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If you have a Players Challenge Car, please post here. (RPO- A4U, 1LE or R7U)
History / OriginalityGot 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!
Re: If you have a Players Challenge Car, please post here. (RPO- A4U, 1LE or R7U)
Originally Posted by Speedfreak391
so it looks like I have one of these fancy race-bred Camaro's. Mine is an 87 that I bought minus motor and trans. I had no idea that it was a special car until the owner of BMR let me know that the car was different when their battery relocation kit wouldn't fit. I will post up the pertinent info here soon. I have had the car since 2005 and it has been a project ever since. I am pretty close to having it running and driving. And yes, I have gone the way of road race setup as far as suspension and bracing. No cage yet. But maybe down the road.
Do you have the SPID on the center console lid? If not we could help.... Because all of the Players cars were sold in Canada, we could get a list of RPOs for you by the VIN.
Re: If you have a Players Challenge Car, please post here. (RPO- A4U, 1LE or R7U)
Originally Posted by Speedfreak391
so it looks like I have one of these fancy race-bred Camaro's. Mine is an 87 that I bought minus motor and trans. I had no idea that it was a special car until the owner of BMR let me know that the car was different when their battery relocation kit wouldn't fit. I will post up the pertinent info here soon. I have had the car since 2005 and it has been a project ever since. I am pretty close to having it running and driving. And yes, I have gone the way of road race setup as far as suspension and bracing. No cage yet. But maybe down the road.
pm me. I have all the VINs for the players cars and can validate it.
Re: If you have a Players Challenge Car, please post here. (RPO- A4U, 1LE or R7U)
Hi John,
I got your message. Thank you for sharing your info.
I have the sticker in my center console glove box. I also had GM Canada give me the documentation on the car, as it is an A4U car.
So for now, I have everything I need for the car, except for new sticky rubber. LOL
Thanks again and enjoy your project 87 Camaro Players Challenge car.
Mark
Re: If you have a Players Challenge Car, please post here. (RPO- A4U, 1LE or R7U)
I do not have a players car but I do have a 92 b4c1le l98 car. Colorado state patrol pursuit vehicle if you are interested in those let me know and ill shoot over the vin
Re: If you have a Players Challenge Car, please post here. (RPO- A4U, 1LE or R7U)
Originally Posted by 881SA
Here's another 87 A4U for sale currently, appears to have been reassembled??? Should it have power seats based on this SPID?
No, that VIN did not come with power seats. Just AR9 SEAT,FRONT BUCKET,DRIVER,PASSENGER,MANUAL RECLINING(EUROPEAN STYLE) MAN RECL FRT BKT ST,DELUXE(AR9). Its not unlikely that the interior was upgraded over the years, or swapped when race teams changed cars.
Re: If you have a Players Challenge Car, please post here. (RPO- A4U, 1LE or R7U)
That's what I thought as too many things don't align with an A4U, a tilt steering wheel is another item you wouldn't typically see on a track car.
Good chance the center console is a fake as well???
Re: If you have a Players Challenge Car, please post here. (RPO- A4U, 1LE or R7U)
Also noticed the SPID appears to be on the lid to the center console, that would make it pretty easy to change and highly unlikely to have survived three years of racing.
Did the earlier models have the SPID on the console lid?
Re: If you have a Players Challenge Car, please post here. (RPO- A4U, 1LE or R7U)
87 and 88s you could order with or without options. So a power seat could be an option. By 89 it was a standard option grouping with only color as the choice.
Base level cars would have been pretty basic. Level 2 would have had pw, pl, delay wipers, tilt. Level 3 would have had more comfort items.
My guess on this car is that someone installed nicer seats over the years. Not a terrible upgrade if they look good. But not 100% original to how it was built.
Re: If you have a Players Challenge Car, please post here. (RPO- A4U, 1LE or R7U)
It would be rare to find an A4U that hasn't been raced, that was the point of them. So pretty clear this 87 has been restored down to the frame and upgraded options have been used.
Re: If you have a Players Challenge Car, please post here. (RPO- A4U, 1LE or R7U)
Originally Posted by 881SA
It would be rare to find an A4U that hasn't been raced, that was the point of them. So pretty clear this 87 has been restored down to the frame and upgraded options have been used.
Remember, the cars were raced for 1 year, and then teams had to buy the new model for the next race season. So many 87's ended up back on the street, and then a new 88 model was raced using the same cage, exhaust, race seat. Finding an A4U still in race trim is very unusual ... but a few do exist.
As long as the original VIN stamped engine and trans are there ... good bones. The racing history and story are key to good documentation.
Re: If you have a Players Challenge Car, please post here. (RPO- A4U, 1LE or R7U)
Hello -
My father in law bought this car at a random used car lot in like 1990 in Central NJ. He put like 250k miles on it over the years, then decided he wanted to restore it, with plans for a big block Chevy. He took it to a shop called Owens & McIntosh, which was later closed because of fraud and other issues, but they were to do the body work. They called him one day and told him it had a unique two piece front bumper, and that there were no manufacturer part numbers on the bumper cover, and that they couldn't find a record of that bumper style. Given this was like 1998, pre-internet proliferation, they called around at GM and found out that the car was original a promo car for the Player's Challenge.
It was essentially a stripper Z/28 with a 305/auto, manual windows and seats, with unique front bumper. He had the body work done, then over the next few years, built the 454 and backed it with a built 700R4 and Ford 9" running Cragar mags with a 3" cowl hood and side exit exhaust with long tubes and Thrush turbo mufflers.
He drove it from time to time, but when he remarried, wife number 4 was VERY not interested in cars, so he gifted it to me, as the "car" son in law. I very rarely drive it. Maybe 200 miles a year. It goes like stink, but it's a carb, and there's always drama with it. It's currently stored at a friend's house so I can get my Mustang, Bronco, and the wife's Benz in my garage. The VIN is 1G1FP87H9GN134057, but I've been unable to look up the RPO codes to authenticate it. Unfortunately, I'm a Mustang guy and have very little knowledge of GM vehicles or Camaros. I was hoping someone could help me authenticate my FIL's story and identify if this actually a Player's Challenge vehicle (it was a stripper 305/auto with a red interior, and from the charts posted here, there were no red interiors made in 1986).
Re: If you have a Players Challenge Car, please post here. (RPO- A4U, 1LE or R7U)
There were 2 demo cars made ni 1985 to showcase the race program in 86. They were 305 LG4 cars if I recall. I know of one which has a really low VIN ... 100014 which probably meant it was suppose to be crushed. I don't know of any other demo 1986 cars ... but doesn't mean there wasn't any. 1986 was the first year, so lots of publicity. Would need to check what dealer it was sold from and then start tracking down information.
1986 Players camaros were in teh 166000-168000 range for VIN sequences.
Mark.
Originally Posted by jacknifetoaswan
Hello -
My father in law bought this car at a random used car lot in like 1990 in Central NJ. He put like 250k miles on it over the years, then decided he wanted to restore it, with plans for a big block Chevy. He took it to a shop called Owens & McIntosh, which was later closed because of fraud and other issues, but they were to do the body work. They called him one day and told him it had a unique two piece front bumper, and that there were no manufacturer part numbers on the bumper cover, and that they couldn't find a record of that bumper style. Given this was like 1998, pre-internet proliferation, they called around at GM and found out that the car was original a promo car for the Player's Challenge.
It was essentially a stripper Z/28 with a 305/auto, manual windows and seats, with unique front bumper. He had the body work done, then over the next few years, built the 454 and backed it with a built 700R4 and Ford 9" running Cragar mags with a 3" cowl hood and side exit exhaust with long tubes and Thrush turbo mufflers.
He drove it from time to time, but when he remarried, wife number 4 was VERY not interested in cars, so he gifted it to me, as the "car" son in law. I very rarely drive it. Maybe 200 miles a year. It goes like stink, but it's a carb, and there's always drama with it. It's currently stored at a friend's house so I can get my Mustang, Bronco, and the wife's Benz in my garage. The VIN is 1G1FP87H9GN134057, but I've been unable to look up the RPO codes to authenticate it. Unfortunately, I'm a Mustang guy and have very little knowledge of GM vehicles or Camaros. I was hoping someone could help me authenticate my FIL's story and identify if this actually a Player's Challenge vehicle (it was a stripper 305/auto with a red interior, and from the charts posted here, there were no red interiors made in 1986).
Re: If you have a Players Challenge Car, please post here. (RPO- A4U, 1LE or R7U)
Anyone here have a 1987 A4U that could share the engine codes? Looking at an 89 Iroc advertised as a PC car. Vin doesn't work out as such but the engine looks legit. No partial VIN stamped so I am stumped but there is a GM Motorsports decal and bolt paint. According to the seller it was sold to him as a PC car with a spare "race" engine - haven't seen the other engine yet.... mtc. Appreciate any help on the Suffix.
Re: If you have a Players Challenge Car, please post here. (RPO- A4U, 1LE or R7U)
Originally Posted by pmand
Anyone here have a 1987 A4U that could share the engine codes? Looking at an 89 Iroc advertised as a PC car. Vin doesn't work out as such but the engine looks legit. No partial VIN stamped so I am stumped but there is a GM Motorsports decal and bolt paint. According to the seller it was sold to him as a PC car with a spare "race" engine - haven't seen the other engine yet.... mtc. Appreciate any help on the Suffix.
Drop me a note. I have all the VINs and suffixes. Which year are you looking for?
Re: If you have a Players Challenge Car, please post here. (RPO- A4U, 1LE or R7U)
Very interesting thread! One question I have is how were the roll cages fitted in Players cars? In the pictures here it looks like they were half welded and half slip-fit and bolted together. Do I have this right? I suppose this was so that they could be removed easily when the cars were retired and turned back into street cars at the end of the season?
Re: If you have a Players Challenge Car, please post here. (RPO- A4U, 1LE or R7U)
Originally Posted by taguy16
Very interesting thread! One question I have is how were the roll cages fitted in Players cars? In the pictures here it looks like they were half welded and half slip-fit and bolted together. Do I have this right? I suppose this was so that they could be removed easily when the cars were retired and turned back into street cars at the end of the season?
All were bolted in. A plate under the car to match the plate inside the car. And bolted together. Different version existed over the years. 86 was unique and provided by GM. 87-up were made by two companies mostly. CSC racing out east and Davenport out west. Jigs are long gone. East ones have "U" plates to hold the door bars in. West one have a slip tube and 4 bolt plate.
Later West versions were redesigned NOT to go through the dash pad. And different versions of the rear support bars. A few stories behind their design ... one of which was simply to keep the cars square so they were easier to fixed when damaged.
Re: If you have a Players Challenge Car, please post here. (RPO- A4U, 1LE or R7U)
Originally Posted by MikeJR1991
Bruce at Hawks Motorsports offers a replica version of the 1991/1992 SLP Firehawk roll cage. I’m sure it’s very similar.
They don't have the front halo or upper bars. Just the hoop and angled down door bars. Which are way easier to get in and out of! For street duty ... the full cage is a pain. no room.
Re: If you have a Players Challenge Car, please post here. (RPO- A4U, 1LE or R7U)
So which bars would have been welded together and which ones bolted together? I'm having trouble imagining how a completely pre-welded cage could have fit thru the door openings. Aren't race car roll cages usually welded together inside the car?
Re: If you have a Players Challenge Car, please post here. (RPO- A4U, 1LE or R7U)
Originally Posted by taguy16
So which bars would have been welded together and which ones bolted together? I'm having trouble imagining how a completely pre-welded cage could have fit thru the door openings. Aren't race car roll cages usually welded together inside the car?
The Players cars were bolt in. Main hoop and rear bars are welded. Forward bars, halo, and door all bolt in.
Re: If you have a Players Challenge Car, please post here. (RPO- A4U, 1LE or R7U)
Originally Posted by taguy16
That still must have been a chore getting them in (and out).
Were all the players cars built by GM of Canada? Did very many if any eventually make it down to the lower 48?
There are all part of the Canadian race series. In Oct 1986, there was one race in the USA ... instead of Players, they were logo'd with "HARDEES" and ran one race. No other races in the US.
A number of the Players cars continued to race in Firehawk and SCCA so they may have found their way down for sure.
Re: If you have a Players Challenge Car, please post here. (RPO- A4U, 1LE or R7U)
Originally Posted by Mark_ZZ3
There are all part of the Canadian race series. In Oct 1986, there was one race in the USA ... instead of Players, they were logo'd with "HARDEES" and ran one race. No other races in the US.
A number of the Players cars continued to race in Firehawk and SCCA so they may have found their way down for sure.
Mark.
Hello, I am looking at a supposed 1991 challenge car, would like assistance to identify before purchase. Can’t seem to figure out private message
04-12-2022, 03:14 PM
