To all of you who care, I have gotten a hold of the list of the VINS for 1989 ASC converted Firebirds.

Thats the OLD news, I was able to determine the entire VINs for Most of them, Here is what I got:

There was a TOTAL of 369 cars Ordered, I have come to the conclusion that this is not the Shipping log but the Order Log, as it states on the top of each page. All but 6 of the missing VINS were never made based on the 4 cars which popped up over the years but were not in the list. Furthermore ASC Reported making a total of 330 1989 Firebird Convertibles, but the log only shows a total of 324.

Therefore: 369 cars were ordered, and 39 Cars were not made for reasons unknown, leaving a total of 330 produced.

Now for the GOOD STUFF!
Trans AM & GTA's:
156 L98 cars
9 LB9 cars
4 LO3 Trans Am's
2 LC0 TURBO Trans Am

4 Trans Am
165 Trans Am or GTA
2 Turbo Trans Am
171 TOTAL

BASE FIREBIRD & FORMULA
43 Formula 350's
18 LB9 Formulas
57 LO3 cars
38 LB8 (V6) Firebirds

61 FORMULAS
57 Formulas or Firebirds
38 Base Firebirds
156 TOTAL

3 Unknown
330 GRAND TOTAL

Cars confirmed as of 12-6-2021
4 LC8 Firebirds
6 L03 Firebirds
13 L03 Formulas
7 LB9 Formulas
22 L98 Formulas
1 L03 Trans Am
3 LB9 Trans Ams
5 L98 Trans Ams
1 LB9 GTA
52 L98 GTAs
2 LC2 TTAs
116 Total Confirmed

EDIT: I went through the VINS that were virtually unreadable and was able to piece enough together with the help of a computer program to determine the VINS for those cars.

EDIT: UPDATED information
John

 

Good info. Supports my theory I've had for some time that there are a whole lot of 350 cars (and likely mostly 350 cars) out of that group built.

175 L98
24 LB9
65 LO3
37 LB8

L98 wins.

PM sent to ya.

 

I updated the above numbers...

ONCE I get a response from my contact and complete the known numbers I will calculate the approximate totals based upon what I know.

John

 

I wish I had the vin from the 89 formula 350 asc vert I saw. then you could see if it was a missing vin

 

The more information we have the better chance we would have to get an exact pi-point number. Unfortunately it would be impossible to get ALL of the numbers that are missing, because many of the cars no longer exist or there in forign countries. I know that although CARFAX and Autocheck are a help they are not the end-all-place for the information on cars, there are errors, and even cars that were totaled that are not listed for one reason or another. BUT its the best we have.

With the generic number of 369 thats fine, but by narrowing down the numbers by car line we are able to at least get an idea of how many of each were made. Unless ASC magically finds the missing information we will probably never know.

It was a relief that my car was actually listed While waiting for the info I was nervous, as with the list it authenticates my car.

JOhn

 

If there are any interested Vert buyers out there, check out item 220009834862 on ebay. Would love to have a true 3rd gen buyer take this car.

Thanks.

 

Its a nice looking car, I must say if I did not have mine I might be interested... Its other than some minor things it looks like my cars clone... Things I did notice: The seats are from an 85 or 86, the paint looks great, the decals are missing, do you know when it was repainted?

John

 

John - Sounds like you have the same ASC production sheets I have, with the dealership names and last six digits of the vins. I'm very interested in how you came up with your numbers. With the check digit number in the vins, how are you looking them up in Carfax, etc. I have been collecting data for several years now, trying to come up with numbers.

I sent the ASC prod. sheets with request from Pontiac Historic Services to see what they could do, since GM said all data was turned over to them. They kept giving me the run around, telling me they were working on it. I think they just wanted the info. as I would contact (e-mail) them every few months to see how it was coming along. Soon they stop responding to my e-mails.

I wonder if all the cars listed on the ASC production sheets are 89 model years. In a 1993 response letter from the ASC vice president at the time, he indicated my vehicle (#231686, 1 of 2 ordered from Dan Deery Pontiac, other was Firebird v6) was "...one of 330 units built in the 1988 and 1989 model year..." In another letter from Pontiac (1995) all they could advise me is there were 3449 Trans Ams w/ t-tops (all engines) and 577 Trans Ams (non-GTA) w/ 5.7L built in 89. No cross reference number between t-top w/5.7L built.

In info I received from another 89 owner he talked to several ASC individuals in 91/92and was told 330 units were built. They had no other hard numbers, but thought probably 25% of the cars were GTA's. I lost his e-mail in 93 when my computer crashed, I do still have his name Chuck Walter.

Let me know when you finish or if there is anything I could help with.

Thanks,
Brent

 

Yes I have been in contact with Chuck Walter, thats where I got my list. He goes by Chick.

Anyways, It was a daunting process But I set up a program that when I input the last 5 digits it would spit out the 8 possibilities for the VIN. Technically there are only 7 but because of the TTA in 1989 that makes it 8, there are suposedly only 2 of those converted, but I did not come back with any of those. Probably because I am unsure if the TTA's were 1G2FW cars or 1G5fW cars

In 1989 there was 369 firebirds converted (according to the sheet) and of those they really appear to be rather consistent with the build date at ASC and the VIN number, there were a few exceptions, like the VIN 236760, all of the cars around it were shipped in mid march, but this car was shipped 8/9/06. . The reasons may be endless, it could have been shipped to ASC to be converted from a dealer, or they may have sat on the car for some time before shipping. Its unclear.

Your car is on the list its #69, Your check digit is 9...

Basically how I did it was took the possible vins, and put them into carfax until I got a hit. IF there is no information it comes back as "No info on the VIN" If the VIN is wrong it comes back and tells me so. When I got a hit CARFAX and AutoCheck would come back with "We found 9 records for this vehicle" Then I knew I got a hit. I wrote down the Check digit and W or S depending on the model, and the Engine it had. So I ended up with W89 for your car for example since thats the only 3 unknowns of any vin that you have the last 5 digits...

ONE thing I must make clear, I am stating the last 5 digits of the VIN. From 1987+ all Firebirds have the same information in the VIN:
1 = USA
G = GM
2 = Pontiac
F = F-Body
? = could be an S or W
2 = Body
1 = restraint
? = Engine, 8 = L98, F = LB9, E = LO3, S = LB8 (V6) and 7 = 3.8 Turbo
? = Check digit, this one you can figure by hand it was easier to make a simple program to do it for me
K = 1989
L = Van Nuys CA
2 = Pontiac,
12345 = Sequence number

The 2 at the beginning of the sequence number is always there from 87+ as Pontiac started at 200001 and Chevrlet started at 100001. Since Pontiac never sold 100,000 Firebirds any given year from 87-92 the number was never increased to 3 or 5 or some other ambiguous number.

IF I knew how to program spam, I would ahve probably done it that way thru CarFAX and AutoCheck, but I do not know how. IF I ever learn how I may set up a program to do just that and go through all the known vins and have it all automatic.

The 330 number is in close to the listed vins on the pages, technically there are 45 unknown vins, which if you talk to Chick he will tell you that there are 45 that were missing from the list. I believe that these are the 45 that he is referring to.

Unfortunately at this time I am unable to verify the bottom of Page 12 as my copy is almost unreadable on that page. If you have a better copy or info from other years I would be interested in that as well.. Its a minor tweak to change the program for another year.

JOhn

 

Unfortunately my copy (pg 12) is the same. As for my vin# you are correct. So the way you have been looking these up (Carfax, etc) you have had 184 hit confirmations for L98 cars, 142 either GTA/Trans Am and 42 Formulas. Are you keeping the vin# when you get a hit? Do you think there is anyway the 142 GTA/TA vins can be given to PHS or GM to try and decifer how many were GTA and how many were TA? I'd be willing to help anyway I can. With missing data and unconfirmed totals (330 vs 369) built, I know there will never be an exact number decifered. But a ballpark figure is better than rumor.

Thanks

 

Yes, the seats are from an 86 TA, due to wear on the original Firebird's. The car was re-painted before I bought it in 2001, not replacing the decals.

This car is a great example and would be well worth plenty to the right buyer. Car can be seen on ebay under item # 220009834862. Car will not be sold for less than $6K, as is.

 

We can try that, it would definately be interesting to see if we get results. I would do it for the LO3 Formula/Firebirds too...

WHo is your contact at PHS is it Jim Mattison?

One thing that is really interesting is typically, not as a rule, according the the sheet when a dealer ordered cars they usually ordered several of the same model. For example there is a list of about 15 cars by one dealer, of those all were L98 T/A/GTA cars and only 2 were LB9 T/A/GTA cars. On the first page there is a group of 2 Formula 350's going to the same dealer. There was a group of 13 or so LB8 cars that all went to one dealer. Looking at the sheets I would think about half of the dealers ordered this way.

John

 

TTA's are 1G5fW

 

thats what I thought

John

 

Jim Mattison was the individual at PHS. I'm pretty sure the other car ordered at the same dealership as mine was a 89 Firebird V6. Is that what you came up with. I know the same dealership ordered an 88 TA 5.0L, but I'm unsure of the vin. Let me know what PHS says. Per Pontiac, PHS has all the info on microfilm???

It would be interesting to see the results. I have yet to come across another 89 TA w/5.7L, everthing I find on the net or in classifieds are either a GTA or Formula.

John, I appreciate the time you have put into this. If I can help in anyway let me know.

 

Actually the other car from Dan Derry Motors was a V8 LO3 Firebird.

you can check it out, unless I am reading the number wrong.

1G2FS21E8KL231213 On my page the last number is clearly a 3, if it was misread and an 8 was used it would be 1G2FS21SXKL231218 and a V6.

JOhn

 

My sheet shows a 3. I just assumed it was a v6 b/c it was just plain jane Firebird.

Keep us posted.

 

then it was a V8

 

John - I sent you a PM.

 

John - Any updates?

 

Not really at this time, I have not had much time to mess with it.

l8r

 

I updated the 1st post to include the last 9 that I could not decipher before

JOhn

 

There is a guy in my town who bought a '89 Formula convertible new, it is a 5.0 TPI Auto, bright Red, I think he said he bought it in Janesville, Wi, at Everhart-O'Leary Pontiac. He still owns it, I can get you the VIN if you'd like. Chris

 

There were 2 that wer sent to Everhart-O'Leary, neither of them were a 305 TPI Formula, one was a LO3 firebird and the other was a 350 Formula...

I would be interested in the VIN, also get me the mileage.

thanks

John

 

It's a very good feeling knowing that I have one of the L03 convertible firebirds. Would my Vin be of help ? This is my first post on the forum. I got the car from a guy in Bakersfield,CA on the 22nd. It's in very nice condition.

 

shatter,
Sure, I would be interested, all you need to give me is the last 6 numbers in the VIN. I can take it from there. Also I am trying to get an idea of colors & such, what color is your car, I have the color of the original top on the list. Also is it a Formula or a Firebird?

 

I updated the list, After looking at it for 6 months I finally realized it was not a Sales list but a Sales ORDER list. The 45 cars not listed with a VIN or the Ship date were never made. Therefore the total stands at 324 89 Firebird convertibles.

L8r