Friend of a friend is selling an '89 Firebird'; I haven't seen the car in person and I am trying to determine whether it's a proper Formula or just a Firebird...
Here's what I know:

Hardtop
Base interior; manual windows, locks, seats.
No A/C
5.0 TBI
5-speed manual
Power Bulge Hood
Aero Wing
Formula Wheels

On the outside it definitely looks like a Formula (no decals though) but the the fact that the interior is so base and it has no AC is throwing me off. For some reason I thought all Formula's had AC in 89?

 

Well the VIN won't tell you anything, since the TBI was available on the base Firebird or the Formula. Go to the decal in the driver's side door jamb and look for 245/50ZR16 as the spec'd tire size. Look in the glovebox for the SPID, look for WS6, and W66.

Generally speaking, if it's got the hood, spoiler, and wheels, I'd probably assume it's a Formula. Most people aren't going to go to the trouble to do all three. The codes will tell you for sure.

 

W66 = Formula

I do not think I have ever seen an LO3, 5 Speed with absolutely no options... Kind of neat, nothing remarkable in performance tho. No AC? THat is a pretty rare car indeed... Been really neat if they would have opted for the LB9 tho... That would be a fun stripper...

 

The no A/C would be rare!

 

Is the car a Canadian export? Such cars had a few different ways of ordering.

 

Thanks guys; it likely is a Canadian export - it's in Canada. It's about an hour away, but I am going to try and get out to look at it this weekend. Will post some pics if/when I get them.

 

If you have the VIN, I can tell you if it's a real Formula. Assuming it is in fact built as an export and not simply moved there.

 

As soon as I saw the export thing I was going to offer the same - Comp9 will confirm that for you and list out all of the options.

What did the base interior look like in a Formula - was it as bad as the camaro?

 

Thanks guys, I don't have a VIN yet. I did get two photos sent to me; see attached. Nothing of the exterior, but it looks like a typical black Formula on the outside....

 

Interesting that they had the block off plates on the sides of the dash for the vents - same as the earlier Camaros.

I believe A/C was included in any of the packages but if you didn't even order the 1SA package you didn't get it.

 

VERY interesting car never seen a Formula optioned like that !!! But non A/C cars are VERY common in Canada


But I agree with John, If it was a LB9/5spd then that would be a NICE SCORE !!!


Still a cool car, I loveeeee my black third gens


Dave

 

Nifty car, grab it up!

 

Checked it out in person the other day...Driver's side floorboard disappeared a long time ago and was crudely replaced with sheet metal. It was also repainted at some point, poor prep work so the paint is peeling off in a bunch of places. Ran and drove pretty good though....Car could be had pretty cheap, but it's more work than I need right now with a child on the way, so I passed on it.

 

Looked by the RPO code sheet was missing...

 

I have a pair of those block off plates in that gray color.