Where Is The V.H.O. Formula Now?
Fast-forward to 2005, when Glen Young, a 47-year-old A/C contractor in Dulles, Virginia, was searching eBay for a Third-Gen Firebird to add to his collection. "The auction said 'Formula 350 Supercharged' and I remembered reading John Gunnell's book, Firebird Illustrated Buyers Guide, Second Edition, in which he gave the limited-edition V.H.O. Formula a four-star collectible rating (five stars was the highest possible rating)," Glen says.
Glen bid what he thought the V.H.O. Formula was worth, but didn't win the auction. He called the seller anyway, congratulated him on the deal, and left his phone number. Three weeks later, the seller called back and explained that the high-bidder had cancelled the transaction, so he offered the Formula to Glen.
"I got it for what I originally wanted to pay for it," Glen says. "It worked out great."
A water/alcohol injection...
A water/alcohol injection reservoir tank housed the cooling mixture the supercharger needed to keep the engine from detonating. How often did it have to be refilled? "Since it was only activated upon boost, we suggested the owner check and fill at each oil change," said the system's inventor, Greg Carroll. Notice the great deal of attention placed on making the reservoir look like factory-installed.
With the optional 350ci "corporate"...
With the optional 350ci "corporate" L98 rated at 230 hp, came a selection of mandatory options: an automatic 700-R4 transmission (code MXO), an oil cooler (code KC4), the WS6 performance package, four-wheel disc brakes (code J65), and a limited-slip axle (code G80) equipped with 3.27 gears.
A close-up of the hood shows...
A close-up of the hood shows the V.H.O. Formula's subtle, but deadly callouts-a supercharged, 350ci L98 good for 400 bhp and 475 lb-ft of torque.
What Glen received was a Third-Gen time-machine that had accrued just 26,000 miles since new and still had its original dealer's selling documentation, Carroll Supercharging owner's manual, dealer license-plate surround, and three copies of High Performance Pontiac, June '88. The best part-Glen's new car was the exact V.H.O. Formula that appeared on the cover of HPP.
"I was awe-struck when I saw how incredibly gorgeous the V.H.O. Formula was in person," Glen says. "The hood design really made the car stand out. I love the way Greg designed the gauges to fit in the factory hood's bulge. I was also amazed at the high-end '80s-era technology that survived with the car-a Jacobs computerized ignition system, a Carroll Supercharging 600-watt custom audio system, and a Whistler radar detector."
With plenty of other Third-Gen Birds in his collection, Glen's primary goal for his ultra-rare Formula is to preserve its original condition, maintain its low mileage, and keep it safe from the future ravages of time and misuse. "The only time it's been out of the warehouse in the last five years was so that HPP could photograph it for a feature," he says.
Of the three Supercharged 350 V.H.O. Formulas produced by Carroll Supercharging, this is the best surviving example. "The first dealer car was totaled by its original owner, back when it was less than one year old," Greg says. "The '87 prototype is still a daily driver but has high mileage and is a shell of its former self. That makes the Bright Red V.H.O. Formula that Glen owns the best one left. Good luck to him preserving it for future generations."
Conclusion
It's not often that a Firebird makes the cover of High Performance Pontiac, disappears, and then shows up almost two decades later with a new owner's story and looking as good as it did back in the day. That makes the Supercharged 350 V.H.O. Formula a pretty lucky Bird and Glenn a very happy owner-V.H.O. for short.
Greg Carroll designed this...
Greg Carroll designed this three-gauge set, featuring fuel pressure, manifold pressure, and trans oil temperature, for use with his '84 Trans Am. Since the Trans Am didn't have a bulge hood in '88 and the Formula did, Greg used Formulas only to create V.H.O.'s.
In addition to being a supercharging...
In addition to being a supercharging expert, Greg Carroll had an extensive background in electronics. That's why he offered this 600 watt, CSC-103H trunk-mounted custom audio package for the V.H.O. Formula. Its cost in '88 dollars was a whopping $2,500.
Carroll Supercharging had...
Carroll Supercharging had these die-cut, ultraviolet-resistant call-out decals made specifically for the V.H.O. Formula. This one is original to the car, and has survived since the '80s. "As near and dear to us as the Formula 350 is, we've always wanted the kind of power the car really deserves. The Carroll car has it in spades," said Riggs.