1971 Pontiac Firebird Formula 455 HO

Pony car powered by Pontiac 455 HO V8.

1971 Pontiac Firebird Formula exterior; exact-year Formula body and trim context, not proof of the 455 H.O. drivetrain in an individual car.

Factory path 1971 Firebird Formula 455 with optional LS5 455 HO, including Ram Air configuration where documented; not a Trans Am appearance package.

Engine rating Captured 1971 Firebird engine table lists the LS5 455 HO at 335 hp at 4,800 rpm and 480 lb-ft at 3,600 rpm.

Reported production 321 Formula LS5 455 HO cars reported: 166 manual and 155 automatic, within 7,802 total 1971 Formula production.

Authentication PHS or factory billing, LS5 engine evidence, carburetor, Ram Air hardware if claimed, transmission, axle, paint, trim, and Formula body cues should agree.

Story

1971 Pontiac Firebird Formula 455 HO

The 1971 Pontiac Firebird Formula 455 HO sits in the second-generation Firebird line between the clean Formula look and the Trans Am's louder body treatment. This page covers the Formula 455 with the optional LS5 455 HO path, including Ram Air configuration where documented, not a Trans Am with shaker, spoilers, and stripe package.

Reviewed 1971 Firebird sources list the Formula 400/455 equipment package with vinyl bucket seats, custom cushion steering wheel, wood-grain dash appearance, Endura front bumper, twin-scoop Formula hood, front disc brakes, handling package, dual exhaust, F70-14 tires, and Formula CID identification. The same fact sheet lists the 335 hp LS5 455 HO as optional on Formula 455 and standard on Trans Am, with Ram Air carburetion available while the core engine specifications remain the same.

Production references report 7,802 total 1971 Formula cars and 321 LS5 455 HO Formulas, split 166 manual and 155 automatic. The manual subset is reported as 159 M22 close-ratio four-speeds and 7 M13 heavy-duty three-speeds. For any individual car, the useful question is whether paperwork, engine, carburetor, transmission, axle, paint, trim, and Formula appearance evidence all agree.

Specs

Car type: Pony car
Body: 2-door coupe
Engine: Pontiac 455 cu in LS5 455 HO V8
Horsepower: 335 hp @ 4,800 rpm
Torque: 480 lb-ft @ 3,600 rpm
Carburetion: Rochester four-barrel: Over-Drive lists 7041267 manual / 7041268 automatic for non-Ram Air LS5 HO, and 7041273 manual / 7041270 automatic for Ram Air LS5 HO

Equipment

Formula 400/455 twin-scoop fiberglass hood and Formula CID identification
LS5 455 HO listed as optional on Formula 455 and standard on Trans Am
Ram Air LS5 configuration listed with different carburetors but otherwise unchanged core specifications
Front disc brakes, handling package, and dual exhaust with chrome extensions listed for Formula 400/455
F70-14 tires listed as standard Formula 400/455 equipment; F60-15 listed as optional
Formula-specific identity kept separate from Trans Am shaker, spoiler, flare, and stripe cues

Linked Parts

Price history

Values

Nominal dollars from original price sheets, auction archives, and approved value references.

Original Price

A verified original price is not yet available for this car.

Values move with paperwork, originality, options, condition, venue, and body style. High bids and guide values are labeled separately from completed sales.

Reference records

Options, Colors & Components

Source-backed details for trim, chassis, production, and authenticity.

Transmission

Factory transmission Heavy-duty 3-speed manual listed for Formula equipment and reported on 7 manual Formula 455 HO cars
Factory transmission M22 close-ratio 4-speed reported on 159 manual Formula 455 HO cars
Factory transmission M40 Turbo Hydra-matic automatic listed for Formula with optional V8s and reported on 155 Formula 455 HO cars

Options

Reference graphic separating the 1971 Firebird Formula 455 HO path from Trans Am appearance cues.Classic Muscle · Reference illustration

Formula 400/455 Firebird Formula 400/455 model equipment factory · performance · Formula 400/455 equipment includes vinyl buckets, custom cushion steering wheel, wood-grain dash appearance, sport mirrors, Endura bumper, twin-scoop fiberglass hood, black grille insert, front discs, handling package, dual exhaust, heavy-duty 3-speed manual, F70-14 tires, and Formula CID identification in the captured fact sheet.
34U / LS5 455 ci HO V-8 4BBL optional · performance · Option list marks LS5 as available on Formula and standard on Trans Am; captured fact sheet lists LS5 455 HO as optional on Formula 455 and standard on Trans Am.
601 / WU3 Hood Air Inlet optional · performance · Option reference lists hood air inlet availability with the 455 HO engine only.
35G / M22 Close-ratio 4-speed manual transmission optional · performance · Option list marks M22 available on Formula; production reference reports 159 manual Formula 455 HO cars with M22.
35C / M13 Heavy-duty 3-speed manual transmission optional · performance · Option list marks M13 available on Formula; production reference reports 7 manual Formula 455 HO cars with M13.
478 / P05 Honeycomb wheels optional · appearance · Option reference lists Honeycomb wheels as available on Formula, with 15-inch context tied to Trans Am or Formula performance/tire options.
572 / D80 Deck lid spoiler optional · appearance · Option reference lists deck lid spoiler availability on Formula; Trans Am spoiler treatment remains separate package context.

Paint

11 Cameo White factory · solid
13 Nordic Silver factory · metallic
19 Starlight Black factory · solid
24 Adriatic Blue factory · metallic
26 Lucerne Blue factory · solid
42 Limekist Green factory · metallic
49 Laurentian Green factory · metallic
52 Tropical Lime factory · metallic
53 Quezal Gold factory · metallic
59 Aztec Gold factory · metallic
61 Sandalwood factory · solid
62 Canyon Copper factory · metallic
67 Castillian Bronze factory · metallic

Production

Reference graphic summarizing the LS5 455 HO 335 hp engine table and Ram Air carburetor distinction.Classic Muscle · Reference illustration

1971 Firebird Formula model total total · 7,802 · reported
1971 Firebird Formula LS5 455 HO total by engine · 321 · reported
1971 Firebird Formula LS5 455 HO manual transmission total by transmission · 166 · reported
1971 Firebird Formula LS5 455 HO automatic transmission total by transmission · 155 · reported

Authenticity

Reference graphic summarizing reported Formula production and the reported 321-car LS5 Formula 455 HO split.Classic Muscle · Reference illustration

Formula 455 HO documentation Factory billing or PHS documentation should identify a Formula 455 with LS5 455 HO equipment · PHS documentation, factory billing, order records, window sticker, restoration files, and inspection binder · fraud detection
LS5 455 HO engine identity 455 CID LS5 HO V8 with source-consistent engine code, carburetor, round-port hardware, dates, castings, and paperwork · Engine code pad, block/head/intake/carburetor casting and date evidence, Ram Air hardware if claimed, service records, and factory billing · numbers matching
Ram Air configuration Ram Air LS5 should show the correct carburetor path and induction hardware along with paperwork · Carburetor number, air-inlet hardware, hood equipment, order paperwork, and period inspection notes · numbers matching
Trans Am boundary Trans Am shaker, wheel spoilers, air extractors, stripes, and standard equipment should not be treated as Formula 455 HO proof · Model-line references, option documentation, body tags, and photo evidence · fraud detection
Transmission and axle agreement M13, M22, or Turbo Hydra-matic path, axle ratio, Safe-T-Track status, and dates should agree with stamps, tags, and paperwork · Transmission stamp/tag, axle tube stamp/date code, differential tags, billing records, and inspection notes · date correctness
Paint, trim, and Formula appearance Paint code, interior trim code, Formula hood/CID callouts, and body evidence should agree with documentation · Body plate, paint traces, interior trim evidence, Pontiac paint/trim tables, PHS/factory billing, and period photos · trim correctness

Still Researching

production Reviewed sources provide a reported 321 Formula LS5 455 HO total and transmission split, but the table is secondary and should be backed by Pontiac/PHS statistical documentation before being treated as factory-primary.

Codes & names

Names & Engine Codes

Common names and codes are grouped so LS6 references point to the same engine, not separate pages.

Reference graphic summarizing reported M13, M22, and Turbo Hydra-matic transmission context for Formula 455 HO cars.Classic Muscle · Reference illustration

1971 Firebird Formula 455 HO Pontiac 455 HO V8

1971 Pontiac Firebird Formula 455 HO Pontiac 455 HO V8

Formula 455 HO Pontiac 455 HO V8

LS5 Formula 455 HO Pontiac 455 HO V8

455 CID LS5 HO Ram Air V-8 Formula Pontiac 455 HO V8

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