When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Auto Detailing and AppearanceShare tips and tricks on how to make your Third Gen shine! Get opinions on products or how something tasteful looks on your Chevrolet Camaro or Pontiac Firebird.
Its that time again! The December Car of the month contest, featuring all the runners up from the past year. These are some elite cars that definitely deserve another chance to shine.
Thank you for the nomination for COTM, as it's an honor to be a part of the judging.
This is my 2nd 1989 Gunmetal GTA, and I have a soft spot for these cars. I bought the first one, a T-Top 5.7L car, back in the summer of 1991 and kept it until spring 2005. Always wished I had kept it...
Anyways, other vehicles came and went, but the GTA stayed on my mind. I thought, if I got another, it would be the pinnacle of 3rd Gens - a convertible.
So to get a 5.7L GTA Convertible, it had to be an 89. I was on the hunt...
I travelled over 2,200 miles to look at one, and passed on another, but this one I found and bought, was a 4 year process. Allow me to explain...
Early Beginnings:
In 1991, I bought my first GTA. A 1989 Gunmetal Gray 5.7L T-Top car. It had 52k mi, and was parked on a hill of a farm w/ a 4x8 plywood sign, listing it for sale. As the car was under warranty until 75k mi, and the original owner had it, I rolled the dice and bought it. I had a Corvette at the time, which with two seats, wasn't very practical. So the GTA filled a nice void in my life. It turned out to be a wonderful car.
In 1993, I met the lady who would become my wife. We went on our first date in the GTA, and later in life, many more firsts... It remained a memorable car, and pretty practical, all thing considered. Fast-forward to 2005, I had just bought another Corvette, so the GTA was sold. I was pretty bummed, watching as the taillights disappeared. I haven't seen that car since...
Since selling the car, I have thought about 3rd Gens. Watched the market closely, and decided, if I got another, which would it be?
Another 1989 5.7L car, as the engines are awesome, and IMO, the best of any TPI. I figured a Convertible would be unique, and the ASC cars being legitimate in their place of Pontiac history, would be a good option. But it would have to be Gunmetal Gray.
The Search For Gray:
Finding a Gunmetal Gray GTA which isn't a roach, is a tall order. Finding an ASC Convertible, even tougher... I could find Flame Red ones and white ones, all day long, but when it came to finding Gray, forget it... None seem to be out there... I was beginning to think these cars didn't exist in Gunmetal Gray!!
I looked online, and saw the silver car in Hawaii which based on the Gunmetal emblems, must've been gray at some point. I figured, based on the low production numbers and percentages of which Gunmetal makes-up overall 1989 GTA production, it was the proverbial needle-in-the-haystack. But I was determined...
I found a Gunmetal 1989 ASC 5.7L car in Nevada, looked at it, and found it was too much of a project. While the car was okay from a distance, two of the four windows were missing, the dash was a mess, and rear quarter panel damaged and repaired in haste. It was a cloth interior car, and 1 owner. It'll be a good car for someone who has time, but for the money, I kept looking...
Found a Gunmetal 1988 ASC Convertible in Harrisburg at the Mecum Auction, but it was a 5.0L/Auto w/ woodgrain dash, and other mods. Car sold for $11.5k, and while low mileage, the small engine wasn't for me. I kept looking...
Life Happens:
As they say, life happens... About 4.5 years ago, I had come across an ad for a Gunmetal 1989 ASC 5.7L car. I reached-out to the seller, and because of the distance, had it inspected. All this took time, and for whatever reason, maybe I was the only one looking at the time, but things were going in my favor. The life happens...
Right about that time, my father had gotten sick. He had been ill for some time, but things got bad with his health. Right when I was ready to buy, I pulled back from the deal. I needed to focus on family. My dad passed away not long after.
As if that wasn't enough, as things cleared-up from that, my wife got sick. Really ill. I felt like history was repeating itself. She's fine now, thankfully. But it took two years to get to the point of relief. Life continues...
The Accident:
This summer, as I'd been riding a bike for fitness, I had my own ordeal, as the whole "health" thing tried to kill me. I had an accident. It left me a mess on the side of the road, and thankful good samaratins stopped.
If you grew up in my era, one didn't wear a bicycle helmet. That's something I wish I had considered, as I went head first into the pavement. Anyways, sometime between thinking I might never recover, to where I am today, I decided to reach-out to the seller from years ago, on the chance they might still have the GTA. They not only owned the car still, but would consider selling. We struck a deal, and the rest is now history...
If you read this far, I hope you found the story of interest. It's the "Cliff notes" version, and while there is much more, it's probably a good summary of how we ended up with the car. My wife can't wait to go on a "date" in the GTA again, and wind-back the clock nearly 25 years.
Since buying the car, I've been slammed with work and haven't been able to do much aside from removal of the gold pin striping and replace the 17 year old tires. Driving the car is like a trip down memory lane, and it's an awesome feeling.
The car is 100% stock, with an added alarm system only. It has some rare Pontiac options, and quite possibly, a One-of-One, as built.
Thank you again for the nomination, and hopefully for your vote.
Addl. Pics:
Last edited by Big&BadGTA; 11-16-2018 at 11:00 PM.
Great just to be considered in such a nice group of cars.This car isn't original or anything special in any sort of way but we done a lot of work to her ourselves and enjoy it. This spring i will replace the L03 for an L98 I've had stashed back and then maybe I will leave it alone awhile. We've already painted it, replaced rear for a 3.73 posi, built transmission+ replaced tc, 3in exhaust, every piece of suspension, etc just to name a few. Thanks to all the guys on here I've bought parts from and who have have me great advice along the way working on this car.
Thank you for the nomination for COTM, as it's an honor to be a part of the judging.
This is my 2nd 1989 Gunmetal GTA, and I have a soft spot for these cars. I bought the first one, a T-Top 5.7L car, back in the summer of 1991 and kept it until spring 2005. Always wished I had kept it...
Anyways, other vehicles came and went, but the GTA stayed on my mind. I thought, if I got another, it would be the pinnacle of 3rd Gens - a convertible.
So to get a 5.7L GTA Convertible, it had to be an 89. I was on the hunt...
I travelled over 2,200 miles to look at one, and passed on another, but this one I found and bought, was a 4 year process. Allow me to explain...
Since buying the car, I've been slammed with work and haven't been able to do much aside from removal of the gold pin striping and replace the 17 year old tires. Driving the car is like a trip down memory lane, and it's an awesome feeling.
The car is 100% stock, with an added alarm system only. It has some rare Pontiac options, and quite possibly, a One-of-One, as built.
Thank you again for the nomination, and hopefully for your vote.
One of my pet peeves about the car world is that just about everything these days is black, silver, gray, or white. I've always liked both black and white, but there's too many of them. I've never cared for silver and gray, but even on colors that I don't especially like overall, in some cases they just work. For your cars it works great. Just beautiful.
100% stock? I like that spoiler, but was that from Pontiac, or from whoever did the convertible conversion?
One of my pet peeves about the car world is that just about everything these days is black, silver, gray, or white. I've always liked both black and white, but there's too many of them. I've never cared for silver and gray, but even on colors that I don't especially like overall, in some cases they just work. For your cars it works great. Just beautiful.
100% stock? I like that spoiler, but was that from Pontiac, or from whoever did the convertible conversion?
Thank you for the compliments. I love the Gunmetal Gray. Favorite color on a GTA.
Yes, rear spoiler is 100% original/stock from the ASC convertible conversion.
Thanks fellas, I'm honored. (Again) I've put thousands of hours into my car. Almost three years in the making. Painted her myself in my garage 2010 Camaro Rally Yellow.. 3 coats color, 3 coats clear, cut & buffed. Six hours per wheel restoring sanding and polishing them. Love the stock wheels and wanted to keep them. All new carpet, door panels, and headliner. Steering wheel, shifter ****, and Ebrake handle recovered in leather with yellow baseball stitching by Craft Customs. Engine is stock 305 TPI. Engine compartment is my next goal within the next year or two.
These are all nice cars for sure & congrats to all the nominees. However, I am amazed (and disappointed) we dont have a one in this group
that is an untouched (unrestored, unmodified) low mile original - I know there are a bunch on this forum, just not sure why they dont make the COTM ??
Maybe we should re-evaluate the nomination process ?? Like I said, all nice cars and congrats again to each nominee !!
These are all nice cars for sure & congrats to all the nominees. However, I am amazed (and disappointed) we dont have a one in this group
that is an untouched (unrestored, unmodified) low mile original - I know there are a bunch on this forum, just not sure why they dont make the COTM ??
Maybe we should re-evaluate the nomination process ?? Like I said, all nice cars and congrats again to each nominee !!
I replied to this comment in the May forum as well (thought it was directed towards that month in particular)
I believe Big&BadGTA, ksr, rarebmx, ja85z28, and Niel350 would fall into the low mile/original category..
I know members that have cars that have extremely low miles and very high level detailing have won in the past.
I think its nice that a custom job that looks brand new in and out (with perhaps performance enhancements) can get some love and respect on here rather than only celebrating the people that can go out an buy a car with low miles or a concourse restoration and just win everything all the time. I think there’s plenty of opportunity for everyone on here.
I was thinking this looks like a list of winners to me. For runners up it’s a solid lineup. I’d be excited to see these cars lined up at a cruise night.
Well everybody cant afford to go buy a low mile unmolested third gen since the TV shows and such have put the prices thru the roof. Some of us have to buy old stuff and work on it ourselves. Ive enjoyed the time i've spent with my Father and my children working on mine.
These are all nice cars for sure & congrats to all the nominees. However, I am amazed (and disappointed) we dont have a one in this group
that is an untouched (unrestored, unmodified) low mile original - I know there are a bunch on this forum, just not sure why they dont make the COTM ??
Maybe we should re-evaluate the nomination process ?? Like I said, all nice cars and congrats again to each nominee !!
It sounds like you might have the wrong idea about what's going on.
1) There have been several "untouched, original" cars that have been nominated for, and won our COTM contests. Low-mile, original cars are featured frequently and do very well in our COTM contests. Anyone who's paid attention knows this.
2) This is the "WILDCARD" month, meaning: all the nominees are members who've come in second place in COTM contests over the past year. A couple of them, I'm sure, lost out to "unmolested, original" cars.
If you open the *sticky thread* (at the top of the page) entitled: COTM Winners List, I think you'll be surprised to see that [since I've been running COTM (since 2014)], bone stock originals, and stock restorations have constituted roughly half of COTM Winners.
It sounds like you might have the wrong idea about what's going on.
1) There have been several "untouched, original" cars that have been nominated for, and won our COTM contests. Low-mile, original cars are featured frequently and do very well in our COTM contests. Anyone who's paid attention knows this.
2) This is the "WILDCARD" month, meaning: all the nominees are members who've come in second place in COTM contests over the past year. A couple of them, I'm sure, lost out to "unmolested, original" cars.
If you open the *sticky thread* (at the top of the page) entitled: COTM Winners List, I think you'll be surprised to see that [since I've been running COTM ([b]since 2014)], bone stock originals, and stock restorations have constituted roughly half of COTM Winners.
Yes, sir, you are correct, I was not aware this was a "Wildcard month" thanks for the explanation and BTW - Great work on the COTM !!
These are all nice cars for sure & congrats to all the nominees. However, I am amazed (and disappointed) we dont have a one in this group
that is an untouched (unrestored, unmodified) low mile original - I know there are a bunch on this forum, just not sure why they dont make the COTM ??
Maybe we should re-evaluate the nomination process ?? Like I said, all nice cars and congrats again to each nominee !!
I don't know about "brand new" inside and out, but my '88 GTA is 100% stock outside of the tires and looks good. It is definitely untouched, unrestored, and unmodified. The only non-stock thing about it is a Code Alarm system that was installed by the only prior owner which appears to be disconnected.
I bought it back in February with 32,045 miles on it, and have logged a little over 1,300 miles since then.
These pics are from my nomination earlier this year. I need to get some ones with less glare. Living on an island, I need to find a spot where I can get the car with the ocean in the background.
It sounds like you might have the wrong idea about what's going on.
1) There have been several "untouched, original" cars that have been nominated for, and won our COTM contests. Low-mile, original cars are featured frequently and do very well in our COTM contests. Anyone who's paid attention knows this.
2) This is the "WILDCARD" month, meaning: all the nominees are members who've come in second place in COTM contests over the past year. A couple of them, I'm sure, lost out to "unmolested, original" cars.
If you open the *sticky thread* (at the top of the page) entitled: COTM Winners List, I think you'll be surprised to see that [since I've been running COTM ([b]since 2014)], bone stock originals, and stock restorations have constituted roughly half of COTM Winners.
I like this current format you are doing now, and with the winners split down the middle for original and modified I would not change a thing. Another thumbs up from me for the job you do with this, you deserve it!
Now I still can't decide who to vote for, I think this might be the toughest vote yet.
Wow. What a surprise & honor to be nominated. Thank you & I'm in very good company again.
About 4 years ago I started my hunt for a 5.7 GTA Convertible. I had no idea that I was hunting a car that so few were made. I came across several but most had some rust issues & with me being in Missouri, the cars were not going to be in a worse place for more rust. I never drive the cars in rain or weather of any type but once a car has rust it usually continues.
I had talked with several members who had leads on others GTA Convertibles but color combinations or location of the cars were not West Coast cars.
I found the car actually right here on TGO. It was posted by a member who had owned it the last 12 years but had only posted maybe 5 or 6 times in the 6 or 7 years he was a member. He didn't have a tremendous amount of details on the for sale post but enough to peak my interest. I sent a PM, PM lead to phone calls & eventually a deposit to buy the car. On November 1st 2016 I boarded a plane from St. Louis, MO to Riverside, CA along with a buddy that I paid his way for the ride along to pick up the GTA & drive back to St. Louis.
Arrived in Ontario, CA & rented a car, drove 1 hr to Riverside. Met seller, car was in very good company at his warehouse (Gembella Porsche & GT3RS Porsche). Paid the man his money, returned the rental car & started our 3 day drive back to Missouri.
This car was bought originally in California & spent it's whole life there. Was originally purchase by a gynecologist (who else can say there car was owned by a gynecologist?) At John Hine Pontiac in San Diego, Ca. then sold years later to a lieutenant in the military. The man I purchased the car from was the 3rd owner & took great car of it but rarely drove the car until the last year he owned it.
By far this GTA probably has the highest mileage out of these cars nominated ☆☆102,700☆☆ however with it being 100% unmolested and everythig working, I'd put it up against cars with 30,000 miles. PLUS - I wanted a car I would drive & enjoy. There isn't even rust on the exhaust manifolds. This car retains every original piece it left the factory with except tires & K & N air filter. Nothing has been cut or spliced or molested.
Pic in the garage next to my IROC
It made the journey from Riverside, CA to Missouri without 1 issue. It took a solid 3 days & didn't even hit rain.
This year I did replace the carpet, rebuilt the headlight motors, put back in the original stereo (was in the trunk when purchased), cleaned & detailed & put about 1500 miles on the car.
Added a PONTIAC script on the windshield just for a little advertising for Pontiac
I did take it to one show this year & placed second - I lost out to a 2017 Yenko Camaro in the stock original class.
I added Indy 500 decal on the rocker just as a reminder on the next car I'm hunting.
Thank you for the nomination. I actually voted already & not for myself.
These 3rd gens are awesome cars & let keep them going & get them out on the road!
There's a number of responses that probably should be in this thread but are in the related "May 2018" thread. I kept ending up on that page too. If you hit ctrl-end to go to the end of what should be the Dec 2018 voting page, it actually puts you on the end of the "related" May 2018 page. Then people are filling in the response window there. Doesn't impact voting, but the comments aren't in the right place.
There's a number of responses that probably should be in this thread but are in the related "May 2018" thread. I kept ending up on that page too. If you hit ctrl-end to go to the end of what should be the Dec 2018 voting page, it actually puts you on the end of the "related" May 2018 page. Then people are filling in the response window there. Doesn't impact voting, but the comments aren't in the right place.
I know, it's been messing me up for the past couple of days.
Sounds like the new "feature" the latest board update applied. Infinite scrolling defaults to enabled, along with related threads. If both are enabled, you can just keep scrolling down and it opens other threads when you get to the end of the current thread. If you're not watching too close you don't even know which thread you're in or replying to.
Open your User CP, click Edit Options, and disabled Infinite Scrolling and related threads, and the board behaves like it did a week or two ago...
Pretty sure JT has the problems/suggestions board set to send him a notice. When I posted there about the infinite scrolling, he sent me a pm and let me know how to turn it off. LOL
Sounds like the new "feature" the latest board update applied. Infinite scrolling defaults to enabled, along with related threads. If both are enabled, you can just keep scrolling down and it opens other threads when you get to the end of the current thread. If you're not watching too close you don't even know which thread you're in or replying to.
Open your User CP, click Edit Options, and disabled Infinite Scrolling and related threads, and the board behaves like it did a week or two ago...
Pretty sure JT has the problems/suggestions board set to send him a notice. When I posted there about the infinite scrolling, he sent me a pm and let me know how to turn it off. LOL
Awesome! Thanks for the love! Would be a great month to win being my bday is December 22nd lol
quick rundown on the car.
Gen 4 LS Swap
T56 monster stage 4 clutch
9 inch, tru-trak 3.50 rear end
Single turbo (currently getting a billet s475)
xxr 526 wheels. 18x10.5/18x9 with 295/275s
Coilover front with AJE kmember/arms
weight jack rears
MS3 Pro ECU
I finally made mt decision and cast my vote. I want to give a shout out to all 11 of you. Wow what a great group of cars to chose from and ALL of you should be proud of your rides!
Most months we have about 3-5 cars to chose from and with having 11 this month it was not only tougher but more enjoyable at the same time.
Its definitely going to tough month. A lot of very nice rides. Rides that make you proud to own a thirdgen! I may have to share a bunch of these for my Instagram page "3rdgen_Nation"!
Thanks guys you all are too nice. My Dad has painted cars over 40 years and was the reason it turned out so good. We used a decent paint , Omni Plus, but not high $. The key was 6 coats of PPG clear it really makes as difference. We didn't even cut and buff the car it turned out real slick. Now if I can get my 350 in there i think I will be satisfied for awhile. Some awesome rides here this month as are every time! I'm glad just to be considered in such a nice group.
These are all nice cars for sure & congrats to all the nominees. However, I am amazed (and disappointed) we dont have a one in this group
that is an untouched (unrestored, unmodified) low mile original - I know there are a bunch on this forum, just not sure why they dont make the COTM ??
Maybe we should re-evaluate the nomination process ?? Like I said, all nice cars and congrats again to each nominee !!
Congrads as well, all very well cared for. Sweet rides in various ways.
11-16-2018, 10:22 PM
for the job you do with this, you deserve it!
lol
