I know that from 1985 to 1987 the 2 tone paint was for the z28 to differentiate it from the IROC-z28 which had a single color of paint . but what is the difference between the 2 tone paint Trans-am and the single color paint Trans am ?

nothing? just the ground effects could be painted silver. although I dont think Ive ever seen a GTA with 2 tone paint.

I believe the 85-86-87 Trans Ams all had separate spoiler colors, but beginning in 88 they could be ordered with a single color like the GTA option. Not sure if that change was required or you could choose either paint scheme. Also, beginning in 87, the TA like the GTA could be ordered with the 5.7 or the 5.0 spd package.
The 87 Red with silver spoilers is my favorite looking TA.

tarheel - the wrap around spoiler came in non body color in 86 (or 85, but it was only one year) and that was because it was black and textured.
also they could be ordered all one color in 87 too, I think they could all years.

2-tone TA..Yes
2-tone GTA?...No. Solid colors only.

In 1985 and 1986, Trans Ams could be ordered either way: two-tone or one-color. But regardless of the car's body color, the new aerowing spoiler was black. Then in 1987, the newly-introduced GTA received the one-color scheme, and the Trans Am then became available only in two-tone. Also beginning in 1987, the aerowing spoiler was always painted to match the body.

nope, my car is an 87 Trans Am and it came from the factory all one color... but I do think the majority of the TA's came two tone.

edit: but thanks for clearing the spoiler issues up.

The only way to have gotten a 1987-1990 TA in one color would've been to order it with option code WX1, "Two-Tone Delete," and that option was only available to base Firebirds and Formulas, not TAs. So if your car's SPID label(inside the console) doesn't list code WX1, and I doubt it does, then it wasn't one color from the factory.

Looking at your profile, you're only 16, so you're obviously not the original owner of the car. AND your car's been repainted(looks very nice, by the way). So unless your car was "in the family" since it was brand new, I have to question how or why you think your '87 TA came from the factory in all one color.

thanks, I stripped the whole car when I was doing the body work and the gfx had factory red paint on them. Ill check my SPID label once it stops snowing...

well I don't seem to have WX1... but heres a quick pic of the spid label incase theres a special code that would mean "two tone delete" for the trans am

http://i40.tinypic.com/2i4rx1.jpg I uploaded the picture so its large enough to read the codes.

Here's mine:



The SPID label shows upper and lower trim codes as being the same (white). It has WS4, 1988. Also has factory white rims.

Yup, both of your TAs came from the factory with one color, upper and lower. Cool. I'm sure most people thought like me, that you couldn't get them that way from '87-'90. But obviously you can.

I've been through the 1987 Car Order Worksheet with a fine-toothed comb, and nowhere does it give any indication that you can get a TA that way. There are, however, a couple of "Order Processing Options" where it looks like a dealer can make particular changes that might not be "normal." One is called "Color and Trim Compatibility Override," and the other is called "Substitution and Deletion Authorization."

I don't know if either of those would apply to this situation, but there just doesn't appear to be any "normal" steps to take to get a one-color, 1987< TA. But they obviously did it somehow.

I've got a "worksheet" for the 1988 Firebird Trans AM. I've put a blue arrow next to the area of the solid colors for the Trans AM:



If you can't read the above, it's because our forum software scales the inline images. You can right-click on the image above to view the original (larger) version.

Do you have a copy of the 1987 worksheet?

I do have the 1987 worksheet, and there's no listing whatsoever for a solid color body on a Trans Am, like you're showing on the '88 worksheet. And there are no visible option codes to alter one to receive a solid color body. That's why I suggested that maybe a dealer could do it as an override option.

When I ordered my '87 Formula, I had to order code WX1, "Two-Tone Delete" to get it in a solid color. But that's very clearly shown on the order worksheet, no mysteries about it. But there is no such listing available for the TA.

So in '88(and probably '89 and '90), you apparently could get a TA with a solid color body. But Tmic87TPI says his car is an '87. And if so, well, I just don't see how, without a dealer "trick," which was probably possible. And his is the first '87 TA I've ever heard of having a solid color body... not that that necessarily means anything, lol. Perhaps his car is really an '88?

Edit: I was thinking that, since '87 was the first year for the GTA, which was supposed to be unique with its solid color body, maybe the TA receiving a two-tone color scheme was an '87-only feature, and Tim's car is really an '88. But I've looked at his cardomain page, and his engine definitely has the poor '87 air intake, not the better '88 intake.

Yes 86 was the first year and it was textured and black. Then went to smooth and body color in 87.

1987, from the worksheet:

TRANS AM EXTERIOR COLORS (with Available Trims)

13 Silver Metallic w/Med. Gray Metallic Aero Mldg.

23 Bright Blue Metallic w/Silver Metallic Aero Mldg.

28(might be 26, hard to tell) Midnight Blue Metallic w/Silver Metallic Aero Mldg.

41 Black w/Champagne Gold Metallic Aero Mldg.

74 Flame Red Metallic w/Silver Metallic Aero Mldg.

81 Bright Red w/Silver Metallic Aero Mldg.

That's it, only those 6 color combos. There aren't any solid colors listed, like there obviously are on the '88 worksheet. And there's no mention anywhere that you can delete the two-tone scheme on Trans Ams, like you could on base 'birds and Formulas. But dealers also had a "handbook," so maybe there was a little-known way to do it in there.

Here is 1987

If you look at the SPID of Tmic87TPI, look for WW8, that indicates the lower color to be RED (WA 8774). IIRC WW2 would have been silver. Same goes for JT, but since he has a different color it would be WW1 (WA 8554)

Also look at the bottom of the SPID, you will see the "WA" numbers L8554 for the LOWER WA number and U8554 is for the UPPER WA number.

As confusing as this sounds "WX1" was a FIREBIRD & or FORMULA ONLY thing, it was not used on the Trans Am or obviously the GTA. The Trans AM used WW1 thru WW9 RPO's to indicate the secondary color.

ALSO 1985 the BLACK wrap around Aero spoiler WAS an option. in 1986 the Aero Spoiler was STANDARD, but deletable and mandatory delete with the Louver package. Starting in 1987 ALL Formula's. GTA's and TRANS AM's came with the Aero Spoiler there was no other spoiler offered except on the BASE firebird that got the standard Wing. THe Wing was NA on the TA, GTA or Formula...

Glad we got to the bottom of that!

John

The labels say it, and the cars have it, so it obviously was available. And I've already said that a couple of times. But that's not getting to the bottom of it... not yet. We still don't know HOW, in 1987, a TA could've been ordered with a solid color body, because there's nowhere on the '87 worksheet that indicates it could've been.

On JT's '88 worksheet, the solid color combos are clearly shown as available. But it's not anywhere on the '87 worksheet, nor are the lower body color rpo codes you've pointed out.

So how did anyone know those lower body color option codes could be ordered? Where was it shown that they could be ordered? That's why I've speculated that to have done such a thing might've been a dealer override of some kind, because it doesn't "appear" to have been available.

So when we answer that question, THEN we'll have gotten to the bottom of it, lol.

I do not believe these are the actual Order forms for when a Dealer would order a car. These are just the worksheet to use as a reference. Also realize that there were several revisions for any particular model year for the worksheet.

The Worksheet that I posted was actually the third printing. Likewise JT's was from the 3rd printing for 1988...

Attached is the (Second Printing) of the 1986 worksheet... Notice off to the right of the first page of this worksheet there is more information to be added. I wonder if this was on a separate sheet in 1987 as the information appears to be important as the dealer assigned order number and other things are listed that are not on the 1987 & 1988...

John

Mine's a third printing, too. Yours might even be a copy of mine.

I see what you're saying about the '86 worksheet. Glad you posted it because I was thinking of asking about '86 as an example, because TAs could be ordered either way that year. So I wondered if, however they did it in '86, it might've been the same way they did it in '87. And it probably was.

On the '86 sheet you posted, all color combos, some one color and some two-tone, are shown in the regular place, "TRANS AM EXTERIOR COLORS." But for black cars and red cars, the gfx color could be changed. And the info in the block on the right shows how dealers could change it.

So it's in plain sight on the '86 sheet(and the '88 sheet). I wonder why it's not in plain sight for '87? But dealers obviously had it somewhere. ...yeah, maybe in a different printing, or on another page to the worksheet that we don't have, a dealer handbook, etc.

However they did it, it's a pretty good bet that there aren't very many 1987 Trans Ams that ever got ordered in a solid color.

I got mine from a Friend... I think he lives in OK... I do not want to use his name... Of course he got me everthing thru 1992... Thanks buddy.

I am still looking for 1982 - 1985 tho.

John

I have a 1990 Brilliant red on red. Have seen most of the colors two tone except white. I have had my car since it was new so i remember when these cars were all over the place. I can never recall seeing white with another color. What would be the difference with white? Other than it not looking to good.

White with medium gray. Search ebay for item #270331033127 for a pic.

Thats a formula, the thread is about Trans Am's. Formulas do not have ground effects like a Trans Am.

Good point, sorry I was pretty tired when I was reading this thread

We used to have a white /gold car come into the bodyshop where I work. It was probably sold new by us, we're a Pontiac Buick and GMC dealer. But I couldn't tell you what year car it was. Obviously 85 or newer, but after 27 years in the same shop all the years are starting to fade together for me. Too many paint fumes I guess.

White was available with the charcoal, and i really like the looks of the White with GOLD GFX... For some reason that with the Recaro package turns me on...

John

Any one have a pic. i can't seem to remember these. I do remember the 1982 or 1983, pace car i think. But that does not have ground effects. I am hoping for a 1985-1990 pic.

The 1983 DT500 was the first Trans Am with ground effects.

Yeah thats the early one i remember. But what about a 1985-1990 regular Trans Am you could delete the two tone paint on.

Just look around here. This site is full of T/A's painted all one color.

85 TA, all white, recaro option, black aero spoiler, all original. Bought it from the original owner. No idea where it is today.

does the recaro option include the gold stripes ? I saw a 1986 red T.A with Recaro seats and it had the same gold stripes, was a real looker.

The Stripes were an option I do not believe it required the Recaro to get Gold stripes. After 1984 basically the Seats were really what made a Recaro a Recaro. I want to think that prior to 1985 there were other things that were included with the Recaro. Like WS6 etc. Not sure if WS6 was manditory on 85-86 Recaros for example. I suspect it was...

John

No, i was looking for a white Trans Am with two tone paint. You have to read everything. I myself have a all red Trans Am. Just seems all the colors were avalible two tone except white. People say they were avalible but i have yet to see a pic.

Very nice. When was the picture taken?

I love to see period pics of these cars.

White with gold GFX

Here are two pics of black with and without a solid color combo. I'd guess a 85 or 86 model.

Sometime in 1990.

Interesting, this raises a question on my part, my 86 Trans Am has red under the white paint, i was told it came white from the factory...the aerowing spoiler is white too...the red dosn't look like primer to me but i was told it is...could the spolier have been painted white at the factory or was my car repainted and originally red?...If anyone has insight let me know, The car is in a friend driveway right now (just bought it, didn't bring it home yet) so i can't look at the codes at the moment.

Check the codes. Do you think it was all red before it was painted white or perhaps there were some parts changed on your white car that used to be red. I worked on these cars when they were new and don't believe I ever saw any red primer on any of them. I have seen new bumper covers come out of the box painted and when sanding out little bumps and scratches from shipping, found that they had been painted at the factory more than once and more than one color.