The Official H-Body Internet Community

Roger
I've never seen any Sunbird production numbers (other than general production of the various model breakdowns) that can be verified so I have no idea whether or not V8 Sunbirds are rarer than Formulas (I would assume they are since the Formula was availalbe from 77-80 and the V8 in the Sunbird for only 78-79).

I don't understand why the rads ec would be any different from the Sunbird to any of the other H-Bodies, doesn't make much sence to change up something for such a limited number of cars.

So who's buying this gem, anyone emailed him about price etc??

Bryan, here's a pic of the radiator from online a few years back. I've seen alot of Sunbirds and alot of pics of Sunbirds over the years and I've never seen these on anything but v8 Sunbirds. Mines the only one I've seen in person. 92turbogtz has one on his 78 Formula seen in his garage.You can see how its taller and has the inlet coming out the back unlike Monza. You can see this car has one in the video. Also, this car looks to be black originally. The engine compartment looks pretty original and it would be hard to change it out without removing everything from the engine bay. In my first post I said maybe Formula because no window trim black out or decals. could the spoilers been taken from a gold formula and added to this car?

He certainly could have removed spoiler and air dam froma true Formula and put them on the car, sure. By the way, they aren't gold, that is just wear and worn paint onthe front of the air dam. All the eurethane parts get that look from age and wear.

That is a unique fan shroud, never seen it on an H before.

I too was surprised that the window trim wasn't blacked out, but then again, the black Spyders didn't have all black trim, the window trim on them was only partially black and half chrome.

Only way to know if it was a true Formula would be to find the build sheet, and it may still be present in that car.

With the VIN you cand spend $40.00 and send for the build info from Pontiac Historical Services. I have done it on a couple of my Pontiac's Including the Blue POS AstreFormula I bought last year. It gives you all the info on the build sheet, but in a much easier to read format. It will also will tell you the codes and prices on each option and the Blue cars clearly state

W66 Formula Option Group $595.00
W77 Hood Decal $58.00
N41 Variable Ratio Pwr Steering $129.00
NK3 Formula Steering Wheel $39.00
N33 Tilt Steering Wheel $56.00
QRA Rally RTS Suspension $56.55

The Formula Package required the Formula Wheel, the Formula Wheel required the tilt Colume, the tilt colume reqires the Pwr Steering.
So on top of the base price of $2976.27 the original buyer shelled out $3909.82 just fot the Formula package. And the invoice price on that car with all the other optons was actually $4645.98 I can see why in only 6 months of production they didn't sel to many!!!! You could get a V8 Firebird for that price!!!!! And it had some performace to it.

The Sunbirds were alittle more up scale, and you could get a 231 or 305 in them also so I personally could justify it on a Sunbird Formula.

so in all honesty what is that car worth ?

AusRs wrote:so in all honesty what is that car worth ?

I don't know if you've seen my car but there's a couple of pics in my Project forum thread. Not much to look at. Its restorable but needs alot of work. I've often asked myself what I would sell it for if someone were to make a ridiculously high offer. It would probably have to be over $10,000. I know my car isn't worth that if I was trying to sell it but I like it and wouldn't want to part with it. That being said, the only thing really special about it is there is a "U" on the vin number. The same with this car. Its one of 63 1978 notchbacks made with a 305. A weak 140hp 305. Chevy built millions of them. If this car was near show room condition what would it fetch on Ebay? $5000 tops if the seller was lucky? If I was thinking of buying this car I'd offer $500-600. If I really wanted it go as high as $1200.

1200 tops does not in reality make sense for 1 of 63 cars made does it !!!! if it was any other pontiac (say an f body maybe a TTA ) it would comand a MUCH higher price range
sad really as that car will most likely go to someone who will make a drag car out of it

305 V8 was dropped from the Sunbird, mid-'79. Just read that when researching production numbers.

$1200 seems awefully low end for that V8 Sunbird (Formula?). I'd say it should fetch a few grand easy.

HI WINDING MONZA wrote:Yes Ron, those are them! You do have a boatload of them? Doug in Az

I only have 4 (nos in the boxes)

fyrftr50 wrote:305 V8 was dropped from the Sunbird, mid-'79. Just read that when researching production numbers.

$1200 seems awefully low end for that V8 Sunbird (Formula?). I'd say it should fetch a few grand easy.

When I look around at some of the h-bodies out there and what they sell for (your Roadhawk for example) it just doesn't make sense to go overboard on a car like this. On the otherhand I see some guys here with what i would consider rusted out basket cases and they put alot of work into them to get them nice. So here's a rust free california starter.
But let me put it this way. Lets say this car was not an original v8. That someone put a 2 barrel 140hp 305 in it. and it didn't have the spoilers. What would it be worth? So how many thousands are the spoilers worth and that "U" on the vin? Its worth different amounts to different people for different reasons. I hope someone here grabs it up or maybe whoever buys it finds us. If someone paid $3000 or more I wouldn't considerer it too much if its something they want.

For me any factory V8 h-body that runs and drives and is not on the verge of falling apart from rust is worth $2500. I don't know why, just a figure that has stuck in my head.

Admittedly this car if an authentic Formula should be worth more. If in not authentic, it appears to have all of the correct Formula items. In that case i would say it should go for more. If I had the space for it I might go as high as $3500, if it is in the condition described. It does not appear to need too much work to be a really decent car. Nice even.

If it was mine I would change to 5-lug , bigger brakes etc, and 15 in wheels. Then I would get the A/C and the cooling system in good shape and drive it 2 or 3 times a week.

I too hope it goes to an h-body enthusiast and has a long life ahead of it .

greg72 wrote:
I too hope it goes to an h-body enthusiast and has a long life ahead of it .

Me too, think being one of only 63 V8 coupes for that year will have any effect the price?

marco_1978_spyder wrote:

greg72 wrote:
I too hope it goes to an h-body enthusiast and has a long life ahead of it .

Me too, think being one of only 63 V8 coupes for that year will have any effect the price?

How many people on LA craigslist would know that? I wonder if the owner knows that. I found it on a fluke. This was the first time i ever looked at LA craigslist. Think this is fate? Was I meant to own two of them?

In an H-body, the 63 units will have nothing to do with sell price. Noone knows that except us and noone in the car community cares, to be frankly honest. If the seller knows, he might try to reach for some astronomical price like the 63 figure in itself is worth a few grand (I know of anyther V8 Sunbird the guy is asking ludicrous amounts for, thinking he has gold) but may sit on it for a long, long time.