Find or Sell Used Cars, Trucks, and SUVs in USA

1978 Pontiac Formula Firebird - Automatic, Ps, Pdb, Black 455 Screamin Demon on 2040-cars

US $14,000.00
Year:1978 Mileage:80678 Color: Black /
 Black
Location:

Hot Springs Village, Arkansas, United States

Hot Springs Village, Arkansas, United States
Advertising:
Transmission:Automatic
Body Type:Coupe
Vehicle Title:Clear
Engine:455 GAS
Fuel Type:Gasoline
For Sale By:Private Seller
VIN: 2U87Z8L110277 Year: 1978
Make: Pontiac
Model: Firebird
Trim: FORMULA
Options: CD Player
Power Options: Air Conditioning
Drive Type: RWD - AUTOMATIC
Mileage: 80,678
Exterior Color: Black
Disability Equipped: No
Interior Color: Black
Warranty: Vehicle does NOT have an existing warranty
Number of Cylinders: 8
Condition: UsedA vehicle is considered used if it has been registered and issued a title. Used vehicles have had at least one previous owner. The condition of the exterior, interior and engine can vary depending on the vehicle's history. See the seller's listing for full details and description of any imperfections.Seller Notes:"ALL KNOWN FLAWS DISCLOSED IN DESCRIPTION."

1978 PONTIAC FORMULA FIREBIRD.  PLEASE READ ALL INFORMATION BEFORE BIDDING AS I HAVE MUCH INFORMATION TO CONVEY ON THIS CAR.


IT IS BEING SOLD AS IS, NO WARRANTY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, I HAVE DISCLOSED ALL FLAWS I AM AWARE, BUT LIKE ALL CLASSIC AUTO'S, I HAVE PROBABLY NEGLECTED SOME MINOR FLAWS, THE MAJOR POINTS HOWEVER HAVE BEEN COVERED BELOW. SHIPPING IS AT BUYER'S EXPENSE AND ARRANGEMENT. IF YOU WOULD LIKE MORE PICS OF A CERTAIN AREA, ASK, I COULD ONLY POST 24.

TO MY KNOWLEDGE, I AM THE THIRD OWNER OF THIS CAR. IT WAS PURCHASED NEW AT THE LINDELL TRIMBLE DEALERSHIP IN HOT SPRINGS, ARKANSAS, AND WAS DRIVEN SPARINGLY BY THE MALE OWNER. IT WAS THEN PURCHASED OR PASSED ON TO HIS SISTER, ALSO IN HOT SPRINGS, WHO DROVE IT FOR SOME YEARS, UNTIL SHE SET IT UP ON BLOCKS IN HER GARAGE. I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 1999, WITH ONLY 66K ORIGINAL MILES. THE PAINT WAS CRAZED, BUT OTHER THAN THAT, IT WAS COMPLETELY ORIGINAL DOWN TO THE INFLATASPARE, CARDBOARD TRUNK CUTOUTS, RADIO, EVERYTHING. I HAD INTENDED TO BUY IT AND FLIP IT. HOWEVER, AFTER DRIVING IT HOME, I LOVED THE POWER AND THE WAY IT HANDLED (COMPARED TO MY 69 MUSTANG) AND DECIDED I SIMPLY COULD NOT SELL IT  (HERE'S WHERE THE MONEY PIT SOB STORY STARTS). AFTER DRIVING AND ENJOYING IT FOR SEVERAL YEARS, I DECIDED TO BUILD A PURPOSE BUILT STREET MACHINE.

AROUND ABOUT 2005 OR 2006, I LOCATED A 455 PONTIAC ENGINE AT A LOCAL MACHINE SHOP. I PURCHASED THE ENGINE AND TOOK IT TO A MACHINE SHOP IN OLA FOR FINAL ASSEMBLY AND ANY MACHINING OPERATIONS NEEDED. I BELIEVE THE BLOCK WAS 60 OVERBORE, WITH FACTORY RODS AND FORGED PISTONS, 4X HEADS BEING COMPLETELY REBUILT, I BELIEVE WITH ALL STAINLESS VALVES. I CHECKED WITH AN ENGINE BUILDER/RACER DOWN IN FLORIDA WHO EXCLUSIVELY BUILDS AND RACES PONTIACS. I BOUGHT A STREET CAM HE SUGGESTED, PUT ON AN ALUMINUM EDELBROCK INTAKE MANIFOLD WITH EDELBROCK 850 CFM CARB. I HAD THE ENGINE BUILT WITH EITHER 9 OR 9.5 TO 1 COMPRESSION RATIO, I SIMPLY CAN'T REMEMBER WHICH, AND IT RUNS FINE ON REGULAR PUMP GAS, IT DOES NOT PING OR REQUIRE PREMIUM, ALTHOUGH THAT'S WHAT I NORMALLY RUN (GOTTA LIVE UP TO THE BANDIT REP). THE BLOCK WAS ABOUT 1/3 FILLED WITH CASTING MATERIAL FOR MORE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY AND FOR IT TO RUN COOLER (WATER CIRCULATES THROUGH THE HEADS MORE FREQUENTLY). IT MUST HAVE WORKED, AS THIS CAR NEVER OVERHEATS OR BOILS OVER, EVEN IN SUMMER. I ALSO HAD A HIGH FLOW OIL PUMP (THINK IT WAS A MELLING). I BELIEVE I PUT A HIGH FLOW WATER PUMP ON IT, BUT I'M NOT GUARANTEEING THAT, AND I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S ALUMINUM. I ALSO HAD ROLLER ROCKERS INSTALLED ON THE HEADS. THE ONLY ISSUES I HAVE HAD WITH THE ENGINE ARE, 1)  UNDER FOOT STOMP FLOORED ACCELERATION FROM A STANDING START, OIL WILL SOMETIMES SHOOT OUT OF THE BREATHER CAP AND LAND ON THE HEADERS CREATING A PUFF OF SMOKE. I REMOVED THE VALVE COVER AND HAD A SMALL PLATE WELDED TO THE BOTTOM TO DEFLECT THE STREAM, BUT IT STILL OCCASIONALLY HAPPENS. A FRIEND WHO PURCHASED A BUILT 351 FORD WINDSOR FROM A LOCAL ENGINE BUILDER WITH A HIGH FLOW OIL PUMP HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM.  2) I HAVE HAD THE CAR DIE ON ME TWICE, IN HEAVY SLOW MOVING STOP/GO TRAFFIC ON VERY HOT DAYS. BOTH TIMES I WAS ABLE TO RESTART IT IN SHORT ORDER, AND IT DID NOT OVERHEAT, BUT THAT HAPPENED TWICE IN ABOUT 3K MILES WORTH OF DRIVING. THE AC SYSTEM WAS RETROFITTED/RECHARGED WITH R134, BUT IT HAS LONG SINCE LOST THE COOLING CAPACITY AND NEEDS A RECHARGE AT THE LEAST AND PREHAPS A LEAK CHECK. FORGOT TO MENTION I PUT ON NEW CERAMIC HEADERS AND A CUSTOM 3 INCH OR 3.5 INCH EXHAUST. I EITHER HAD THE ORIGINAL TIPS RECHROMED OR BOUGHT REPRO'S, BUT I THINK THEY ARE THE ORIGINALS. THE MILEAGE SHOWS 80K AND CHANGE BUT IS INACCURATE. AFTER THE 455 WAS INSTALLED AND BROKEN IN, A FEW STUPENDOUS BURN OUTS AND THE SPEEDO GEAR BROKE. HAD A NEW ONE INSTALLED AND NEXT BURNOUT THE SAME THING HAPPENED, SO I GAVE UP. I ESTIMATE I PROBABLY PUT ABOUT 3K ON THE NEW ENGINE AND EVERYTHING ELSE, BEFORE I PARKED IT FOR 4 YEARS (DUE TO PARENTS HEALTH ISSUES). THE LAST PIC SHOWS HOW IT LOOKED UNTIL ABOUT A MONTH AGO, WHEN I GOT IT OUT OF MOTHBALLS AND CRANKED IT UP, CLEANED IT ETC. I PUT IN A BRAND NEW 850 CCA BATTERY PLUS A NEW ALTERNATOR AS THE PULLEY ON THE OLD ONE IS FROZE UP FROM SITTING (ALSO NEW PS AND ALT BELTS). I HAVE DRIVEN IT ABOUT 100 MILES SINCE CLEANING IT UP, AND IT DOES NOT SEEM ANY THE WORSE FOR SITTING. UPON ACCELERATION FROM A STANDING START, THE TIRES WILL SPIN AND IT WILL SIMPLY NOT HOOK UP AND GRAB THE ROAD UNTIL YOU'RE DOING ABOUT 35 OR SO. THE REAR IS A POSI FROM THE FACTORY AND THE KICK DOWN WORKS FINE. ALONG WITH THIS AUCTION IS THE ORIGINAL 400 ENGINE/HEADS/EXHAUST/INTAKE ETC THAT WAS PULLED FROM THE CAR WHEN THE 455 WENT IN. YOU CAN SEE FROM THE PIC IT IDLES NICELY AT ABOUT 700 RPM WITH A BIT OF A LOPE.

THE TRANSMISSION, THOUGH WORKING FINE, WAS REBUILT AT A LOCAL TRANS SHOP, WITH A SHIFT KIT INSTALLED. I ALSO ADDED REAR DISC BRAKES, SO IT HAS THE ORIGINAL REWORKED FRONT DISCS, AS WELL AS REAR DISCS. MY SHOP AND I NEVER DID FIGURE HOW TO GET THE PARKING BRAKE HOOKED UP WITH THE DISCS. I HAD NEW U JOINTS PUT IN (BELIEVE THEY ARE SPICER) AND THE SUSPENSION WAS REWORKED. ALL NEW BUSHINGS WENT ON THE CONTROL ARMS (NOT STANDARD RUBBER, AGAIN, I COULD NOT REMEMBER IF THEY ARE POLY OR WHAT), NEW HEAVY DUTY SHOCKS ALL AROUND, NEW HIGHER RATE FRONT COILS WITH ABOUT A 1" DROP IN FRONT, GAINED FROM CUTTING ABOUT ONE COIL OUT. A NEW HEAVY DUTY FRONT SWAY BAR WAS INSTALLED. IT HAS A REAR SWAY BAR BUT I DO NOT REMEMBER IF IT CAME FACTORY OR WAS AFTERMARKET. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THE CAR CORNERS EXCELLENTLY.  

THE INTERIOR RECEIVED A CUSTOM STEREO/CD PLAYER AND NEW 6 X 9 SPEAKERS WHICH WERE INSTALLED ON THE BACK PACKAGE TRAY. I WILL CONFESS TO DOING A FEW BURNOUTS AND HIGH SPEED PASSES TO, 'EAST BOUND AND DOWN', BUT SALLY WAS NO WHERE TO BE FOUND. THE DOOR PANELS ARE ORIGINAL WITHOUT TEARS, THE THIN CHROME MYLAR STRIP HAS COME OFF THE MIDDLE PORTIONS. THE SEATS WERE QUITE PRESENTABLE, BUT I HAD A LOCAL UPHOLSTERY SHOP RECOVER THE UPPER SEAT AND BACK PORTIONS OF THE FRONT SEATS (BOTTOMS WERE FINE AND ARE ORIGINAL), AND THE REARS WERE COMPLETELY RECOVERED TO MY KNOWLEDGE. WHILE THE SEATS WERE OUT, THE FLOOR AS I RECALL WAS PAINTED WITH POR-15 OR SOME TYPE OF RUST PREVENTATIVE, SOUND DEADENER/INSULATION WAS LAID DOWN AND NEW CARPET INSTALLED. HEADLINER WAS ALSO REDONE. STEERING COLUMN CRINKLE PAINT WAS FLAKING OFF, I HIT IT WITH RATTLE CAN TO MAKE IT MORE PRESENTABLE BUT IT NEEDS TO BE REDONE.

THE ORIGINAL TRUNK LAYMENT IS PRESENT, I PULLED IT BACK SO YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE POR-15 I PUT DOWN IN THE TRUNK (NO RUST THROUGH IN THE TRUNK OR FLOOR PANS, IT WAS MERELY DONE AS PREVENTATIVE). I MEANT TO REDO IT WITH A CAN OF SPALTTER PAINT TO MATCH THE ORIGINAL, BUT NEVER GOT AROUND TO IT. THE ORIGINAL INFLATASPARE TIRE GOES WITH THE CAR, BUT THE FILL CANNIS STER IS GONE, AS ARE THE CARDBOARD TRUNK CUTOUTS. YOU CAN SEE WHAT REMAINS OF THE ORIGINAL DECALS ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE TRUNK, THE ORIGINAL DOOR STICKERS WERE ALSO LEFT UNDISTURBED. NEW SAIL EMBLEMS, FIREBIRD SCRIPTS, LUGNUTS AND WHEEL CENTER CAPS WERE ALSO INSTALLED.

FINALLY, THE FORMULA RECEIVED A NEW SET OF FACTORY MACHINED HONEY COMB WHEELS AND TIRES. THE WHEELS HAVE SOME CHIPS IN THE PAINT AND FADING FROM ROAD USE. I ALSO HAD THE CAR COMPLETELY REPAINTED (EXCEPTING THE JAMBS) WITH ALL NEW DECALS PUT ON. THE PAINT HAS VERY SMALL SPOTS BUBBLING UP HERE AND THERE, THE WORST BEING WHAT I TRIED TO SHOW IN THE NEXT TO LAST PIC. IT IS HARD TO NOTICE UNLESS YOU ARE ABOUT 5 FEET AWAY, BUT THE FLAWS ARE THERE. THE CAR HAD NO RUST THROUGH, SO I DO NOT KNOW IF THERE WAS A FLAW IN THE PREP WORK OR THE PRODUCT. THE CORE SUPPORT AND NOSE ARE NOT ORIGINAL TO THE CAR. IT WAS NOT WRECKED, BUT A LEAKING BATTERY AT SOME POINT CAUSED ACID TO RUN DOWN THE CORE SUPPORT, AND IT ATE ABOUT A 3 X 3" HOLE OVER TIME. RATHER THAN PATCH IT, I REPLACED THE CORE WITH A  MINT PIECE FROM A  DONOR CAR. THE ORIGINAL ENDURA NOSE, LIKEWISE HAD SHRUNK DOWN A BIT ON THE EDGES FROM HEAT I SUPPOSE. I FOUND ONE WHICH DID NOT HAVE THIS ISSUE AND IT REPLACED THE ORIGINAL. I BELIEVE THE CHROME SURROUND BEZELS ARE REPRO'S. THE FLOORPANS HAVE NO RUST THROUGH. ALTHOUGH THERE IS OF COURSE SURFACE RUST AND SCALE HERE AND THERE. I BELIEVE I PURCHASED A NEW RADIATOR WHETHER THAN HAVE THE OLD ONE RECORED, I'M NOT 100 % CERTAIN OF THAT BUT I BELIEVE IT IS THE CASE. ALSO HAVE A FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR ON FIREWALL. HONESTLY, I DID SO MUCH TO THIS CAR, I CAN'T EVEN RECALL EVERYTHING.

OK, THAT'S IT FOR THE MONOLOGUE. ASK QUESTIONS BEFORE BIDDING.  

$250.00 NON REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT DUE WITHIN 72 HOURS AUCTION END. BALANCE IN FULL DUE WITHIN 7 DAYS AUCTION END BY CASH, US POSTAL SERVICE MONEY ORDER OR BANK WIRE TRANSFER ONLY, NO BANK OR PERSONAL CHECKS WILL BE ACCEPTED UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE. ONCE CAR IS PAID FOR, IT CAN STAY IN MY GARAGE FOR UP TO 30 DAYS, BUT I DON'T WANT IT GROWING ROOTS. NO INTERNATIONAL BUYERS, SHIPPING ARRANGED FOR AND PAID BY BUYER. I HAVE A CLEAR ARKANSAS TITLE IN MY NAME, NO LIENS, DATED 1999, WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR.

Auto Services in Arkansas

Williams Motorsports ★★★★★

Auto Repair & Service, Brake Repair, Mopeds
Address: 14813 Elkhorn Springs Rd, Fayetteville
Phone: (479) 601-5219

Vanderlip Automotive ★★★★★

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Phone: (479) 466-8488

Team 1 Auto Body & Glass ★★★★★

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Steve Smith Country Buick & GMC ★★★★★

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Sherrill`s Automotive ★★★★★

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Sartin Tire ★★★★★

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Phone: (870) 932-1412

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