1988 Special Edition Firebird? - Third Generation F-Body Message Boards

Cuno · 05-14-2002, 09:27 PM

Ok, I saw a Firebird today that really caught my attention. Instead of the hatch on the back end as most are, this one was a hatch that looked like the rear end of a non-hatch back car. Rear window and trunk look, but it was still a hatch back. I asked the owner where he purchased this hatch, and he informed me that this was a factory item. He told me that in 1988 Pontiac made around 250 special edition Firebirds with this hatch. He sounded like he knew what he was talking about. Has anyone heard of this or seen this themselves? If so, does someone make an aftermarket product similar?

cdartz · 05-14-2002, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Cuno
this one was a hatch that looked like the rear end of a non-hatch back car. Rear window and trunk look, but it was still a hatch back.

I think the confusion here is that you are under the false assumption that a factory notchback car did not lift up as a hatchback. That is not true. The notchback was in fact a hatch that lifted up, which is what you were looking at.

Cuno · 05-14-2002, 10:20 PM

Sorry about the confusion there! I knew what I meant, just didn't come out so well. So, were there many of the notchback's made? Is it an aftermarket product?

Cuno · 05-14-2002, 10:28 PM

Alot easier to get info when I know what it is called! Here is a pic for anyone who has not seen this.

TAdan · 05-14-2002, 10:54 PM

That is a 1988 GTA notch back. 624 made. It was a factory option. Only available on 1988 GTA's. (one car was built in 89)

raptoryfm660r · 05-14-2002, 10:57 PM

Cuno,

That is a 1988 Pontiac GTA. Motor trend has a test of that car in their July 1988 issue.

Chet