First of all, I'd take this car either way . The guy selling this '88 GTA states that it is a 305 TPI/T5 car, which is fine. But according to the VIN (8th digit is an 8), this car has an L98 350 TPI engine, at least originally. He didn't mention that anything wasn't original or transplanted, and it doesn't appear so either.


'88 GTA

 

Either:

1) he accidentally posted the VIN of another car unrelated to that red one,

or,

2) the car has had its drivetrain totally swapped out. No 350 / 5-speed thirdgens were ever made.

Caveat Emptor!

 

I'd imagine the VIN was incorrectly posted. Maybe you should try and contact the seller and ask him what the VIN actually is. Either way, it's a pretty nice car.

 

...or it could be the worst case scenario. The seller may have a car with a switched VIN. Believe me it happens, been there done that myself. Call PHS and tell them you need info ASAP. They charge 10 dollars more but you have the info in a day or so. Trust me it could BE a possibility. Do your homework first and spend the money on PHS. Its the best 35 bucks you could ever spend......

 

... a closer look at the VIN number indicates the car should be a 1991 Trans AM or GTA.You might want to ask the guy for a pic of the VIN plate on the dash......

 

....just sitting here thinking about this and it seems a little too co-incidental that a VIN would be posted from the same line of car IE 1G2WF...I would really want to see a pic of the VIN plate on the dash. Then I would look into the VIN stamped on the front subframe near the k-member. There is also a partial vin on the block of the engine. I think on GTA's in 1988 there were 13 VIN stickers placed throughout the car. I know it happened to me with a GTA. I even had a package from PHS. Atleast my car matched the VIN for color, engine, interior and options. The guys that swapped VIN's on that car must have had horseshoes up their hineys that day....

 

maybe its the holy grail of 3rd gens, a factory 350/5 speed combo









Ya, right.

 

Yeah the 10th digit "M" makes it a 91 model. There may be nothing wrong with car but something is wrong somewhere.