So, local to me, someone is selling a 1998 Firebird Formula WS6.

I've heard they are rare. But how rare? Is it worth buying over any other Formula or TA? I know it's lighter with the best suspension and Induction setup from the ram air. But really is it that big of a diffeence?

The price of the car isn't any more than any other comparable shape FBody. But at the moment I have the option of a 1998 Z28 and the 1998 Formula WS6. Both are in good shape and in my price range. The Firebird is actually slightly cheaper than the formula.

What would someone expect to pay for a car like that? Assume in expected condition for the ear without being beat on.

Thoughts?

 

Do not buy a formula because it is more rare. It will not appreciate in value. The only reason to buy a formula is because you like it. You have to decide which bumper you like better, the T/A or the formula. You have to decide if you like the ground effects and the high rise spoiler that the trans am has.

edit: The only reason I can think of to get a formula over a TA is if you are looking for a hardtop. The T-tops were standard on the T/A 98-02. If you want a hardtop it has to be a formula. They are extremely rare, but I have had 2. Be patient and find exactly what you are looking for.

Buy the car because you love it, not because you think it will appreciate in value. Use other criteria like milage, how hard it was driven, price, but not rarity.

 

to answer your question though, there were 244 formula ws6's made in 1998. 39 of them were hardtop's

 

It's not a hard top. It's Ttops. Automatic. Black. One of 46 I've discovered.

And frankly I don't have a preference over the TA or the Formula. My preferences do not go that granular. Both look great to me.

The only preference I have is a bird over a Camaro. But I've owned 3 Camaros and one bird. So really. I'm not picky. I can appreciate each one.

 

Ya, black seems to be 3x more common than the other colors in 98 that were automatic and t-top. 11 white, 12 silver, 2 gold and 19 red.

Sounds like you should just search for the best deal possible.

You have good taste in cars

 

A rare car that is driven with higher mileage on it is meaningless. Is that the situation here? The rare terminology goes out the window when the mileage piles on even further. Having an unusual car is cool, no problem there, but don't pay extra IMO. Get what you want at the price you can afford. Don't pay extra for rare unless it's a superb, ultra low mileage, 'collector' quality example.

 

99% of people either won't know the difference between the Formula and Trans Am or just think you put a WS6 hood on a Formula.

 

Its not collector level miles. Its got 118K.

I'm not paying more for it. It's actually cheaper than all the other cars in my area. Its being sold by a father whose son went into the military and left it home and is now stationed overseas. The registration is about to lapse and thus it will be illegal to have it in their yard. Hes hot to get rid of it before that happens. The dad knows nothing about the car. But it has every maintenance record you could imagine. It was very well cared for by the son.

Has C6 ZO6 Rims with Nitto Drag radials. Kooks Long Tubes, Y pipe and a MagnaFlow Exhaust. 3.73 Eaton gears and an SLP Lid. Also its tuned. Asking Price is $4,500. The dad said the registration expires end of the month and if I can show up with $3,500 cash its mine.

 

Wow. That sounds like quite the deal!

 

The Kooks headers are worth nearly half of that. If you can get it I say do it!

 

Picking it up on Saturday.

Normally I'm an M6 guy. But I figured i've never had an auto before. And never driven a stalled car. So I thought this would be a good opportunity. And at the price I'm paying.. if I hate it. I can sell it for enough of a profit to get me into something else I would think.

 

buy it!

 

You could probably almost turn around and double your money.

Very cool, be sure to post pics!

 

I absolutely will post up pics. I've already got a buddy set up to detail it for me. Once it looks great, I'll have a little photo shoot for everyone.

 

Good for you, man - you got a great deal. And yes, by definition, a WS6 Formula is rare, whether it has 118k or 18k. They just didn't make that many of them. ANY factory Ram Air GTO from 65-72 today brings money for the same reason, regardless of miles. I'm not saying that your car will someday be a "collectible"; but in comparison, WS6 T/A's are a dime a dozen.

 

Just an FYI... I'm about to prove some of your ideas on this topic wrong.

 

What's that supposed to mean?

 

Here's some quick Pics I took.

 

The Under Dash piece on the Passenger side is MIA... I need to find one of those.

 

I assume you checked the door jambs to make sure it is a real ws6. Either way, 3500 is a steal.

I bought a real ss 35th anniversary for stupid cheap once (like 5 g's) sure enough, it was stolen. I was able to register it and insure it so I didn't think it was stolen. Sure enough, about a month later the DEA was waiting for me in my driveway.