Hi everyone.

Ince again I am in need of your expert advice and assistance!

I am looking at a 1989 Trans Am Formula here in the UK with only 29k miles.

I am intrigued to know whether these cars are a worthy purchase.

vin decodes as
pontiac f body, Trans am, formula, 2 door hatchback, manual belts, 305ci LB9 (1987 - 1992), Model year 1989, Van Nuys.

Car has:- T Tops, Cruise, Electric windows, mirrors, Central locking, gfx, 17" wheels? (he says standard) no electric seats,
4 speed auto, Active? suspension? but disc / drum brake setup!

Is this car base or a hybrid or standard.

Is it a collectable item (technically they all are here in the UK but I am interested to hear your views)

Thanks in advance everyone.

Ray

Ps. Odometer reads in kms whilst trip meter in miles. Is this normal?
:hail:

 

Whats the vin? Cause there weren't any "TransAm/Formulas" Its either a TransAm, or a Formula.

As for collectability, well being not in the USA or Canada I'd bet they are a fair bit rarer than here. Here in the US the 3rd generation F-bodies are considered "*******" cars driven by trailer trash. At least, thats their image. Bet they never saw a nice looking thirdgen.

Right now, through Sunday Carfax is offering a free report through NBC. So take that VIN number and follow this link Free Carfax Report!, that way you can check for some possible problems.

 

But rednecks have good tastes in cars...Damn go down to West Virginia...Everyone is driving LS1s, LT1s, corvettes etc....too bad they live in 50k homes...(But Mommy....he lives in a double wide):lala:

 

Hi,

Carfax shows nothing. But says its a GTA which I'm sure it isn't

I ran the vin through the decoder on here which came out as per my original message.

In the UK I'm told the formula is in fact the car to go for but they are only firebirds and with no options.

This is a trans am (Formula) according to the decoder and the car has lots of options.

I have 2 other Trans Ams (1984) and there is no confusion on those when decoding vin numbers!

I will keep plugging to see what I find

Thanks guys

Ray

 

formulas are the birds to go for IMO. but they are not firebirds with no options. they are the power and luxury of a trans am with no gfx. my 87 formula had all the performance and luxury options of a trans am the same year. power windows, power locks, cruise control. L98 engine, 4 speed auto, posi rear. the only body piece it has thats similar is the aerowing spoiler. the idea was too be as fast and as comfortable as a trans am, but with a basic firebird body. a factory sleeper in a sense course the formula 350 decals dont help for the sleeper factor

 

Aaaahhh, so now I'm beginning to get the drift.

This car does have the ground effects as well though.

So I assume that possibly it was the "better" specc'd car to have in Trans Am form. Obviously started lighter but when options added became a slightly faster version.

I will see if I can get some RPO codes from the vendor. That may help decipher some more

Thanks for that

Ray

 

Aaaahhh, so now I'm beginning to get the drift.

This car does have the ground effects as well though.

So I assume that possibly it was the "better" specc'd car to have in Trans Am form. Obviously started lighter but when options added became a slightly faster version.

I will see if I can get some RPO codes from the vendor. That may help decipher some more

Thanks for that

Ray

 

Later in life the TA and Forumla used the same VIN character. Possibly for insurance reasons. Once upon a time you could order a Formula with the TA power train and the insurance company charged you base firebird rates because the VIN said "FIREBIRD". Kind of like ordering a buick T-type, all the insurance company knew was Buick Regal.

The difference between TA and formula is this TA - Grand Touring, good power, comfortable to cruse in and "tour". Formula - supposed to be hard core performance, but you could order it pretty much "as you like it" from stripped to the same content as the TA. All third gen formulas came with the WS6 performance suspension, WS6 was optional on the TA.

 

For those interested.

Here's the spec!

AAA - STANDARD EQUIPMENT
AH3 - ADJUSTER, 4-WAY MANUAL, DRIVERS SEAT
AM9 - SEAT, REAR, SPLIT, BACK, FOLDING
AU3 - LOCK CONTROL, SIDE DOOR, ELECTRIC
AR9 - SEAT, FRONT BUCKET, EUROPEAN STYLE, PASS DRIVER RECLINE
A31 - WINDOW, POWER OPERATED, SIDE
A90 - LOCK CONTROL, REAR COMPARTMENT LID, REMOTE CONTROL ELECTRIC RELEASE
BC8 - ORNAMENTATION, INTERIOR, DOOR MAP POCKETS
BV3 - ORNAMENTATION, INTERIOR, I/P BLACK
B20 - ORNAMENTATION, INTERIOR, LUXURY TRIM GROUP
B67 - CONTAINER, RADIO CASSETTE TAPES
B84 - ORNAMENTATION, EXTERIOR MOLDING, BODY SIDE
CC1 - ROOF HATCH, REMOVABLE PANELS, GLASS/LEXAN
C49 - DEFOGGER, REAR WINDOW, ELECTRIC
C60 - HVAC SYSTEM, AIR CONDITIONER FRONT MANUAL CONTROLS
DC4 - MIRROR I/S, R/V, TILT, DUAL READING LAMPS
D7C - GEAR DRIVEN SPEEDO
DE4 - SUNSHADE, REMOVABLE HATCH ROOF
D81 - SPOILER, REAR, AERO WING
DG7 - MIRROR O/S, LH & RH, REMOTE CONTROL, ELECTRIC, PAINTED
D9A -SENSOR, VEHICLE SPEED
EXP - EXPORT
E5Z - SPEEDOMETER ADAPTER (DELETE)
E9Z - KEY, SPEEDOMETER (DELETE)
FE2 - SUSPENSION SYSTEM, RIDE HANDLING
GU2 - AXLE, REAR 2.73 RATIO
G80 - AXLE, POSI-TRACTION, LIMITED SLIP
IPC - TRIM, INTERIOR DESIGN
J50 - BRAKE SYSTEM, POWER
K34 - CRUISE CONTROL, AUTOMATIC, ELECTRONIC
K68 - ALTERNATOR, 105 AMP
LB9 - ENGINE, GAS, 8 CYL, 5.0L, TPI, HO (1985-1992 ONLY)
MD8 - TRANSMISSION, AUTO 4 SPEED, 700R4
MXO - MERCHANDISED, TRANS, AUTO PROVISIONS, O/D
NA5 - EMISSION SYSTEM, FEDERAL, TIER 0
NK4 - STEERING WHEEL, SPORT LEATHER
N65 - WHEEL & TIRE, SPARE, SPACE SAVER, STEEL
PW7 - WHEEL, 16X8, ALUMINUM, DIAMOND SPOKE
QLC - TIRE ALL, 245/50ZR16
TR9 - LAMP, GROUP
T96 - LAMP, FOG
UB3 - CLUSTER, INSTRUMENTS, OIL, COOL TEMP, VOLTS, TRIP ODOMETER, TACHOMETER
UF6 - LAMP, INTERIOR, CONSOLE, COURTESY
UK3 - Radio, ELECTRONIC SYSTEM, ACCESSORY CONT
UQ1 - RADIO PROVISIONS, FOR STEREO
UT1 - TONE GENERATOR, WARNING
UT4 - RADIO, AM/FM STEREO, SEEK/SCAN, CASSETTE, EQUALIZER, CLOCK, TOUCH CONTROL
U25 - LAMP, INTERIOR, RR COMP, COURTESY
U29 - LAMP, INTERIOR, I/P, COURTESY
U62 - SPEAKER SYSTEM, DUAL COAXIAL
VAN - ASSEMBLY PLANT, VAN NUYS, CALIFORNIA
U75 - ANTENNA, POWER, RADIO
VC1 - shipping (?)
VK3 - LICENSE PLATE, FRONT MOUNTING PACKAGE
V73 - VEHICLE STATEMENT, US/CANADA
WS4 - MODEL CONVERSION, TRANS AM
WS6 - PERFORMANCE PACKAGE, SPECIAL
WW2 - APPEARANCE PACKAGE (SILVER) AERO 2
W62 - ORNAMENTATION, AERO PACKAGE
1SB - PACKAGE, OPTION 02
1SZ - PACKAGE, OPTION ??
16P - External Colour WHEEL COLOUR BRIGHT WHITE (91)
24Q - Interior Colour MOLDING COLOUR BRT BLUE MET (91)
6ZX - SPRING, COMPUTER SELECTED, FRONT, LEFTHAND
7ZX - SPRING, COMPUTER SELECTED, FRONT, RIGHTHAND
8NL - SPRING, COMPUTER SELECTED, REAR, LEFTHAND
82C - TRIM COMBINATION, CLOTH, MEDIUM DARK GRAY
82I - INTERIOR TRIM, MEDIUM DARK GRAY
829 - SEAT BELT COLOR, MEDIUM DARK GRAY
9NL - SPRING, COMPUTER SELECTED, REAR, RIGHTHAND
98U - ULTRA BLUE MET


Here are the RPO codes from my car.

Can anyone enlighten me as to what computer selected springs are and option FE2!?

Do these mean electronically active?

Thanks in advance

Ray


:hail:

 

Well, I dunno much but it's an export version, so that probably explains why the odometer is in km and the speedometer is in miles, though isn't it really in both miles and km?

And you where right, it's not a GTA, no mention of the Y84 code anywhere there, but you got the WS6 package, nice.

 

Computer selected springs were just that. A computer selected the best spring to be installed based on the optioned weight. A car with no options or with very few options might have received a lighter weight spring. Computer selected.

FE2 was the performance suspension

 

you want info on the Formula,

go HERE : http://www.3rdgenformula.com

John