Location: Allentown, Pennsylvania, 18102
VIN #: 1G5FW2177KL238839
Mileage: 9,000
Transmission: Auto
Condition: Mint
Exterior: White
Interior: Camel (Beechwood)

Seller’s Description: 1989 Pontiac Trans Am 20th Anniversary Turbo Indy Pace Car CONVERTIBLE

Considering offers of $100k and up.

Factory TTA Ragtop

Rarest Trans Am ever built. (ONLY 2 MADE)

Fastest Trans Am ever built. (162mph)

Published in books, magazines

Most expensive Trans Am ever built (cost $50,000 in 1989)

Completely factory, and the only (1 of 1) TTA convertible ever ordered and built new as a convertible!

NOT CONVERTED FROM DEALER STOCK, this car followed the exact factory build as Camaro convertibles, and we have the papers to prove it.

Price negotiable. Probably won't take under $100k. Call 484 632 8522 to discuss.

Not offered for sale publicly since 1989.



It is very hard to price a car for which neither of the existing 2 cars have ever been publicly sold or advertised since 1989. Experts say it is worth at least as much as a standard Buick GNX, of which over 500 were built. GNX cars average $123,000 on Hagerty (auction results). I think this car is more in company with a 1990 ZR-1 ragtop or a 1992 Firehawk ragtop. The latter 2 cars sold for near $200k ten years ago.

This is a very fun car you can drive without lowering it's value. It still feels very fast today.

Two TTA ragtops were built in 1989, first this one was built, then after tta production ended, Jeff Beitzel had his pilot/test/press/show car sent to ASC, and they ran it down the line for him as a used car because he was a VIP who ran the company that made all the tta's. His pilot car was the second and final TTA ragtop built by ASC. I have the 1989 Firebird production printout from ASC, and only 2 of the cars are TTA. They made about 300 other 1989 Firebird convertibles. All were sold by Pontiac dealers with full factory warranties including the warranty on the convertible tops.

New photos and video to come. These are old photos from the last couple times the car was out.

Provenance book 3" thick, plus many published books and magazines featuring the car.

A couple copies of book pages included in my photos here, the 2002 book by John Gunnel, The Standard Catalog of Firebird (p141 in book); and the 1990 Muscle Car Review article.

We have several forms of proof in the provenance documents, that the car was ordered as a convertible from the factory, and not sent from dealer stock to get converted.

Featured in at least 6 different books and magazines, including a full width color photo in the Standard Catalog of Firebird by John Gunnel.

Also has PHS Papers.

Condition:

Car is in mint original condition with 9,000 original miles on it. It has no paintwork, no damage, and nothing out of order. It has all of its original parts, including its original tires (which I have kept off the ground the last 10 years).

It looks, runs and drives like the new car it is. If you want a convertible TTA, there are only 2 real correct factory convertibles. This is the only TTA ragtop with leather interior, and the first of the two convertibles to be built. It was a California car as new and for it's first 20 years with it's original owner who was a car guy who bought 2 new TTA's, both from the same dealer; One convertible and one t-top. It was sold to the second owner, who lived in Pennsylvania, the car lived in a nice attached garage with a cover on it. Then I found out it's whereabouts, so I pestered the nice man long enough that I was able to buy it, at which time it moved to my location in Pennsylvania. I have put about 300 miles in ten years. It has been indoors it's entire life. The only imperfection on the car is the cloth top which shows some wear at stress points, and some wrinkles at the corners, all visible in these photos. I left the top original because it is only original once, it's the only tta rag with original rag top. These tops are real Happich cloth. This was a German canvas cloth and was a factory option.

If you need info on these cars, please call, I can explain. I understand if you are confused. This car has been written about in books and magazines since 1990, and it is undisputed as the real deal. Even so, most folks do not know it exists. It took me 10 years of searching to find it. I wanted it ever since I saw it mentioned in a book written by John Gunnell in 1992. It was given a 5 star investment rating even then.

With this car, the manufacturer needed to use one special subcontractor to put in the turbo engine, and another subcontractor to do the convertible top. Therefore, the creation of this car took 3 factories:

1. GM F-car factory (Van Nuys, Ca), which built all Camaro and Firebird cars from 1988 to 1992.

2. Prototype Automotive Services (PAS) factory, who did the conversion to 20th anniversary turbo trans am specification. (they also built GMC Syclone and Typhoon)

3. American Sunroof Company (ASC) factory in Southgate Michigan, which built and installed all the convertible top mechanisms and associated trim for all Camaro and Firebird convertibles for many years. ASC also did work on 547 Buick Grand Nationals, to turn them into GNX Supercars.

The Turbo Trans Am is a very unique muscle car, one that GM had to contract with a subcontractor (PAS, Inc) to put in a hot rod engine, which upgraded performance quite significantly.

0-60mph: TTA 4.6 seconds Trans Am GTA 6.5 seconds

Top speed: TTA 162mph GTA 142mph

1/4 mi. TTA 13.4 sec Trans Am GTA 15.0 sec



Muscle cars for which the manufacturers contracted third parties to install special engines are the most highly prized as classics, particularly if that engine made the car the fastest version of the model. Shelby Mustangs are one such example. The TTA was the quickest and fastest American car in 1989 as proven by magazine tests. It matched the GNX acceleration, but exceeded it in top speed, handling, aerodynamics, and braking. This engine transplant modification for a 1-year only anniversary or pace car is very unusual. Generally they do pinstripes and badges.

I have a book 3 inches thick with provenance documents proving this car is the real deal, that it is the only one ever built new, and I have every piece of paper ever generated regarding this car. I have the original paper newspaper advertisement from when the car was first advertised by the selling dealer, "We have one very special 20th Anniversary Turbo Convertible, a Must See" and this newspaper features the car's vin number in the ad!

I have the cancelled checks from the first buyer to the dealership, the invoice for the purchase, the window sticker, the PHS papers, the books and magazines featuring the car, all the registrations, and insurance cards, the key knock outs, etc etc. This may be the only time it comes for sale publicly in it's whole life. It is rarer than a 1969 Trans Am ragtop. It is the rarest, fastest Trans Am ever made, and they will never make a rarer or faster one. Call me and discuss what you think the price ought to be. (I won't sell it for less than a hardtop or t top car if that is what you plan to offer but I am open to discuss any fair offer for this car.)

I took many detail shots to show every hose original date coded. Under car, frame rails upgraded during convertible build, and sprayed by ASC with undercoating in a "factory overspray" fashion. (they put undercoating on their steel frame reinforcements but did not properly mask the lower body skirts; this can only be seen underneath the car). Photos were taken with walmart floor mats or bath towels covering the original mats. These photos were not taken for an ad presentation. I will do better when I get the car out again and take new photos.

LIST OF KNOWN PUBLICATIONS (I continue to find more photos of this car published, as I read more books, but these are the ones I have currently)

1. 2/1/1990 Car featured in article in Muscle Car Review Magazine: Vroom with a View; 1989 Turbo Trans Am Pace Car Convertible? Features 2 pages, several pictures, and the story of Pontiac influencing the dealer to have the car built on spec. Also states that three convertibles were built.

2. 1992. Car gets mention in book: Illustrated Firebird Buyers Guide, by John Gunnel. Car is mentioned in text as being one of two built, and was given a five star investment rating. Published by Motorbooks International.

3. 1999. Car featured in book: Pontiac Firebird Trans-Am; 1969 -1999 Photo Album, by George Scala and Wallace Wyss, with forword by Herb Adams. Full page photo of car with top down, with the 1990 Muscle Car Review magazine on the dashboard open to the article featuring the car, and a caption. Caption states car is believed to be one of three built. Published by Iconografix.

4. 2002. Car featured in book, The Standard Catalog of Firebird 1967-2002, by prolific automotive author John Gunnell. Large color picture of car with top down, p. 141. Photo has same background as photos in 1990 Muscle Car Review Magazine article. caption states car is one of two built. Published by Krause Publications.

5. 2004. Car mentioned in book: Muscle Cars Field Guide, by John Gunnell. Book mentions on p. 389 the existence of two ragtop 20th Anniversary Turbo convertibles

6. 2004. Car featured in book: American Cars; The Automobiles That Made America, by Craig Cheetham.Two pages devoted to Turbo Trans Am with full color photos including one photo of my convertible. Photo has same background as photos in 1990 Muscle Car Review Magazine article. Paragraph states that the convertibles had full factory warranties and are highly sought after. Also (incorrectly) stated that only three or four were built. Pages 400 and 401. Published by Amber Books Ltd, London England.



*There were 2 TTA ragtops built: This car, and one other car. THE OTHER CAR was Jeff Beitzel's car, a pilot car (pre-production car), and it was built into a convertible by ASC on June 23, 1989 after it was used for just under a year as a test car, and a press/show car. This car was photographed by the press many times as a t-top car and later as a convertible car. Jeff Beitzel was the principal of Prototype Automotive Services. I have some info on that car including the VIN, because I have the VIN's of all the 1989 Firebird Convertibles.



Please call my phone

484 632 8522

or send an email

[Email Seller]



Price: $124,900 negotiable