From what I've read, there were 2 Firehawks that were ordered but not built? Or they were built but not released? I can't see it being a lack of parts as Hamburger/SLP was set up to build 250 of these cars.

 

It my understanding the orders where canceled by the buyers, 40K was a lot for a firebird in 92, no matter how cool it is.

 

According to inflation, $40,000 in 1992 is about equal to 60,700 in 2009 dollars.

 

Funny thing is milk price per cwt was more in 1992 than it is in 2009, its currently $9 and back then it was $11-$12. WOW idk why im rambling on that lol.

I'm sure lots of cars that were ordered mid last year are being cancelled now due to lack of funds.

 

#18 and #23 were canceled either by the dealer or the customer. It would depend on how the car was ordered and who ordered it. If a dealership ordered the car to be placed on the lot then they may have realized they would have a huge investment into it and it may be a hard sell. Similarly if a customer ordered the car and then decided to back out.

Similarly the 1989 ASC Firebird Verts were similar, 369 cars were ordered, but only 324 were made. 45 cars were canceled for one reason or another. I think people change their minds, other people find something else to suit their desires, Money plays a huge roll in making purchases.

John

 

One factor may have been 4th gens were coming out in 93

 

That may have had a factor. It does not always however as there have been some models that were pretty much at their climax of production when GM decided to drop it and release a new model. It is rare, but it has happened.

Ultimately I think the price outweighed the desire for the car.

The 4th gens actually did not perform as well as the 25 3rd Gen Firehawks. There were Way less enhancements to the car.

John

 

I agree with the pricing. If I remember correctly, the post gulf war economy wasn't so great. Plus people were complaining about gas being over a dollar. Not a good environment for any super car.

 

I guess so. I can just imagine the conversations that couples had at the time.

Husband: Honey, I ordered a new Firebird today.
Wife: The expensive Trans Am or one of the cheaper Firebirds?
Husband: A Formula.
Wife: Oh OK. How much is it going to cost?
Husband: (with competition package) Around $50,000 plus tax.
Wife: Oh no you're not!

I do know that the 69 ZL1 Corvette that was ordered with every option available stickered for $10,700 back in 1969. They only made 2 of them. I'm not sure how the other one was optioned out. But the fully loaded one was ordered as a dealer display car to advertise their dealership. It wound up sitting on the lot for quite some time before it sold. Nobody wanted to pay that much for a Corvette. Knowledge of the L88 was scarce enough never mind the ZL1

 

Interestingly, $50K right now is a bargain for a firehawk... I am kicking myself for not jumping on #2...

John

 

John,
Hold on to your 350 Formy vert and i don't think you will do to badly....

 

In 1992 we were in a recession, and Clinton wasnt president yet.(bush1) We were in desert shield, the hot car, made famouse by Vanilla Ice was the 5.0 Mustang. Third Gens never caught on.

 

Car numbers 18 and 23 were never built. #18 is Red 350 hardtop with 1LE AND B4U...so technically it's a Firehawk?! It was sold at a dealership unknown to anyone....don't know where it is today. Owner lost his $5k deposit.

Number 23 was ordered as a dealer lot black car. Not 1LE nor B4U. It was cancelled early on. There's a guy overseas who says he has #23 but I have no clue how he can document this?

 

interesting you mention #2, because i knew someone who use to be on these boards that had the car....he brought it to car shows. A truely awesome machine. Had the the hand fabricated air induction system, and the rollcage. That car won show car trophies easily, where it went! I actually helped worked on it because it was somewhat misfiring. I still think it was a mistake that he sold it but whatever, it's his car and he can do what he want with it...

 

Thanks, I think it is a keeper...

John

 

And the owner would be kicking you FOR jumping on #2!!

 

Not if I bought it... I would kicking myself for denting it... It's a lose lose isn't it...

 

If you didn't kick your self for denting it, someone else would. Namely Me.