I'm trying to find out if I have a 1le car its a '91 GTA but it has signs of it possibly being a 1le car. Its has a 305 w/5spd. tranny, factory aluminum driveshart, factory A/C delete (there's not even holes in the fire wall for it), aluminium PBR brakes all around, I have the larger sway bars.

But I do have things that don't sound like a 1le I have power windows, a radio, and fog lights.

Whats the best way for me to tell if I have a true 1le car / did they even offer the GTA's with the 1le package? Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Steve

 

There should be an RPO label in the interior of the car with all the options the car has on it. 1991 is a changeover year from it being in the center console glove box to the lockable storage bin in the trunk on the left so it will be in one of those two places. If the label has been removed then you will have to get a copy of the original dealer invoice from Pontiac. 1LE will be on the RPO label if the car is one.

The firewall should still have holes in it for the ventilation system. Non-A/C cars have a really basic black painted heater box with the blower fan in the same location as A/C cars. It sounds to me like somebody just removed all the A/C components from your can and blocked off the openings on the firewall. The heater controls should have just HEATER/VENT/DEFOG listed for vent positions on a non-A/C car.

 

I do not think the GTA was available without A/C, you may have a Trans Am that someone put GTA decals on... I have seen Verts like this... From 1987-1990 the GTA was distinguishable from a T/A because the TA had the fender vents and the GTA did not... Starting in 1991 and thru 1992 the Trans Am no longer had the vents, since neither had the vents, so it was possible for someone to simply install Badges and remove the Trans AM decals...

The GTA did come standard with the "G92" Gear with the LB9/M5 and the WS6 suspension was also standard, in your case it should be a 3.42 Saginaw, and I believe the JG1 drive shaft was also available. The only thing that throws me is if it has AC delete...

Frankie Rider would actually be the best person to ask, I suspect he will concur... http://www.gtasourcepage.com/

John

 

Definitely check the SPID sheet that should still be in the center console and look for 1LE, let us know. If by chance the sheet is not in the console then check the compartment in the rear hatch area.
Looking forward to this, even though I don't think that it's a GTA, but still a
1LE TA is very cool.

 

I guess I should have said that... YES it is cool either way, Chances are its a T/A however...

John

 

Its just badged as a Trans Am I actually don't have any GTA badges, I had on it I at one point had the wrap around spoiler, I have the mesh wheels, ground effects, hood, ws6 suspension, 2 piece tails, also when I bought it I checked the vin and it showed up as a GTA. When I bought the car 7 years ago (it was my first car) I found a receipt for body work on it. So I'm thinking when it went to the repair shop the took off the GTA badges and put on the T/A bages instead.

 

heres some older pics of it. I know shes not in the prettiest of conditions for now but I'm workin on it.

 

I checked in the lockable box in the hatch but nothing was there, where in the center console would it be?
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I checked in the lockable box in the hatch for the RPO but nothing was there, where in the center console would it be? I guess I'll go to Pontiac and see if they can help me out.

 

The build sheet MIGHT be under the carpet, but I don't think that is very common.

A stealership can't tell you much on older cars...For $50, PHS can tell you EVERYTHING.

 

Alright well it looks like I'm goin to PHS.

 

Running the VIN *should* have listed it as a Trans Am/GTA, not one or the other. Only the RPO codes can proove which you have.

The SPID label should have for sure been on the inside of the lid to the rear drivers side locking compartment unless it's a 'vert. Weird.

PHS is money VERY well spent!!!

 

You guys are forgetting that GM took back all the records for '88-up Pontiacs from PHS for no ryme or reason about a year ago. You'll have to contact Pontiac to get a copy of the dealer invoice for new cars now.

The GM DealerWorld computer system can usually pull up the RPO options and key codes by the VIN number on 1990-newer GM vehicles so you may want to stop by your local dealer and try this first before shelling out $50 for a copy of the invoice.

 

The parts dept system is different than the service dept. Parts can look up all the RPOs from the VIN, try calling a local dealer's parts dept. I have recently gotten the lists for both my cars but they are 91 and 92. Make sure you talk to the parts dept though. As mentioned the SPID sheet would be right inside the center console as soon as you open the lid unless someone pulled it out.
You have to go through Allied Vaughn now instead of PHS and all you get for your $50 is an invoice, no RPOs or anything like that.
Try the parts dept and let us know.

 

THe pics you have on your web site is definately a Trans Am... If you have a 1LE then you have something more rare than a GTA, and more desirable to many. I doubt that someone removed the GTA badges as what you have there is correct for a T/A... An Awesome find if its a 1LE...

John

 

Alright well I'm just going to hit up Pontiac today and see what they say then go from there.

 

Ok I went to Pontiac between classes and they were able to look up the RPO for it. As most of you suspected its not a GTA but it did come from the factory with the wheels, spoiler, ground effects, and everything else that made me believe I had a misbadged GTA. While there I did however find out that i do have a 1le

 

You lucky bastard! LOL.

Yeah the 91 & 92 Trans Am's could get all of the GTA options without being badged that way.

 

1) Thats Awesome... a T/A 1LE is a rare find indeed...
2) The GTA always had GOLD rims
3) Like 92GTA stated, the Trans Am could have been optioned like a GTA, you could have even gotten the Gold GTA Wheels as an option.
4) Do you have the Articulating Ultima "GTA" seats???

How is this for you... 1 OF 19 for the USA in 1991... REALLY REALLY COOL!!!

 

I acutally don't know if i have the seats I guess I'll have to do some searching to see what they look like, where I live nobody really mods 3rd gen f-bodies and those who do aren't too heavy in to them, so I'm kinda teaching myself on them.

1 of 19 I knew they were rare but crap I didn't know that. Also where can I get the production #s on them?

Thanks,
Steve

 

http://1le.net/

Says 62 made, 91 was the most common year by far.

You need to update you profile now to remove the "GTA", :P

 

Dang one of 62!?!? thats still a helluva find..

 

You lucky bastard! I'm quite jealous right now. Very nice find, congrats. Lets get some more pics! What are your plans with the car? How many miles?
More pics pls!!!

 

that is really neat to find. btw, i was up near you last week - my dad lives right there too

 

Remeber that 1991 spaned two production years.
Of the 62 1LEs, 43 came to Canada, and 23 of those were R7U cars.
Only 19 left in the US over two production years.

Very cool car.

 

Awesome find! Congrats! That's like hitting the lottery!

 

THUS I wrote 1 of 19 for the USA in 1991

I know of the 62 number and 43 went to Canada...

John

 

A TTOP 1LE. Nice!

 

Holy smoke... I did not even notice the T-tops... Factory from what I can tell to boot...

THAT makes that car ONE RARE BIRD... I think that is one of the first 1LEs that I have ever seen with T-tops... It may be a 1 of 1... NOT bad fora first car... Every now and then someone falls into a great deal...

John

 

Its the second I've seen! the other on was a yellow formula.
I soo wish I would have gotten to order mine back in the day..

 

There has been a red 1LE T-top TA 1991 up around me for the last while. IT also has been made to look like a GTA from a distance. I thought it was an exec car or something.

Mark.

 

I forgot that 90 was like a half year or less

 

I thought CC1 hatch roof was never never never available with 1LE? Am I misinformed about this? Steve, does Pontiac say the car has both CC1 and 1LE in its RPO codes? Or could these be an aftermarket install?

 

I have seen and verified the one local to me. Factory T-tops and 1LE. Strange ... but then again, it seems there are more strange 1LE's than complete strippers.

Mark.

 

Are there any pictures :-) cant wait to see them.

 

yeah it a factory t-top car I have the cc1 code as the 23rd item on the list.

As of this very moment I'm actually pulling the motor out of the car to put in a 350. But no worries I'm keeping the original 305 and getting it freshened up (new bearing, rings, turn the crank, etc.)

But needless to say I'm most defenitly going to be putting this car back to pretty much stock.

 

Pictures!!

 

Any thing in specific you want pics of? Right now there is no motor or tranny in it. and the front clip is in primer.

 

everything :-)

 

+1
What is the color? Is it Green or Blue, I can't tell.

 

I've heard of a coupla 1LEs with Tees. R7Us are the ones that never have Tees. Congrats on your find.

 

You have it ... now you better be taking good care of it!

 

Put it back to 100% original... lose those low profile headlights (I am assuming they are aftermarket-I don't know squat about T/As) That car is so rare 1 of 19... make it 100% stock restored.

 

Yeah as soon as I get the car running again I'll be putting the original headlights back in (yeah they were aftermarket a buddy and I made them) as well as the original seats (which I found out I have just the plain old firebird seats originaly).

Its Green, Also wasn't the green kind of a rare color I've only seen maybe 3 or 4 firebirds in this color in the past 6 or 7 years, but the were all
V6s and in the junkyard.

 

Gee darn, those blasted seats just ruin the deal... Tell you what, I have a friend with a set of the GTA seats in black leather. When he is sleeping I will sneak in his house and send them to you and you send me the car... deal?

The green is pretty uncommon, I think Yellow & some others might be slightly more uncommon however...

John

 

I agree with you on the color thing I think I've onyl seen one yellow and maybe like 2 blue, in my life so far.

Also it turns out that I had found the GTA seats in a JY at one time but they were so tore up I didn't grab them. Regreting that now cause all I would've had to do is reappulster them...maybe some new foam too.

 

for the 1992 Yellows I have seen
1 - 1LE LB9/M5 Formula VIN 00001 @ the Trans Am Nationals
2 - A Yellow/Brown int 92, with an LO3 Engine again @ the T/A nationals he was from Chicago.
3 - THere was a guy over in GRand Rapids Newaygo actually that I looked at... Identical to the one from Chicago IIRC.
4 - a Trans Am 1LE Hard Top ( again @ the T/A nats )
5 - a Trans Am Vert ( again @ the T/A nats )
6 - A local guy hada Base Firebird in yellow.
7 - There was a Yellow Base Firebird in Warren OH at a dealership, When I visited some family down there a few years back.
8 - On-Line I have heard of a 92 Formula 350 W/T-tops and another Formula LB9/M5 car both in Yellow...

that about summs it up...

BTW, I love Yellow I own 2 87's in Yellow

John

 

John, to add to your yellow list, there was a 92 JY GTA at the Nats in 2007.

 

Here's that 92 L98 JY Formy, I will own this car oneday!
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2633760

 

Yup, I forgot about that one at the T/A nats in '07...

John

 

dont know if i would be of any help, but ive done a little bit of work on mine, and im in your area probably once a month or so. if you need any advice or help getting it running again let me know