My 1988 Pontiac Firebird.

1988 Pontiac Firebird.

…because I am constantly asked “what kind of car do you have?”

Now I have a 1988 Pontiac Formula Firebird. Until recently, I also owned a 1961 Pontiac Laurentian and a 1964 Pontiac Parisienne. Now they have passed on to other owners who will enjoy the thrill of bargaining on the suburban streets in these two by six meter land yachts with drum brakes.

The Formula Firebird was a cheap version of the Trans Am, and I can tell you the emphasis was on the cheap, not the Trans. It's a poor car in every way: manual power windows, manual seat adjustment, a simple AM/FM radio/cassette, and a base 5.0-liter V8 with "injection" throttle (a clever name for what is actually a carburetor). ).

The engine puts out a measly 127kW, and despite the lack of horsepower, fuel consumption is epic. On a good day, I get 15 liters per 100 km on premium unleaded gasoline. So why the Firebird? It's all about style!

Sleek, low-slung, classic "pony car" with ultra-long hood and short rear end. It makes for awesome looks. The car rises just 1.2 meters above the ground and the windshield is tilted at an aggressive 62 degrees.

You don't open the door and get in the Firebird. Instead, you sink into a velor seat. This is a practiced art. The rear "seat" consists of two small pillows with a transmission tunnel that serves as an armrest. I said this car is low!

He is 24 years old and has a mileage of 160,000 km and requires attention from time to time. There's no rust, and the lack of power accessories cuts down on potential electrical and mechanical issues, but it's the little things like switches and interior trim that are hard to replace.

I service it every three to four months, if only as insurance against serious mechanical failure.

I drive like this almost every day. He goes out in the rain and into supermarket parking lots. GM has made almost a million Firebird/Comaros in 10 years, so there is no problem with spare parts.

What is it worth? Not much really, but who cares? It is bright red and very cheerful. And those awesome looks!

David Burrell, editor of www.retroautos.com.au