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!
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I bought a 1990 Trans Am GTA a few months ago. It has been customized to look like "KITT" from Knight Rider. I knew nothing about GTA's when I bought it, but after about a month I started conducting a lot of research on my GTA and found out that it might be a good idea to restore my car back to its original appearance, considering the value of a GTA.
But I am torn on what to do, the KITT modifications are: two 1983 trans am fenders with air vent, a 1984 front end, the Knight Rider Hubcaps and wheels, 1983 rear lights, along with an 1983 hatchback.
Go back to original... As much as I loved the show there are a TON of KITT clones out there - not so many original GTA's...
Of course it really comes down to what makes YOU happy - do you want be original or a David Hasselhoff rip off? But seriously, you are the one that has to drive it - do what makes you happy!
i agree. It's what style do you like best. I currently have an 84 K.I.T.T. replica but that was a dream since I was little was to have and build one. I love the style of it but not everyone does. I also like the original style as well. If your wheels are 15 inch you could sell them pretty easy as well as the caps. Those are getting hard to find since they were only in 82-83. It sounds like you don't have the knight rider front bumper. In that case I probably would go back to original. Not sure how hard it would be to find the GTA parts. Again, though, it is more of what style do you like. He's my 84 T/A
Last edited by 99transamgirl; 02-15-2010 at 03:33 PM.
Now really I'm not trying to start any debates, or hurt anyone's feelings. No offense to the KITT lovers, but Knight Rider is gay porn. That show is so badly dated and deeply entrenched with it's own silly mythology, it's a wonder why it was so popular. I can see why it was entertaining when I was 5 years old, but now it just pisses me off. It probably wouldn't bother me as much if people didn't associate every thirdgen Firebird with the show. It's a shame that original cars with value in their own right get converted to clones.
I'd convert it back to a 90 GTA and sell the conversion parts. A 90 GTA is a fairly unusual car, and far more classy then a wanna-be Knight Rider.
I'd say keep it in the Knight Rider conversion since its already there. I hope to own one someday since that is the car that got me into thirdgens to begin with. I see more stock firebirds on the road. In fact I don't see any clones at all, nor have I to begin with.
I don't think he has any actual knight rider parts on the car. he has the correct 82-84 fenders ,lights, and front bumper that was stock and the 82-83 stock firebird wheels and caps. A lot of people call those parts knight rider when actually they were stock parts.
It's just what you like better. It's a little different design. I get a lot of people following me places just to ask about the car and get pictures. I really like the design of the car and mine is worth more now than it was stock. Some of these cars have been so hacked up during there life or not taken care of and some are great originals. If they are originals in great shape or special editions, I'd leave them as is. Some of us really like the look of the different front bumper and dash and some don't. A lot of people associate these cars with knight rider because they remember the show and it brings back memories for them. If you don't like it just get over it. you don't have have to own one. I don't go around calling other firebird or camaros "gay porn" and I'm a woman any way. i don't care for the porn junk. I like all the firebirds and camaros for what they are. They are built with a design geared towards different likes just like the knight rider car. Mine is still a 84 with a 305, 700r4 and lots of original parts. The wheels and caps are not knight rider parts but people call them that because it was a stock part in 82- 83 on the cars and that's the car they used for the show. A 82-83 t/a with t-tops, vented fenders, stock pmd seats.Only difference is the dash, wheel, cover added to lower console, upper console, and front bumper.The rest of the car was a stock t/a.
Sorry about my rambling knight-ridergta. not towards you. Back to the topic. Just remember it's what style you like the best. You can always sell off those parts. They are stock parts and a lot of people would love to get them since they are getting rare.
Last edited by 99transamgirl; 02-15-2010 at 04:01 PM.
If it was mine, I'd want to convert it back, but then again I'd never buy a car made to look like kitt anyway....
It really comes down to whatever you want though. I love the style of GTA's but the cost of restoring it to what it once was will most likley be expensive and time consumeing.
Got a pic of the car as it stands now?
__________________ '91 Firebird 3.1
Aluminum UDP, Wonderbar, Cooper Cobras, high flow cat, K&N, more when I get the money...
That's a nice car. The front bumper looks like a late 80's bumper cover. I can't remember what year they started that design with the bumper section that stick out on the front. Those seats look really nice. I really like them. Are they leather? Great pictures and great looking car.
it looks like a nice clean car. That's definitely a formula bumper cover, not an 84 firebird bumper cover.
__________________ Bright Platinum Metallic with painted hoodbird, 17x9 Year One Snowflake Wheels, smoothed inner fenders, shaved door locks and antenna. Black leather interior.
Current Drivetrain: LT1 and T56 with SLP 1 3/4" primary headers and catback, Borg Warner 9-bolt.
If it was me i would just sell it and buy a GTA. This car needs new fenders, hood, nose, spoiler, and wheels. That is what i could see off the top of my head. Are you sure this was a GTA? Anything that makes this a GTA is not correct.
Looking at the fenders (as mentioned above), the vents are T/A not GTA. I would look at the RPOs for Y84 to make my decision. If it is indeed a GTA, I would follow the crowd and say restore (visit gtasource page.com for more info). On the other hand, for some years, and 1990 may be one (I can't recall) there were less T/As than GTAs, so again, restore.
i agree. It's what style do you like best. I currently have an 84 K.I.T.T. replica but that was a dream since I was little was to have and build one. I love the style of it but not everyone does. I also like the original style as well. If your wheels are 15 inch you could sell them pretty easy as well as the caps. Those are getting hard to find since they were only in 82-83. It sounds like you don't have the knight rider front bumper. In that case I probably would go back to original. Not sure how hard it would be to find the GTA parts. Again, though, it is more of what style do you like. He's my 84 T/A
Just wanted to say that I think your kitt looks great. I would like to build one someday myself. It Looks like you did a very nice job on yours.
I say set it back to stock, but that's just me. Never was a fan of the 82-84 front bumper, taillights, steering wheel, shifter, or console. Not to say that I don't like a well-done KITT clone, but I would start with an 82-84, particularly as nice GTAs are not getting any easier to find.
I say set it back to stock, but that's just me. Never was a fan of the 82-84 front bumper, taillights, steering wheel, shifter, or console. Not to say that I don't like a well-done KITT clone, but I would start with an 82-84, particularly as nice GTAs are not getting any easier to find.
hey, stop sacraficing the early thirdgens! lol... they aren't getting any easier to find either.
If it was me i would just sell it and buy a GTA. This car needs new fenders, hood, nose, spoiler, and wheels. That is what i could see off the top of my head. Are you sure this was a GTA? Anything that makes this a GTA is not correct.
It is a GTA it does have the RPO Y84, the guy before me put on new fenders, the hood, and the hatchback, along with the rear lights and the wheels.
Thanks! I am really starting to lean towards keeping it KITT, plus the chicks at my school love it! The car is actually how I met My lovely girlfriend, I'm only 19 but everyone says I was born in the wrong decade, I wear leather jackets and black boots, and a pomador hairdo, plus I listen to all the good 80's stuff nothing like being the only guy in a bad a** third gen with two 12" subwoofers playing Def Leppard!
Thanks! I am really starting to lean towards keeping it KITT, plus the chicks at my school love it! The car is actually how I met My lovely girlfriend, I'm only 19 but everyone says I was born in the wrong decade, I wear leather jackets and black boots, and a pomador hairdo, plus I listen to all the good 80's stuff nothing like being the only guy in a bad a** third gen with two 12" subwoofers playing Def Leppard!
I think its looks real nice the way it is. I like thirdgens without ground effects, I think it gives the car a much cleaner apearance, and also thirdgens without gfx seem get more attention from the general public - they look more like a true muscle car. So really i think your car is almost perfect. You have the mechanics of a GTA with the clean aperance of a formula. With a few changes it would look really nice. Get some new rims. I think 17's look the best on thirdgens with a decent sidewall. Maybe 18's but I think any bigger starts to look funny. The height of the beltline, size of the wheel openings and overall proportiions of the car don't match 19's or 20's. Lower it with some lowering springs if you do 18's, 17's are debateable, and if you get 16's or 15's I think thirdgens look good stock ride height or lowerd. Then ditch the rear spoiler and your in business. I wouldn't change it back to all GTA.
But seriously, you are the one that has to drive it - do what makes you happy!
1987 IROC Z 
