Yes It’s Plastic, And OH HECK YA, It’s Aronow Cool, And Yes, Has A Dramatic Ending, Maybe?
Wait? What? WOW
Today, we feature some good old plastic. But not just any chemical spill formed into a boat shape. But the cool Formula Thunderbird Jr. And it’s for sale on Facebook marketplace. Or was? Or Is?
Like. WOW
So. Let’s get started here. Formula boats is still around.. And it does have a long history, but the most iconic part of its history, or lets say dramatic, was the Don Aronow years when it started with a bang. Okay, it ended with a bang, but that’s a later story. They even made a movie about him and Formula boats.
Anyway, I always thought these were cool boats, but I am a smaller boat guy, and didnt know there was a Jr version. I know, I should, but for the love of Pete, keeping track of wood is difficult enough. But now, this little gas sucker is in my hard drive, and won’t leave.
I looked these up, and found some are out there. And depending on whats been done to them, the value is a little all over the place. But $10K for this seems close. I suppose if the engine is in good shape. And of course you have to want to live in that crazy outdrive world. BUT, go try and find bad assery for $10K in the boat world. Go ahead, I will wait. BAD ASS BTW, not some small outboard thing.
Image from the Facbook Formula Jr Registry page.
This boat is rock’n, and is up there with a Donzi sweet 16, or Baby Donzi, and right now, Donzi’s are a hot collectable item. Hey, we asked for more young people. This was the stuff they lusted after. And now, right here, on the internet. Something that Don Aronow had no clue would be a thing. Is this little beast of history. Now, this gets crazy. While doing this story, the ad on Facebook Marketplace disappeared. Like Poof GONE, Dead. Like Aronow. Too soon? Anyway, I did some screen grabs just incase this sort of thing would happen. And there is some chatter about it on the Formula Jr Facebook group. And, well. Thats that. But still a very cool model to look for.
POOF!
I like plastic. Vintage Slick Craft is my boat of choice. I love the sharp clean lines. At least the story was about boats today…you never know what’s going to be the topic of the day lately!
While I’ve never experienced a cockpit like this…. I imagine a single captains chair and wrap-around tufted seating like this or a Donzi must be an excellent arrangement from a user experience standpoint. Plus it just looks cool when not in motion. Good design, and brings back feelings of a long-lost time period that is still within reach.
Enjoyed the preview video for the Aranow movie. I read the book and really enjoyed it. He was THE boat builder and racer!
Yes, I agree you need this baby “go fast” to go with your baby camera!
I think everyone knows how I feel about Formula’s by now.
Don Aronow, Jim Wynne, and Walt Walters made one heck of a team and designed one He** of a boat. The Thunderbird family took it and ran with it for years (kind of like Chris Craft in that it was family run for a long time).
A Jr. would definitely be a great addition to the fleet. There was a really nice red and white one for sale a few years ago in the pan handle.
When discussing classic glass you have to include the
James bound inspired Glastron-Carlsons.
Live and let die
Roger Moore in the chase scene
1973 CV19SS 455 olds with Berkeley jet drive
Quite a fast looking boat. However I think it looks faster than it goes, with that 165 inline in it. OBTW, the U P is cut off from lower. Michigan, right now. The Mackinac bridge is closed. Ice falling from cables, after the ice storm.
A picture of the bridge. It is definitely not boating season in the U P yet.
There’s a lot of pretty cool stuff out there if you look hard enough to find it. This is from Bertram.