How can I tell if my '87 is a GTA or not if there are no badges saying so? It sure looks like one but its been repainted at some point so I dont know if the badges were removed or were never there. It has the GTA crosslace wheels and full ground effects and wing you'd see on GTA's, seems like too much work to add that stuff and not slap on some badges if you were faking it.

 

did you do a search
This is a question that gets asked a lot but the best way to know is look for the RPO codes in the center console. Y84
also look for the GTA seats, steering wheel with controls for the radio
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also you cant tell from the VIN
All gta start as TA then get the Y84 GTA package added
well at least that how i think it works

 

plus it doesn't have fender vents.

 

Actually no, I did'nt think about it but thanks for the suggestion because I found http://www.gtasourcepage.com/newauthentication.html which is very informative. For one, '87's, like the one Im referring to, dont have steering wheels with radio controls, just thought you'd like to know. Im still looking over the other basics to see if I can figure out what I have before I break down and see if I can find the actual codes. Yeah, I knew the VIN was useless. Thanks for the reply.

 

As known, the best way is to look for the proper RPO code (Y84). Anything else is less concrete. You can't look at the VIN itself and know a GTA from a Trans AM. Many of the options on the GTA were also optional on the Trans AM. The "GTA seats" was not strictly for the GTA, but could be ordered on a Trans AM. The digital dash was also optional on both the Trans AM and GTA. Fender vents, wheels and badges are all items that could be replaced or altered on a ~20 year old car.

 

Most of the GTA parts could be gotten on a standard TA, so GTAs are pretty easy to clone. Between hitting the 20 yr mark, and the rise of 3rd gens on Barret Jackson, cloning is becoming more common, and will only increase.

The Y84 option code is the only way to know FOR SURE if it a true GTA or a clone.