History / Originality Got a question about 1982-1992 Camaro or Firebird history? Have a question about original parts, options, RPO codes, when something was available, or how to document your car? Those questions, answers, and much more!

What's the most rare or obscure option you have ever seen?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 01-01-2017, 08:14 PM
  #1  
Supreme Member

Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
Big&BadGTA's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: *member since 1999, I think - just can't remember my old name, and the big site crash...*
Posts: 1,199
Received 151 Likes on 105 Posts
Car: 89 GTA ASC Conv., Prev: 89 GTA 6.3L
Engine: 5.7L L98 TPI
Transmission: 700r4 Automatic
Axle/Gears: 3.27:1 w/ JG1 Options:B2L, N10, U1A
What's the most rare or obscure option you have ever seen?

Thinking about rare options, I know in 1988, some lucked into 1LE cars, and there were a few other super rare years. But what about other, perhaps "lesser known" RPO Codes of Camaros and Firebirds of the 3rd Gen?

What have you seen?

Here's a pic of an SPI Label - 1 of 394 GTAs from 1989 w/ factory CD player (and the leather steering wheel without steering wheel controls)


Old 01-01-2017, 08:46 PM
  #2  
Senior Member

 
bjpotter's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Overland Park Kansas
Posts: 914
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Car: 91 Firbird Formula
Engine: 5.0 TBI
Transmission: 700R4
Re: What's the most rare or obscure option you have ever seen?

Not sure if this was factory installed or dealer, but they have a RPO code Z20. Aftermarket sells them now. I really don't like how they look but each to his own.





Old 01-02-2017, 10:08 AM
  #3  
On Probation
iTrader: (8)
 
3rdgenparts's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Dallas
Posts: 1,434
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes on 4 Posts
Car: 1982 Trans Am KITT Replica
Engine: LU5 305 CROSSFIRE
Transmission: TH-350
Axle/Gears: Limited Slip 3:23
Re: What's the most rare or obscure option you have ever seen?

Some off the top of my head


DD9 euro paddle mirrors and 82-84 Trans am euro market taillights


And my personal holy grail....

Formula Aluminum hood


Dave
Old 01-02-2017, 11:27 AM
  #4  
Supreme Member

iTrader: (58)
 
Drew's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Salina, KS
Posts: 20,309
Received 1,052 Likes on 748 Posts
Re: What's the most rare or obscure option you have ever seen?

People like to equate "rare" to "valuable". "Rare" and obscure options are usually rare because they're polarizing. Notchback Trans Ams are arguably "rare", they're also arguably ugly to a lot of people. Funny colors are the same way, some go crazy for them, others couldn't care less. Goofy Porsche mirrors? No thank you.

Personally the options that excite me aren't all that rare, they're just the options that make the car interesting to me. I look at the engine first, if it's not an HO or better I'm not terribly interested. If it's not a 350 it has to be a 5spd. Does the car have decent exhaust and decent gearing? These are things that make or break the driving experience. A 305 with a 2" exhaust and 2.73 gears is just terribly boring to drive. While a dual cat, 3.23 or 3.42 geared car isn't exactly a rocket-ship in 2017, it sure feels like one next to the average TBI wheeze machine. The way things usually work out, the cars with the performance options are vastly outnumbered by the slugs, which in turn makes them "rare" in comparison.
Old 01-02-2017, 12:49 PM
  #5  
Member

iTrader: (1)
 
GTA1990's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: London, UK
Posts: 402
Received 19 Likes on 14 Posts
Car: 1991 Trans Am
Engine: L31, LT4 hot cam
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3:43 LSD
Re: What's the most rare or obscure option you have ever seen?

bjpotter; that spoiler looks pretty interesting. Might look good on top of a 91-91 batwing spoiler; maybe also make it a bit more functional (a la gurney flap style)

pols, back on topic
Old 01-02-2017, 12:57 PM
  #6  
Supreme Member

Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
Big&BadGTA's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: *member since 1999, I think - just can't remember my old name, and the big site crash...*
Posts: 1,199
Received 151 Likes on 105 Posts
Car: 89 GTA ASC Conv., Prev: 89 GTA 6.3L
Engine: 5.7L L98 TPI
Transmission: 700r4 Automatic
Axle/Gears: 3.27:1 w/ JG1 Options:B2L, N10, U1A
Re: What's the most rare or obscure option you have ever seen?

When it comes to ordering cars, dealers generally order what hey bought last year, or what the manufacturer shows them as "trends". Case in point, in the spring of 2009, the new Corvette Grand Sport could be ordered. A dealer I knew didn't order a single one and when I asked the guy, he said, "it was because last quarter, nobody else had..." Well, duh. It wasn't available then. Turned out to be one of the most popular C6 Corvette models made, with good sales results.

Another dealer, back in 1992 never ordered power windows or other "fancy options". I asked why. He said, "I can trade for anything I want, so why floor the expensive stuff". I guess he could have more (cheap) cars on his lot as a result. Sigh.
Old 01-02-2017, 12:58 PM
  #7  
Supreme Member

Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
Big&BadGTA's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: *member since 1999, I think - just can't remember my old name, and the big site crash...*
Posts: 1,199
Received 151 Likes on 105 Posts
Car: 89 GTA ASC Conv., Prev: 89 GTA 6.3L
Engine: 5.7L L98 TPI
Transmission: 700r4 Automatic
Axle/Gears: 3.27:1 w/ JG1 Options:B2L, N10, U1A
Re: What's the most rare or obscure option you have ever seen?

Originally Posted by 3rdgenparts
And my personal holy grail....

Formula Aluminum hood


Dave

What's the story on that, and how could one order?
Old 01-02-2017, 06:40 PM
  #8  
Supreme Member

iTrader: (8)
 
TTOP350's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Il
Posts: 11,694
Received 746 Likes on 505 Posts
Car: 1989-92 FORMULA350 305 92 Hawkclone
Engine: 4++,350 & 305 CIs
Transmission: 700R4 4800 vig 18th700R4 t56 ZF6 T5
Axle/Gears: 3.70 9"ford alum chunk,dana44,9bolt
Re: What's the most rare or obscure option you have ever seen?

The aluminum hood only came on very early Trans ams (extra cost) and comp package 92 Firehawks. (had 3 aluminum hoods at one time)
Of course, its the same hood (in steel) used on 87-92 formulas.

The most rare obscure option I have seen is rpo B4U

Last edited by TTOP350; 01-02-2017 at 06:46 PM.
Old 01-03-2017, 12:38 AM
  #9  
Junior Member

 
rainmaker70's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Missouri
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 83SC/84z28 autoform/2-84matrix3
Engine: LG4/L69/L69
Transmission: 5M/700r4
Axle/Gears: 3.73g80 j65 /3.73open
Re: What's the most rare or obscure option you have ever seen?

My 1992 B4C/1LE RS with GAM rpo code US government ordered
Old 01-04-2017, 03:12 PM
  #10  
On Probation
iTrader: (8)
 
3rdgenparts's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Dallas
Posts: 1,434
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes on 4 Posts
Car: 1982 Trans Am KITT Replica
Engine: LU5 305 CROSSFIRE
Transmission: TH-350
Axle/Gears: Limited Slip 3:23
Re: What's the most rare or obscure option you have ever seen?

Originally Posted by bjpotter
Not sure if this was factory installed or dealer, but they have a RPO code Z20. Aftermarket sells them now. I really don't like how they look but each to his own.






Look what I found for $10K in SF bay area LMAO, Has V6 and crank windows


https://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/cto/5936268239.html


Old 01-04-2017, 06:16 PM
  #11  
Supreme Member

iTrader: (58)
 
Drew's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Salina, KS
Posts: 20,309
Received 1,052 Likes on 748 Posts
Re: What's the most rare or obscure option you have ever seen?

Wow! Nice to know those cars are still out there (pampered V6s) but that price is full retard. 135k miles? I wonder how bad it was wrecked. Overspray on the hood latch and a replacement fender on the passenger's side, driver's fender doesn't line up with the door, it's not exactly a cream puff. Looks nice in white though, better than the other colors in this thread.

Edit: Damn, missing spat too...
Old 01-04-2017, 06:22 PM
  #12  
On Probation
iTrader: (8)
 
3rdgenparts's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Dallas
Posts: 1,434
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes on 4 Posts
Car: 1982 Trans Am KITT Replica
Engine: LU5 305 CROSSFIRE
Transmission: TH-350
Axle/Gears: Limited Slip 3:23
Re: What's the most rare or obscure option you have ever seen?

Originally Posted by Drew
Wow! Nice to know those cars are still out there (pampered V6s) but that price is full retard. 135k miles? I wonder how bad it was wrecked. Overspray on the hood latch and a replacement fender on the passenger's side, driver's fender doesn't line up with the door, it's not exactly a cream puff. Looks nice in white though, better than the other colors in this thread.

Edit: Damn, missing spat too...


Ya It's a CA car, 1 out 5 have been in some type of wreck or......car chase


Dave
Old 01-04-2017, 07:34 PM
  #13  
Supreme Member

iTrader: (3)
 
PurelyPMD's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Newtown, CT
Posts: 3,038
Received 46 Likes on 37 Posts
Car: 1987 IROC Original Owner
Engine: LB9
Transmission: M39 MM5
Axle/Gears: G80 G92 J65
Re: What's the most rare or obscure option you have ever seen?

I'm sort of partial to the 1LE's with some years more rare than others.

Aluminum hoods are cool too.




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:39 PM.