Hey all. first post here. i usually post on CZ28.com and south florida f-bodies.com, but i had some 3rd gen specific questions. i picked up a trans am that is titled as an '87, but it was a florida assigned VIN. the interior has digital dash, the seats have a separate headrest on them--different from any other 3rd gen TA i have owned. it has 4 wheel disc, TPI 350 (its actually an '89 motor i believe since the shop said they had to get an '89 350 TPI radiator to make it fit). basically i am looking for anything that would point me to whether it is a Trans am or a GTA TA. the digital dash made me think it was a GTA, but the badges can be bought by anyone of course. is there any body specific things i can look at? or any options that only came on GTA's for '87? someone said all GTA's came with steering wheel controls on it. not sure on that. mine doesn't have any buttons on the steering wheel. i can take pics if needed. just got it, so i only have pics of my LT1 and 2nd gen TA right now. thanks for any help.

 

It wont have any vents in the front fenders like the TA's did that year.

 

you mean the ones behind the front wheel, before the door, right?

 

 

87's wont have sterring wheel controls. It would have a 3 spoke wheel with GTA in the center.

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My 1989 Trans Am-Origional 5.7L TPI, 4-Wheel Discs, 16" Diamond Spoke Rims, T-Tops.A very rare car. See my Window Sticker
1995 GMC Sonoma Window Sticker
Friends DON'T let friends drive rice
Kills:94 Talon TSi AWD, 94 5.0L Mustang GT, 2000 Xtreme 4.3L, 93 Talon,87 Buick T-Type 3.8L SPFI Turbo
Member WWW.TRANSAMGTA.COM

 

Well, thanks for all the help guys. the GTA page was very helpful. here is what i came up with:
stuff that points to GTA:
No vents on the fenders
Badges are perfectly placed on original paint
Gold honeycomb rims with Gold Firebird caps
GTA stitched on pocket
articulating seats
Digital Dash
No T-Tops

stuff that doesn't jive:
front end was wrecked and replaced (headlamps/clip and hood), so i can't verify the decal and pontiac label. therefore this doesn't go for or against.
steering wheel has 3 spoke design with the GTA style bird on there. but no gold inlay or stitching on the bird as specified on the gta page. that is the ONLY thing that is incorrect on this car.

so we have everything pointing to GTA except the color of the bird on the wheel. find it hard to believe someone would track down a set of '87 only GTA rims (hard to find!), two GTA fenders, GTA pocket, Place the badges perfectly on original paint, and find one with the nice articulating seats and digital dash or install them too. looks like a GTA to me. just don't understand the center cap on the wheel. oh well, i think it legit. got it for 3K, like i said it had a new front end and it needed a radiator/hoses (was sitting i assume). also has a stumble at idle in drive off and on (sort of like my LT1 when the MAF was shorted out, maybe MAF on this one too). but runs and shifts great at cruise or heavy load. idles great in park also. only 86K miles. possible '89 TPI 350 engine swap also. has some mods: MSD dist, K&N, possible shift kit and TC (pronounced shifts and high RPM cruise). i figure it was worth the 3K since it was a real GTA by the looks of it, even though it needs some work.

 

Bad, that is a typo on the Source Page about the stitched GTA logo on the 1987 steering wheels..... I posted that at the word of another party without ever seeing one for myself.

**** slaps self...... "Bad Frankie...." ****

I have one of these steering wheels in my collection of GTA artifacts now, and it is actually a small emblem, and not a stitched logo that resides in the horn pad.

Sorry for the misstep on the Source Page; I'll fix that ASAP. But I'm glad the Page helped verify that car for you.

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Frankie Rider, 2
The GTA Source Page
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'88 GTA Red Hatchback - 5.7L/A4
'88 GTA Black Notchback - 5.7L/A4
'88 GTA Gunmetal Hatchback - 5.0L/A4

[This message has been edited by FrankieRider2 (edited June 14, 2001).]

 

Thanks man! that page was great! i went out to the car and everything jived just right (cept the steering wheel!). everyone was like "it doesn't have steering wheel controls" and "it doesn't have WS.6 caps". i felt they were right on the caps (wrong!!) but didn't think all GTA's had that wheel. well, looks like the '87 was typical first year car. everything changed the next year! but thanks again for the page, it was a great help.

 

I'm goin to buy a 88' GTA tomorrow...It's claimed to be one but u never know right...well I have a few questions more towards rarity I guess. Its supposedly original gunmetal gray paint...now is that a rare color or is it just a bluff...Cause thats what the owner says...also I read that GTA's dont have T-tops?? this one does. But I think it was the ones w/ 350's that didnt have them..well this one had a 305 orignally but had a 355 swapped into it. I really dont care if its a fake GTA or not cause of all the goodies the car has but knowin it is a real GTA would top the cake!! so whats the deal with the paint and T-tops??

 

I don't know if I'd run into trouble putting info from a published book, but this one does cover Firebirds and other Pontiacs and may have some details you'd find useful
BILL

 

A GTA with aftermarket performance mods and in clean shape is certainly worth $3000, so don't even sweat it!!

Bill

 

I think you can get GTA's with T-Tops. I don't know about 1987. I do know that GTA's came with them later on. A friend of mine has a 1991 GTA with a 350 and T-Tops. All his RPO's check out.

 

My '89 GTA has the 350 TPI and t-tops It's all factory original.

 

Just for the hell of it--here's a pic of the steering wheel bird.

 

Well, you have to think, a lot of people will try and sell you a car and make it look like a GTA for some extra cash in there pocket. I think there is a website called www.gtasourcepage.com with absolutley excellent ways to tell. And there is one about the codes in the glovebox that will tell you for sure. As for mine, its real, and I love it. Its got t-tops too, but a lousy 305. Thats ok though, I'm planning on a l98 project. Which reminds me, if anyone has a l98 that needs rebuilding, pm me and I'll buy it from ya. Thanks

 

1990---Firebird Tech data....


This is where I read it!!!!

 

There is a white GTA front clip on eBay currently and it's too much for my blood...but maybe I could bolt that on to my 89 350 Formula...yeah, Formula GTA!!

Almost instantly
hehe

There is also an early 90s nose with the Batman grill for the same price....only black.
What would you guys consider fair for a 'Bird front clip anyway? I'm definately looking. How much do they cost to ship!?
Seen one bidding over $100 and another I did go for mentioning GM selling them for $250. Never been used.

Gotta paint to match and add rub strips though...bummer
BILL

 

well, fbirdtatata, I wasnt calling you a liar or anything, but that sight I listed is the best place for info. ALL it is is GTA's and they've went through so much research on this, it's not funny. I dont know what the reality on the situation of t-tops are, but mines an 88 and its got em. So, I'll check the site and see.

 

Straight from the website. So, if you see any GTA's with t-tops and its a 91 or 92 with a 350, its not real unless they had someone cut up the roof and put in t-tops or they've put in a 350 swap.

 

Ok, the easiest way that will guarentee that it is a GTA or not is in the glove box (87-90) The parts codes will be listed. They are in the LH rear storage compartment on 91-92. It will have the code Y84 on it. That means its a real live GTA. Most people who try and duplicate a GTA wont think to remove this. Yet, sometimes things happen, like mine came out the other day because the glue got old. It happens. So, if thats the case, go to http://www.gtasourcepage.com/Authentication.html and find out what else to look for.

 

icedfire01-----Dude I'm sorry if it seemed like I was callin u a liar or any hard feelings cause I meant none...I just was readin the tech articals and came across it again...And RPO's dont lie...I would believe RPO's before anything I read on this site..but u do know ur stuff and u are right....peace

Jason

 

Hey man, its cool. I just want to share what I know with everyone else so they dont get scammed. I hate seeing fake GTA's. Its kinda funny to, I'll go up to a fake one and be like "Ah that GTA right there is fake and yada yada yada." Everyone always looks at me like so what. I dont know. It matters to me. Like I saw this guy the other day with one. Had the sticker emblem on the front nose. What an A$$. If your gonna fake one, at least buy the real badges. But if they're dumb enough to fake it, I guess they arnt smart enough to do it well. Anyways, no hard feelings taken man. Take care.