I was wondering who invented the notchback hatch cause I have one made in an autobody shop in 1983! I may be wrong but I am sure that is wat it says on it! My buddy told me the first factory one appeared in 1988 is that correct and how did mine come about without a factory example?

 

I'm moving this to the history board. There were 625 notchback's made for GTA's, 624 in 1988 and 1 in 1989. I'm sure there were aftermarket versions back then. How about posting some pics, so we can better identify it.

 

I just mentioned something like this to you on the other forum, lol. I saw one of these in a junkyard recently.

I also asked if you saw the topic below this one about the LB9 HO. But I'm assuming you have.

 

Would it be possible for the aftermarket to have somthing available for a car thats only in its second year of prodution and has never been seen on a car anyway? Im just wondering because the hatch I have was apparently fabricated by a body shop

I will get some pics of it up soon then you can see it. It really looks nothing like a GTA notch but honestly I like it better. When I was checking around I did not find any that looked like mine all the available and unavailable hatches dont look like it! By the way there is a mold for sale at RamAirHood.com

 

In the back of all the magazines back then, there was a company that made notchback hatches. This was way before Pontiac offered it in '88. I don't know the company that offered it as I don't have any of those magazines anymore but it was ad for a long time.

 

Hmmm...... I think I am gonna research a liitle more thanx!

 

The one I saw at a junkyard had sloping, fast-back-like sides on it--kind of like the late-model Fiero GT, but not glass like the Fiero. It was on an '82-'84 Firebird.

It was weird inside that car. The flat rear window met the top of the back seats, so it was very "closed" feeling, almost like being inside a Fiero.

It was in desparate need of paint. Other than that it was in excellent condition.

 

Seen it, but no offense, nothing beats an original!!!

 

Don't know, but two different letters from Pontiac state that there was 718 Notchbacks produced. I don't know where that 624/625 number comes from? No attack intended, just curious.

 

Oops didnt work!

 

 

My notch

 

Yup, that's aftermarket. I've seen them a million times on ebay.

 

JT, the 624 (+1 for '89) total number comes straight from Pontiac's RPO production records for 1988 and 1989. That is where all the numbers on The Source Page were taken from. PHS's figures also match the 625 production total.

I too have always heard the "718" claim as well for this option, but the records say 625 total were built. The numbers also check out when you cross-reference the D80 spoiler that was used with the Notchback option; no other GTA ever used that spoiler.... and the number of D80 installations match up for each year: 624 ('88) and 1 ('89).

Just an FYI....

 

I see. Thanks. My comment above was going off of what Pontiac had wrote to a former Notchback owner when they asked about the production figures.

I ended up emailing Pontiac as well, and they also said "718". But of course, I've heard Pontiac itself had poor record keeping?

<img src="http://gtanotchback.home.mchsi.com/88gtanotch/documents/notchbackpontiacletter1.jpg">

Thanks. I was just curious.

 

I know that it is not factory but what I was wondering was when about did the first ones appear cause in 83 I was never aware of one