example where the dealer invoice states WS6 the RPO sheet would have WS6, and an RPO for each of the "Computer matched" springs etc.

John

 

Thanks OKFOZ

 

Here in Wisconsin all my titles say is "PONTIAC" and recently they started recording the color of the vehicle so my '73 T/A has "RED" on the title.

In the case of my cars the first 5-7 digits of the VIN number denote that they are a Trans Am and not a base Firebird, Esprit, S/E, or Formula.

 

Interesting, So if you paint your car a different color the Title is no longer valid?

JOhn

 

My '87 Formula also lists as just a Firebird on the title and with insurance. But insurance asks if it has a V6 or a V8.

The invoice only lists optional RPOs, not the codes for all the standard features or parts-of-features/systems like on the SPID label. For example, radio provisions, fixed-mast antenna, individual spring codes, etc... nearly every item on the car has an RPO.

Have you found the build sheet? In a recent topic thread, Rabbit posted a pic of his build sheet. All those obscure codes from the SPID label are on that too. So finding that is probably your only hope at this point.

I've looked in all the obvious places for my build sheet, but I've never found it yet. I found one under the carpet in an '88 GTA at a junkyard recently. I figured that was a fluke until someone on the other topic posted that he also found his underneath the carpet. Hopefully, mine's there. But if it is, it'll be staying there for several more years.

 

Since the RPO codes are gone you can spend $35 & ship the vin to these guys PHS & they will ship you a packet that also has all your RPOs in it.

 

PHS only sends out the invoice, which is the options that came with the car. Which would show on the window sticker.
The list with all the RPOs is the build sheet.
PHS does not have this info!

Hope this helps,

George

 

Max... Please do homework before making statements like that, bud. I have a 90' WS6 L03 Formula. WS6 = either Formula or TA. What it does not mean is base model. Unless it was a special order and for some reason you wanted a base with the suspension package, and the dealer allowed it, which they arent supposed to do.

 

This thread is from 2005 and I think that account looks to be suspended

 

It appears you are picking a fight, with a post that is 14 years old. I believe you completely missed the point of Max's comment, or it seems you missed something. For starters the OP clearly spelled out the VIN in the first post, which clearly shows it as a "S" which would be either a Firebird or a Formula, and it has TBI "E". Based on the fact we are not talking about Trans Ams or GTAs in the thread and ground rules that those cars are ruled out, just like if Max said FE2, we would have ruled out the IROC or Z28 because, they are not part of the original post either. Max knows all of that...

Your comment is partially correct, the WS6 was standard on the Formula, and was an option on the TA, but you failed to mention it was also standard on the GTA, it was also an option on the S/E some years, I assume that was just an oversight. The Base Firebird (W/O W66 Formula option) was NA with the WS6, it never, ever happened, just like a Formula with the W68 Ground effects. Finally the dealer could not "allow" a special order such as WS6 suspension on a base Firebird, without the Formula option because it would not have been "compatible" with the ordering computer, so there is that.

 

My Title only shows "PONTIAC" in the "make" field w/ "2D CONV" in "vehicle body"

However, my Registration shows "PONTIAC FIREBIRD 2D CONV" and the body color of GRY

The DMV did not ask if the car has WS6 or any other options. Just the info for the fields above. This is on our 1989 GTA Convertible 5.7L

I hope this helps, but every state will be different.

FWIW, where listed on the former Registration, it only showed, "PONTIAC CONVERTIBLE 5700CC" and the body color, fuel type.

 

Titles, insurance cards, and registrations won't accurately identify a Formula from a base Firebird with a V8. All they know is the VIN. Since the VIN doesn't differentiate between a Firebird and a Formula, they often will dump "Firebird Formula" on the model line since it could be a Firebird or a Firebird Formula, and they can't tell the difference.

That's why you have to look at the parts on the car, or the RPO codes, or look for an engine code that's not offered on the base Firebird, and why there are people running around with a W68 Firebird saying it's a Formula. You get to a point you don't even want to correct people because you don't want to **** on their parade.

 

If its a Formula it would have the bulge hood? Base firebirds didn't get it and neither did TAs after 84ish? But we all know how people can swap parts, hell my car has bits and pieces of all sorts of Camaros, Firebirds , and Trans Ams

 

I think title data in part are due to the person at the SOS, DMV or whomever is typing it out.
67 Riviera - "1967 Buick Two Door" - issue 1998
87 Formula - "1987 Pontiac Firebird Two Door" - Issue 1998
83 Trans Am - "1983 Pontiac Firebird Two Door" - issuance 1998
83 Camaro - "1983 Chevrolet" issued 2000
87 Formula -"1987 Pontiac Firebird" - issuance 2000
89 Formula 350 Conv - "1989 Pontiac Convertible" - Issue 2006
91 Firebird - "1991 Pontiac Firebird Two Door" - Issue 2007
05 Buick Rainier - "2005 Buick Rainier Sta-Wagon" - issue 2008
02 LeSabre - "2002 Buick Four Door" - Issue 2014
07 Tahoe - "2007 Chevrolet Tahoe K1500 Sta Wgn" - Issue 2014
06 Rainier - "2006 Buick Sta-Wagon" - Issue 2015
06 Rainier - "2006 Buick Rainier Sta-Wagon" - Issue 2017
16 Mustang - "2016 Ford Mustang Two Door" Issue 2017
05 Mustang - "2005 Ford Mustang Convertible" Issue 2018

At least in Michigan there is no rhyme or reason to what information they put on the title, except for the VIN, Year and Make... Other information is completely up to the person who registered it with the State, whether it was the dealer, or the DMV (we call it the SOS) employee...