For the "GTA-ers" here....
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From: Batesville, AR 72501 USA
Car: '88 Bright Red GTA UPC 81U
Engine: 5.7L TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27:1
For the "GTA-ers" here....
A great new contact over at The GTA Source Page has been made that has shed light on the origins of the Trans Am GTA back in the day. For those of you who might be interested, take a look at a great story:
GTA DEVELOPMENT
It's nice to have a lot of questions finally answered about these cars.... and some info about the reintroduction of the Formula in 1987 as well.
GTA DEVELOPMENT
It's nice to have a lot of questions finally answered about these cars.... and some info about the reintroduction of the Formula in 1987 as well.
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From: Or-eh-gun
Car: 2012 Nissan Leaf
Engine: 80-kW AC synchronous electric motor
Transmission: Automatic
Axle/Gears: n/a
frankie thanks for making that available. your page has helped me out alot in the past, i continue to check back for updates and new stuff.
many thanks to Lou Wassel for sharing the info about the GTA and for conceptualising and building us such a sweet ride.
thankyou both
many thanks to Lou Wassel for sharing the info about the GTA and for conceptualising and building us such a sweet ride.
thankyou both
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From: Washington
Car: Recaro Option T/A
Engine: 305 Tuned Port Injection
Transmission: Automatic
Axle/Gears: 3:27 Borg Warner
Nice write up!
I didnt know there was a big weight difference between the hi-tech turbo wheels and the diamond spokes.
"Concurrent with that change, we also re-tuned the WS6 suspension to eliminate the rock-hard ride"
Im curious a to what those refinements were, perhaps shock valving.....
My WS6 is a kidney buster, but I would not trade the .92 skidpad for nothing
He does list the prototype car as fully loaded, I see this term alot, but if it does not have AS5, its almost fully loaded.
The really only thing different about the car is it never had the decals added, and anyone could order a T/A in all black in 85.
I didnt know there was a big weight difference between the hi-tech turbo wheels and the diamond spokes.
"Concurrent with that change, we also re-tuned the WS6 suspension to eliminate the rock-hard ride"
Im curious a to what those refinements were, perhaps shock valving.....
My WS6 is a kidney buster, but I would not trade the .92 skidpad for nothing
He does list the prototype car as fully loaded, I see this term alot, but if it does not have AS5, its almost fully loaded.
The really only thing different about the car is it never had the decals added, and anyone could order a T/A in all black in 85.
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From: Readsboro, VT
Car: 85 IROC-Z / 88 GTA
Engine: 403 LSx (Pending) / 355 Tuned Port
Transmission: T56 Magnum (Pending) / T5
Axle/Gears: 3.42 / ?
Excellent info Frank! If you ever happen to come across anybody who developed the IROC-Z, let me know. 
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Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 860
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From: Batesville, AR 72501 USA
Car: '88 Bright Red GTA UPC 81U
Engine: 5.7L TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27:1
Re: For the "GTA-ers" here....
AmorgetRS, it took more than my efforts to get this story in the magazine; there were several folks helping me working various angles to arouse enough interest. I'm just pleased that the GTA is again getting some national exposure in the the enthusiast press. That's the most important thing....
Somewhat of an addition to this thread: I recently received these photos from Lou Wassel as well, taken at a GM exterior car color review for the 1987 model year from late '85 or early '86. Obviously, a good deal of the final GTA content had been nailed down by this point, but this shows one of the "two-sided" GTA prototype cars that Lou talked about:
85 T/A WS6 should be pleased as well, as the GTA prototype here is shown "fully loaded". I'm pretty sure I see some basket headrests in that car.
I've been meaning to post this over here as well, but hadn't got around to it. Sorry!
Somewhat of an addition to this thread: I recently received these photos from Lou Wassel as well, taken at a GM exterior car color review for the 1987 model year from late '85 or early '86. Obviously, a good deal of the final GTA content had been nailed down by this point, but this shows one of the "two-sided" GTA prototype cars that Lou talked about:
85 T/A WS6 should be pleased as well, as the GTA prototype here is shown "fully loaded". I'm pretty sure I see some basket headrests in that car.
I've been meaning to post this over here as well, but hadn't got around to it. Sorry!
Last edited by FrankieRider2; Apr 26, 2007 at 11:09 AM.
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From: Doghouse ······································ Car: 1989 Formula 350 Vert Engine: 350 L98 Transmission: 700R4 Axle/Gears: B&W 3.27
Car: 87 Formula T-Top, 87 Formula HT
Engine: 5.1L TPI, 5.0L TPI
Transmission: 700R4, M5
Axle/Gears: Sag 3.73, B&W 3.45
Re: For the "GTA-ers" here....
HOnestly I really like the "GTA" badges on that Black concept car... In some ways I like it better than the Emblems which were used... They are simple, clean but elegant.
JOhn
JOhn
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From: Doghouse ······································ Car: 1989 Formula 350 Vert Engine: 350 L98 Transmission: 700R4 Axle/Gears: B&W 3.27
Car: 87 Formula T-Top, 87 Formula HT
Engine: 5.1L TPI, 5.0L TPI
Transmission: 700R4, M5
Axle/Gears: Sag 3.73, B&W 3.45
Re: For the "GTA-ers" here....
Did he say anything about the Formula other than the brief statement? About it being a no-brainer?
JOhn
JOhn
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From: North Carolina
Car: 1988 GTA
Engine: 350 TPI
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 3.70
Re: For the "GTA-ers" here....
Wow, Great info man! I love the GTA source page btw, I go there all the time and I spent a lot of time there before ever buying my car.
and I spent a lot of time there before ever buying my car. 
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 860
Likes: 46
From: Batesville, AR 72501 USA
Car: '88 Bright Red GTA UPC 81U
Engine: 5.7L TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27:1
Re: For the "GTA-ers" here....
Thanks for the kind remarks about The Source Page.... I try my best, even if it does look like a 1980s website.
John, there is some more Formula info in the upcoming HPP article. Subscriber copies are already arriving now and it should be on the newsstand in about another week or so.
The article is basically a rehash of what Lou told me during our talks, but with more detail and the involved GM employee names that I couldn't publish. There will also be some info in the Part II of the article that he didn't go over with me involving the '89 TTA.
John, there is some more Formula info in the upcoming HPP article. Subscriber copies are already arriving now and it should be on the newsstand in about another week or so.
The article is basically a rehash of what Lou told me during our talks, but with more detail and the involved GM employee names that I couldn't publish. There will also be some info in the Part II of the article that he didn't go over with me involving the '89 TTA.
Joined: Oct 2001
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From: Il
Car: 1989-92 FORMULA350 305 92 Hawkclone
Engine: 4++,350 & 305 CIs
Transmission: 700R4 4800 vig 18th700R4 t56 ZF6 T5
Axle/Gears: 3.70 9"ford alum chunk,dana44,9bolt
Re: For the "GTA-ers" here....
very nice work
Re: For the "GTA-ers" here....
Thanks for the kind remarks about The Source Page.... I try my best, even if it does look like a 1980s website.
John, there is some more Formula info in the upcoming HPP article. Subscriber copies are already arriving now and it should be on the newsstand in about another week or so.
The article is basically a rehash of what Lou told me during our talks, but with more detail and the involved GM employee names that I couldn't publish. There will also be some info in the Part II of the article that he didn't go over with me involving the '89 TTA.
John, there is some more Formula info in the upcoming HPP article. Subscriber copies are already arriving now and it should be on the newsstand in about another week or so.
The article is basically a rehash of what Lou told me during our talks, but with more detail and the involved GM employee names that I couldn't publish. There will also be some info in the Part II of the article that he didn't go over with me involving the '89 TTA.
Anyone else notice the nose emblem was placed on the hood in the prototype... weird placement.
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