Exterior

Here is a picture of the Formula some time in the first week after I bought it ( I have already replaced the missing center caps by this picture ), You can also see the "bumpers" on the front. I will have to apologize for the quality of the picture, but it was pre-digital camera for me.

Then around 2000, I finally decided to remove the aftermarket ground effects kit, and return the Formula to a stock appearance. Formula's did not have ground effects, that was reserved for the Trans Am. and I think the car looks way better with them gone, but still have those black "bumpers" ;(

So finally 3 years later ( spring of 2003 ) I get to finally remove the bumper covers with the "bumpers", I replaced them with ones off of my old 84 Firebird. I had spent the winter swapping the bumper covers, removing all the factory decals ( which if I remember correctly took around 12-13 hours alone ), and as a added bonus when I switched the front bumper cover, I ended up having to change the actual bumper reinforcement assembly behind it. Turns out the one I happened to have was lightweight aluminum as opposed to the heavy steel one. I also left the side moldings off for a more clean apperance.

And here is a picture with the 17x9.5 Elite wheels and 275/40zr17 Tires

Another thing I ended up changing was the tail lights, I never liked the stock tail lights much either. So I found a set of 85-90 Trans Am tail lights, I had to change the socket for the turn signal, but other than that it was a direct swap.

The picture on the left ( a picture I "borrowed" off ebay, I can't seem to find any pictures of my car in it's stock rear configuration ) is what my Formula looked like when it left the Factory in November of 1989, the picture on the right is what my car looks like today with the 82-84 rear bumper cover and 85-90 Trans Am tail lights.

When I originally installed the tail lights, I put the turn signals on the ends, so that they only lit up when signaling. I finally wired the signals to light up with the tail lights, and still flash when signaling.

Same deal here stock factory original on left ( "borrowed" pic ) and 82-84 Firebird front bumper cover on right.

I also modified the look of the T-Tops by painting the trim pieces on them, and the center trim piece on the car, I had them painted body color. Better pic to come soon, this one is all I have right now. One of the pieces I used off my 83 Trans Am was the hood scoop opening grill, these were used form the factory on 82-84 Trans Am's to inhale cold air into the engine, it isn't able to do that on my Tuned Port but looks better than the block off plate, and lets heat escape from under the hood.

Another thing I added which was not on the car originally, was a Locking Gas Filler door, again another thing my 83 had that I decided to put on the Formula, I have a brand new in box lock cylinder for the door, I just haven't had time to get it keyed. I also installed a pair of door handles off of a 86 Firebird, they are just like the ones that were on my 83 Trans Am.

Couple pictures I took of the Formula July 2005, Down near the Mississippi River Park

Here are a couple pictures I took September 9th 2005. These are probably some of the last pictures I will take of the car while it is still a red car.


Future Plans: I will be replacing the original rear spoiler with a replacement fiberglass version along with a fiberglass decklid, and I will be removing the center third brake light when I do this as well. I will also be replacing the hood with either a fiberglass version of the stock hood, or a Ram Air 1 hood. In the next year or two the car will be repainted either 05 Mustang Chrome Yellow or 05 Mustang Legend Lime ( I just can't decide, I have wanted yellow ever since I bought the car, but I am really liking the Legend Lime color latley ), I'll probably decide on the way to the painter LOL.