I've been on the hunt for the Formula my dad bought new in the summer/fall of 1988. No luck finding the VIN, so I'm trying to find a replica, but need to figure out if it was an '88 or '89. It was an all-white hardtop with an L03, 5-speed, grey interior, and did not have power windows. I can't recall if it had 3-point seat belts in the backseat. I've looked at production figures for 1988 and 1989, and it appears that almost all (if not all) '89s had power windows. Does this confirm it was an '88? Or is there no way to be certain (short of having the VIN)? Thank you.

 

The VIN will tell you the year of the vehicle. Without it you will not know.

 

Maybe @okfoz can step in with any known visuals between the two years.

Pontiac records show that all but 75 Formulas in 1989 had power windows. In 1988 all but 2604 had power windows.

The odds would suggest one way, however, someone had to own one of those 75. So you can't be certain your car wasn't one of them.

 

I wonder if anyone knows whether a 1989 formula could have been purchased in August or early September of 1988 (or if that timing also suggests it was an '88)? Thank you!

 

Then do you recall if it had the GAIN switch in the dash for the subwoofer option (UQ7 on the SPID label in the console)? That option was discontinued after 88, in favor of the addition of rear seat belts in 89. The switch, or a blank space with a filler piece, would be along the bottom of the dash, like in this picture below. If you recall having that switch or a filler piece where it should've been, then it's an 88. Because the subwoofer option wasn't available in 89, there wasn't even a space in the dash for the switch (no space, no filler piece), only two spaces in 89, for the defogger switch and the hatch switch.

 

Funny enough, Pontiac's own records show there was 1 - 1989 Formula with the UQ7 option. There's a few examples of stuff like this.

 

No, it definitely did not have the Gain (or that many) buttons. It was about as base a model Formula as you could get. Wish I had the VIN, but despite many efforts, I just can't find it anywhere.

 

The top picture is for a 1988 that didn't have the optional UQ7 system and thus no gain switch. Notice the block plate.

The bottom picture is for a 1989. Notice there is no block plate.

Between 1988 and 1989 model years on the Formula, it ranges from about 70% to 80% as having the optional remote decklid release or rear defrost. So if you don't have those buttons, which are shown to the right side of the dash bezel, that doesn't narrow it down.

 

Thank you. That is helpful. The '89 is more in line with my recollection, which is great, b/c now I'm looking for a unicorn.... Wish my younger-self had written down the VIN.

 

Cosmetically the biggest difference between an 88 & 89 is the rear seat belt shoulder harnesses for the back seat and the sub-woofer controls as others have pointed out. Crank windows is really unusual, especially for 1989, About 2500 Formulas without power windows in 1988 (about 20%), only 0.4%. You might be able to find something close to it, being he bought it in the summer/fall of 1988, I suspect the car might have been an 88 that sat on the lot and he might have gotten a good deal on it as the 1989's were being released.
I hardly remember finding any crank Window Formulas, the only one I can recall seeing was a 1988 with the 350 and in the Orange Metallic color. There have been others but I just do not remember them.
Your odds are that it was a 1988.

Good luck.

 

A couple of differences between 88’ and 89’ if you can recall from way back when.

88’ had lap belts only in the rear seats. 89’ had lap/shoulder belts.

88’ had a standard ignition key. 89’ had the VATS chip(resistor) in the ignition key.

 

I vaguely recall that he got a good deal. Could well be that a non-t-top, non-power window model with the torrified barley injection motor sat around. I appreciate your insights. Thanks!

 

It should be noted that some of the very very early 1989's got the block off plate like the 1988's..

 

That is true, if you happen to still have an ignition key around from the car, it would tell you 88 or 89.

 

My 88 is crank windows. I kinda wish it wasn't