Vehicle Description
If an affordable, slick-looking, and turn-key 1973 Pontiac Firebird
is what you seek, then this Formula Tribute should be at the top of
your search list. It checks all the boxes of a solid,
driver-quality muscle car, with a strong 400 V8 under the hood,
some choice options that improve the car's road manners, and a
comfortable, sporty interior - all wrapped in a gorgeous,
high-impact shade of Regatta Blue Metallic paint.
This particular interpretation of Regatta Blue isn't exactly what
Pontiac was offering back in the early '70s, but with a good amount
of sparkling metallic flake in the mix and a lustrous shine to the
finish, the paint job is very impressive. Part performance color
and part head-turner, it's been fully restored and while it's not
perfect, it's still a darn nice Poncho. Sure, there are some signs
of use, but the curb appeal is undeniable as an eye-catching,
strong driver-quality coupe that's a big hit wherever it goes. The
car obviously led a very good life as a cherished piece of Pontiac
performance, and during the restoration all the sheetmetal was
smoothed and massaged back into shape, the gaps were set precisely,
and it was block sanded for hours and hours in preparation for that
glowing blue paint. Nothing coming out of GM showrooms in 1973
looked this good and if you want to cause a stir at the next
Pontiac national meet, this is the car that'll do it. The
dual-snorkel, Ram Air hood is functional and gives the coupe a
sporty look, and while it isn't exactly subtle, it's a perfect
complement to the ducktail spoiler out back. Details like the
catfish-style blacked-out grilles, large headlight buckets, and the
sculpted nose cone are big reasons why these early 2nd generation
Firebirds were fan favorites (the '70'76 Firebird front ends were
all fairly similar), and because of new safety requirements
introduced in '73, there's extra steel reinforcement in the bumper
and fender core supports. The lack of giant and 'loud' decals make
cars like this Formula Tribute (born as an equally subtle W67
Esprit submodel) look much cleaner overall, while also allowing for
the slick paint job to do most of the talking. The rear bumper was
painted blue to match the body, so there's not a lot of chrome on
the car at all, but the bright stuff surrounding the lights, side
windows, door handles, and on the exhaust tips provide just enough
extra flash to the already bright presentation.
Black interior is the perfect complement for a bright car like
this, but this Firebird takes things up a notch with two-tone 3A
Racing bucket seats equipped with racing harnesses up front. The
bright blue and black upholstery on the sculpted buckets complement
the exterior paint scheme nicely, while the black vinyl rear seat,
black door panels, black plush carpets, and taut headliner above
(you guessed it, also black) are stock-spec and in solid shape.
There are some signs of use inside, mostly on the buckets and other
high-traffic area, but the cabin is still a comfortable place to
be. The machine-turned gauge bezel - a Poncho staple - looks
fantastic surrounding the factory gauges and original heater
assembly, and with the addition of a column-mounted tachometer and
trio of auxiliary units inside the center console. That very center
console also houses a Hurst dual-gate shifter that manages the
TH350 3-speed automatic transmission below, matching the sportiness
of the bucket seats. There's a retro-style AM/FM/AUX radio inside
the factory slot, but there's nothing else in this car that would
slow it down or hinder performance in any way. Matching black floor
mats protect the carpets and the surprisingly spacious trunk is
neatly finished with plush carpets and a Firebird mat.
Under that aggressive hood is a strong 400 V8 engine, running great
and dressed for success with plenty of dress-up. The twin snorkels
above feed a Holley open-element air cleaner that sits atop a
Pontiac Turquoise engine block, which decodes to a '75-'76 era
block. It shows little signs of use, no burned engine paint, no
crusty exhaust manifolds, and all the correct finishes are still
bright and clean. Things like the Edelbrock finned valve covers,
chromed alternator, and billet pulleys give the block a very slick
look, while a set of Hooker headers, a Holley 4-barrel carburetor,
MSD ignition, and mild cam inside provide some extra giddy-up. The
TH350 3-speed automatic rocks through the gears without much effort
and the 10-bolt rear end doesn't seem to mind the added power.
Underneath is a custom Magnaflow dual exhaust with an H-pipe set-up
that sounds killer up and down the throttle, just in case you can't
get enough attention with the paint. 17-inch 'Honeycomb' alloy
wheels add a very sporty touch and carry grippy BFGoodrich radials
that set the perfect stance.
Neatly finished and ready for the road today, this dialed-in
Firebird needs only one thing: a new owner. Call today!
