January 2020 COTM **Winner**
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Car: '89 Firebird
Engine: 7.0L
Transmission: T56
January 2020 COTM **Winner**
Congratulations, live4formula, you and your car are TGO's January 2020 Car of the Month!
Everybody has a story, but some stories start back in the day when these cars were new. Such is the case with our winner. A car sold, regret, and the fun of reclaiming the past. All the stuff that good stories are made of! Read on to hear the story of live4formula and his 1989 Firebird Formula.
@live4formula | 1989 Formula
Friends yesterday, today, and tomorrow
Everybody has a story, but some stories start back in the day when these cars were new. Such is the case with our winner. A car sold, regret, and the fun of reclaiming the past. All the stuff that good stories are made of! Read on to hear the story of live4formula and his 1989 Firebird Formula.
@live4formula | 1989 Formula
My story starts on September 12 1988. I went to Rogers Pontiac in Dayton Ohio to reward myself for my hard work. I ordered a 1989 Formula with the 5.0L TPI, 5 speed manual transmission, T-tops in bright red with grey interior. I kept it under a cover in the garage and only drove it on sunny days. After 5 years, like many stories, life happened. I got married and bought a house. My wife said I had too many toys and something needed to go, so I sold the Formula. Yes, I cried as I watched it drive away. I knew i made a mistake, but it was too late.
After a few years I started watching the used car papers and eventually used car web sites, but never saw another Red Formula with the 5.0L TPI 5 speed combo until April 9 2014. I saw one for sale in Canton Ohio. The only thing missing was the T-tops. I drove there the next day, wrote a check and drove it home. It was a very clean rust free car with a lot of paint chips, scratches and bad repaint of the top half of the drivers doors. There was enough bad paint to warrant a new paint job, so I went for it. Thanks to Fisher's Body Shop in Springfield, I get a lot of compliments on the new paint.
The shifter had been replaced with a Hurst shifter, which I have kept in the car. I removed window tint, red interior bulbs (why would anyone do that?) and an aftermarket stereo system. I have replace the tires, shocks, fuel injectors, carpet, and headliner, but the rest of the car is original with 61,000 miles.
I have registered it at the Trans Am Nationals the last 5 years and took second place in my class in 2016.
A friend of mine from high school had a 1985 Trans Am when I bought my first Formula in 1989. We posed for a picture in front of his dads house in 1989. Notice the 80's sweaters and sunglasses. We have remained friends and actually live about 2 miles apart 30 years later. Last summer we met at a local cruise in for a re-shoot. He still has the same Trans Am and I now have a new Formula (without T-tops).
It has been a blast reliving my past with this car. If you have ever driven one of these cars, you know what i'm talking about. I am still looking for a T-top version and a convertible version to add to my collection. Let me know if you see one out there.
After a few years I started watching the used car papers and eventually used car web sites, but never saw another Red Formula with the 5.0L TPI 5 speed combo until April 9 2014. I saw one for sale in Canton Ohio. The only thing missing was the T-tops. I drove there the next day, wrote a check and drove it home. It was a very clean rust free car with a lot of paint chips, scratches and bad repaint of the top half of the drivers doors. There was enough bad paint to warrant a new paint job, so I went for it. Thanks to Fisher's Body Shop in Springfield, I get a lot of compliments on the new paint.
The shifter had been replaced with a Hurst shifter, which I have kept in the car. I removed window tint, red interior bulbs (why would anyone do that?) and an aftermarket stereo system. I have replace the tires, shocks, fuel injectors, carpet, and headliner, but the rest of the car is original with 61,000 miles.
I have registered it at the Trans Am Nationals the last 5 years and took second place in my class in 2016.
A friend of mine from high school had a 1985 Trans Am when I bought my first Formula in 1989. We posed for a picture in front of his dads house in 1989. Notice the 80's sweaters and sunglasses. We have remained friends and actually live about 2 miles apart 30 years later. Last summer we met at a local cruise in for a re-shoot. He still has the same Trans Am and I now have a new Formula (without T-tops).
It has been a blast reliving my past with this car. If you have ever driven one of these cars, you know what i'm talking about. I am still looking for a T-top version and a convertible version to add to my collection. Let me know if you see one out there.
Friends yesterday, today, and tomorrow
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#2
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Re: January 2020 COTM **Winner**
Thank you all for this honor. What an awesome Christmas present. There are a lot of beautiful cars and touching stories in this forum. To be nominated and chosen is quite a thrill. Merry Christmas to all !!
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Carlos89 (12-26-2019), WildCard600 (12-25-2019)
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Car: 1986 Camaro Drag Car
Engine: 383 on Ethanol
Transmission: Automatic
Axle/Gears: 3.90 Currie 9 inch
Re: January 2020 COTM **Winner**
Congratulations on the win! You have a great car, man!
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live4formula (12-26-2019)
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Car: 1989-92 FORMULA350 305 92 Hawkclone
Engine: 4++,350 & 305 CIs
Transmission: 700R4 4800 vig 18th700R4 t56 ZF6 T5
Axle/Gears: 3.70 9"ford alum chunk,dana44,9bolt
Re: January 2020 COTM **Winner**
Congrats !!! Saw the car at the Nats this year, very clean
Last edited by TTOP350; 12-26-2019 at 09:54 AM.
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live4formula (12-26-2019)
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Car: 1991 Z28
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3:42 Auburn
Re: January 2020 COTM **Winner**
Congratulations sir! Your car is awesome with an great story to boot. Your Formula has always caught my eye, I am a sucker for red!.
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Car: 1986 Camaro Drag Car
Engine: 383 on Ethanol
Transmission: Automatic
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Re: January 2020 COTM **Winner**
Thank you for the compliment! The Trans Am will only go to local shows around home. My daughter that drives it just got her license about 6 months ago, so I don't let it get too far from home lol
She has a 2013 Impala for a daily driver, so the TA doesn't get many miles put on it
Last edited by dagwood; 12-27-2019 at 12:55 PM.
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live4formula (12-31-2019)
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Re: January 2020 COTM **Winner**
Congrats!! I have a very similar story... In late 1992 I purchased a 1990 base Firebird with a 5L, 5 speed, and T-Tops while in the Navy.
Being a irresponsibility kid, it was repossessed around 1995. I wanted to find a 1990 Formula 5L, T-Tops and a 5 speed. I literally just gave up this year and was going to buy a 1990 Corvette, and I found the 1990 Formula LB9, 5 speed T-Top car I was looking for!!
You are correct, such a fun car!! Congratulations again!!
Being a irresponsibility kid, it was repossessed around 1995. I wanted to find a 1990 Formula 5L, T-Tops and a 5 speed. I literally just gave up this year and was going to buy a 1990 Corvette, and I found the 1990 Formula LB9, 5 speed T-Top car I was looking for!!
You are correct, such a fun car!! Congratulations again!!
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live4formula (12-31-2019)
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Re: January 2020 COTM **Winner**
Congrats!! I have a very similar story... In late 1992 I purchased a 1990 base Firebird with a 5L, 5 speed, and T-Tops while in the Navy.
Being a irresponsibility kid, it was repossessed around 1995. I wanted to find a 1990 Formula 5L, T-Tops and a 5 speed. I literally just gave up this year and was going to buy a 1990 Corvette, and I found the 1990 Formula LB9, 5 speed T-Top car I was looking for!!
You are correct, such a fun car!! Congratulations again!!
Being a irresponsibility kid, it was repossessed around 1995. I wanted to find a 1990 Formula 5L, T-Tops and a 5 speed. I literally just gave up this year and was going to buy a 1990 Corvette, and I found the 1990 Formula LB9, 5 speed T-Top car I was looking for!!
You are correct, such a fun car!! Congratulations again!!
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live4formula (01-06-2020)
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