1970 Pontiac Firebird Formula 400 Ram Air review from North America

This car is one serious contender! This was one of the Fired Formula 400's made at the plant in southern California. It was ordered with the Ram Air III motor, which put out 345hp and over 430 lbs tq. This car was not ordered with AC, no power windows or door locks, pretty much your basic Formula with the Ram Air motor, the gearing in the 12 bolt limited slip (positraction) came with 3.90 gearing.

The 0-60 time on these cars as tested by car and driver in 1970 ran 6 seconds flat on bias ply tires (F70). With more modern radial tires, this car will not get traction at WOT untell the end of 3rd gear. If you can get traction, the 0-60 times are 5.3 seconds or less depending on driver / clutch / fly.

Quarter mile in Car and Driver also recorded a 14.7 at 100 MPH. When I took my Formula to the track, 100% stock down to OEM exhaust, it ran a 13.7 at 107 MPH. Traction is the Key! The engine was also rebuilt a few months later, with a modern grind camshaft and lifters, and more up to date valve springs, pretty much a modern stock rebuild. Back at the track with the modern stock rebuild and new 2.5 inch dual exhaust with dual Series 30 mufflers, the car ran the best of 12.9 on radial tires, and 12.6 on DOT slicks.

These cars are seriously under-rated. Have you ever seen one in the Top 10 Muscle car count downs? didn't think so. Why? who knows! If they where to re-test these older cars with modern tires, oils, fuels etc I know without a doubt that the 1970 Pontiac Firebird Formula 400 Ram Air III would be in the top 5.

These cars where also under-rated by teh factory, the base motor was 330hp and 430 lbs tq. Then when Ram Air III was ordered you recieved a more agresive camshaft and lifter set up, stronger valve springs, locks and retainers, better timing chain, higher flowing cylinder heads and intake manifold, a 800cfm 4BBL Q-Jet Carburetor, header style exhaust manifolds... and only turned out 15 more hp over stock and same amount of torque? Experts have dynod 30,000 original mile Ram Air motors, and they ran around 410hp and over 490 lbs torque!

These cars came with amazing suspension, pretty much un-touched from the Classic SCCA Trans Am / Formulas that raced back in the early 70's tell late 80's..86 Lateral G on a skit pad isn't bad at all for 35 year old tech.