Funny you mention that...

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/f...la-thread.html

...I love it...a whole new generation of "Flat Glass" Formula fans...I Love it!!:evilb::evilb:

Whats the deal with the portholes on the bow I see some old Flat Glass girls with them and some without them? Must have been an option? I wonder what that cost?

Flat Glass
 

Thats just about the same page except Steve got a new boat

Here is a bit of history for you "Flat Glass" fans. The 302 was introduced in 1979 to compliment the very popular 233 Interceptor and 255 Liberator models. The 233 was the smallest Flat Glass model to get twin Small Blocks and the 255 was the smallest to receive twin Big Blocks. The 255 and 302 Big Blocks were fitted with TRS drives (Bravo Drives didn't come until '88) and both could be optioned up to twin 400/420 Mercruiser Cyclones with Speedmaster TRS Drives. A limited number of 255's ended up with twin 420 horse Cyclones and Speedmaster TRS Drives. Due to BIA insurance restrictions the 255's with this option were shipped with out engines and drives but had transom openings for TRS Drives, The engine/drive packages were shipped separately from Mercury Racing to the selling/installing dealer. The 255 Liberator with this package was reportedly good for 85 MPH and 65 MPH with a pay load of 2000 #. This may have been the fastest of the "Flat Glass" boats. The 255 "Cyclone" package was popular with "Blockade Runners" in Florida because they were light enough to tow with a 1/2 ton pick up and short enough to maneuver in and around remote launching spots in the Keys and Mangrove Islands of SW Florida. The 302 would match up closely to the 35' Flat Deck Cigarettes of the era with out the Cigarette notoriety that screamed "Smuggler". The 255 and 302 models could handle "Big Water" and ran like " Raped Apes" with Cyclone/TRS power.

My fastest (so far) "Flat Glass" was my '86 272 LS that was special ordered with twin Mercruiser 320 EFI engines on Alpha SS drives. It would run 75 MPH with 23" Cleavers turning close to 6000 RPM. The 320 EFI's were marine versions of what Chevy put in the '86 Corvettes and IROC Z/28 Camaros. In my opinion they were under rated and were probably closer to 400 horse.

To me...the "Flat Glass" Formulas represent a milestone of design and represent a period of time when the public was beginning to recognize "Go Fast" offshore boats and was personified by the TV show "Miami Vice".

I like the newer boats but will always have a place in my heart for the classic "Flat Glass" design...it's timeless and looks as good today as it did 35 years ago.

Wow really good reading!!! Well done!!

They all came with them originally...some guys glass them in during restoration to achieve a special look that appeals to them and whoever talked them into doing it. Personally I think its a waste of time and energy to close them up but thats me.

I also like them with the porthole!! It let's in nice air at night!! But they look good without them also!!

http://i1188.photobucket.com/albums/...psfcafd093.jpg

Leaving the harbor for a little fun

don't forget 302 with the Kaama option. They were weapons.

Thanks for the history on the older flat glass Formulas. I can add a little on the newer flat glass ones. In 1984ish Formula redesigned the deck and windshields on the 302s, and I assume the other ones also. This new deck very closely resembles the first of the curved windshield decks like the 311. In fact, there is a curved section right in front of the windshield where it appears a 311 windshield would fit. The new flat glass is less pronounced at the point, or the windshield halves are more straight across. The deck hatches went from one or two large openings on the centerline to the 2 or 4 smaller ones that formula still uses. (Must have made it harder to load the bales....) The cockpit also changed with this design, especially the dash and control placements. This new configuration flowed easily into the curved glass Formulas. The portholes were lost with this factory update, and while some people may have glassed theirs in, most you see without portholes will be the newer flat glass years.