Another 1978 Sunbird V8 still alive

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Postby fyrftr50 » Thu Sep 27, 2007 6:34 pm

Where did you find that production figure anyways?
Bryan
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Postby marco_1978_spyder » Thu Sep 27, 2007 7:37 pm

My sunbird told me.



Ok, well, not really...

Here's where:

"Thunder Am" magazine Vol.1 No. 6 October 1980 Pg. 32
2nd Paragraph.


I'd be interested in scanning this in, if anyone wants a fun little read.

but if no-one cares, I wont hassle.
1978 Monza Spyder V8 4speed, posi
1978 Sunbird Formula V6, 5 Speed, Hatchback
1980 Sunbird Hatchback 4cyl, 4spd.
2006 Chevrolet Aveo 5 speed Hatchback
Yes, you can refer to me as Mark
Please visit my blog... http://chevymonza.blogspot.com/ Follow if you like!
Featuring special guests; Carl Beraytor and Ray D'atore

My Red spyder now has a youtube channel please Like and Subscribe!!!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOzzSR ... ISuing7KLA
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Postby SunbirdMan » Thu Sep 27, 2007 7:58 pm

Quit teasing me and scan it! I remember this coming up a few years back and Ken Mahoy said he had an article saying that of the 63, only two had vista vents (one of them is mine). he said he would dig it out and scan it sometime when he got the chance.

By the way, last winter I won an Ebay auction for a 8mm dealer film cassette titled 1978 Sunbird. I still haven't viewed it but I plan to have it transfered to dvd soon. I'll burn you a copy when I do. How's that for a tease?
Last edited by SunbirdMan on Thu Sep 27, 2007 8:01 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Postby marco_1978_spyder » Thu Sep 27, 2007 8:01 pm

Ugg, ok...

But first, this is some of the very first info I ever had about h bodies. I got this magazine collection when I was about 14. Years old.

ok here goes
1978 Monza Spyder V8 4speed, posi
1978 Sunbird Formula V6, 5 Speed, Hatchback
1980 Sunbird Hatchback 4cyl, 4spd.
2006 Chevrolet Aveo 5 speed Hatchback
Yes, you can refer to me as Mark
Please visit my blog... http://chevymonza.blogspot.com/ Follow if you like!
Featuring special guests; Carl Beraytor and Ray D'atore

My Red spyder now has a youtube channel please Like and Subscribe!!!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOzzSR ... ISuing7KLA
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Postby marco_1978_spyder » Thu Sep 27, 2007 8:02 pm

Image
1978 Monza Spyder V8 4speed, posi
1978 Sunbird Formula V6, 5 Speed, Hatchback
1980 Sunbird Hatchback 4cyl, 4spd.
2006 Chevrolet Aveo 5 speed Hatchback
Yes, you can refer to me as Mark
Please visit my blog... http://chevymonza.blogspot.com/ Follow if you like!
Featuring special guests; Carl Beraytor and Ray D'atore

My Red spyder now has a youtube channel please Like and Subscribe!!!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOzzSR ... ISuing7KLA
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Postby marco_1978_spyder » Thu Sep 27, 2007 8:02 pm

Image
1978 Monza Spyder V8 4speed, posi
1978 Sunbird Formula V6, 5 Speed, Hatchback
1980 Sunbird Hatchback 4cyl, 4spd.
2006 Chevrolet Aveo 5 speed Hatchback
Yes, you can refer to me as Mark
Please visit my blog... http://chevymonza.blogspot.com/ Follow if you like!
Featuring special guests; Carl Beraytor and Ray D'atore

My Red spyder now has a youtube channel please Like and Subscribe!!!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOzzSR ... ISuing7KLA
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Postby marco_1978_spyder » Thu Sep 27, 2007 8:06 pm

Image
1978 Monza Spyder V8 4speed, posi
1978 Sunbird Formula V6, 5 Speed, Hatchback
1980 Sunbird Hatchback 4cyl, 4spd.
2006 Chevrolet Aveo 5 speed Hatchback
Yes, you can refer to me as Mark
Please visit my blog... http://chevymonza.blogspot.com/ Follow if you like!
Featuring special guests; Carl Beraytor and Ray D'atore

My Red spyder now has a youtube channel please Like and Subscribe!!!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOzzSR ... ISuing7KLA
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Postby marco_1978_spyder » Thu Sep 27, 2007 8:07 pm

Enjoy!
Brought to you courtesy of Marco's Monza World.
1978 Monza Spyder V8 4speed, posi
1978 Sunbird Formula V6, 5 Speed, Hatchback
1980 Sunbird Hatchback 4cyl, 4spd.
2006 Chevrolet Aveo 5 speed Hatchback
Yes, you can refer to me as Mark
Please visit my blog... http://chevymonza.blogspot.com/ Follow if you like!
Featuring special guests; Carl Beraytor and Ray D'atore

My Red spyder now has a youtube channel please Like and Subscribe!!!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOzzSR ... ISuing7KLA
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Postby SunbirdMan » Thu Sep 27, 2007 8:14 pm

Thanks Marco. Now I have to get a factory trailer hitch.


Edit: Wait a minute. Is this saying there were 129 V8 Sunbirds? Or 129 V8 Sunbirds with a four speed?
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Postby marco_1978_spyder » Thu Sep 27, 2007 8:22 pm

No total.

the preceding sentence just says v8 sunbird.

Also, the 4speed was the standard setup. so if that was never officially announced by the factory, the optional automatic certainly wasnt available for the v8.

At least thats how I interpret the article.
1978 Monza Spyder V8 4speed, posi
1978 Sunbird Formula V6, 5 Speed, Hatchback
1980 Sunbird Hatchback 4cyl, 4spd.
2006 Chevrolet Aveo 5 speed Hatchback
Yes, you can refer to me as Mark
Please visit my blog... http://chevymonza.blogspot.com/ Follow if you like!
Featuring special guests; Carl Beraytor and Ray D'atore

My Red spyder now has a youtube channel please Like and Subscribe!!!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOzzSR ... ISuing7KLA
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Postby SunbirdMan » Thu Sep 27, 2007 8:29 pm

But mines an auto and so is the one for sale on craigslist.
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Postby fyrftr50 » Thu Sep 27, 2007 9:24 pm

Hmmm, that does leave the door open to interpretation, meaning 129 units or, like Roager suggested, V8s with 4-speeds. Wasn't the TH350 the standard equipment for the V8 for the most part on these cars (all 2nd Gens I mean)?
Nice article Marco, Thanks!
Bryan
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22 Mazda3 GS
20 Kioti CK2610HST
12 Dodge Ram 1500 SLT
80 Chevy Monza Spyder

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Postby marco_1978_spyder » Thu Sep 27, 2007 9:37 pm

Thanks Bry. I'm pretty sure the 4 speed manual was the base tranny and you had to upgrade to the optional Automatic, or 5 speed (when available)

Truth be told, the article does seem to 'guide' truths in alot of sentences.

I think they have it wrong in making it seem like the order codes were 'never' anounced ...I think for 78 it wasnt announced but for 79 it was a regular rpo for a while, as the 500 orders piled up.

But, since this is an automatic, that blows this theory.

So......... maybe its time I let go of the idea of a super rare sunbird!
It cant be proven, that there werent thousands more actually made.

And even if they only made 2 'not many people place any importance on that anyhow.

It works great for me, because now I don't feel so bad that MY 78 Formula wasn't a V8!

And that I 'only' made it a V6.
Last edited by marco_1978_spyder on Fri Sep 28, 2007 5:45 am, edited 1 time in total.
1978 Monza Spyder V8 4speed, posi
1978 Sunbird Formula V6, 5 Speed, Hatchback
1980 Sunbird Hatchback 4cyl, 4spd.
2006 Chevrolet Aveo 5 speed Hatchback
Yes, you can refer to me as Mark
Please visit my blog... http://chevymonza.blogspot.com/ Follow if you like!
Featuring special guests; Carl Beraytor and Ray D'atore

My Red spyder now has a youtube channel please Like and Subscribe!!!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOzzSR ... ISuing7KLA
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Postby SunbirdMan » Fri Sep 28, 2007 12:43 am

As I mentioned before, Ken Mahoy said he had a magazine that talked about this. I wonder if it words things more clearly. I remember he said the article had a picture of a yellow Sunbird with a vista vent. personally, I'd be a little relieved to find out they made hundreds of them just so I wouldn't feel like I'm ruining a piece of history by not doing a factory original purist restoration on mine.
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Postby cammerjeff » Fri Sep 28, 2007 7:34 am

Marco,

Thanks for sharing that artical!!!! The old Thunder Am Mag brings back Memories!!!!! I used to date a Girl back in the early 80's that had a very base model V-8 Sunbird HB, 4-speed & pwr Steering & brakes. I was driving a 79 Firebird Formula 301, 4-speed, 2.41 posi.
Slowest Pontiac I ever owned but it was my daily driver and I liked 23+ MPG at the time. I never should have tought her how to power shift Her Sunbird!!!!! Then she used to beat up on my Firebird and brag to everybody we knew!!!!!

I hope somebody rescues that Formula Coupe, $2500 doesn'tsound to unreasonable to me for a rust free car with all the formula parts intact, just try and find the correct horn button with the arrow head for that car!!!!!

Also I checked on shipping My Astre from Cal. to Mich. Looks like about $1000.00 including $150.00 charge because it does not run. But at leat most shipping companies would know what a Sunbird is, When I filled out the online aplication forms for the quotes, most came back with something like "the quote for shipping your 1997 Pontiac Aztech is..."
Jeff R

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77 Astre Formula, some day soon powered by a 215 Buick V-8
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