1991 Pontiac Firebird Formula that’s ‘too nice to drive’?

The notion of owning a “daily driver” revolves around the hazards, perils and pitfalls inherent in day-to-day commutes that put too much risk – and too many miles – on vehicles that are simply “too nice to drive,” or “too low-mileage to drive.” 

The Pick of the Day, a 1991 Pontiac Firebird Formula, fits into that category, showing only 13,164 miles on the odometer and listed for sale by a private seller on ClassicCars.com in Newark, Delaware, who says the mileage is accurate.  This car has been driven fewer than 500 miles per year over its 30-year lifespan. 

Considering the fact that sports cars are designed with a focus on driving enjoyment as opposed to people-moving or cargo utility, it can be surprising when a low-mileage original such as this Firebird comes out of the woodwork.  Versions of the phrase, “How did that not get driven?” seem to be a recurring theme in comment sections when a showroom-fresh vintage example hits an online marketplace, such as Classic Cars.com.

 “I bought it from the original owner five years ago,” the seller says in the ad.  “Only put 1,000 miles on it since I had it.”  

The Firebird is described as being as nice as one would expect for such a low-miler, although the headliner and some other parts of the interior have been replaced and a console was installed.  A repaired AM/FM/cassette player provides period-correct audio.

The third-generation Firebird launched for 1982 and ran for about a decade, sharing the General Motors’ F-body platform with its Camaro sibling.  A refresh in 1991 brought about a restyled front end, a fiberglass wrap-around wing, and different taillights for certain models.  Body styles were available in two-door liftback and two-door convertible form, and some came outfitted with removable T-tops.

Power for this coupe comes from a mechanically sorted “Tuned Port Fuel Injection” 240-horsepower 5.7-liter V8 mated to a 4-speed automatic transmission, and the drivetrain recently received replacement fuel injectors, fuel filter and spark plugs to freshen things up since the Firebird has been used so rarely throughout its life. 

In addition, the Firebird’s brake calipers, tires and coolant have also been gone through, according to the seller.

This Firebird’s seller does have right idea about how best to enjoy and preserve a car that is this “new.”  The ad concludes with, “I have two and this one is just too perfect for me to drive.  I’ll drive the one with chips and scratches.”

Therein lies the key.  This Firebird might be best offered as a package deal with the scratched-up version so that one can be on display as a museum piece, while the other can be driven without reservation.

The seller is asking $21,000 for this fresh F-body Firebird.

To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.