I was browsing through my Firebird history book tonight and came across the listing for the 1987 GTA, and all of the company promo shots shows them with the European "paddle" style mirrors, but in all my years of checking out Trans Ams, I can't recall ever seeing a car equipped with one. Any idea on how many GTAs were delivered with these mirrors?

Was this a GTA only option, or an early GTA production feature that was dropped during the model year? What was the RPO code for these mirrors? Were these mirrors used at all in 1988?

 

They were used on all cars exported to Europe.

 

Ony a few gta's had them in 87.Rumor was first 100 gta had them.I have only seen them on a rare brown '87 gta.

 

There's an 87 on eBay with Paddel mirrors right now.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1987-...QQcmdZViewItem

 

i remember reading on some web site where they had the exact date where they stoped using thoes Paddle Mirrors try this web site its full info http://www.gtasourcepage.com/

 

Boy!
That is one sharp car!

George

 

Eep I cant look at that GTA or else it will haunt me in my sleep.

The first GTA I ever saw looked just like that (I dont think it had paddle mirrors...but still...)

 

IMHO,thats the best color on the GTAs.ITs funny that most of the wrecked ones on ebay and the one in the local junkyard are that color.

 

All 1987 GTA's built prior to January 26, 1987 had those RPO DD9 Euro paddle mirrors installed; the changeover to the regular Firebird exterior mirrors occurred on that date. The number I have always heard was that less than 200 GTAs were built with them.

The fact that few GTAs are seen with the mirrors must mean that '87 GTA production was later in starting up than was projected.... or the demand for the car was less then expected.

On US cars, the GTAs were the only F-Bodies that offered that style mirror. I have always heard they were prone to breaking away on minor impacts, but I have no confirmation of this. I've seen only one car in person that had the mirrors on it, and I thought they were rather distinctive looking.

But as mentioned, they were used on all F-Bodies that were exported through 1992.

 

Besides seeing a maroon GTA new at the dealership in 1987, I was lucky enough to find one in the junkyard, and pick up a set of these mirrors. They were on a black car (the one in the junkyard).
I too, like the grey GTAs.

George

 

That car is nearly identical in options to an '87 GTA that I test drove back in 2000 when I was shopping for my GTA.

Gun-metal grey is a great color, but I think it blends into the pavement/asphalt too well.

I kind of like the paddle mirrors. They are not bad looking.

 

That is a truly fantastic car (my absolute favorite GTA color), but I'll be surprised if it brings the reserve price. $14K is steep in today's market.... even for a 15,000-mile car, IMO.

Then again, it may be just what someone is looking for.

 

I wager it will get $15,000...

I never really cared for the paddle mirrors personally, Although because there different I think there kind of neat. I would leave them on that car because there unusual. I considered putting them on my Formula to be different, but I decided not to because I think they do not flow well with the car.

I do not think I have ever seen a GTA in person with those mirrors, or at least I did not notice them if I did.

John

 

Sold for $14,000!
A very nice car!
Wish I had a bigger garage, I would have tried for it!

George

 

That is a beauty of a GTA.I think the idea behind the mirrors was Euro-spec cars have to be pedestrian friendly(flexible/breakaway mirrors,flexible body mods if they extend past the main body of the vehicle- it may be different now).And all of us who have bump into our mirrors know they aren't to friendly.The '82-'83 export Camaros weren't availible with rear spoilers for that reason,not sure about the mirrors on them.

 

Well, that's what I get for flapping the old yapper.... somebody got a nice one.

Heck, George.... you've got enough. Leave some for the rest of us....

 

I don't know Frankie!
Last I checked, you were near me in the amount of cars!

I still have the same amount of cars, just more trucks now!
I now have a 1985 Chevy Pickup with a shell for sale. I want more Birds!

George

 

George I must say your T/A's are simply gorgeous.I owned at one time a '80 T/A with a WS6- W72 301.My sister bought a '74 455 T/A new but traded it when they had my neice in '76 I think.And I've driven a TT/A- all I can say that juiced 231 has the push of the 454 in my '70 Monte Carlo SS(that I sorely miss).

 

Thanks coolram62!
Both of my '74 Trans Ams are white cars, with blue/white custom deluxe interiors. Both 455s too.
What color was your neice's '74?
You ever plan on getting another second gen Trans Am?

George

 

there is a red gta here in ga that im looking at, that has these mirrors on it. i thought they were after market till i looked the car up on kelly blue book and saw that the were in the pics that was on the ad. they have to be the ugliest mirrors i have ever seen. but it wont stop me from getting this car if he agrees on my price. lol.

 

You are most welcome George.I would love to get another 2nd Gen T/A.It's funny this topic came up.As I was out this morning I saw a GTA with the paddle mirrors in the same gunmetal gray.She was going in the opposite direction and I had a Dr's appointment or I would ave turned around.

 

I guessed 15K it went for 14K, I think its a clear indication of the current trend of 3rd Gens, money wise.

John

 

mine came with these mirrors, and its the brown color. i had no idea how rare these were.

heres a pic

 

Brown with those mirrors sure does make it rare.

 

I wonder how much it's worth, not that I'm gonna sell her.

 

A friend of mine bought 1 new and there are about 2-3 of them in springfield IL. One of the guys is on this site.

 

Did yer friends have headers? I'm starting to be more curious about mine now.

Would like to research it by its VIN #. Any suggestions?

 

WOW !!!!!!! russet metallic with DD7 !!!! VERY RARE COMBO 1 of 372


Curious what happened to the GTA nose/fender emblems ??


Dave

 

Good question, I'd like to see a close-up of the left headlight door emblem.....

 

Cool, love the brown!

And I know it was in 2006, but someone had posted that paddle mirrors were only offered on the GTA which is incorrect. My 87 Camaro had these stock though they had a slightly different base on them.

Also, I've heard of power folding paddle mirrors for the 3rd gen, was that export only?

 

HAHA, guys... here in Germany there's a regulation saying that outside mirrors have to be foldable, so most of our cars here originally had paddles, or fly swat mirrors, as we call them.
In most cases they're the first thing to get replaced, with proper teardrop housings of course.

 

To make it clear, the 1 of 372 figure that comes from Frankie's GTASourcepage regards the Russet Metallic. I don't think there are any solid figures to show how many in this color with the DD7 Paddle Mirrors. The mirrors were replaced with the standard mirrors sometime around January 26, 1987 based on a Pontiac CDB.

Also, the GTA sail emblem is not in the correct spot to suggest prior paint/body work.

 

Your car being a 87 should have center caps with birds in the center not WS6. The 87 GTA was only one that had birds on caps later years had WS6...

 

your car has base mirrors totally different from DD9 Euro...those were used on 82-84??? 4cyl car I believe

 

I have DD9 Euros on my 89 GTA convt w/350 TPI. I put them on. They came off a 87 GTA (BLK) in the junkyard, and if you think that's bad there was a red notchabck sitting next to it with digital dash, I removed dig dash & notch along with VIN sticker from rear notch RED/GREY leather car.

 

mine didnt come with the emblems. as far as the center caps, those came from an 87 formula. ive had this car for over 15 years, and those were missing.

The mirrors still work and i like them over the standard ones. as far as the paint job, from what i can tell its original.

Im personally glad i dont have the GTA emblems on, i like having a "sleeper" looking car

 

The GTA emblems are standard and should have been on the car when new. The front bumper's emblem, for that year, has a stud and nut that secures it. If you don't have the hole in the front bumper, given the emblem is missing as is the fender emblems, it may suggest the car had previous body panels replaced. The driver's sail emblem is in the spot that's typical for a repaint. GTASourcepage has an article and a template where they should be. The emblem should be down lower and more toward the front.

If the car is an original Russet and/or has DD7 Paddle mirrors, there is no disagreement that either option is not common. It's just there are a few discrepancies with the car that may or may not be an issue and that is just being provided for your information.

 

Headlight door emblem? I can take a pic of the front. I'm learning about this car.
Before I had the GTA, I had a red formula, & a grand national.

I got married, had to put this bird on ice for a bit, but now I'm actually enjoying my bird.

 

Thanks for the info JT.

 

The GTAs received a gold painted Pontiac emblem in the recess of the headlamp housing on the driver's side while the Trans Am was silver.

However, apparently, not all 1987 GTAs received this emblem as Frankie notes on his website

Picture courtesy of GTASourcepage:


Article:
http://www.gtasourcepage.com/newauthentication.html

 

Nope, mine don't have that emblem. I know my formula had that. I went out to look & I was shocked! I thought it was there. Thanks for you info JT. (Beer)

 

I would not be too concerned about that Pontiac emblem as Frankie, from GTASourcepage, says some 1987 GTAs didn't receive it.

The missing front GTA emblem and fender emblems are more of a concern. You can look at the backside of the fenders, under the hood, and you might be able to see the GM VIN tags to check for matching VINs.

Do you have the SPID sticker? It should be located on the inside wall of the center console lid and will have RPOs for the equipment on the car. It will confirm the GTA option (Y84), Russet color (68U) and paddle mirrors (DD7).

 

ill check on that this afternoon. Thanks for letting me know.

i dont know if i got the SPID sticker. i know theres a sticker on the inside of the driver side door that says the car was made in late 86, december i think, but it definately says its a GTA fer sure.

i know where the SPID sticker is now. i just looked on Frankie's site, and ID'd it. now to go home and look it over as per yer codes Thanks again JT! (beer)

 

I thought I found it but it was the emission routing stuff. Any idea how I could git ahold of the SPID sticker for my car?

 

You can't get a replacement SPID with the information originally on it.

You can only order an invoice, from GM Media Archive, that will show some of the key options for the vehicle. One other option is only if the vehicle is an export.

http://www.gmmediaarchive.com

 

Would the invoice show paint color & the paddle mirrors on it along with the GTA option?

 

PHS(Pontiac Historical Service) offers that also.http://www.phs-online.com/window%20sticker%20order.htm

 

PHS can't do the invoice for 1987 and newer Pontiacs. It states the window sticker is only available if the invoice/packet is ordered, which is not available for 1987 and newer Pontiacs.

This has been the case for some time, and is reconfirmed by this recent thread where a member with a 1986 couldn't get information directly from PHS:
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/hist...d-pontiac.html

 

Wow,they did my 86.

 

How long ago ? They just changed a few yrs ago.