MPC 1971 Pontiac Firebird Formula 400 Build

[@davehanson1417]

Fantastic restoration! I wish more model companies would have offered Firebird kits of the 70 to 78 models.

[@TheMuscleCarModeler]

At least MPC did most of them!

[@RoadRunnergarage8570]

I actually did the Revell 70 Trans Am kit last winter and it was an absolute blast to build!!

[@TheMuscleCarModeler]

I have never built that one. I do have one in my stash.

[@seanh2390]

Wow ... great restoration Raoul! Thanks for making and posting the video.

[@TheMuscleCarModeler]

Glad you liked it! Thank you!

[@alanq64]

A friend in High School had a Formula 400 this same color. He was pulling out on the main road and a car hit him and completely took off the entire front end from the firewall. This is a close representation of what his car looked like. Nice Vid.

[@TheMuscleCarModeler]

Thank you!

[@petermerz2704]

Looks great Raouel. Thanks for sharing. Happy days and model on! 😎🇨🇦

[@TheMuscleCarModeler]

Thanks, you too!

[@michaelhintzmikesminiature1812]

My brother in law had one of these in a maroon color with a fin on the back. I have an unreliable resins conversion. You did an excellent job on yours. Thanks for sharing

[@TheMuscleCarModeler]

Thanks. I did a resin 73 Trans Am from MCW resin.

[@donaldwallace1525]

Another beauty, I love the color. I just assembled my 2nd model build, a black 68 Charger with white interior. I was able to get a very nice paint job with duplicolor products but I bought an Air Brush for the future. I did my BMF before assembly, MISTAKE. I am so appreciative that you are willing to teach, I've learned alot watching your videos. THANK YOU.

[@TheMuscleCarModeler]

Thank you! I'm glad you are finding value in my videos.

[@michaelcooke2559]

Nice video with a history lesson. Very nice looking build. Thanks for sharing.

[@TheMuscleCarModeler]

Thank you!

[@wayneleighton3574]

Ralph, Nice build!...I always liked the Firebirds!...Keep the neat builds coming!...Aloha!

[@TheMuscleCarModeler]

Thank you!

[@neiljumpinjackflash7551]

Wish round 2 would reissue these birds! Thanks Raoul you made my weekend with the Formula. I think Pontiac did pretty good considering the budget and time constraints. I believe there is a movie with Jan Michael Vincent inwhich him and Burt Reynolds are stuntmen and he drives a bird that has both the snorkel hood and the shaker TA, it actually looks trick with both inductions on it. Anyway I always loved the Formula 400 Firebird, especially the 71, what a trick looking car. You did an awesome 'resto' on the MPC glue bomb.

[@TheMuscleCarModeler]

I have seen a few of those hoods with both styles.

[@alancyr3100]

That is a beautiful build! Great back story on the car. Thanks for sharing.

[@TheMuscleCarModeler]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@RoadRunnergarage8570]

Cool 😎 that this kit actually has the Ram Air assembly... The MPC 72 GTO I did last fall had the Ram Air assembly as well .

[@TheMuscleCarModeler]

Cool. My 72 GTO kit is an older issue and it does not have the air cleaner parts.

[@edilsonvic2756]

I love this version with no spoilers, etc. Really nice build man.

[@TheMuscleCarModeler]

Thank you!

[@rickzinck9326]

Very nice clean build. Looks great.

[@TheMuscleCarModeler]

Thank you!

[@RoadRunnergarage8570]

I've also done the Revell 77 Bandit Trans Am as well and it was also a nice one to build!!

[@TheMuscleCarModeler]

Don’t have that one.

[@thescalemodelcarguychannel8681]

Raoul my mother had that same car in the 70s when I was a kid and it was the same color as the Rockford files car!

[@TheMuscleCarModeler]

Very cool!

[@joakimkarlsson9255]

Super nice Pontiac! The blue color fits the car perfectly. MPC really captured the look of the second generation Camaro and Firebird Bodies really well. That's also why i kinda prefer the MPC '77 Trans-Am kit over the much newer Revell kit.

[@TheMuscleCarModeler]

Thank you! I agree. They just look right as far as the body goes.

[@RoadRunnergarage8570]

Very Sharp Formula 400 Firebird!!

[@TheMuscleCarModeler]

Thank you!

[@johahnz]

Great color choice for a firebird. 70-73 has always been my favorite body style. Formula hood was the perfect look for these cars. Great build and video.

[@TheMuscleCarModeler]

Right on! Thank you!

[@bigcharliesmodelgarage296]

Nice build. Thanks for sharing the info.

[@TheMuscleCarModeler]

Any time!

[@raphaelhernandez4088]

Well done!

[@TheMuscleCarModeler]

Thank you!

[@crazykit]

Beautiful 👍👍👍

[@TheMuscleCarModeler]

Thank you!

[@RoadRunnergarage8570]

I believe those Cool 😎 honeycomb wheels were available on both the Firebird and GTO back in the day ..

[@TheMuscleCarModeler]

I know they were. Just don’t remember if they were available in 71.

[@Red-rl1xx]

Really nice!

[@TheMuscleCarModeler]

Thanks!

[@howarddavis1307]

Another great build my friend I have always preferred the formula firebird over the trans am the firebirds from 1970 too 78 are the best looking .I want too build a formula from the monogram 1970 trans am kit I’m working on a 1978 Rockford files firebird which were firebird formula that were converted into esprit firebirds James Garner didn’t like the front end on the 1979 firebirds sow several more 1978 firebird formula were purchased for the remainder off the series 1978 too 1980.👍

[@neiljumpinjackflash7551]

I have the same plan, all you would need is the honeycombs and the snorkel hood, shouldn't be too hard to even scratch build a hood, just the inserts might give you some grief. Maybe there is a resin hood out there for a conversion?

[@TheMuscleCarModeler]

Sounds cool!

[@curtisboxill-boxmansbuilds2980]

Beautiful looking formula!i have the same kit unbuilt but mine doesn't have the vents on the front fenders,but i have a resin 71'formula that does.I thought maybe i had a 70'body but i have a 70 'formula kit and it has a firebird script above the formula 400, and the 72 firebird kit script is different to,i'm thinking maybe mpc retooled the body at some time to include the vents on the body?.Or a carryover body from their 71'trans am they just threw in the box?.

[@TheMuscleCarModeler]

You may have a 72 or 73. I remember them all having different emblems. I have built the 70-72. I have a 73 and 74 but not built them yet.

[@curtisboxill-boxmansbuilds2980]

@@TheMuscleCarModeler quite possible,i'll have to check my 72 and 73 kits.

[@barryrae9355]

Would you by chance know of a resin model of a 1970 Torino two-door coupe or the brougham

[@TheMuscleCarModeler]

Motor City Resin Casters. I believe did one. Don’t know if it is still available as the web sight has not been updated since 2015. Also I have not purchased from him but hear he is hard to get a hold of and takes a long time to get his stuff. I’ve heard he says 6-8 weeks but can really take a year.

[@Bob0sModelFabWorx]

I remember my step dad buying a 1970 Firebird. Had the twin scoops too. Don't know if it was a Formula 400 though. Was it the Trans Am only that had the baby backward hood scoop?

[@TheMuscleCarModeler]

If it was original, it would have been a Formula.

[@Bob0sModelFabWorx]

@@TheMuscleCarModeler. Yup. Bought it at the dealers and drove right home to show us. Thanks. The only reason I remember it is because of the two hood scoops. Otherwise it was just another non-Mopar. lol

[@jacobeakright7834]

The Pontiac's where the best of the f body car's from gm

[@TheMuscleCarModeler]

They are very cool!

[@kyliecunninghamLS22SimSpiele]

❤💗🥰👍

[@TheMuscleCarModeler]

Thanks!

[@jamessawyer8889]

The 71 Formula had 3 engine options, 350, 400, & 455, that's from Pontiac literature

[@TheMuscleCarModeler]

I didn't see that. I did see that some info said the 350 was available in the Formula 400 but nothing to back that up. But most info said the 455 was only available in the Trans Am from 70 - 73. That was untill 1974 when the base 455 was available in the Formula 400. I'm no Pontiac expert and the rules and options always were changing. Same info with the rear spoiler availability. Dealers added them and so did owners. It was so popular that Pontiac made it available but don't know when.