Howdy, just a week ago I bought a pretty loaded 88 GTA Notchback. Now I am trying to find out just how many 5-speed Notchbacks were produced. To get you started, here are my RPOs, in essence: -Notchback -T-Tops -5.0 HO 5-speed w/ 3.45 gears -digital dash -UQ7 performance sound w/ subwoofers -leather Quote: AAA STANDARD EQUIPMENT AA8 WINDOW, R/CMPT LID (NOTCHBACK OPTION!!!) AK1 DELUXE BELT AND SHOULDER HARNESS AK1 RESTRAINT SYSTEM, FRT, CTR, RR SEAT, FRT SHLDR, AM9 SEAT, RR, SPLIT, BACK, FLDG AQ9 SEAT, FRT PASS A DRIV, RECL AQ9 SEAT, FRT BKT PASS DRIVER RECL AU3 LOCK CONTROL, SIDE DR, ELEC A01 WINDOW, TINTED, ALL SHADED, W/S A31 WINDOW, POWER OPERATED, SIDE A90 LOCK CONTROL, RR COMPT LID, REM CONT ELEC RELEASE BC8 ORNAMENTATION, INTR, DR MAP POCKETS BV3 ORNAMENTATION, INTR, I/P, BLACK BY4 ORNAMENTATION, INTR, INST PANEL, NAME PLATE B20 ORNAMENTATION, INTR, LUXURY B34 COVERING, FRT FLOOR MATS CARPETED INSERT B35 COVERING, REAR, FLOOR MATS CARPETED INSERT B67 CONTAINER, RADIO CASSETTE TAPES B84 ORNAMENTATION, EXTR MLDG, BODY SIDE CC1 ROOF HATCH, REMOVABLE PANELS, GLASS CD2 INDICATOR, WSWA JAR FLUID CD4 WIPER SYSTEM WINDSHIELD, PULSE C49 DEFOGGER, RR WINDOW, ELECTRIC C67 HVAC SYSTEM, AIR CONDITIONER FRT ELECTRONIC CONTROLS DE4 SUNSHADE, REMOVEABLE HATCH ROOF DG7 MIRROR 0/S, LH & RH, REM CONT, ELEC, PAINTED D34 MIRROR I/S, SUNSHADE D5T GEAR, SPEEDO DRIVEN D80 SPOILER, RR END PNL D9E SENSOR, VEH SPD E5Z SPEEDOMETER ADAPTER (DELETE) E9Z SPEEDOMETER KEY (DELETE) FE2 SUSPENSION SYSTEM, RIDE HANDLING GM3 AXLE REAR, 3.45 RATIO G80 AXLE POSITRACTION, LIMITED SLIP J65 BRAKE SYSTEM, PWR, FRT & RR DISC KC4 COOLING SYSTEM, ENG OIL K34 CRUISE CONTROL, AUT0MATIC, ELECTRONIC K68 GENERATOR,105 AMP LB9 ENGINE, GAS, 8 CYL, 5.0L, TPI, HO MK6 TRANSMISSION, MAN 5 SPD, B0RG WARNER, 2.95 1ST, O/D MM5 MERCHANDISED TRANS, MAN 5 SPD PROVISIONS NA5 EMISSION SYSTEM, FEDERAL, TIER O NK4 STEERING WHEEL, SPORT LEATHER W/ RADIO CONTROLS NK4 STEERING WHEEL, SPORT LEATHER N33 STEERING COLUMN, TILT TYPE N65 WHEEL & TIRE,SPARE, SPACE SAVER, STEEL PB4 LOCK CONTROL, WHEEL PW7 WHEEL, 16 X 8, ALUMINUM, DIAMOND SPOKE QDZ TIRE ALL, P245/50VR16/N BL R/PE ST TL HW4 TR9 LAMP, GROUP T93 LAMP, TAIL & STOP, SPECIAL T96 LAMP, FOG UA6 THEFT DETERENT SYS UF6 LAMP, INTR, CONSOLE, COURTESY UK3 ELECTRONIC SYSTEM, ACCESSORY CONT UQ1 RADIO PROVISIONS, FOR STEREO UQ7 SPEAKER SYSTEM, 5, DUAL I/P, SAIL MTD STD SPEAKER, SUBWOOFER UT1 TONE GENERATOR, WARNING UT4 RADIO, AM/FM-ST CASS, AUTO NR, TOUCH CONTROL, STEERING WHL CONTROL UW1 DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM U25 LAMP, INTR, RR COMPT, COURTESY U29 LAMP, INTR I/P, COURTESY U52 CLUSTER INST, ELECTRONIC U75 ANTENNA, POWER, RADIO VAN ASSEMBLY PLANT, VAN NUYS, CA VK3 LICENSE PLATE, FRT MOUNTING PKG V73 ANTENNA, FIXED WDV NEW YORK STATE WARRENTY ENHANCEMENT WS4 MODEL CONVERSION, TRANS AM WS6 PERFORMANCE PACKAGE, SPECIAL WW8 APPEARANCE PACKAGE(BRIGHT RED), AERO #8 W62 ORNAMENTATION, AERO PACKAGE YS1 SEAT, REAR (CUSTOM) YT1 BUILD UP DR & QTR Y84 MERCHANDISED PKG, GTA, TRANS AM ZV1 MANUFACTURERS STATEMENT OF ORIGIN, WINDOW STICKER 52P WHEEL COLOR, GOLD MET (91) 6ZX SPRING, COMPUTER SELECTED, FRONT, LEFT HAND 66I INTERIOR TRIM, MED BEECHWOOD (91) 662 TRIM COMBINATION, LEATHER, MED BEECHWOOD (91) 669 SEAT BELT COLOR, MED BEECHWOOD (9) (91) 7ZX SPRING, COMPUTER SELECTED, FRONT, RIGHT HAND 8NL COMPUTER SELECTED REAR LEFTHAND SPRING 81Q MOLDING COLOR, BRIGHT RED (91) 81U PRIMARY COLOR, EXTERIOR, BRIGHT RED (91) 9NL COMPUTER SELECTED REAR RIGHTHAND SPRING Is there any option my GTA is missing that was available in 88? Here we go with pics: http://gehrs.info/bo/DSC00005.JPG http://gehrs.info/bo/DSC00006.JPG http://gehrs.info/bo/DSC00007.JPG http://gehrs.info/bo/DSC00009.JPG

Some things to note about the car
1) the car originally came with steering wheel controls, and those are missing, also the radio is obviously not originla

2) the headrests are gray? originally they were the brown/tan

3) the spoiler is someones aftermarket spoiler, almost looks like a Fiero Spoiler,

Its a nice looking car in all however

I think the car came with pretty much all the options in 1988.

Cool find

John

I know, but I am looking for the original steering wheel + the UT4 Radio.

Should have stated that in the original post: I am going to return this baby to bone-stock, b/c of the value

I already stripped the headrests, they are tan leather. These were just covers in black I removed.

It is an original Greenwood Spoiler, originally for corvettes. Already unmounted that and to be replaced with the original D80 spoiler.

And thats exactly what I am trying to find out, if it really has every single option

And how many 5-speed Notchbacks were produced. I know that there were only 624 Notchbacks produced, but how many of them were 5-speed manuals?

You may not find out that information. Unfortunately GM typically did not document the number of cars with each option. The best you could do right now is the number of totals for 1988

MM5 Manual transmissions 9,244
LB9 5.0L TPI Engine 10,379

Frankie Rider is the expert, you may try the GTAsourcepage

John

I already did, and we did only come up with my wild guestimates of around 50-60 5-speed Notchbacks that have been produced. But that figure is totally in the ball park... I would love to find out the exact number...

i don't think you will find such, unfortunately. It appears Pontiac kept very poor records. The total Notchback production figures itself is still up in the air to many people. So getting break-downs per option seems even less likely.

On a side note, would 305 5-speed actually be considered an "option"? i know it was available, but i mean, i don't know if it actually could be considered an option above the 350. When i say "option", i mean in the sense as additional options that make the car worth more money (then and now).

It was a credit option, both the 305 and the 5-speed. I think you saved like 1,500 or so going w/ a 305 and 5-speed over a 350 w/ the MT.

JG1 aluminum driveshaft

Although I am not 100% positive, I thought the notch back roof was a dealer only option - not a true factory option.

By '89, you had to order the notchback from the dealer. '89 TTA's were not available with the hatch, but IF you really wanted one, then the dealer would instal it.
Please correct me if I'm wrong...
-Andrew

RPO code AA8, which means Notchback, which means Factory Option

From GTA Source Page:
" Production records show a total of 625 units were built during 1988 and 1989. The option was actually canceled before the start of production for 1989; a dealer bulletin in August 1988 announced its demise, instructing dealers to recall any and all GTA orders with the Notchback code on them. Still, PMD records show that one single car was built for 1989........ no doubt the car pictured above from the 1989 Pontiac brochure."

i have 3 original Notchbacks. It was a factory option, not a dealer option. They have their own RPO code as stated above.

I would consider the 305 automatic inferior to the 350, but the 305 manual is something special as in the US factory manuals are pretty rare. At least compared to us in Europe.

As this discussion shows, we probably should start a VIN-database for the Notchbacks including the RPOs, that would give us a better overview. The TTAs have such a database and there were more than twice as many produced than our Notchbacks, so I really think its time to start such a database

I don't think that you could order the JG1 with the 305, as the production numbers on the gtasourcepage.com show that exactly 6,913 JG1s were produced - just as 6,913 L98s were produced. Looks to me like all 350s were equipped with the aluminum drive shaft.

To my eyes, it appears that this car has every single available option for a 1988 GTA.

The only options available were the 305 engine, the 5-speed transmission, the Notchback decklid, T-tops, the U52 instrumentation, leather trim, and the subwoofer speaker system. The UA6 VATS system was also listed on the window sticker as an option; I can see from the RPOs that this car has it as well. It is said that some early 1988 GTAs do not have it, but I have never seen one.

I have never seen a 1988-model 305 GTA with a aluminum driveshaft either. I have seen later model 305 GTAs equipped with them, but not earlier ones.

That spoiler is pretty extreme.... looks kind of like a factory spoiler on steroids! The radio and steering wheel should not be too hard to find... I have about four of them stashed away in my shop.


Congratulations on a great find!

Great, if YOU tell me that it really has every available option I can check that point on my todo list

The spoiler has already gone (is up for sale by the way) and the correct D80 spoiler is about to be installed.

Would you be willing to let one of your radio/steering wheel combos go for the restauration of a fully loaded Notchback?

I was wrong, thankyou for the insight

Conrad

Frankie, does the 305 without an aluminum driveshaft theory apply for the regular TA as well? Because my '88 TA with the 305 has the JG1 option code.

If the radio has been changed out, you might want to make sure that the factory subwoofer setup is in the car as well since you have the option code for it (UQ7 SPEAKER SYSTEM, 5, DUAL I/P, SAIL MTD STD SPEAKER, SUBWOOFER) alot of them were removed to put 6x9 speakers in.

i'm currently working on such a project for my website and it should be done soon. i've actually done this for a different make/model of a vehicle that i own, so i simply have to change some things to make it work for this project.

Edit... misread, too early in the morning I guess

He did not say there was a 350 M5....

John

Really?? Why would be ok to order jg1 on a ta but not the top-o line gta? Can you post a pic of the codes? That is strange.

Conrad

Here's the RPO sticker off of the '88 TA. The aluminum driveshaft and 305 are shown.

<img src="http://www.gtanotchback.com/misc/88tarpo.jpg">

i don't understand why it would be OK to order it on the regular TA, and not the GTA, either?

That's a good question.... I said I have never seen a 305 auto GTA with a JG1 propshaft, but if it was available on a T/A then I'd lay odds it was also available on a GTA. That option is not covered on the order sheet for any year 1987-1992. Good Lord knows I'm not the be-all-end-all for this GTA stuff.

Anybody here got an 1987-1988 GTA with the LB9, MXO, and JG1 codes....?

I already did check on that and it's all still there, no 6x9 replacements

something else i noticed, he has the

something else i noticed, he has the

something else i noticed, he has the U75 and V73 RPO codes.
U75 is antenna ,power ,radio.
V73 is antenna fixed. how can he have both?
excuse the half post above, dunno how but my puter decided to hit submit for me before i was finished.

Because the RPO deocoder on this site is wrong on a few codes