So I usually search around for cars just for the fun of it just in case I come across something. So a little ways down you will see that I found an 89 TTA with 54,000 miles on it....I am going to call about it soon....but check this out, I ALSO found this:

1990 PONTIAC TRANS AM GTA:
auto, T-tops, loaded, leather, mint condition, $5500 OBO

Now I know these bad boys are rare too!! What do you think, I am going to call about milage. But either they don't know what they have....or the miles are high. But too good to be true for the price. Mint Condition though, really curious!! I WANT BOTH!!!

These cars are as valuable as I think they are right? The price is throwing me for a loop....

Well chances are good with t-tops, its a 305 car. Mint cars can have 100k miles on them without trouble...my old RS was a perfect example of one. Now its being smoked in and run into fences by the new 16 year old horse's *** that bought it

I'd say for that $$ its probably an 80k mile car...could be perfect though. Could be someone really doesn't know what they have!! But it all depends on what a person's definition of "mint" is...good luck!

Sound good, if it is mint it's a deal. I've found though that it's hard to find a car that is both excellent condition as far as drivetrain AND interior/exterior so be carfull......

305 huh? Should be a 350 since its a GTA, it wouldn't be a GTA with a 305. But I called and the guy wasn't home....def got to check it out....Thanks for the info, if its a find i will let you know.

What do you mean it wouldn't be a GTA without a 350? Did you even take notice to me, one of the people who replied to your topic, I HAVE A 305 T-TOP GTA

What you MEANT to say is that in your mind a 350 is what makes a car and that you would not own a 305 right

The 350 was standard but if you wanted a 5-spd and in some years T-Tops, then you had to get the 305 and you were credited the 350 on your window sticker....

If it's a bone stock '90 GTA with t-tops, it's a 305. Check my sig.

Something about GM being too cheap to add $20 worth of metal for sub frame connectors at the factory...

92GTA....not sure what you meant by that post. I never posted a thread: I HAVE A 305 T-TOP GTA. I actually own a 1990 3.1.

But nonethless, I do agree with you about owning a 350, i have no desire to own a 305. I just though all GTA's came with 350's. So there were some that came with 305's?

Yes, in '90 (up to '92 I think) you got downgraded to a 305 if you wanted the t-tops. Ah well, could be worse. It could be a six (or worse).

To make things a little more interesting, my '90 also has drum brakes in the rear. Quite unusual for a GTA or so I'm led to believe. I think the rear brakes were downgraded to drums that year because of the 305/t-top combo. Something else to look for...

When I said "I HAVE A 305 T-TOP GTA" I was referring to myself, not talking abotu the tread title, sorry.

I have the rear disc's too. It's not because of the 305 specifically but because we have a 305 with an auto. If we had the 5-spd then we would have the dual cats, rear disc's, oil cooler, and all that other fun stuff

ah, ok gotcha....i didn't even put 2 & 2 together.....

I'm sorry, do you mean that you have drums in the rear too or discs? Drums make more sense in your paragraph...

The drums in the back don't bother me much. I'd rather have the discs for cosmetic reasons but they seem to have more problems anyway.

Um, um, uh...don't knock a 305 until you drive one...ESPECIALLY being a 3.1 owner!!! I drove a 2.8 RS for 4 years, and I've had my Z28 for a year and a half. I know whats slow and whats fast And if you're coming from a 3.1, don't knock a 305 TPI...you will be surprised. And if its a '90-'92, I'd be more than happy to take the 305 to get the t-tops...

BTW, if it came down to a flawless 305 or a slightly beat 350, I'd be more than happy to own the 305. I don't mean to preach to ya, but it'd be a little foolish to not look at a car solely because it has a 305.

My bad, I did mean drums Thanks!

nothing wrong with a good clean 305 car.

350's usually live hard lives, and they're not as common.

with time and some money, you can make a 305 run.

Jason E, yea you are right...i shouldn't knock it too hard. But I have driven my share of 305's and 350's over the last few years....and even and 89 TTA a couple days ago. I know whats fast and whats not....and the 3.1's NOT.....lol Someday I will own my first 8 car, don't know what it will be....but it will most likely be whatever I can find and can afford at the time.

BTW with all this talk about 305's and 350 GTA's. In 1990 only about 800+ plus were made. Does that include the 305's in that number. So basically any GTA is rare from 1990, just that the 350's are just that much harder to find becuase they make up a fraction of that number.

Agreed 100% on both counts. I used to think my 4.3L Jimmy accelerated great, handled nice, etc... Then I drove my 305 GTA for a couple of weeks. Last weekend I had the Jimmy out. My ***, it can't even compare. My GTA screams in comparison (although anything short of a ***** would... ) The 305 is more than enough to move an f-body, and more than enough to have fun with. It sounds pretty damned nice too.

And about the t-tops, I had a small debate about this recently. I figure it's easier to swap a 350 into a t-top car than vice versa. And since most people prefer the t-tops, the '90 GTA/305 could actually be more sought after than a 350 car. Of course, I'm more than a little biased.

SAEspinz80, as far as I know there were indeed only around 800 GTAs made in 1990 (roughly 300 went to Canada, which may or may not be included in the 800), which covered all options.