1973 Formula SD 455 Update
 

I ran up to Steve's yesterday to check on my Blue Formula and to discuss the final sample/prototype of the trim ring, and because he had sent me some photos of the Body after media blasting. So I thought I would share what has been done already.

I have given some thought as to how deep I wanted to go with the Bodywork on this car because of how good a shape it was already in, but I decided to go from the ground up so as to prevent having to do any rust repair a ways down the road after I had already invested a lot in paint. It was possibly unnecessary to go this far, but I like piece of mind.

Since the car is in such great shape, Steve and I are hoping to get it done possibly within a year. The car was missing only a few things, and with Steve's help, we have already sourced what we will need.

James

Here are a few more.

James

This car deserves it. Looks and sounds like its in better shape the any of us thought. It'll be sharp when its done.

I agree completely. here are the fenders, Door, and Core Support. All in great shape!

James

A few more...

Beings there were so few of these cars built. Its kind of interesting to see the production breakdowns.

You car deluxe interior?


33 automatic cars: •cameo white=8
•golden olive =1
•bucaneer red=1
•ascot silver=9
•verdant green=1
•florentine red=3
•valencia gold=1
•admiralty blue=5
•brewster green=1
•navajo orange=1
•burma brown=2

10 four-speed cars: •cameo white=1
•bucaneer red=1
•ascot silver=1
•porcelain blue=1
•florentine red=4
•admiralty blue=2

Interiors: •white std=3
•black std=5
•saddle std=1
•white cust=3
•black cust=16
•saddle cust=7
•burgandy cust=7
•beige cust cloth=1

Other options: •N98 Rally II wheels=23
•P05 Honeycomb wheels=7
•D80 Rear spoiler=15
•C08 Cordova top=6
•Y99 Handling package=33
•V32 Rear bumper guards=7
•A31 Power windows=12
•AU3 Power door locks=7
•C60 Air conditioning=25

Nice Project James....Hopefully it will get done quickly in time for MCACN next year.

Amazng progress already. And some beautiful sheetmetal under there!

Mine will be there for the Vintage Certification judging and for a reunion with the original owner and his wife. It would be great to have it's twin there!

NJSteve,

We will just have to see how it goes, but MCACN next year would be nice.

71GP76TA,

It is Deluxe Interior(Black), Automatic, Non-AC, N98, D80, and Y99. I am sure I forgot something.

V-32... If the rear bumper is original to your car.

Mines... black standard interior with hub caps and an automatic.. C-60 and Y-99

Too bad MCACN is on the other side of the country.

71GP76TA,

Your right. Maybe I will have to reproduce the rub strip for the bumper guards since I cannot find them. MCACN would be a hike from where you are if you were going to bring a car, but an easy flight if you just wanted to see it. I have not gone to it yet, but I am told it is one of the best.

James

It is THE BEST show in the universe. Bar none. I'm trying to get Bob Ashton to have a SD Formula class next year. We'll see what happens.

P.S. It's in Chicago, that isn't the other end of the country from California...it's only half way there. :-)

If they put together a SD Formula class.. I might have to go... Though it won't win the show... I'd bring the car....maybe even drive it out there... if the weather is nice..... :D

Giving me a time warp seeing my work under the primer reappear.
Glad to see her again. I still haven't forgotten about getting you a source list on all the HPP articles I did with it. Neck deep in a project for the past month --should have the time to compile that around the New Year.

The front core isolators are home made, and I suspect the article I did on making them led to them appearing as repops 1-2 years later.

Yes, the rubs strips for the bumper guards drove me nuts trying to find a source.

The rear bumper is the original but needs hammer work on that hard ding in it and the pitted spots. Worth saving vs a BB replacement.

Pass quarter is getting replaced I hope!

Be aware the core support is the original '73 top plate mated to a '72 upright and lower section with modifications made to the upright section to match the '73 style. Was subject of one of the articles, ran in HPP 1999 or 2000 and showed the differences between the 70-73s.

Hello Jim,

Yes the passenger quarter is going to be replaced along with the trunk drop on both sides, and while the quarter is out, we will probably do the outer wheel well to boot. It really is in fantastic shape!

No hurry on the article index. I have plenty going on to keep me busy.

I hope all is well with you.

James

outer wheel wells were both new reproduction replacements, however neither side mated really well with the quarter lip radii. More of an issue with the wheel well stamping than the quarters.

Awesome. Subscribed! Good luck with the project. :)

Among the more "oddball" options on this one is AM with 8-track. No FM or stereo. I did find an 8-track for it, had a blaupunkt in the dash when I got it. Like most, if not all SDs, it gets to be a one off once your run its color, interior, auto and non-AC.

A picture of her in the time warp mode. 1998 in a Tennessee garage where she'd been sitting for around 10 years. A ton of rust and bondo under 3 paint jobs including the original.

Did you know it was an SD Formula when you bought it?

Yes; I'd checked all the numbers on it through a 3rd party who then bid on it for me during the estate auction.

Previous owner, John, who would have been my brother in law except that he passed away from skin cancer in early '98, knew it was an SD when he took it in trade at the dealership he worked at. He bought it off the dealership the day the person I believe to be the original owner drove it in to trade it in '83 or 84.

I could never be certain who added the Trans Am parts, I know John bought the Turbo wheels for it as well as a stripe kit. I have Polaroids of it with the front spoiler and wheel flares in the correct shade of cameo with the IIs or Cragars on it. (can't remember which rim at the moment.) I don't think John knew it was a Formula, my sister and law always referred to it as a Trans Am. Never was able to track down owner no. 1 or id them, selling dealership was a dead end for information.

Here's a quick update. Bad Quarter is off and everything looks great underneath! Frame and suspension parts are clean and ready for painting process.

More to come after the first of the year, when I can get up to Steve's for eyes on.

James

Not wasting any time there are you! :thumbup:

Honestly there is no where near as much body work to do as with my Blue car. So when Steve let me know that his metal guy had a couple of weeks between major projects and wanted to know if I wanted to proceed. I told him to go for it. The Engine and Transmission are already with the people that will be going through them. We are not expecting to have to have much done in both of those areas, but since they were out, I wanted them to be checked over.

I am sure as with all restorations, we will hit a road block or two. I have never done one that hasn't, but this started as such a complete car and we have already sourced all the missing components we intend to use. This could be the smoothest one I've done yet.

James

Tell Steve I said "sorry" about those two nuts welded on the firewall. LOL, never expected that someone would ever have to remove them. likewise with all the POR-15 he's had to deal with.

No problem Jim,

The POR15 isn't a big deal. The seam sealer has garnered the most comment from the metal guy. Whatever you used, it is tough and attached very well! Sounds like a good product.

James

Crest "CJ", made in NJ. Should still be available. the shrink cracked seam sealer under the filler panel next to the trunk hinges was 3M. Went on a little too thick. He's gonna have a heck of a time on the bottom section with the urethane glue that I used to put on the partial quarter. there are some tack welds down there and in the wheel opening as well. That should be the only "hitch" you run into with her.

How many of the 10 four-speed cars are known to exist today?

18.


Sorry. I could not help myself.

Kainsel,

I do not know the answer to your question. I would like to know how many of the automatics are still around as well.

James

The SD455 Registry shows 21 1973 SD 455 Formulas with TH400 transmission and 4 m-20 manuals, but I do not know how accurate that information is. I would assume there are at least that many.

James

one person who might have the most accurate "count" would be Kurt Goetting's son (TX) While I think his Dad's collection has been thinned down substantially, at various points he owned a good percentage of the surviving 73 SDs. What he had all together back in the early 90s (there's an HPP article showing it at University stadium) was simply amazing.

We purchased Kurt's last remaining SD two years ago. A '74 Formula which he bought new. All orig...including exhaust.

Is it the white with blue interior 74?

:)

Hopefully most of the 73 SD Formulas are still around.
Now with the original engine, don't know.

:confused:

It would be awesome to have the list Fred used to document the Formulas in 73.

:)

Add blue/black deluxe - 21k miles

find and purchase the other Guy Mabee SD (73 formula) and you'd have the bookend set, John.
The formula is a tuff buy, the family won't let it go.

UPDATE

While at Steve's today I was able to see that the metal work on the SD Formula should be finished in a matter of days! Then it is on to paint preparation. In the event that this car is finished on our schedule that we developed, I have entered it in MCACN this November. Steve thinks it is on schedule for completion before that show. I'm crossing my fingers.

The only sheetmetal we needed ended up being both trunk drops, outer wheel house panels, and one passenger side quarter panel. All the seam sealer has been removed and any corrosion has been dealt with. This really was one nice body. Enjoy the photos.

A few more...

NJSteve mentioned a while back that he was talking with MCACN about showcasing SD Formulas at the next event. If that happens... I would consider dragging my car out there..

BTW - I've racked up about 2500 miles on the SD since purchase..... I drove it around today.. :D

Nice progress!

If I recall correctly, all the white, 1973 automatic SD Formulas are on the registry! Eight, if I remember right. One shows as being scrapped in England.


Bob Ashton who runs MCACN would be the guy to talk to about a display. http://www.mcacn.com/ He's a great guy and runs an awesome show.

I am bringing the 73 Formula SD for the vintage certification which has its own display area. And as an added bonus, the original owners, Enrico and Lenora Stein are coming up from Scottsdale to be reunited with their car. They postponed their 50th wedding anniversary and are using this trip as their anniversary celebration.

I am just crossing my fingers on MCACN. Steve seems pretty confident we'll make it there.

Thanks,

James

It should be in Epoxy primer shortly. There is absolutely no rust left at all.

James

Congrats, and that is one cool jig!

That is one amazing contraption! Nice progress.

Wow, yeah on the body roller, very cool.

It's all one color now. Metal work is complete now on to priming and blocking.

James

James, Very nice and a non-A/C automatic SD to boot. Steve is doing an amazing job to that Formula. It will be beutiful when its done (for the TA Nats right?).

Dennis

Dennis,

I don't think we will make it to the T/A Nationals this year. We are crossing our fingers for MCACN in the Fall.

James

Very nice - is it in Lincoln?

Yes, Steve and his crew did such a nice job on my blue Formula, I wanted him to restore this one as well.

James

Good choice! :thumbup: