Okay, I have an 88 firebird with the original build sheet. it is a firebird, not a trans am, not even a GTA. however, here is my dilema. it have the 5.7 TPI, the 3.23 rearend with disc brakes all around, 16" GTA wheels, the performance suspension, digital dash, everything a GTA would have just without the GTA name. It is a 3 owner car including me. The car is in very good shape, I have done a lot of work to it. The person I bought it from has known my dad since they were little kids, and he told him the person he bought it from knew someone at the dealership and ordered it this way because he did not want to pay GTA insurance. Has anyone ever heard of this, or is this a fairly rare car? I have done a lot or research but to no avail. I just want to know some more about the history of my car. Thanks. If you have any questions let me know.

 

It sounds like you have a Formula. If you do have a Formula then all of those could be optioned. I might be wrong so don't flame me. Someone probably put the GTA wheels on there. How about some pics. Also, get a Carfax and that would tell you alot.

 

If I have a formula would it not say it on the build sheet? The tires are factory, it is on the build sheet. I do not have the build sheet right now, I will get it tomorrow and post exact specs. These are just all of the ones that stood out in my mind. The car never belonged to anyone that did any kind of mods to the car, I know where it came from for a 100% fact.

 

I'm not 100% sure, so someone else might need to chime in.

 

One place to begin looking is the VIN. If it begins with 1G2FS, the FS is the code for Firebird. Whereas, if it begins with 1G2FW, the FW is the code for Trans Am. That will, at least, confirm one question about what the car was built as. And for it to have a 5.7 liter engine, the eighth digit of the VIN should be an 8.

So if the VIN verifies it's a Firebird(FS), and it has a 5.7 liter engine(8), it has to be a Formula. And if it is, then the code W66 should be listed on the build sheet/SPID label. That's the "Formula Option" code. Whereas, if the VIN has the FW, indicating it's a TA, then it might also have code Y84 listed, which tells you it's a GTA.

I can't say for sure whether or not a Formula could be had with the digital dash or GTA wheels. I know it couldn't be in 1987, but maybe that changed in 1988. So if the wheels are on the build sheet/SPID label, their code is PW7, and the code for the digital dash is U52.

There are some "override" option codes for a dealer to use to order "incompatible" options, however, I don't think it would've been possible for even a dealer to have ordered all that separately on a base bird.

So if none of those codes are listed on the build sheet and SPID label, then the car simply was not ordered like that, and someone would've added everything later, period... no "ifs, ands or buts" about that.

Hope that helps.

 

prob a TA, because you get all of that on a ta

 

thank all of you for your insight, and I hate calling out people willing to help me out, but I really dont think its a TA. I will look on the vin tomorrow.

 

I can't answer any of your questions directly, because I am not familiar with the 88's, but I did sell cars in 1986, and on some models it was possible to add individual options that belonged in packages to a base model. Nobody did it because the cost's were a lot more than ordering a package. Best thing is to decode it. Charles

 

Ground effects, no fender vents Y84 on the build sheet= GTA, ground effects, fender vents = Trans Am. No ground effects, power bulge hood = Formula.

VIN will be the tell tell of all though.