1973 Pontiac Firebird Formula 455-SD - Page 2

Dan Fahey · 08-11-2013, 11:03 PM

I still have that magazine.
In fact most back to 1968

Dan Lattimore · 08-11-2013, 11:24 PM

Freddy Moore ordered a new Formula 455 SD thru Bendall Pontiac Alexandria, Va. in 1973 . I went with him to pick it up and he let me drive it home which kinda surprised me. If it had been me I would have wanted to be the first one in it. It was plain Jane white with black interrior and (4 speed). Little did we know at the time it would be only one of ten. Well it went thru all the changes most purpose built race cars go through. Starting with headers,slapper bars and slicks and ending up tubbed and converted to Trans Am skin for class advantage. There's a lot more to the story but bottom line it was sold off and God knows where it is today or if it still exists. I have a feeling it's a bracket car somewhere with a rat motor in it and the guy has no clue what it really is.

Geerhead55 · 08-11-2013, 11:41 PM

Dan Fahey,, I have the complete SS&DI collection, as I'm sure many others on here do.
I'm also pretty sure many of us have extra copies that could fill in the holes in your collection, if you're wanting to do that,, heck, I've got 4 copies of the #1 Nov.'64 issue alone. Think about it, as your Classracer family can help you fill those boxes,,, and of course there are the swap meets and Ebay. My collection lingered up in the attic for about 30 years when I went and brought it out to look at, and realized I was only 28 issues away from having them all, as I bought occasionally off the magazine stands in the '60s and started my subscription in '74 until the end of the mag in May of '99. It took about a year and a half to pull it off, so it can be done. They're all nicely bagged and boxed nowadays.
Sorry for the momentary hijack, fellas,, I love the SD Firebirds too,, in fact the car in the photos does resemble Stock Eliminator champion Brad Burton's red Firebird, but I believe he runs a 400 combo.
Danny Durham

Paul Ceasrine · 08-12-2013, 12:01 AM

1973 Firebird Specification Sheet

I know my sisters Formula SD-455 was listed at #3470 lbs. or so
for Shipping Weight, and with the NHRA HP 'factor' of 345 HP
it just fit into E/SA.

bigsixman · 08-12-2013, 01:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Ceasrine

Mr. Finespline,

Thanks for adding.

In 1973, you could get the Firebird as a

* Formula 455
* Formula 455 'Ram Air'
* Formula SD-455
* Trans Am

The 'Formula 455' had the fiberglass hood with the 'twin-scoops'.

The 'Ram Air' option had lettering on the side of each scoop.

But, the ultra-rare 'Formula SD-455' had the Trans Am style hood with reverse scoop,
with 'SD-455' lettered on the scoop.

My sister's car {she was only 17 at the time} was the Formula SD-455.

The car came through 'option ordered'
* Automatic Transmission
* Rear Spoiler
* Honeycomb Rally Wheels 'Gun-Metal Color' {15" x 7"}
* 'RTS" Radial Tuned Suspension {GR70 x 15" Tires}
* Power Windows
* Air Conditioning
* Power Steering
* Handling Package
* Power Front Disc-Brakes
* Special Order 3.73 Gears

It looked like this Model,

Paul: Are you sure of the car having 3.73 gears with the AC? It is my thought that 3.42 was the only gear available that year with the AC. Please correct me if I am wrong. Thank you.

Jeff Lee · 08-12-2013, 01:56 AM

Don Kennedy, Mesa, AZ., raced a SD-455 in his SS/GT Gen III Firebird for years. Tremendous torque monster! In the end he raced it with the "new" Pontiac 428 which is even faster yet. I believe Don once owned a SD-455.

An old friend I haven't seen in 10+ years has a '74 Formula SD-455. It has to be one of the butt-ugliest ones built. It's a root beer brown light metallic color with a half vinyl top (the rear section). I can't remember if it was brown or black, I'm thinking brown. It was a loaded cruiser with auto trans, 3.08 gears, power everything. I can't recall the exact mileage on it but it was really low, well under 20K. In fact, I never saw Dave drive the car. I think he took it out maybe 1x per year.

Always wanted a '73 SD-455. Brewster Green looks pretty good on those!

Paul Ceasrine · 08-12-2013, 08:06 AM

Jeff Lee,

You are correct.

The 1973 Formula SD-455, came though with 'Standard' 3.08 Gears
if the car was equipped with Air Conditioning.

You could order the Code #G92 'Performance Axle' {3.42 Gears} as an
option on the A/C equipped Formula SD-455.

Just how my sister's car got the Code #CG {3.73 Gears} was baffling,
because it was not on the Pontiac 'available option list'.

Not that it was a big deal at the time, as we never dug into the
"Who and How' it got that set of 3.73 Gears.

Later we were told that Lockwood Motors Pontiac, who were also
Pontiac Racers, performed a Dealer Installed 'option'.

Maybe the 3.73 Gears were placed 'in the trunk' from the Factory.

Though I'm a Mopar Guy, that Formula SD-455 was a sharp looking car,
and easy to drive.

Tuned up, and with the A/C and P/S belts removed, I'm positive
that car with 3.73 Gears could run 'Nuts On' 13.00's.

Paul Ceasrine · 08-12-2013, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Ceasrine

Jeff Lee,

You are correct.

The 1973 Formula SD-455, came though with 'Standard' 3.08 Gears
if the car was equipped with Air Conditioning.

You could order the Code #G92 'Performance Axle' {3.42 Gears} as an
option on the A/C equipped Formula SD-455.

Just how my sister's car got the Code #CG {3.73 Gears} was baffling,
because it was not on the Pontiac 'available option list'.

Not that it was a big deal at the time, as we never dug into the
"Who and How' it got that set of 3.73 Gears.

Later we were told that Lockwood Motors Pontiac, who were also
Pontiac Racers, had the car 'special ordered'.

Maybe the 3.73 Gears were placed 'in the trunk' and installed at
the Dealership.

Though I'm a Mopar Guy, that Formula SD-455 was a sharp looking car,
and easy to drive.

Tuned up, and with the A/C and P/S belts removed, I'm positive
that car with 3.73 Gears could run 'Nuts On' 13.00's.

Code #LS-2 {SD-455 Engine}

treessavoy · 08-12-2013, 05:25 PM

I'm a strong Mopar guy but the prettiest car I've ever seen was a Brewster green '73 Trans Am SD 455 with saddle interior; $4,500.00 on a used car lot in Nashville.

Little known fact: in early brochures the 455SD was going to be available in the Tempest Body, later it was dropped.

JimR

ss3011 · 08-12-2013, 05:37 PM

I think the 70 - 73 Firebird models were one of the cleanest designs GM or Pontiac ever made. I have raced my 1973 Formula since I bought it in 1982. Running a 455 Super Duty engine is a tough deal because of the parts availability and cost. It is still a cool combination. Just ran it at the IHRA Pro-Am at Martin , Michigan this weekend.

08-11-2013, 11:03 PM	#11
Dan Fahey VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 2,114 Likes: 1,078 Liked 180 Times in 110 Posts	Re: 1973 Pontiac Firebird Formula 455-SD I still have that magazine. In fact most back to 1968

08-11-2013, 11:24 PM	#12
Dan Lattimore Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Beaverdam, Va./ Port St. Lucie,Fla. Posts: 362 Likes: 177 Liked 158 Times in 38 Posts	Re: 1973 Pontiac Firebird Formula 455-SD Freddy Moore ordered a new Formula 455 SD thru Bendall Pontiac Alexandria, Va. in 1973 . I went with him to pick it up and he let me drive it home which kinda surprised me. If it had been me I would have wanted to be the first one in it. It was plain Jane white with black interrior and (4 speed). Little did we know at the time it would be only one of ten. Well it went thru all the changes most purpose built race cars go through. Starting with headers,slapper bars and slicks and ending up tubbed and converted to Trans Am skin for class advantage. There's a lot more to the story but bottom line it was sold off and God knows where it is today or if it still exists. I have a feeling it's a bracket car somewhere with a rat motor in it and the guy has no clue what it really is. __________________ 66W30POST

08-11-2013, 11:41 PM	#13
Geerhead55 VIP Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Tacoma, Washington Posts: 1,632 Likes: 0 Liked 5 Times in 5 Posts	Re: 1973 Pontiac Firebird Formula 455-SD Dan Fahey,, I have the complete SS&DI collection, as I'm sure many others on here do. I'm also pretty sure many of us have extra copies that could fill in the holes in your collection, if you're wanting to do that,, heck, I've got 4 copies of the #1 Nov.'64 issue alone. Think about it, as your Classracer family can help you fill those boxes,,, and of course there are the swap meets and Ebay. My collection lingered up in the attic for about 30 years when I went and brought it out to look at, and realized I was only 28 issues away from having them all, as I bought occasionally off the magazine stands in the '60s and started my subscription in '74 until the end of the mag in May of '99. It took about a year and a half to pull it off, so it can be done. They're all nicely bagged and boxed nowadays. Sorry for the momentary hijack, fellas,, I love the SD Firebirds too,, in fact the car in the photos does resemble Stock Eliminator champion Brad Burton's red Firebird, but I believe he runs a 400 combo. Danny Durham

08-12-2013, 12:01 AM	#14
Paul Ceasrine VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2,546 Likes: 0 Liked 10 Times in 10 Posts	Re: 1973 Pontiac Firebird Formula 455-SD *1973 Firebird Specification Sheet* I know my sisters Formula SD-455 was listed at #3470 lbs. or so for Shipping Weight, and with the NHRA HP 'factor' of 345 HP it just fit into E/SA. Last edited by Paul Ceasrine; 08-12-2013 at 12:06 AM.

08-12-2013, 01:56 AM	#16
Jeff Lee VIP Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Anthem, Arizona Posts: 2,766 Likes: 0 Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: 1973 Pontiac Firebird Formula 455-SD Don Kennedy, Mesa, AZ., raced a SD-455 in his SS/GT Gen III Firebird for years. Tremendous torque monster! In the end he raced it with the "new" Pontiac 428 which is even faster yet. I believe Don once owned a SD-455. An old friend I haven't seen in 10+ years has a '74 Formula SD-455. It has to be one of the butt-ugliest ones built. It's a root beer brown light metallic color with a half vinyl top (the rear section). I can't remember if it was brown or black, I'm thinking brown. It was a loaded cruiser with auto trans, 3.08 gears, power everything. I can't recall the exact mileage on it but it was really low, well under 20K. In fact, I never saw Dave drive the car. I think he took it out maybe 1x per year. Always wanted a '73 SD-455. Brewster Green looks pretty good on those! __________________ Jeff Lee 7494 D/S '70 AMX

08-12-2013, 08:06 AM	#17
Paul Ceasrine VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2,546 Likes: 0 Liked 10 Times in 10 Posts	Re: 1973 Pontiac Firebird Formula 455-SD Jeff Lee, You are correct. The 1973 Formula SD-455, came though with 'Standard' 3.08 Gears if the car was equipped with Air Conditioning. You could order the Code #G92 'Performance Axle' {3.42 Gears} as an option on the A/C equipped Formula SD-455. Just how my sister's car got the Code #CG {3.73 Gears} was baffling, because it was not on the Pontiac 'available option list'. Not that it was a big deal at the time, as we never dug into the "Who and How' it got that set of 3.73 Gears. Later we were told that Lockwood Motors Pontiac, who were also Pontiac Racers, performed a Dealer Installed 'option'. Maybe the 3.73 Gears were placed 'in the trunk' from the Factory. Though I'm a Mopar Guy, that Formula SD-455 was a sharp looking car, and easy to drive. Tuned up, and with the A/C and P/S belts removed, I'm positive that car with 3.73 Gears could run 'Nuts On' 13.00's. Last edited by Paul Ceasrine; 08-13-2013 at 09:05 AM.

08-12-2013, 05:25 PM	#19
treessavoy VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Dunnellon,FL Posts: 1,103 Likes: 0 Liked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Re: 1973 Pontiac Firebird Formula 455-SD I'm a strong Mopar guy but the prettiest car I've ever seen was a Brewster green '73 Trans Am SD 455 with saddle interior; $4,500.00 on a used car lot in Nashville. Little known fact: in early brochures the 455SD was going to be available in the Tempest Body, later it was dropped. JimR __________________ Jim Rountree

08-12-2013, 05:37 PM	#20
ss3011 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Southeast Michigan Posts: 885 Likes: 63 Liked 221 Times in 102 Posts	Re: 1973 Pontiac Firebird Formula 455-SD I think the 70 - 73 Firebird models were one of the cleanest designs GM or Pontiac ever made. I have raced my 1973 Formula since I bought it in 1982. Running a 455 Super Duty engine is a tough deal because of the parts availability and cost. It is still a cool combination. Just ran it at the IHRA Pro-Am at Martin , Michigan this weekend. Attached Thumbnails