I found this on gtasourcepage.com ...

http://www.gtasourcepage.com/productionfigures.html

It says that in 1992, only 226 GTA's were produced in the U.S. and 48 were produced in Canada.

According to TGO, there were 508 GTA's produced in 1992 and all (I assumed) in the U.S.

https://www.thirdgen.org/1992-pontiac-firebird

Which is right?

 

The GTA Source Page is right. Frankie is one of the most knowledgable persons around when it comes to GTA's.

 

Years ago, there was a discussion why the differences between TGOs figures and the GTA Source. One reason people attribute to the difference is the TGO figures include EVERYTHING...USA, Canadian & Export (which is still a bit unknown). However, it seems a bit unreasonable that the Exports would make up such a large percentage of the total production (compared to the past).

But, if it is true, the Export number isn't that far off from past Exports, so it may be a plausible explanation for the differences.

But for the number of vehicles produced for the US & Canadian markets, the GTA Source is considered the correct one.

 

he knows everyhting about a GTA he could probaly tell a true GTA blindfolded

 

You folks are too kind, but I appreciate the confidence nonetheless.

To recap a really long story.... the numbers on The GTA Source Page come directly from GM internal RPO production logs used to keep up with installations of options on Pontiac F-cars. The computer printouts I was given access to were straight out of the GM computer tracking system. The only thing I had to promise in order to have access was to never tell the identity of the insider who pulled the records for me. I was not allowed to make copies of the pages, nor was I able to leave the premises with them: everything you see on The Source Page was handwritten by my wife and I over the span of about 30 minutes time at the first F-Body Gathering at Road Atlanta in April of 1988. Looking back and knowing what I do now, I should have done a better job of copying figures and codes down; but at the time, it seemed like the event was over and done with before one could even turn around. As the saying goes, "hindsight is always 20-20"....

All years for the GTA were logged separately except for 1987, which was combined with the totals for Trans Am models as well. The 1987 cars were only listed as "Y84" in the list of options for the Trans Am. The 1988-1992 cars were listed separately on a printed page for each year with the heading "2FS87 + WS4 = 2FW87 -- 2FW87 + Y84". The production numbers my website has were taken directly from these sheets. The Canadian numbers were obtained from George Zapora at GM Canada's Vintage Services.

I have always been under the impression that the totals I was shown were for US cars only. That would be easy enough to check for sure as the export cars had an "EXP" RPO code on the SPI label. I have not been able to wrangle another look at those records, but I do hope to try anyway sometime fairly soon. Over the years there have been varying numbers on certain cars on several occasions: the Notchback GTAs (625 versus 718), the TTAs being logged as GTAs, etc. It really almost drives me crazy not knowing for sure because I have always based my website on being as factual as possible in all instances.

 

I'm just going to shoot from the hip here... but the production numbers shown here at thirdgen.org are likely taken from the list published by Pontiac Historical Services. The next most likely source is the Firebird Red Book which is notorious for it's errors. Back when I edited the technical data I had both resources available, but I couldn't say if and how it's been changed since then.

In other words, trust Frankie's numbers.

 

While researching for my second book, Pontiac Firebird 1967-2000 Photo History, I was in contact with Jim Matterson of PHS.
Pontiac directly sent me to him.
The 508 figure is excally what he gave me to publish.
We talked about this for some time, going back and forth.
In the end, he said to publish the 508 figure.
I knew it was different that shown on other websites, including Frankie's GTA site.
I contacted Frankie directly too with this info.
To this day, I still don't know why the difference.
I do know that Pontiac has released numbers for other years, and even they are a bit off.
Case in point, Special Editions of the second gens are listed as all having T-Tops, just like the 1983 Daytona Trans Ams.
Yet everyone knows (or should) that Pontiac produced some of these cars without the T-Tops.
Hopefully some day we will know for sure.
If people want to go with the other figure, no problem with me.
I want to know for sure too.

George

 

When I spoke to Jim Mattison of PHS at the Trans Am nationals, he told me to look at Frankies site... hmmm

JOhn

 

As I stated above,
I got all my numbers from Jim matterson of PHS.
And, they added up.

Firebird 23,099
Firebird convertible 1,265
Formula 1,052
(including 19 Firehawks, and 22 1LEs)
Trans Am 980
(including 9 1LEs)
Trans Am convertibles 663
GTA 508
Grand total 27,567

This website is 600 off on the regular Firebirds, to get the same figures.
And only shows 17 Firehawks.
So, is the grand total off too?
Or, just the Formula, or Trans Am, or regular Firebirds.

George

 

They made about 30 firehawks that year i believe so i think those numbers are off.

 

The Firehawks were made in 1991 and 1992.
Less that 30 total between the two years.

George

 

When I punched in the Firebird production numbers, I went with the highest published figure I came across. I figured it would be better to error on the side of high then low.

My view on the numbers is that there is no way to know for sure. They're just a guideline.

 

AAARGH,
6 Firehawks in 1991
19 in 1992... Actually these are SLP numbers since at least the last 5 were not ordered through a dealership as a firehawk. to my knowledge THe Convertible, the White, Blue, Aqua & Green cars were not equiped with the B4U RPO because they were converted after they were sold to a dealership. However since they had all of the equipment to make them a "Firehawk" SLP counts them into their production total.

JOhn

 

You are right!
That is where I got the SLP numbers from.
Direct from SLP, since Pontiac told me that they didn't know.

George

 

Can someone tell me how I can convince John to sell me his Formy 350 'vert?

 

Sure... The first $25,000 takes it... that would convince me.

John