My dad is looking at buying this car. It is an 82 w/ LG4 ... 4-speed ... 86K on the clock.

The 5th spot in the VIN is an "X", which denotes "Trans Am Special Edition".

Does this mean Recaro? 'Cause it doesn't have Recaro seats and it obviously has the wrong wheels on it. But it is an overall nice car. Oh, and the front bumper doesn't look quite right either ... but I don't know ... I'm not an expert on the early 80s T/As at all!

How much is it worth?

He already has an 86 T/A and wants to replace it with this one.

 

If that is an '82, then someone changed the nose and added a later style rear wing in addition to adding the GTA wheels. The seats are the "PMD" seats, popular I think among the Knight Rider crowd.

 

There is no Trans Am Special Edition. The Trans Am and the Firebird S/E are two different sub models of the Firebird line.

The fifth digit identifies the series.
S = Firebird Base Model
W = Firebird Trans Am
X = Firebird S/E

The Recaro option is only available on the Trans Am.

The body on the car you’re looking at is not right for 82. It’s either an 82 with an 85 or later front end or an 85 or later with 82 PMD seats.

Also, all automatics in 82 firebirds where 3-speeds not 4-speeds

What is the full VIN?

 

Just found the ebay listing for the car. Here is the vin that is listed:

1G2AX87HXCN532796

 

Right on, Bull!

Thanks for the helpful info, guys! I thought something looked weird about the front and the spoiler.

Also, the 82 S/E's did come with a 4-speed option. I never said it was automatic. Board member "82 S/E WS6" has a VERY nice S/E with 4 in the floor.

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/memb...2-s-e-ws6.html

I'm sure this car has probably been in some trouble. But I doubt I'll even go through the trouble to run CarFax on it now ... unless anybody has unlimited CarFax and wants to do that .

But $1,400 doesn't sound like a bad deal

 

Thats not an 85-newer nose. Thats an 82-84 Firebird/Trans Am nose with the solid grill inserts.

 

Is the car in question in Johnstown, PA by chance? If so, I live nearby.

 

...

 

--THe car is an S/E (Special Edition) made from 82 - 86 as the Luxury edition of the Firbird line
--The Hood is from an 85-92 Trans Am

--The Spoiler is from an 85-90 Trans Am, or a 87-90 Formula.
--The Seats are PMD, not sure if you could get those in an S/E, but I suspect you could.
--The Wheels are from an 87-92 GTA or 91-92 Trans Am.

JOhn

 

The PMD seats where standard in the 82 S/E along with the luxury trim options, RPO B20.

 

No it isnt. The nose is from an 82-84 Firebird/Trans Am without W62 and has the solid grill inserts in place. Take a closer look.

 

You are indeed correct, I was looking at them and at a glance it appeared to have the little bumpers on it like the later firebirds... I recant my statment.

John

 

....

 

NICB's VIN Assist shows:

1 Country of Origin = United States
g Manufacturer = Pont General Motors
2 Make = Pontiac
A Restraint System = Non-Passive Manual Belts
W Line = Pontiac Trans AM
87 Body Style = Coupe 2dr Plain Back Special (highlighted for attention)
H Engine = 5.0l v8 4bbl
1 Check Digit = Valid
C Year = 1982
L Assembly Plant = Van Nuys, CA
5xxxxxSequence Number = In Range

 

Where did you get that from? Everything I have says that X was used for the S/E in 1982. I don’t see an X in your VIN 1G2AW87H1CL5xxxxx. I see a W in the 5th Spot which is for Trans AM.

S = Firebird Base Model
W = Firebird Trans Am
X = Firebird S/E