Have a question for people more educated about the third gen than myself.
I have a 91 Firebird, california car, power everything, 305tbi, 5 speed manual, t-tops. I've had a few people tell me that the factory 5 speed with the t-tops is rare, is this correct? Have car almost complete, just needs paint, but wondering if I have somthing special.

 

Not really, the 5 speeds are less common then the Auto, but not rare. T-tops are only "rare" in 91/92 in 350 cars as only the Formula with the Cross Lace rims could get them, but that was only for 350 cars, not 305 or V6 cars.

 

Absolutely correct.. Rare would be a 350 with T-Tops and a 5 Speed. Actually found a kind of rarity issue with my car.. I bought my car from MI brand new in Oct 1987. Had it shipped to where I live. I originally wanted a 305tpi and when it arrived it had a 350tpi, of which I was initially upset with them because of the delay it took to get the car. When it arrived with the 5.7 with T-Tops which was the 1st year available I believe for the 350tpi, I opted to keep it.. But, the wheels looked different than everyone else's and I soon discovered that they were the 88 style and the IROC-Z was toward the front of the doors not toward the back. Also the Stripe around the ground effects was the 87 style. I am guessing that when I purchased the car it was on a Fri and no-one cared how it was assembled.

 

I also own a 91 305tbi 5 speed but with no power options whatsoever ac delete and all. I've had some people tell me it's pretty rare(I personaly have never seen another like it but im sure there has to be some out there)I would say they may be somewhat rare.

Chaos91 do you have pics of your car?

 

I think you should realize something...

The TBI engine was the BASE V8 from 1988 thru 1992 on the FORMULA and the only optional engine on the BASE Firebird. The engine came Standard with the Standard (Manual) transmission, the Automatic was an option that most people opted for mostly for drivability reasons. The problem is that the TBI is not a highly desired engine in factory form, it really was not a great performer, but is more of an economy V8. The fact that it has T-tops is not a big deal because it has a Manual transmission. From 1982 thru 1992 about HALF of all our cars came with t-tops, the fact that the car has an LO3 and T-tops really indicates to me that you had a 50% chance of getting one with T-tops. On the other hand IF the car had TPI and T-tops that would make it more unusual definately.

John