NEW PRICE! 6-speed manual. One of only 524 WS6 Formulas built in 1996. 26,546 original miles. Completely unmodified and loaded with options, new 17-inch Goodyears, never used in winter weather. Spotless and fast!
Painted bright Torch Red (that's 100% original paint, by the way) and sporting that aggressive twin-snorkel Ram-Air hood, there's no question that this brute means business. It's just beautifully preserved, owned by an enthusiast who understood that this was a very special car and didn't want to risk hurting it on the track or by doing something foolish. There's a shine that seems almost too good to be General Motors workmanship, but by 1996, the composite body panels were extremely good and GM was getting great results even on the affordable F-Bodies. Gaps are excellent and it has obviously spent its entire life out of the sun, because the black trim remains dark and rich, not faded and chalky. Original decals, including the Ram Air insignias on the hood and the 'Formula' callouts on the back are in excellent condition and only those who are really paying attention will notice the subtle 'WS6' emblem on the tail, but by then it's usually too late. If you want one that is as close to new as a 20-year-old original car can be, this is probably it.
The black cloth interior is a great choice, not just because it looks great with the red paint, but also because cloth upholstery is cooler and grippier—the enthusiast's choice. A bit more spacious than the Corvette, the Firebird seems to work great as a real car. With so few miles, you know the upholstery is in excellent condition and thanks to careful use over the years, it shows almost no signs of wear in the usual spots on the outer bolsters. And just because the WS6 was built for combat doesn't mean it's stripped, because this car is loaded: cold factory A/C, power windows, locks, and mirrors, cruise control, a rear defroster, power antenna, and an AM/FM/CD stereo with graphic equalizer. Everything works except the radio, and we're not quite sure why—it has a new amplifier in back and powers up properly. The most important piece of gear is the 6-speed manual gearbox, which only about a third of the WS6 buyers selected. You also get a good-sized trunk and a fold-down back seat that makes it easy to use the Firebird every day if that's your choice. This is one of those cars that just does everything well.
For 1996, all V8 F-Bodies got a boost to 285 horsepower, but 350 cubic inch LT1 in the WS6 with Ram Air was rated a 305 thanks to some revised computer mapping to take advantage of the added airflow. In fact, Pontiac engineers quietly acknowledge that at speeds above 80 MPH, there's a mild supercharging effect that could add another 15 horsepower. With so few miles on it, this one is barely broken in and since it has always been used as a collector's item and not as a real car, it remains extremely fresh. No modifications, no damage, and lots of authentic details under the hood. You'll note original decals, factory clamps and hoses, and all the other stuff that makes untouched original cars so special. And it's easy to see how that Ram Air system can be so effective—there's a straight path from the nose to the throttle body interrupted only by a high-flow air cleaner. This car definitely nails it.
Underneath, it's totally original and in fantastic condition. There's zero rust, no damage, and other than the usual grease and road dirt, it's like new. You could clean up 80% of it in an afternoon and have the cleanest F-body around. It's definitely worth noting that the exhaust system is original, complete with catalytic converters, the body-colored floors are excellent, and it still carries those rather expensive DeCarbon shock absorbers that were unique to the WS6/1LE packages. It also includes giant 275/40/17 Goodyear Eagle F1 performance tires which are likely only the second set of tires this car has ever worn.
This is a seriously nice car, owned by an enthusiast who understood that it was special. The low mileage and awesome list of features and options makes it an A-lister for the guys who grew up with cars like this on our wish list. Don't miss this opportunity to relive one of the most exciting times in automotive history with one of the most under-rated performance cars of the decade. Call now!
For more details and photos, please visit www.HarwoodMotors.com
