Last week I posted about the new third-generation Firebird I was looking for. While I of course wanted instant gratification, I was beginning to resign myself to the fact that I might be spending the next several months—maybe even a year or more—looking for the perfect car. These vehicles aren’t getting any more common, and they’re certainly not getting any more reliable. The longer I wait, the lesser my chances of actually finding a 100% perfect vehicle.

Which is why I sat up and took serious notice yesterday when I located exactly that.

Buried in the listings under “Firebird” (not “Formula” or “Trans Am”, which was why I missed it until now) was a beauty of a car. A 1989 Formula 350 with T-tops—an ultra-rarity—plus a black exterior and a black interior, even more uncommon. (I recognize that a tan interior would be perfection, but you can’t be too picky—and black was the only other interior color I would accept.) Automatic transmission, A/C, CD player, power everything, Formula hood scoop, and best of all, boatloads of new parts. About the only thing that hasn’t been replaced are the shocks.

Below is the only photo I have of the car (top), plus a manufacturer photo of a similar car from the ‘89 Pontiac catalog (bottom).

Of course, I called the seller immediately and talked to him for a few minutes. The car’s still available. It’s going in for a fresh coat of black paint this week, plus it will be getting a new exhaust system. He doesn’t want an exorbitant amout of money for it either, but I can tell he knows what he’s talking about. I need to call him back and ask some more questions that I forgot about in my excitement, but we agreed that he would e-mail me when the vehicle is back from the paint shop and we can proceed from there.

The only problem is that the car’s in Ohio, and I’m in Florida. Fortunately, since my parents still live in Detroit, I can easily fly into the latter city and then drive down to meet the guy in the span of a day, without it costing me anything other than airfare. I would like to see some more pictures before I do that, but if that’s not possible, then so be it. I’m not letting this one slip away.

I’ll keep you all posted.