I checked out the vin on a 1991 firebird and the carline series code comes up as a Firebird when I do it by hand-manually

But when I do it through vin decoders online the S designation in the vin does not declare it as a base firebird but as a Formula. The rest of the vin matches the decoding- I get the 350 in it as well.

This 1991 has the formula trim package and suspension. So what is occuring here. Is it a base firebird or a formula?

Vehicle's partial vin: 1G2FS238XML

The vin decoders and car fax declare this car a forumla yet the carline series is clearly firebird and does not identify it with the W which equated to formula.

Year: 1991
Make: Pontiac
Model: Firebird Formula
Style/Body: 2 Door Coupe
Engine: 5.7L V8


http://www.fbodydomain.com/VIN/VIN.asp#1987


What's up with this car.

 

I believe that page is incorrect. S is correct for a Formy.

 

Thanks-there's alot of web pages on different sites out there that say the same thing haha. Talk about plagarism.

This is a relief.

 

Yeah, a whole pile of them have the exact same layout and everything, pretty obvious.

What made me think of it is that I ran my Birds through the VIN checker down below and I noticed that it said the S was Firebird or Formula.

With a little more thought it makes sense. We all know a great way to see your base bird is to slap a wrap around wing, power bulge hood, and some stickers and sell it as a Formula. It would be a whole lot easier to spot those frauds if the VIN was different from a base model.

 

Actually the 350 and the LB9 were NA on the Firebird, unless you got the Formula package. Where it gets muddy is the LO3 and the LG4 cars, where even the title for base Firebirds state Firebird/Formula. Really those are the cars to have, Although cosmetically the Formula with the LG4/L03 is the same as LB9 & L98 cars, and it has the Ws6 Suspension I really do not see it as a "Desired" car any time soon.

If you have an S or T for the engine, its NOT a Formula, All Formulas got a V8.

As for as the VIN, All Formulas from 87-92 start with 1G2FS

John

 

Sorry, forgot to put in the best way to sell your V-8 TBI Base Model :-) But how many stories have we heard about V-6s "Formulas"?