Story--I bought a VERY used 1987 Firebird (200,000 miles, all exterior
badges/trim removed/etc). A friend was looking at it the other day and
thought it might have originally been a Formula. The interior has various
markings such as "Performance Suspension" and "Performance Sound." It also
has the spoiler that's mounted along the deck lid and both sides of the rear
window.

Question--Based on the information below from Carfax.com, can anyone help me
determine whether or not my car is a Formula. If it can be determined based
on the VIN, what other methods can I use to find out?

Thanks!

LT

Vehicle ID: 1G2FS21H3HN222944
Yr/Mfg: 1987 Pontiac
Model: Firebird
Body: 2D H/B Compact car
Engine: 5.0L V8 4bbl
Fuel: Gasoline
Driveline: Rear-wheel drive
Aspiration: Normal
Country Mfg.: United States

 

Check the RPO codes found inside the glovebox. If WS6 is one of them, you have a Formula. If it isn't you don't, as all Formulas came with the WS6 performance suspension package.

By the way, my friend's '87 Bird has the "Performance Suspension" logo on the map pocket on the dash. And it's far from a Formula...its a 2.8/auto.

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Jason E
'89 Camaro RS 2.8
Hypertech chip/K&N filters/Accel 8.8 wires/RapidFires
Eclipse CD and 100x4 amp/Boston plates and 6x9s
Alpine Alarm w/ Keyless entry
IROC tailights/tinted windows

 

Check the center console for the RPO codes. I have an '87 formula. W66 is the code for the formula package. Hope this helps.

 

Your car should also have the offset turbo bulge on the hood instead of the plain hood for that year and should have 16x8 in aluminum wheels.

 

Well, I do have the bulge in the hood AND the 16x8 wheels.
I looked all over for the RPO codes sticker and I found what was left of it--in the glove box it looks like a previous owner removed it because all I have is a gummy, sticky mess. Great.

Anybody think my local Pontiac dealer can contact someone/search a database and get me a copy of the original order/window sticker for the car?

Thanks!

 

The dealer could help, provided someone knows how to operate the computer. You can also try Pontiac Historical Services at http://www.phs-online.com/


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1991 Camaro Z28
5.7L 5-Speed (originally 305)
13.25 @ 107.18 MPH
Southern California
Member: SoCal 3rd Gen F-Bodies
Webmaster: SoCal F-Bodies
-=ICON Motorsports=-

 

Well, I ordered a packet from Pontiac Historic Services and it came in the mail today. I turns out my Firebird IS a Formula (has the W66 option which obviously includes the WS6 option).
So, for a car I saw covered in tree sap and full of garbage inside and managed to talk the owner down to 1,250 for, I have much more of a car than I thought I did.

Now what do I do with it?? LOL!

91bravo@vvm.com

 

Cool, I am sure it will perform just as good as it did before you knew it was a Formula, but it's cool to find out info like that. Congratulations.

 

Do a restoration on it...

 

I thought all Formulas had fuel injection?

 

The base engine on the formula in 87 was the LG4.

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Welcome to the Formula family.

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91 Formula