Other required options on...
Other required options on any Formula slated for the Firehawk conversion were the B2L 350ci engine, the four-speed auto trans, and the 3.23 rear axle ratio. As with the engine, SLP replaced the transmission and rear axle with bulletproof units designed for extreme performance applications. A ZF six-speed manual gearbox commonly associated with similar vintage ZR1 Corvettes and a Dana 44 axle housing a limited-slip differential and 3.54 gears were SLP's choices. Connected to the factory-installed dual-catalytic converters was an SLP 3-inch stainless-steel after-cat exhaust system with dual-outlets that exited under the driver side of the bumper. The aftermarket chambered exhaust system presently on the Pontiac is owner added, but the original will soon be reinstalled.
Months passed as Bruce diligently searched for the right one for him. While in the midst of his hunt, a friend called to tell him of a Dark Green '92 Firehawk advertised in the Charlotte, North Carolina, newspaper. "I didn't believe it at first," Bruce says. "Most everyone thought that Bright Red was the only color available. I called the seller, asked a few specific questions, and found it was an authentic SLP car. Strangely enough, it was No. 24-the same car I saw in Hemmings a few months before, but I didn't know then that it was Dark Green Metallic with Beige cloth interior."
The Firehawk was completely original and in excellent condition with just 2,300 miles on the odometer, but its asking price was still much more than Bruce could afford. "Not only was it one of 25 built, but it was also the only one in that color combination. I just had to have it," he says. "I talked it over with my wife, and we agreed to cut corners for a while so we could buy it. I went to the bank and borrowed as much money as they'd loan me, and after some negotiating I purchased it in May 2000."
Life With A Firehawk
Bruce says that he shows his Formula Firehawk several times yearly, and that it always commands attention wherever he takes it. "I really enjoy driving it; it's just so powerful. Its acceleration is awesome. I've had it on the dragstrip, and it turns the quarter-mile in the low 13s with a trap speed of 106-108 mph, just as SLP claimed. I remember how happy I was watching my dad outrun an LS1 car with it the night we brought it home."
In addition to Firehawk No. 24, Bruce has also owned a few other unique Third- and Fourth-Gen F-bodies, including a '91 Trans Am 1LE, a '92 Formula with a transplanted LS1 engine, a '98 Formula WS6 with 1LE, an '01 Trans Am WS6, and an '02 Formula Firehawk. He admits the '92 Firehawk is still his favorite, however, and when asked about future plans, he says, "I'm leaving it all original. It's just too rare to modify."
Conclusion
Sliding behind the Firehawk's steering wheel surely takes Bruce back to 1992, a feeling only he and 24 other lucky owners presently share, but there are countless others just as enamored with Third-Gens even though theirs might not be nearly as rare. Around the same time that he took possession of the Firehawk, Bruce began searching for parts sources and found no companies dedicated to Third-Gen F-bodies or their owners.
"I knew there was a market for this," he says. "I started Hawk's Third-Gen Parts offering new and used parts for Third-, and now Fourth-Gen F-bodies. With the help of my wife, B.J.; son, Tyler; dad, Tony; and several hard-working employees, it's been quite successful. The Firehawk really pushed me into opening my company, and I consider myself truly blessed to be making a living doing what I love with my family and friends. Now that's what I call Pontiac Excitement!" We couldn't agree more.