this is really nice and rare but i dont know if it's a factory 350 GTA
and how many GTA verts were made with 350?

eBay Motors: Pontiac : Firebird (item 120031604834 end time Sep-20-06 19:14:52 PDT)

 

I think drooling at that car when it was on there a month ago is what is responsible for me buying the 91 I now have.....

 

nice car except no verts left the factory with a 350, also i think somone added more speakers in the rear panel.....

 

No verts ever left the factory at all if you want to say that.

Anyway, that car has seen better days. Looks like something is wrong with the top on the driver side. Nice muffler. Wheels have been painted black. I think I see some frame abuse.

 

touche'

Okay let me revise, no verts ever left ASC with 350's, i have no idea about the other 10 dozen companies that did conversions......

 

Sure they did, I have one. Notice that car came with a 350 per the VIN, but that the VIN doesnt identify it as a convertible. However, you can see it was converted by ASC.

 

Where is a drooling smiley when you need one...

 

From my research:
1 of 177 3rd Gen 350 Powered Firebird CONVERTIBLES - ALL YEARS
1 of 145 GTA/Trans Am Convertibles in 1989
1 of 136 GTA/Trans Am Vert powered with a 350 - ALL YEARS.

ASC - the same company that converted the Camaros from 87-92 and the Firebird in 91 & 92. Did some side work converting Firebirds from 87-90. They used ALL GM PARTS. From what I can tell you could send your car to ASC to have them convert it, MOST of the cars appear to have been Ordered by a dealership and drop shipped to ASC, at ASC they would put the Subframe connectors on, cut the top off, and install the Convertible equipement. IF you had any kind of warrenty work you would take it to your Pontiac dealership where they could service the entire car including the top.

THe nice thing about the Firebird convertibles is there is not much special in the way of parts on the car. The only Firebird specific parts that I can tell is the fiberglas spears that go down the sides, and the 3rd brake light assembly. The Wing is a stock base wing that has been cut, the ends sealed off and then painted. All other parts would be identical to the Camaro.

From looking at the car in the auction I would think $8K - $10K is a fair price. Although the wheels do not appear to be original, as they should be Gold for the GTA.

3 - were converted directly by ASC for customers.
45 - appear to have been dealer lot cars, sent to ASC to be converted, the VIN's were not recorded for those cars.
10 - were exported and the Model and any information is unknown.
6 - VIN listed cars are unkown as Carfax & Autocheck do not have any record of them.
9 - VINS could not be read.

The VIN on that car IS on the list...

John

 

Didnt notice it before, but... that car doesnt have door handles either. I wonder what else has been done to it?

 

John - Looks like this car is on pg 15 and was ordered with a black top. Although not standard on the GTA, black cross-lace rims were available from Pontiac. I have them on my TA. It would make sense the car would come with black vs gold rims to match the top and grey int. Madmax, it does look like the door handles have been shaved.

John - See my last PM to you?

 

All GTAs came with the gold cross lace rims, no options. That was part of being a GTA.

 

Correct,
However they could have been A) Stolen, B) replaced by the owner to match the top, C) replaced at the dealership for appearance... who knows. the car is Custom.

JOhn

 

Agreed, I was only making note that it didn't roll off the Production Line with anything but the gold crosslace rims, no matter what color the top is or what color rims it has now :-)

 

hi i also have a 1989 gta convertible by asc with a 350 tpi .i am looking for more info on it..amyway i have owned it for over 11 years and i built a 383 stroker tpi for it and the car is awesome with it..tan top tan leather and digital dash..a real gta and a real 3500car..any other info greatly appreciated ..if i knwe how to post pics i would...lol

 

What is your VIN? actually All I would need is your last 5 digits and I can tell you if its on "THe list" I will tell you what number Trans Am/GTA it is out of the listed VINS...

JOhn

 

See if this link helps:
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/prob...mages-tgo.html

If you still have trouble, you can email me at jt@thirdgen.org and I'll help with the pictures.

 

i will post the vin later today when out of work..thanks for the help and i will try to get some pics out too thanks again..im also selling my 88 gta notchback if anyone is interested..5.7 red tan cloth and digital 73000 miles nice shape..thanks vin

 

HERE IS THE VIN LAST 5 DIGITS 32816 THANKS PICS REAL SOON

 

THat would be #75 of 136 on the list of L98 TA's & GTA's...

Your car was 1 of 2 cars shipped on 2/22/1989 from ASC to William Pontiac, who ordered the car on 11-01-88, the car originally came with the Tan top and was whipped with another 350 GTA or Trans Am vert the same day.

John

 

thanks for the info i really appreciate it.. where is or was williams pontiac located? thanks again i knew it was but now its really offical it is a true gta asc vert thanks again ...would u know anyone interested in buying a stage 3 hypertech chip for the 87-89 350 tpi its a rare chip i am told thanks ..

 

Unfortunately I have no idea where WIlliam Pontiac is, its not listed on the page.

John

 

Hey guys whats up i see quite a few of you know alot about GTAS. I just bought a 1989 GTA convertible with a 350tpi/700r4/9 bolt rear. I see the ASC sticker in the door jam i was wonderinf if you could look it up as see if it is on "The list" And whats the deal with these things GM never made any at the dealer?
Thanks
For the help
TOm

LAst 5 vin digits 39540

 

Yup, its #87 of 136 (Known) 89 GTA's. It shipped on 3/27/1989, what color is it?

 

im hoping to find out if ASC is still around, what it stands for and how much it would be to get my hardtop chopped to a vert.

 

YES ASC is still around,
NO ASC will not convertiblize your car, the tooling is long gone, as are the parts & pieces.

JOhn

 

it stands for American Specialty Cars... and i read somewhere where you can send your car to them and they will convert it for you... it wont be like ASC, but they can make it a convertible.

 

last time I read, it was about $4000 for the conversion that was back in 1989, I cant imagine paying that much for a conversion on my current car. It would be cheaper to get one done and have the real deal.

John