okfoz

This past weekend I witnessed first hand a 1985 Trans Am with the D81 Aero Spoiler. He has owned it since new, and here is the story he gave me.

In 1985, he special ordered the car for his wife, and one of the things he checked off was he wanted the D81 Aero spoiler, after waiting and waiting the Dealer called and asked if he still wanted the car without the spoiler, he said he needed the spoiler for the deal.

As it turned out the design of the spoiler was a patent of another car company, he said Porsche, which would make sense since it resembled the "duck tail" or "Whale Tail" spoiler they were using since around 1974 on the 911. So GM was in negotiations with Porsche when the patent ran out, and then GM started production.

In the end he said that each dealer was allowed ONE Trans Am with the Aero Spoiler for the 1985 Model year, he was the first on the list, and he said yes he wanted it, so he got the car.

carlos64030

iTrader: (1)

I guess I must have missed something. Was there some kind of discussion on whether or not the '85 T/As came with this style of spoiler? I've seen quite a few '85s with it. I was too young to buy a car at that time, but I do remember not liking it when it was first introduced and would rather have the older style that was on the '82-'84 and some of the '85s. Hell... I remember even having a 1985 Trans Am plastic model kit that had this spoiler.

Greg '85 T/A

I wonder the same. Most 85s I saw at Slocum Pontiac in Greenfield, WI, had them. Mine was the oddball with the old spoiler.

okfoz

I remember there had been discussion before on the legitimacy of it (for 1985), or I might be thinking of something else. but Someone at one point argued that although they were in the catalog they never had seen one in person.

I always thought I had seen one, but when I started looking for a real example with the D81 on the SPID, I could only find D80 (standard wing) cars for 1985... 1986 they were the staple, and to find a D80 in 1986 is unusual, unless you got the louvered rear window. Of course 1987-1990 the painted spoilers are very common as every GTA, T/A & Formula got them.

So I thought I would put it to rest.

Now we have to find a Digital Dash car for 1985.

Bob88GTA

iTrader: (2)

In May of 1985, I ordered a Bright Blue Metallic Trans Am, 305 TBI, with the D81 Spoiler option. It was rubber with slightly raised little dimples, unpainted. (it is unique for 1985 & 1986 as it had a texture).

carlos64030

iTrader: (1)

Yeah, I've never seen an '85 with a digital dash. The first time I ever saw a digital dash in these cars was in a 1987 burgundy and silver Trans Am. I don't recall ever seeing one in an '86, either. Until recently, I thought they were only available from '86 to '88.

mantaguy

iTrader: (5)

John, I thought I sent you these Pontiac Internal Bulletins.If I'm reading them correctly,the Digital Clusters were introduced in March ,1986.

okfoz

Digital Dash C67 was reasonably common in 1986-1988, there was something like 3 in 1989, and 1985 has it no cars have been found to my knowledge.


What is the thing at the top of the hatch? Is that for the CHML?

John

JT

iTrader: (1)

The digital dash is listed in the 1985 Pontiac dealer book as a new option, yet we have not seen proof of one and subsequent Pontiac documents indicate it was released for the 1986 model year. Perhaps there was an issue preventing it from being released after the literature was printed for 1985.

okfoz

That would appear to be the case indeed. I have never seen those before.

What I have for 1986 Distribution Bulletins is
86-ALL-1
F-1, F-2, F-4, F-5, F-6, F-7, F-8 & now F-12...

I need (for 1986)
F-3, F-9, F-10, F-11 & anything F-13 & UP.

I have NOTHING but F-6 for 1985

John

carlos64030

iTrader: (1)

I could be wrong, but I think it's a base for a cellular antenna.

mantaguy

iTrader: (5)

Here's F11,that's all I have left for 86 that you need.


http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u...ps16lydfm2.jpg

IMissMy86TA

I remember ordering an 85 with it so it was on the sheet. I had seen it in a magazine review of a gold one with it. When I ordered it was around the end of the run and I ended up getting one of the first 86 TAs off the truck. I remember being very sad that it had the idiotic 3rd brake light and that the aero spoiler was no longer special. I hadnt seen any in town before and knew it looked soo much better..

okfoz

Thanks for F-11, only 3 more to go... And almost all of 85

John

mantaguy

iTrader: (5)

I kind of like the 3rd brake light on the 86,it's the only one(year) that you could recognize going by, all the rest you have to guess.

,I'm still looking for you.

okfoz

Not so fast, you can tell almost any year just by walking around and looking:
Firebird changes by year.
1982 - only year to get a 3 speed automatic
1983 - generally the same as 82, but has 4 speed auto
1984 - Trans Am specifically got the Aero Package, it was not mandatory, but most of them got it. 15th anniversary Trans Am.
1985 - Completely new design and looks for all styles, Looks like 86-90, but has no 3rd brake light, also has old style instruments with the otherwise basically the same 86-89 interior, also if you see an "all stock" 85-90 with the standard wing, it probably is an 85, the D80 wing was available as an option delete in 1986, but not many took it, but it was mandatory with the louvers.
1986 - CHML on the outside of the rear hatch
1987 - The Last year for the non serpentine belt, also last year for 3 spoke "Formula" steering wheel. 1987 would also be the only year you could get the "GTA" style door panels with Custom seats in a base Firebird or Formula. Last year for 4BBL.
1988 - Introduction of steering wheel controls on GTA & Trans AM, also introduction of the 4 spoke steering wheel, the GTA if you see a notch-back it is a 1988 (sans the 1 1989)
1989 - Rear shoulder seat belts were added, the paint in front of the windshield was no longer black but body color, 9th injector removed from TPI. If you see a TTA pace car, it is a 1989..
1990 - Airbag introduced but appears like 85-90 styles. interior was upgraded, better lower dash panels for crashes, and Other minor changes, Automatic shift indicator added to console.
1991 - obviously the new ground effects, bumpers, etc... Improved T-top weather seals were mid year, some other minor changes mid-model-year... CHML was moved to the inside top of the rear window, why this was not moved there in 1987 is beyond me.
1992 - Nothing obvious that I can think of.

Bob88GTA

iTrader: (2)

Great info John

But I think mantaguy was talking in terms of a 86 driving down the road at 65mph. The 3rd brakelight is a dead giveaway. If the hatch was changed out, that's a different story.

mantaguy

iTrader: (5)

That's what I'm talking about

okfoz

I guess I did not read that into it. I just gleamed at it, not taking in the full context.

banditrw

The Aero Spoiler was available beginning in 1985, I had one. The 1985-86 Aero spoilers were black but in 1987 onward they were painted body color. The Digital dash was ONLY available for 2 model years, 1987-1988 and then was discontinued due to numerous problems of which I can attest to since I owned a 1987 GTA with the Digital Dash. For those 2 model years the Digital Dash was an option on the Formula, Trans Am, and GTA.

JT

iTrader: (1)

The digital cluster was available in 1986 in addition to 1987 and 1988. Also, the digital cluster was not available on any Formulas. It was only optional on the Trans Am or GTA.

ray jr

iTrader: (2)

i just sold a 85 trans am with the aero spoiler

IMissMy86TA

I am very surprised you did not know that this was offered in 1985. When the car was in magazines from 1984-1985 in shots lots of them had these. I ordered my TA which was exactly like the car you show. I checked off the spoiler but they were rare to see.. none were in my town and I wanted to be first kid on the block. Loved how it made the car look. well long story short I got my car and it was one of the first 86s. I was bummed about the third brake light placement and that all would have my special spoiler... removed that red tape and it looked like what the GTA would look like the following year

dmccain

iTrader: (2)

Saw a low mileage silver 85 TA at a show a few years back and it had the original black D81 spoiler. I discussed it with the original owner and he said it was an option and original to the car.

Bob88GTA

iTrader: (2)

Yeppers, ordered my 85 with it.

okfoz

*sigh* I think when I took the pictures I was confused, maybe it was actually the Digital Display that was NA in 1985 but there was rumors of some having it. I got all excited for nothing.

I have already been shamed for my error and confessed my sins, see my comment in post #4.

Thank you

mantaguy

iTrader: (5)

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.thi...15d4458c99.jpg

dmccain

iTrader: (2)

No shame okfoz you probably know more about these Pontiacs than anyone

JT

iTrader: (1)

Just a quick question so that this thread is refreshed a little longer to show us your errors.

But you say you have F-6 for 1985? My F-6 for 1985 specifically covers the D80/D81 change from July 15 and forward? Mine came from one of those product books. Is yours not the same?

okfoz

Yes.
However that the date is July 15, 1985, so the effective date is less than 2 months away from the MY changeover.

John

okfoz

But I do, I learned and am 2 years smarter now... Just bringing up old irrelevant dirt.. I feel like I am the President.

IMissMy86TA

Yeah it grew on me. thought it looked like a 70s TA hoodscoop after a while... and yeah I like it now because I can recognize them with it and tell my kids its what I had..


I am 100% sure that I saw a magazine article about the new 1985 body style and in a Pontiac mag - it had pics with the dash on the 85 photo car. it was a gold WS6 with the reverse turbo wheels and the areo spoiler with digital dash. When I ordered my 85 that came as a 86 there was not any option on the ordersheet for the digital dash

for the 86 the areo spoiler was the standard for the TA.. that why they are the staple for 86...

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

Just saw this..
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1985-Pontiac...YAAOSwB-1Y3BZx

okfoz

Interestingly the D81 did not actually appear on the Dealer order worksheet until the 4th printing 10-84... The First, Second and Third printing do not show it as an option.

3rdgenparts

iTrader: (8)

Correct !!! Digital dash was '86-88 GTA/Trans am only


Personal story, Few years ago in California I almost bought a

CLEAN !! '86 T/A 305 tpi, T-Tops, Black GTA wheels, digital dash. Guy bought it for his daughter as her HS car, She got a new VW and was selling the T/A

for some stupid reason I passed on it and still regret it to this day he was only asking $1500 for it

Jayess

I had a brand new, ordered from the factory, red/silver T/A, fully loaded with the black aero spoiler. Trust me, they did exist!! I now own an almost identical 85 T/A, with the painted aero spoiler!