West Coast Classics are proud to present a beautiful example of this mildly and tastefully customized original 1970 Pontiac Firebird Formula 400 (2687 code) 2 door Hardtop coupe with the original 400 CID engine having been replaced with a built and date correct 455 V8 (YC code) engine matched to it's Muncie 4 speed manual transmission with a Hurst shifter and a 12 Bolt Posi-traction limited slip differential rear end and which boasts it's original 'Atoll Blue' factory color and 'Black' interior and this Formula is fitted with it's rare original hood with the hood scoops and the original 'Black color' Morrokide interior with custom Rally gauges. PHS Docs are available. Ready to show or cruise.
Original factory added options included:
4 spd Transmission ($195) with Console ($58)
Power Steering ($105)
Power Brakes ($42)
Rally Wheels ($84)
Safe-T-Track (Limited Slip Rear End) ($42)
Molding Decor ($47)
Custom Belts ($12)
Custom Trim ($78)
Radio ($61)
Gauge Tac & Cluster ($94)
Tinted Glass ($26)
The Pontiac Formula 400 2 Door Coupe was a low production Firebird with only 7,708 built in 1970 and only 2,777 factory 4 spd manuals, and which came as standard with a heavy duty suspension and with this particular example boasting Pontiac Rally II wheels, power steering, power brakes, electronic ignition, a GT wood steering wheel, limited slip rear end, front & rear bucket seats with a center console and 4 spd Hurst floor shifter. Of the 7,708 Formula 400s produced in 1970, only 2,777 were equipped with manual transmissions. Exactly 4,931 were fitted with the M40 automatic transmission. Very few were also factory fitted with the Safe-T-Track (Pontiac name for the same limited slip differential as the Chevrolet Positraction) differential.
The 1970 Pontiac line up was composed of the base Firebird with 250 cid six, the mid range, 350 cid Espirit, the 400 cid Formula 400, and the 400 cid Ram Air Trans Am. Of the four, perhaps the most intriguing was the Formula 400. While the Trans Am was loaded with visuals like a shaker hood, fender mounted air extractors, wild front air spoiler, rear wheel opening air spoilers, and wide center stripe, the Formula had none of these. For those who preferred to have a muscular pony car sans the exterior adornments, the Formula 400 was just the ticket. Outside, the only difference between the mild mannered Espirit and the Formula was a special fiberglass hood that sported a pair of front reaching hood scoops (first considered for the Trans Am), sport style dual outside mirrors, and a pair of Formula 400 scripts below the Firebird nameplate on the fenders. The Formula received a firmer suspension with 300-pounds/inch deflection in the front springs and 103 pounds/inch in the rear. The front stabilizer measured 1.125 inches in the front and the rear bar was .620 inches with firm control shocks mounted at all four corners. Front disc brakes were standard with rear drums.
This extraordinarily handsome new body was rooted in GM styling chief Bill Mitchells infatuation with Italian sports car design. GM chose heavily from the rounded shapes of Ferrari and Maserati, and it showed in the smooth flow of fender lines, the curved window glass and raked windshield. One remarkable difference from previous GM designs was the lack of a quarter window. Instead, the doors were lengthened to take up a larger portion of the quarter. The massive doors were heavy, however the side appearance was cleaner and far sportier. A lift bar door handle added to the smooth side look. Chrome was distinctively absent. The Native American-inspired Firebird emblem was originally on the decklid and the nose of all but base model cars.
Up front, the twin nostril grille and single headlamps provided a clean appearance, thanks to the use of Endura to create a bumper-less front end with a valance that cleanly rolled beneath the grille with large cross hair parking lamps mounted in the lower corners of the valance. At the rear, the smooth tumble home enhanced the Firebirds fuselage shape. The tail was flat and filled with twin tail lamps that met the quarter panels round rear profile. A recessed tag housing, thin blade chrome rear bumper, and rounded lower valance completed the rear ends clean look.
This 1970 Pontiac Formula 400 has been tastefully customized and upgraded and is a unique and seriously striking custom but which is still immediately recognizable as the iconic '70 Pontiac Firebird Formula 400 that she is and turns heads wherever she goes!
