I'm looking at a '91 T-top L98 Trans Am GTA. 119k mileage.

It doesn't have some of the things I would think would be there, such as the digital dash and the overhead console, or were those options? How many of these were made?

It is indeed an L98, vin verified.

What do you think it would be worth, based on this:

Interior: Messed up. Holes everywhere, stains, things are broken. It's trashed basically. The stereo kind of works. Doesn't matter because I'm stripping it anyway, but I can use it to lower the price.

Exterior: Paint is faded, body is straight. Only dent is on rear bumper, and it'll need to be replaced. Does have all the badges though

Mechanically: Tranny was slipping a little, mount is broken, has a flowmaster muffler. Didn't see anything haneous under the hood, but havn't really had a chance to inspect it yet. Heats up fast. May not pass smog. Hood latch doesn't work.. but the struts do!

The car is basically f*cked up, but I want another project. He wants 2600, I think it's worth substantially less. Can you guys shed some light on this one.

It does run, drive and shift into all gears. It seems slow however.. or maybe I'm just used to my T/A.

 

sounds like it could be a pretty nice project. i wouldnt pay 2600 for it tho. the overhead console was discontinued in 87 i believe and the digi dash i think they stoped using in 89 or 90, could be wrong on that one. as far as the car being slow, it whouldnt be for an l98. most likly theres a problem with somthing. make him an offer see what he says. tell u the truth im not sure what to offer. post up some pics if you can.
matt

 

Based on description, I would say $700. Your argument is, to get this car into decent shape would cost you an entire interior, paint and major mechanical. You can buy one with considerably less work required for $3500-$4500. Paint alone will cost about $2500 for a somewhat decent job, and the interior will be probably about $1500. Mechanical could be pushing towards $2500 with a engine and tranny rebuild. After buying the car at $2600, you would have $9100 into what started as a pile of junk. I'd keep looking myself!

 

I agree scott, however I'm doing to try to get it extremely cheap. If I cannot, I'll pass on it. I'm really only interested because it's a GTA (i've always wanted one) and it's an original L98 car.

The car may just seem slow to me because I'm used to the LT1, but it seemed like I could hardly get it to peel out...

I'll brb with pictures.

 

I couldnt really get any good shots of the interior (but it's f*cked up), and on second inspection that paint doesnt look that bad, and the dent I could fix myself. I did forget to write up there that the brakes hardly work either

 

Ya sure its a 91? It has the 87-90 Body/gfx and taillights.

Also has the stearing wheel controls 88 and 89 only IIRC.

Also that dent is a bit tougher to fix than just pushing it out. Its into the 1/4, and a bit of a bad spot too. (Connecting to the bumper)

Oh, and the 25th looks good in the 3rd pic

 

Yeah she does. Did you ever get that PM i sent back to you dan?

I was told it was a 92 by one person, and it said '91 on a sign the owner had written. Wish I had grabbed the VIN too

I'll find out for sure what's going on tonight.

This is why I'm glad I brought this to TGO

I'm wondering whether the lights/wheel mighta been swapped though. The controls do NOT work. The lights mighta been hit in an accident?

 

The main cosmetic differences between the 87-90's and the 91/92's inculde: all GFX, bumper covers, foglights, spoiler, and taillights. hehe. Just alot of work to swap.

If it turns out to be older than they thought, thats also a better selling point for you, its older, so it must not be as valuable

I did get your PM about the 25th's. Ive been busy.

 

I would say that its a 88-89 GTA.If not someone spend a TON of $ and time changing the GFX,hatch/spolier,tailights,steering wheel,seats,door panals etc.Just my .02

 

okay, whats the letter on the vin to check for that? I think it's the 12th digit? I'll find out for myself what year it is. The owner didn't really speak english all that well, so it's really no surprise.

dont worry about it dan, whenever you get some time

 

Here is the GTA's smog record...

Station Name /
City License VIN Make Model Year Date / Time Pass / Fail Certificate

RELIANCE AUTO SERVICE INC /
BAY POINT 2UPL981 1G2FW218XKL234158 PONTI FIREBIRD 1989 08/09/04 04:49 p.m. P FN467834C

MOBILE VEHICLE MAINTENANCE /
ANTIOCH 2UPL981 1G2FW218XKL234158 PONTI FIREBIRD 1989 01/19/04 10:56 a.m. P FG953762C

SMOG CENTER /
CONCORD 2UPL981 1G2FW218XKL234158 PONTI TRANS AM 89 09/20/99 12:16 p.m. P DO319407C

LEHMERS /
CONCORD 2UPL981 1G2FW218XKL234158 PONTI TRANS AM 89 07/14/97 01:58 p.m. P CD180133C

AMSIA ENTERPRISES /
CONCORD 2UPL981 1G2FW218XKL234158 PONTI TRANS AM 89 07/16/96 01:39 p.m. P BN245487C

 

Thanks alot man! In fact the tags expire this month, which made me wonder if they were selling it because they thought it wouldn't pass smog...

That helps a ton, thank you very much

 

Yeah, I've got a soft spot for GTA's too. The fact that the interior of that car is trashed is a shame. It doesn't look too bad on the outside but no one knows better than me how a digital camera can hide plenty of warts.

 

Yeah the center console is warped and bending, the seats have tears, although they are power and work!

its a tan cloth interior.

the headliner is non-existant though haha

 

If you're used to an LT1, the L98 should be similar. I have a 93 LT1 and off the line, the L98 is faster. The LT1 takes the L98 near the end of the 1/4 and keeps goings while the L98 runs out of steam. The catalytic converter on the L98 might be packed and allowing it to bog down. The 2 engines feel almost the same. I actually think that my L98 pulls harder and feels stronger than the LT1, but that's just me.

 

Actually for several years in the 90's there was a debate to which was better the L98 or LT1. Technically speaking the LS1 has alot in common with the L98 with the Long runners and all. The heads are alot better on the LT & LS series tho. Where did you dig up the VIN, I did not see him post it.

From looking at the pix its definately an 89. How you can tell:
1) GTA option - 87-92
2) those ground effects - 87-90 (on GTA)
3) Steering wheel controls - 88 - 89 Only
4) Back seat shoulder harness belts 89 - 92 Only

Thats how I figured out what year it was...

John

 

I had my friend drive it who has had a stock l98 and ridden in them, and he says it pulls fine and feels very healthy.

He looked it up with the plates I imagine, I didn't post the vin.

I'm going to talk to the guy about it some more today, and maybe nail down a price. I'll only do it if it's really low.

 

Good luck man,Looks like a great project car

 

One thing to consider is 89 was an unusual year insofar as having L98 & T-tops was more common than the others.

L98 T-top cars
87-88 - Some (kind of unusual)
89 - Lots of them
90 - NONE known of
91 - Very few, Formula only
92 - only on the Formula

 

Okay, thanks for the bit of info foz. Also, do the birds have any exterior TPI emblems or 5.7 emblems? I don't think I've ever seen anything, except on my friend's 91 vert, it says 5.0 liter on it.

I know my camaro trivia up and down, but the 3rd gen birds I don't know much about

 

I wouldn't go higher than $1200. It's a good looking project, but needing a tranny, interior, and that 1/4 dent is going to be a bitch.

 

The Formula had 5.7 Liter F.I. on the hood in 91 & 92, the Trans Am may have had it on the rocker panel just below the air extracter on the front fender. The GTA to my knowlegde never advertised which engine it posessed to my knowledge. Except the TTA

John