April 2017 COTM **WINNER**
Thread Starter
COTM Editor (Retired)
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,884
Likes: 83
From: Washington
Car: 89 Formula 350, TTA
April 2017 COTM **WINNER**
Congratulations, 88brp88gta! I am proud to announce that your 1988 Trans Am GTA is TGO's April, 2017 Car of the Month.
Glad that you saw that this low-mile Third Gen deserved better than year-round daily driver status. The fact that your car was restored a little at a time, with your own two hands, gives hope that more and more Third Gens will end up similarly stunning.
Your excellent photos and outstanding presentation of this better-than-new GTA shines a light on what Third Gens were and what they can be.
I purchased this car in April of 2004 as my first car and daily driver. I found the car on ebay and purchased it from the original owner with only 36,000 miles. Unfortunately the car had sat outside on the streets of Yonkers NY it whole life, so the paint was faded with multiple dents and dings and the interior was faded.
I drove the car as my daily driver throughout high school. Soon after that I came to my senses and realized the car deserved better than to be driven in the NJ winters, so I purchased a beater car to be my daily driver and started to take the car apart for what I though would just be a paint job. The paint job ended up being a full restoration that I did myself a little at a time during my college years.
The car currently has 69,000 miles on it and is still driven much and taken to plenty of shows during the summer months. I restored everything back to factory condition. The only missing link is reproduction gatorback tires.
Options/specs:
GTA package
T-tops
UQ7 sub woofer
Digital dash
305 TPI/auto
Flame Red/Beachwood
The car has been great to me and I have many good memories with this car. I have no plans to ever get rid of this car and it will be enjoyed for many more years.
I drove the car as my daily driver throughout high school. Soon after that I came to my senses and realized the car deserved better than to be driven in the NJ winters, so I purchased a beater car to be my daily driver and started to take the car apart for what I though would just be a paint job. The paint job ended up being a full restoration that I did myself a little at a time during my college years.
The car currently has 69,000 miles on it and is still driven much and taken to plenty of shows during the summer months. I restored everything back to factory condition. The only missing link is reproduction gatorback tires.
Options/specs:
GTA package
T-tops
UQ7 sub woofer
Digital dash
305 TPI/auto
Flame Red/Beachwood
The car has been great to me and I have many good memories with this car. I have no plans to ever get rid of this car and it will be enjoyed for many more years.
Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 113
Likes: 0
From: Budd Lake nj
Car: 88 trans am gta
Engine: 305tpi
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 9 bolt 3:27
Re: April 2017 COTM **WINNER**
Thank you for the kind words everyone. It is truly an honor especially with all of the other beautiful cars this month that were just as worthy.
-Brian
-Brian
Trending Topics
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 5,892
Likes: 84
From: Mantua NJ
Car: 1 Owner 1986 TA with a WS6 package
Engine: 5.0 EFI
Transmission: THM700R4
Axle/Gears: 277 Posi Speedo
Re: April 2017 COTM **WINNER**
Congratulations, beautiful GTA,I love Stock NJ QQ 3rd Gens.
Member
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 108
Likes: 1
From: Jackson, New Jersey
Car: 1989 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 5.7L 350 TPI (Deleted Cats)
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: Original 3.27
Re: April 2017 COTM **WINNER**
- Brian
Supreme Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,482
Likes: 10
From: Northern, CA
Car: 1989 Iroc-Z Camaro
Engine: TBI,5.0
Transmission: Automatic 700R4
Axle/Gears: Eaton Posi,3.42,LPW Ultimate Cover
Re: April 2017 COTM **WINNER**
Very deserving of the win.
Absolutely Beautiful car.
Absolutely Beautiful car.
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,918
Likes: 326
From: NJ
Car: 1987 IROC-Z
Engine: 406 on N20 w/ EFI
Transmission: P.B. 700R4
Axle/Gears: 12 bolt w/ 3.91
Re: April 2017 COTM **WINNER**
Congratulations man! well deserved indeed. Very nice ride, definitely!
So I couldn't help but notice that you live just 10-15 minutes away from me. I am in Roxbury NJ just east from you. I cross through Budd Lake often (like when going to Island Dragway, or for wings in Hackettstown, etc). I also try to get to a lot of the local cruise night car gatherings in the area, so if you are at one and see my car say hi, and I'll do the same if I see your awesome ride. It is funny we live 10 mins apart and we were both in the running for COTM this month!
So I couldn't help but notice that you live just 10-15 minutes away from me. I am in Roxbury NJ just east from you. I cross through Budd Lake often (like when going to Island Dragway, or for wings in Hackettstown, etc). I also try to get to a lot of the local cruise night car gatherings in the area, so if you are at one and see my car say hi, and I'll do the same if I see your awesome ride. It is funny we live 10 mins apart and we were both in the running for COTM this month!
Last edited by IROCZman15; Apr 2, 2017 at 03:07 PM.
Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 372
Likes: 96
From: Madison, WI
Car: 1988 Trans Am w/ WS6
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: 5-Speed
Re: April 2017 COTM **WINNER**
Congrats. Beautiful car and really the color combination that got my interest in the TA over the IROC. At the time I ordered mine I was just a year out of college and couldn't quite swing the GTA package, but I got pretty close.
Hope to see more pics going forward.
Hope to see more pics going forward.
Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 113
Likes: 0
From: Budd Lake nj
Car: 88 trans am gta
Engine: 305tpi
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 9 bolt 3:27
Re: April 2017 COTM **WINNER**
- Brian
-Brian
Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 113
Likes: 0
From: Budd Lake nj
Car: 88 trans am gta
Engine: 305tpi
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 9 bolt 3:27
Re: April 2017 COTM **WINNER**
Congratulations man! well deserved indeed. Very nice ride, definitely!
So I couldn't help but notice that you live just 10-15 minutes away from me. I am in Roxbury NJ just east from you. I cross through Budd Lake often (like when going to Island Dragway, or for wings in Hackettstown, etc). I also try to get to a lot of the local cruise night car gatherings in the area, so if you are at one and see my car say hi, and I'll do the same if I see your awesome ride. It is funny we live 10 mins apart and we were both in the running for COTM this month!
So I couldn't help but notice that you live just 10-15 minutes away from me. I am in Roxbury NJ just east from you. I cross through Budd Lake often (like when going to Island Dragway, or for wings in Hackettstown, etc). I also try to get to a lot of the local cruise night car gatherings in the area, so if you are at one and see my car say hi, and I'll do the same if I see your awesome ride. It is funny we live 10 mins apart and we were both in the running for COTM this month!
Senior Member
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 732
Likes: 18
From: MA
Car: 92 & 91 Z28 1LEs, 87 IROC-Z, 90 ZR1
Engine: L98, LT5
Transmission: 700R4, 6-speed
Axle/Gears: 3.45, 3.42, 3.73, 3.27
Re: April 2017 COTM **WINNER**
I absolutely love your car! It presents itself so well! I love great hood gaps, the fact that the emblems are actually in their correct locations, the repro battery label, etc. Very nice and well deserved, you had my vote!
Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 113
Likes: 0
From: Budd Lake nj
Car: 88 trans am gta
Engine: 305tpi
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 9 bolt 3:27
Re: April 2017 COTM **WINNER**
Thank you! I try to get all the little details right.
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 32
Likes: 1
From: Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
Car: 86 sport coup
Engine: room for rent looking for ls power
Transmission: t-5
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Re: April 2017 COTM **WINNER**
That gta looks killer, the more I see cross lace wheels the more I like them.