Hey everyone,

First, let me say that I DO KNOW that IROC's had 2 size options; that's not what this is about. I'm wondering what the case was regarding the STYLE...my 88 IROC has the 85-87 style rims, whereas all the other 88's have the 89-90 style. and yes they are the original wheels on the car...no one swapped them out with some others. I was just wondering if GM made the switch of styles mid production year or what? Thanks.

 

I can see where some of the early 1988 cars may have gotten the 1987 wheels. It does happen especially if its early in the production year and there are some left over but there was a shortage for the new model year. Anything is possible. For example in 1989 on the firebirds the optional subwoofer control was deleted from the available options, and starting in 1989 the Dash no longer had provision for the control, but some of the early 1989 Firebirds have a blank spot to where the control would have gone in 1988.

Also I have seen a few 1988 Trans Am's with the Formula wheel in 1988, Even a promotional pic from GM, but for the most part all TA's in 1988 came with the Super lightweight Spoked wheel like the GTA but were colored. except for the 15" rims ( I think they were still std on 88 TA's).

Things are funny some times, nothing is usually set in stone, even if you see a rogue screw that is not like everyone elses, there are times during production to where they run out of a screw or a nut or a bolt and they would literally go to a hardware store and buy something that would work just to make it through the day or until they got supplied. The line will not stop for something that can be quickly rendered.

Sometimes (not always) living in a GM town gives me a unique insight to some of these things, especially when I have several family members who worked for GM over the years.

John