The purchase date says April 30, 1993, but in point of fact, I had special ordered the yellow Firebird three months earlier with a $500 deposit. It was the first year of the 275-hp LT1 in the Camaro and Firebird, and it was the first year of a dramatic exterior restyling that made the F-body wildly popular. To make things more interesting, I ordered my Firebird Formula 350 as a stripped-down track terror. No air conditioning, roll-up windows, heater only, six-speed manual trans, G92 axle package, and Sunfire Yellow paint.
With tax and tags, the whole thing set me back just $18,042.34. I took it to the track later that week and knocked down a 13.75 e.t. at 104 mph, with the factory oil fill, air filter, and the stock tires. The fuel mileage was excellent, and regularly got 29 mpg on long trips—even after I upgraded to a 500-hp 396-ci stroker. Later on, I ended up making a handful of 11-second passes with the big motor, but the most fun was taking it to the road course.
As I ponder the possibility of buying a new SS Camaro—400 pounds heavier and $13,000 more expensive—I can’t help but think about my old Firebird, and how fast it was for so little money. I really would rather have a new Pontiac Firebird, but I guess that will never happen now.