For everyone else that likes the idea of commemorative cars, with this recently acquired F-chassis I wanted to bring as much attention to an 81U bright red Formula as Ed Hamburger did in '92.

One way I thought I could do that was through the idea of recycling nameplates. The General has done it time, and time again-LS9 used to be a 5.7 1 ton truck motor in '79. One moniker GM had was the famed Super Duty on such Pontiac's as the Bubble-Top 421 Catalina's from the 60's and glory day 455 Trans Am's.

Of course, a Pontiac carrying this name has to be Driving Excitement, so a 6.0 liter SFI V8 will deliver over 450 horses through a six-speed manual gearbox and WS6 suspension to take on the most demanding corners.

The Super Duty option package will leave only the most enthused drivers behind the wheel-an interior barren of nearly all luxuries and the security of a user friendly 6 point cage.

 

So what are you saying? Are you asking for opinions, telling us your plans, informing us that GM reuses nameplates? Just trying to get more information about this in regards to History/Restoration.

 

I recently purchased this '88 Formula that was pretty well used. The more I took it apart, the more horror I found.Soon after I got it, I lost my original garage space and things had to be done outside, which slowed the project the down. So being I got the car cheap and it was a solid chassis to build on, I decided it was time for a Gen.III/Gen.IV swap. Thats when I dreamt of this whole "Super Duty" resto theme that could grab a lot of attention. The first step of that resto was to yank the 305 and and strip and paint the engine bay. It's only in filler primer right now which will be taken down and reprimed and painted in original bright red when it moves to it's new home this week. I originally wanted a 421 Super Duty but six liters will do it for now. That pic is just a hollow LQ4 block dummy mounted. Collecting parts for that too...

 

It's pretty well stripped. Before more bright red paint and tons of clear get sprayed inside, I picked up a sand blaster to remove all of the 1980's. It needs floors, but I'm not letting it discourage me. No rear seat or plastics inside and tons of red paint with a cage will look sharp. Including the engine bay, I sanded down the insides of the fenders (which were yellow and VIN'd for an '87 350 Formula-as well as hood and bumpers), primed and painted them in bright red around the areas the original yellow was dusted on from the assembly line. Part of the Super Duty idea is to employ some high quality professional restoration tips like replicating assembly line painting methods for further the look of authenticity.