The Official pre '87 "Flat Glass" Formula thread...
 

Let's see a show of how many pre 1987 "Flat Glass" Formulas we have on board. This is the classic look that might be gone for ever...but not forgotten.

Here's mine

[IMG]http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/w...255Pompano.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/w...9/DSC_0615.jpg[/IMG]

Let's see all those old F-18's, F-20's, 233's, 242's 255's, 272's and the ultimate "302":evilb:

Is it OK if I put in my flat fiberglass one? :D

Looks like a little trailer dilemma when you took that one

I wish I could post some pics on here but i'm only a bottom feeder.

Classic lines that never go out of style.

Get a free Photobucket account.

here are some pics of my 86 242ls and my dads 84 302sr1...

http://i1188.photobucket.com/albums/...10921-1045.jpg

http://i1188.photobucket.com/albums/...11003-1224.jpg

2 more

http://i1188.photobucket.com/albums/...11003-1211.jpg

http://i1188.photobucket.com/albums/...6242ls/036.jpg

Thanks for sharing ...2: beautiful examples of "The Look"

Classic...the Legacy lives on.

I am curious...when did Formula and Mercruiser drop the TRS behind Big Blocks and got to Bravo drives? I know No 1 went to Alpha in late '82 but I'm not sure about TRS to Bravo.

pre 87,,, hmmm how about 1967???
http://media.photobucket.com/image/r...a/P4280174.jpg

1967 233 Formula 454Mag Bravo 1

actually my buddys boat but its in my slip and I use it more than he does!!

Well there you go...'1967 is certainly pre '87 !!!

Great looking survivor...thanks for sharing!!

WATCH OUT! The cops are right behind you!

Yep...14th Street Ramp in Pompano Beach. Broward Co. Water Cops have a station there....sort of helps keep the weekend insanity under control at the ramp. They keep that place tied down tighter than a Frog's A$$!!

Hey both of those look great! Are they orginal factory imron paint.

Here's my '79 233 interceptor

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/l...s/IMG_3905.jpg

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/l...s/IMG_3908.jpg

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/l...s/IMG_3915.jpg

Often imitated...but never duplicated...the one...the only Formula 233 Interceptor.

Lookin' as good as ever!!!

and the '77 255 I used to have

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/l...s/IMG_3807.jpg

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/l...s/IMG_3794.jpg

Wow ..a 255 Freedom Cruiser...single 260 I presume...or is that a 270 Volvo ? How did the FC perform with that power? I always liked those boats.:evilb:

Very cool thread. Love the older Formula's. Came close on a couple of 242's instead of my 1st 24' Sonic.
I can see one or a 27 in my future at some point. The lines are just timeless.

My old 242, was a small block Alpha, converted to big block Bravo.

I love your Sonic.....love the lines...wonder why? LOL

I put a new Fire Sprinkler System in the old Sonic Hollywood plant back in the mid '80's....3600 N 29th Av. Is your's a Hollywood boat?

Do you ever get down to Peanut Island? Give me a shout if you do I'll try to hook up.

Yep to...
 

Hollywood, no to Peanut Island. Haven't done much boating in that area yet. We normally keep going south and end up in the Keys.
We do plan to explore your area though.

Here's a link to the 30' for sale with O/B's . Looks pretty well beat but I like the looks of it. About 1/2 way through my Sonic restoration I realized it would have been faster/easier/cheaper to buy a clean I/O boat and convert to O/B's.
A 242 was on that short list.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...SS%3AUS%3A1123

Ya was towing it up to storage with new rims and the lug nuts loosened up on me. After that I stopped at every couple miles to retighten them!

Here's a few photos of my 1986 272. It was the Miami boat show / brochure photoshoot boat that year. It has been repowered with LT1 Smallblocks with Alpha SS shorty drives. I've redone the interior and have the IMRON looking like new. Truly a great boat! It's been on Grand Lake since new. I love the thing, but it's up for sale - have a 419 and cruiser now. Let me know if you know anyone looking for one!

http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/...islandjoes.jpg

http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/...2/portside.jpg

http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/...272/img152.jpg

http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/...2/engines2.jpg

http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/.../CSTrailer.jpg

I want it...but it's so damn far away!! I had a '86 272 and loved it!!

Out of curiosity...what Holley's are you running on those LT-1's?

BTW...I have a copy of that catalog that came with my '86 272...our man zdek speaks the truth...that is the 272 catalog boat for 1986!!:evilb:

It was an OMC 235 stringer drive :/
Not a fast boat

Dude 22 hours or so to get a sweet ride is nothing! Maybe he will drive your way a little.

I always wondered what happened to Cuda's 302 that thing was MINT. In fact I wonder what happened to Cuda!

Yep.
 

Gorgeous!

Love the yellow and the alpha shorties what speed are you seeing out of that 272.

Audio, what did happen to Cuda he was on here all the time

I agree...I have to consider that. It looks good behind that Cayenne...but I'll bet that 6500 lbs +/-(7500# if you include the trailer) of Formula drags that Porsche down quite a bit!!

I have to control my enthusiasm...I have close the same thing any way.

I think I remember on a post from a year or two ago he said mid 70's with a light fuel load and a 2~3' chop. That's about what I got with my '86 272 with twin 320 EFI's.

A 272 will get up and go with SBC 600~650 horsepower in the water. Twin small blocks make a very nicely balanced package in a 255/ 272.

Thank you guys for all of the kind replies. I love the boat - and it's going to be hard to see go.

That said, it's been a great, trouble free ride for me and will make someone a wonderful 272 and very inexpensive compared to other 27's on the market with comparable power.

In response to the top end, I have rarely run it out but it will run around 70 with some chop on 91 pump gas. The vast majority of the time on the engines has been between 2600 and 2750 - getting around 2mpg! I love small blocks. I'd be happy to share ideas / compare notes if anyone is repowering to SBC's or alpha SS's.

Here are some videos - the IMCO drypipes sound so nice!

http://www.youtube.com/zdek

Joe Zaloudek
[email protected]
918-740-4805

I'll take a look at the build sheets for the mills and let you know. - honestly couldn't tell you off the top of my head what they are... tells you how much I've had to fiddle with her! hahaha!

Thanks again,
JZ

Here are pics I dug up of my first Formula...a 1978 F-18 with a 302 Ford 188 HP on a Mercruiser I stern drive. I bought the boat new in '78 and had it 9 years. This was my first boat and the one that started it all for me.

[IMG]http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/w...k49/F-18-1.jpg[/IMG]

http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/w...k49/F-18-6.jpg
This is at Elliott Key in about 1983 with Tom and Linda Hoffstetter (Tommy of Chief Engines/Power Boat Nation parents) and Tommy's sister Sherry.

[IMG]http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/w...k49/F-18-2.jpg[/IMG]

http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/w...k49/F-18-4.jpg

[IMG]http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/w...k49/F-18-3.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/w...k49/F-18-5.jpg[/IMG]

That little boat bone stock would run 50 w/1 aboard and 5 gals of gas. I ran a 21" stainless prop. I later put a Edelbrock Performer Intake and a Crane Cam that was the same grind as the 271 horse 289 cam. It would turn 6500 RPM and run 65 MPH...chine walking past 60. I took it to Bimini at least a dozen times running with other boats.

This one sold me on the brand.

Thanks for sharing this Joe...brings back a lot of great memories.

This was my second Formula..'86 242 SS w/260 Mercruiser/Alpha I. It was a great utility boat...roomy cockpit and cabin. It was very dry in rough water and had a great ride. It really needed big block power. With the single 260 it wouldn't break 45...unless it was on the trailer!!

[IMG]http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/w...tor/242-1A.jpg[/IMG]

http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/w...tor/242-7A.jpg

[IMG]http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/w...9/242-SS-1.jpg[/IMG]

http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/w...9/242-SS-2.jpg

I bought this one from John and Bob Ellis at High Lift Marine on NE 188th Street in N. Miami Beach. I watched it go through the factory in Miami and was told it was the last 242 SS built in that plant.

I would love to find one of these in decent shape with a big block. There was one for sale here a few months ago with a 502 and a Bravo but I missed it.

I replaced it with a '86 272 LS/SR1 with twin 320 EFI's...but that's another chapter.

This winter's project. '84 Formula One 16' 7" 185 V6 4bbl Merc. Craigslist find, original owner. fresh water 400 hrs. In storage since 1995. Woke it up and got 9 hrs on her last November. Full fiberglass cockpit, similar to a Donzi Classic with snap out upholstery. Fun little boat that acts much bigger with a 24 degree V.

http://i817.photobucket.com/albums/z...ormulaOne2.jpg

New hatch, teak w/Holly stripes.

http://i817.photobucket.com/albums/z...1230-00103.jpg

That looks great, that can`t be original right, nice work

Formula went after the entry level market with this one and had a winner. These are light and nimble boats that inherit the classic deep vee hull from their larger family members. Great find...I see a little bullet making it's way around lakes in your area this season....using very little fuel!!