1977 Pontiac Astre Wagon Formula?

[junkiejoe]

http://www.imagebucket.net/bucket/is.ph ... ra_002.JPG


Sorry about multiple posts but here are pics I have.
Please let me know what questions need answered

Thanks

[fyrftr50]

From the trim tag, if this was a factory Formula, there would be a "66" in the middle of the 4th line down. It isn't there so this is your basic Astre Wagon with a lot of options.

[stage169]

Jeff shared years ago. FB helps go over old topics and sometimes new finds!

[fyrftr50]

Facebook certainly has opened a number of doors and located tonnes of new cars to ogle. Is this the one that was thought to be Formula but the 66 wasn't present on the trim tag?

[stage169]

All I remember is keeping the picture. Is that info here?

[fyrftr50]

There is a trim tag posted on the 1st page of this thread but I just looked at it again and it's blue, so doubt it is the same car. So maybe there is a true Formula Wagon out there, that would be cool to find one that came off the line before cancellation of it.

[stage169]

This is not the blue one from junkiejoe on the first page. His air cleaner pic is interesting. This is the pic Jeff mentions on the first page. Formula on front and back maybe?

[fyrftr50]

Certainly looks legit and appropriate.

[cammerjeff]

The only info I have was speaking to the original owner of the Black car I sent the pictures of (posted here) He stated when he went to his local Pontiac Dealer there were 2 Formula Wagons on the lot, the Black one that he bought was a 2.5 Auto car, and a Red one that was a 2.5 4-speed manual car. He wanted to get the Red car, but his wife could not drive a manual trans so they bought the automatic car. He said they drove it for many years, they sold it in the mid 1980's, Never to be seen again.

Sorry that is the only info I have on a Formula Wagon. With only 14 made it does not suprize me non have surfaced. But you never know. Unfortunatly a Formula wagon once repainted would be very difficult to ID visually without looking at the Trim Tag. Originally it would have a Formula Steering Wheel, Tilt Column, Pwr Steering, and may have blacked out side window trim & charcoal side sport mirrors. I say that because those features seem to be hit or miss, my Formula HB had the side window bright work installed, and body colored sport mirrors. Also the car would have Rally or Snowflake wheels installed. And a rear window air deflector in place of the HB's 3 piece spoiler.

Also it is possible not to have the Formula steering wheel installed, my car and 1 other have been documented as having the optional comfort cushion 3 spoke steering whell specified by the original owner, so they actually paid around $10 extra to not have the formula wheel installed.

[stage169]

Jeff, just sent you a PM before seeing you posted here. I was thinking around 350 Formula wagons were made with the report total of 1554 combined hatchback and safari's made with the W66 Formula option. Obviously that is going by the hatchback formula production total of 1200 you have.

Anybody know if a Product Description Manual exist for the 77 Astre?

[flyingdragracer]

Hello I have acquired the Astre wagon that Junkiejoe originally posted in this topic based on the question is the wagon a true Formula. No it doesn't have the 66 code on trim tag but it does have every option that the Formula had including the Chrome Valve cover and plastic Formula air cleaner cap. It was suggested that maybe someone removed the parts from a wrecked Formula etc. I have located the build sheet as it was found on top of the gas tank when replacing the rubber fuel lines.
The car was a special order and delivered to the customer in South Carolina with all of the Formula options minus the wind deflector. The build sheet was completely intact and legible. I took many pictures prior to attempting removal of which 20 percent would not lift from the area it had been sandwiched between the tank and body.

I have no idea what I should do with this car as I bought it with the intention of removing the drivers door for use on another wagon project. However since I went to the trouble to get it running to test the 5 speed transmission for possible use in my other project as well. I find the car runs exceptionally well and everything mechanical with exception to the brakes works great.
I am rebuilding the brakes and have replaced the rear main seal as it was leaking badly. My current intention is to get it into a solid driver status and offer it for sale based on the fact it is likely the rarest of all Vega/Astre wagons in existence. If anybody in the Pontiac world cares about saving and fully restoring it then wonderful another one saved from the crusher. Other wise I may proceed with the disassembly of it and use the parts on my 74 Vega wagon.

Overall the car is very solid with minor rust in the spare tire well and the opposite rear corner certainly not to far gone to repair. Other wise she seems solid, All glass is good to perfect condition as well as the front and rear seats are in exceptional good condition. There is seriously nothing keeping this car from being a survivor/daily driver to being a subject for a worthy restoration. If anybody has any ideas please let me know.

[cammerjeff]

It sounds like a well equipped Astre Safari, but without the "66" on the trim tag, I doubt it is a Formula, Also a Formula Safari would have the rear air Deflector.

As for the Chrome Valve cover on the Iron Duke engine, it seems all 1977 Iron Dukes received them, I have never seen an Astre with the 2.5 that did not have a Chrome valve cover, and originally have the "Formula 2.5" sticker on the air cleaner. I have owned 3 Astre Formulas (all HB's) and at least 5 non Formulas 1 wagon 3 HB's & 1 Sedan and they all had the chrome valve cover & Formula 2.5 air cleaner sticker, I even saw a 1977 Pontiac Ventura with an Iron Duke at a local cruise in, this is the only other model in 1977 that Iron dukes were put in, It had the chrome air cleaner, not the Formula 2.5 air cleaner sticker. But it used a more conventional air cleaner with a removable filter element.

All 3 Formulas I owned (again no Wagon) Had the rear spoiler, Power Steering , Tilt Column, Blacked out grills, Headlight Buckets, and side window surrounds, all 3 had Sport Mirrors, 2 of the 3 had the Mirrors painted Charcoal the White and Silver ones, 2 of the 3 had the Formula Steering Wheel, again the White and Silver ones. All 3 had the Rally gauges, 2 had rally wheels, ond 1 had optional snowflake wheels. The only car that did not have all the signature details is my current Yellow car, it was built on the 1st day of production for the Formula option, in December of 1976, it had the door window bright work installed, and it had body colored sport mirrors on it, not Charcoal. Also the original owner paid $17 to not have a Formula Steering wheel installed, but the 3-spoke Custom Cushion Wheel. All 3 cars did have the "66" on the trim tag.

So I can't say you car is Definitely not a Formula model, I am very Skeptical. Post some Pictures they would help us see if all the included parts are there & the 2 required options.

[flyingdragracer]

Thanks for the reply CammerJeff. I am not presenting it as a Formula due the fact it doesn't have the 66 on the tag and the Build sheet listed the options individually and listed them as customer order. So that tells me the customer went to the Pontiac dealer and requested all options with exception to the rear window deflector,thus removing it from Formula status.

I am However presenting it as an incredibly rare and possibly one of one Astre Wagon as there seem to be no Formula wagons left or at least accounted for and would likely be the only other wagons with all these options.

I would like to see what type of emblem was used in the Trans Am steering wheels that were put in the Formula's. Obviously mine has the steering wheel but the little emblem is missing from the horn pad. So if you could possibly dig up some pictures of one I would greatly appreciate it.

Lastly I am seeking the person that would like to purchase the car for its rarity and restore it to its former glory and perhaps save one more from being modified or used for the sum of its parts. Thanks Mitch