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Is it a trans am or just a formula?

993 views 9 replies 3 participants last post by  Aus78Formula  
#1 ·
I bought a 79 firbird. I'm trying to figure out of its an actual trans am, or a formula. It's been repainted and some decals removed, but I can see they just painted over the decals on the side that said trans am. Also, there's a factory sticker on the windshield that is half peeled off that looks like it says something like T/A. Written i looked up the vin number, it has the U code which i understand to mean it's a formula. I'm attaching pics. Any info is appreciated
 

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#3 ·
I've seen the vin decoders that say the 2U means pontiac firebird formula, but I can't find any info on a formula being done up like a trans am. They all say a trans am would be 2W, or 2X, but I've got a 2U that originally had trans am decals and a T/A sticker on the drivers side of the windshield. And does anybody oboe what that sticker was for our what it would have said? It's partially torn
 
#4 · (Edited)
It's a Formula, and no the TA's didn't start their lives as one. Just another Firebird model option. Think Zump meant Firebird. Often get guys asking if they have a TA or a Firebird. Not unusual to have all the TA panels added, especially when they were far more common at the time than the other models. Likewise, a front end bump that required new panels would be far easier to source TA than original, but not impossible if they wanted to, and often they don't.

Nothing legit about custom Dymo stamped label on glass. Add some more pics if you like, check the cowl for options stamping but won't have many, being a VN build, check the door sticker to see if it still has the VIN readable. Engine and body numbers stamped matched at one time, less telling decades later without access and engine swaps etc. Pic showing front end has no decor trim on fenders and hood may indicate a complete panel swap more than simply trim being removed.

How did you go with the brakes?
 
#8 ·
Don't be put off by it being 'just a Formula' unless it was sold as a TA and you paid more for that fact. Formulas are pretty cool and a slight twist on the theme. I was also looking at TAs and stumbled across a Formula that was far cleaner than any I'd found. For example, in 1979, TAs were the most common model by a long way, more than the other models combined, and Formula being the least common. But any of the performance options that the TA came with, big engines including W72, WS6 suspension and 4 wheel disc brakes, all the gauges and goodies, also came on the Formulas. What you didn't get was the wheel flares or big bird shaker hood, and yours now has those. Rock on.
 
#10 ·
Yep, that's fair enough. But plenty of people have been mislead when they also pass on the same information to the next. They thought they had one thing and the few features were original and never knew better, because it had always been that way to their knowledge, or a previous seller pointed them out specifically as being special or original, from their own being misled. I'd like to think that's the case rather than intentionally misleading for a sale.