Re: 1973 Pontiac Firebird Formula 455-SD
 

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

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.

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

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.

http://ccco.s3.amazonaws.com/kb_phot...5_low_res.jpeg

Re: 1973 Pontiac Firebird Formula 455-SD
 

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.

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!

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.

Re: 1973 Pontiac Firebird Formula 455-SD
 

Code #LS-2 {SD-455 Engine}

http://www.pontiacstreetperformance....SDengineln.jpg

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

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.