I am going to quote an E-Mail flame I got....

Astounding isn't it? Yes my car is a Formula. It was a Formula "E" made in 1991 as an option here in Las Vegas. The original owner bought the car from Pat Clark Pontiac here in town and wanted the T-Tops. The Vin "E" Formula does exist, and there were a little over 2000 produced.

I researched it, because I WANTED to degrade my registration on my car to a regular Firebird!

Can we say cost of insurance? Needless to say, I lost that argument.

-Snowdog with a REAL 1991 Formula "E".

***** Snowdog 91 Formula! Hahahaha.... NO. I am not a Rice Boy.

 

I will post some things that are very different about it:

I suppose it is locale that makes the category of the "Formula" because I know what this guy means.

#1: I do not have the 16" Formula Rims. Nope.
#2: I do not have the 140MPH Speedo.
#3: I have the Trans-Am type body moulding.
#4: I do not have a TPI motor.
#5: The engine was the stock L03.
#6: It has the standard spoiler.

Now that sounds to me like a standard Firebird with the V8 option.

According to the registration and the title on the car it is classified as a Formula!

I fought this issue with the DMV and the insurance company, but apparently, they classify the 1991 Firebird with the L03 a "Formula" SO BE IT. They call it a Formula on the title of my car, and on my insurance! It doesn't matter as much to me now, because of the particular mods I have done to the car more than make it a Formula.

Can't fight the dealership for that!

 

Formulas of that year can have the TBI engines as a downgrade option. But it should have the 16" wheels, big swaybars and the other WS6 stuff. Also the wing will be the good wrapaound one. I think if it doesn't have the wraparound wing that is the best sign if its a formula or not. Also it shouldn't have any factory ground effects.

 

I think it was my anger at the insurance company and the L03 dying on me that made me decide to make it as close to a Formula as I can. I empathise with Joe and agree with Tas, and I know what you mean, but what Pat Clark Pontiac did was screw me on my insurance with one word!
I know the car isn't the real "Formula" Firebird! The Dealership, Title, Insurance and DMV don't!
Maybe Pontiac screwed up! I really tried on this issue. I did this more out of aggravation and frustration than arguing. They call it a "Formula". Might as well make it one then!

 

Well, to say the least, yes and no. I think it makes Pontiac ignorant for making me pay the extra $$ for insurance, thank you very much. I am true to my word, and I found this whole dilemma with my insurance a pain.
But when everyone tells me I have a car I don't, and it is documented as such.... You see my point. I guess you would if you were me. While my car was in the shop, I had the determination to do this because of the insurance! I was still paying for it while I was going through hell.
Modifications etc to the car is like saying my car is a Trans-Am... But my title on the car DOES say Formula. I plan on keeping this car, and being proud of having a Firebird, Formula or not. I am not one to dispute any of the facts whatsoever. I just found it amazing that I could NOT change it!
I am doing everything possible to make this car as nice and drivable as I want it to be. The REAL Formula owners should understand and respect it, for I am doing the right thing in my own mind.
Rice Boy Snowdog. Yeah yeah yeah. Okay, call me that if you want to. See what I REALLY did to the vehicle before scoffing.
-Snowdog
I would rather take of the "FORMULA" decals and put in "BANSHEE" instead. I have called it the Banshee from the day I got it... But then again people would think I was calling it the prototype Banshee.... And we all know what that car looked like.
Banshee was what started the whole changing look of the Firebird. That I can bow to... :hail:

 

The one thing that I am proud of is having a Firebird. It is not a Corvette, Ferrari or Porche. It is not a Honda, Ford or a Yugo. I am proud to own my Firebird. It's unique to me and very personal. I guess that is the way it is with all Firebird owners, be it the 6 cylinder model or the Trans-Am...
We have people doing Z-28 modifications to their Camaros... SS Mods to their Z-28's.....
We have people putting WS-6 hoods on LT-1's
I have an ASCD RamAir hood on mine.
I guess what I am getting at, is the bottom line. The cars are a personal extension of ourselves. We are happy with them or not. My love for my car was the day I bought it. It's only grown into a marriage of love/hate that even makes it more intimate.
Now do I have a WS-6? I would have to look at the numbers, I sincerely doubt it. Am I doing the best I can do for my car? You bet!
This topic is serious because it is a personal experience. I have went through everything to make it the best I could for myself.
If I wanted to make a T/A lookalike, that would be EASY with the trim level on my car. Front fenders, hood... maybe dropping a T/A ECM and motor into it. Does that make my car a Trans-AM? Ummm.... No.... Not unless I do everything that Pontiac did to make it so.
To make my car a true Formula I find it more difficult. But then again I like the body trim.... I love the car and will make it motorwise and structurewise as good as the Formula.
I don't dispute anything anyone says. I don't want flames. I believe my Bird will fly.
What to call it? Call it a Firebird. They all are. Mine is MY edition. One of One!
Yours is too. Anything non-factory that changes the car (for better or worse) IS a change from OEM.
Can we call your 1985 Z-28 a Z-28 if you wreck it and you yank the motor out and put an LS-1 in it?
Ummm I guess you could.
It's how you look at things and percieve them. I posted this because I was kind of reminding all of us our cars are what keep us happy and making us proud of our accomplishments and learn from failure.
I am proud of my car and others are proud of theirs and do what they can to make them better. GM is stopping the F-Body! It is a terrible shame. I love my car and can't imagine the F-Body going by the wayside!
I want my car to be as attractive as it was the day I bought it! I want to have it 20 years from now. And be able to put the key in the ignition of my ride, and drive it around. History? Yes it is! And we all must remind ourselves how we have one of the finest cars GM ever produced!
But I am not going to add 15 Horsepower with a sticker and an Air Cleaner either! I am not going to ruin the appearance of my bird. Never!
Let's keep it alive. The third gens are the great cars! Don't let them fall into pieces! Keep them going strong!

 

I think someone needs a little sleep because he is posting and replying to himself. Step back, count to ten, and get the VIN.

 

I was venting. *sigh*

 

Let it all out! Its important not to stuff these issues. The last thing I want to do is turn on the news and find out that a firebird owner went postal and blew up DMV or some insurence building. Who knows, it might triger background checks into f body owners.

All jokes aside, things like this frustrate me to.

Some days you get the bear, some days the bear gets you.

Later, Dave

 

I think I and my my brother feel the same way dude. His 88' IROC Z, Z28 (the only year they came with both designations I believe) came with the LO3 and a peg leg 2.73 in the rear, the same as my '92 RS! So what is it that makes his a Z 28 as opposed to an RS? The louverd hood? The fog lights? The 140mph speedo? The badging? Along that same route... why then is mine not a z 28? THe fact that I don't have flat black headlight pockets?!? (which was an option on the 25th anniversary edition RS anyway) I dunno dude. I'm proud of my RS, for not having that many mods yet and 114k mile, it's real damn fast. Even put my other brother's Firebird to shame once. So what makes our cars what they are? Some GM exec that came up with a badging scheme, that's it. The fact remains that they are F-bodies and some of the best cars to drive, EVER!!!

 

Holy Crap!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I thought it was just me!! I have a 91' Firebird that came stock with the 15" wheels, standard spoiler, TA gfx, LO3 engine, one legged rear w/2.73's, and every thing I check the VIN against tells me I have a Formula!!!! What is with this? I also paly more insurance, and am convinced that this is NOT a Formula, but how can you argue the VIN? I have since made the car look like a TA with the the black GTA wheels, wraparound spoiler and vented hood so the car is probably thoroughly confused now! Poor thing Glad to see someone else has this issue, so tell me...... what are we driving????????????

 

LOL! I like calling mine a "Banshee"
Anyway it is just a label put on by GM executives as was said in a prior post. I don't mind. My car is entirely different than it was when I got it. As far as being anything I could call it my Firebird!

 

Yeah, I like that, I will have to come up with a name for her, it is a her too! I will just go on paying higher insurance and maybe feel a little less guilty when I do have a 300 HP 350 in there someday!

 

How can you argue with the VIN? AFAIK there is no specific designation to differentiate from Firebird and Formula. If WS6 is not on the RPO list, its not a Formula. Every single thirdgen Formula came with WS6 standard.

 

Since the question of 'what makes a formula a formula rather than a firebird' has been answered enough times that this thread is completely pointless. Besides that REPLY TO THE GUY don't post it here. I dont care if you are venting, my board isn't the place for you to do that. Technically your car isn't a formula. Deal with it.

Why yes Virginia, this thread is closed.

FWIW a Formula for 1991 starts out as a base model Firebird.
It then receives the bulged hood, wrap around spoiler, 16" concave Hitech turbo rims, WS6, etc. If its missing any of those options its not a formula. If it has GFX its not a Formula. If it has a V6 its not a formula.

Also, since the Formula is technically still a Firebird the VIN number won't distinguish between a Formula and a Firebird.