I'm looking at another firebird on a car lot near my place, and I'm a little sceptical on wether or not it's legit or not. It's got the T/A hood, fender vents, tail lights, aero wing, GTA seats and the 140 mph speedo. It's engine code is '8' which is an L98, but it's got TTops.....wtf? I thought you couldn't get a 350 firebird with ttops?

 

GTAs had L98's and Ttops. thats just one example. (see the "pics of my new GTA" post some guy put up. L98, Ttops...blahblahblah...

So yeah. It probably is.

 

i have to say that if it carrys everything you've mentiond here then it's most likely the real deal....if not, then it's a very well dressed hoax car and might be worth getting anyway. If you could nab an RPO sheet for the car, that should answer ur questions, or if you already pulle the vin (think u did) that should have answered them as well...

 

What do you think it's worth? I don't think it's a GTA.....it's got the fender vents. Maybe the previous owner just liked the GTA seats.....? Oh well, it would be nice to have anyway. I just thought that you couldn't get a 5.7 firebird with ttops b/c GM didn't want the 'bird to compete with the Camaro.

 

People /have/ stolen GTA emblems before.
Paintshops remove em, and sometimes don't put em back on...
The RPO code sheet should be stuck to the inside of the center console. Write em down and come home and look em up or something...(does the GTA package even /have/ a code?)

And finally, the only thing GM wont let anything compete with is the vette.

-JT

edit: now that i think about it...I've never seen an L98/Ttop camaro before. Just T/A/GTA.

 

There are lots of L98 cars with T-tops, my 89 Iroc had both. By the sounds of it, it is a real GTA. Eitehr that or someone went through alot of trouble to try and fool someone.

 

Yeah, there are a lot of clones out there. I've got one of 'em And I went through alot of trouble to do it! Started out as a V8 'bird with ttops and power options (windows, locks, hatch release, etc..). I added the GFX package, hood, aero wing, tail lights, 140 MPH gauge cluster, T/A fenders w/vents, GTA wheels, fog lights, map pocket, 9 bolt disc rear end, complete WS6 suspension and then the L03 got ditched for an L98 . So far it's fooled everyone that's seen it. I just need to add the emblems.

It may not be an actual T/A, but I'm very proud of it.

 

Check it real close. I got fooled on my GTA(fake). The only real way to make sure is check to make sure the RPO for gta package is there. I don't remember it but it is something like y82. If you can't find the RPO sheet then take the Vin number to the dealer and they can print you out a sheet that has all the RPO codes for your car. Get on www.gtasourcepage.com . Lots of usefull info. Some people will go to alot of trouble to make one look like it.

 

The car in question could very well be a Trans Am. The seats in the GTA were optional on the Trans Am. What is the year and VIN? As said, check for a VIN # matching RPO sticker, or a possible build sheet under the driver seat to be sure.

I ordered my '90 TA with the GTA seats, L98 and T-Tops.

 

i've seen L98 t-top cars. you could get that with A4's, but not with a t5

 

The only year that the L98 wasn't available with t-tops (according to all of my research) was 87. Not all of 87, but early 87. By mid-year you could order a 350 with t-tops, but it was by special order only. The only combo that couldn't EVER be ordered from GM was 350/5sp. A true GTA would NOT have air extractors on the fenders. From what you've listed about it, I'd say you are looking at an actual Trans Am. You could get GTA wheels & seats in a Trash Can, and correct me if I'm wrong, but I think you could even get the GTA door panels on a Trans Am. If it has the toys you want, and the price is right, then buy it.

 

Moving to History.

 

You coud get every option on the Trans Am that you could get on a GTA. The "Ultima" seats were an option, the molded door panels started at the "Deluxe" interior some years.

There was a local guy who had an 87 T/A that had every option, T-tops, Ultima seats, overhead console, power everything, digital dash, etc... except the 350, because it had the 5 speed....

as for the 350 with t-tops, yes they aere availble, and sort of kind of common. For GTA's, T/A's and Formulas in 89 seemed to be the biggest year for the combo.

John

 

My Trans-AM is an 87 and it does have GTA door panels. However I have a friend that has a real GTA and he has the regular door panels with cup holders. WTF?

Most of the GTA options could be had on the Trans-AM.

 

I think starting in 1990 (possibly 1991) the GTA's got the standard door panels...

John

 

I has fender vents so its not a GTA.

 

Here's the remainder of an 89 formula that had the 350 tpi and t-tops.

 

WHY????

sniff... sniff... that was a formula 350 t-top car... sniff... sniff...

I am rather partial to Formulas...

I'm better now

John

 

Cupholders in a third gen?! I'd like to see pics of that if anyone has some.

 

My 91 has cupholders on each door panel. They are nice to have, but people seem to drag their shoes across them and scuff them up

I will try to get some pics later.

 

Car was rearended and totaled. But from the rear of the doors forward it was mint!! I built my T/A using my Bird.
I'm partial to Formulas myself--all go w/o all the fancy showy stuff!
I used everything from the 89, and if you popped the hood to my 86 you'd never know it wasn't an 89.

 

I don't know if I'd call them cup holders... They're nearly wide enough to fit a quart-sized can of paint in them.

As for the car, if it has the fender vents and they're original, then it's not a GTA. That and 350/700R4 cars were available with t-tops up to and including '89. '90-'92 t-topped cars only came with the 305 or worse.

 

The only real way to tell a GTA from a T/A or even reg Bird is just to run the vin--or rpo's if they're still there.
Look at mine--looks like a T/A, GTA, or a Bird w/gfx?
It started out as a T/A, but I'd never try to fool anyone because I never plan on selling it--EVER!!

 

pic