I'm trying to help a good friend of mine sell his 1983 Pontiac Trans Am Firebird. Below is the link to the ebay auction, I've looked all over the internet and cannot find what exactly it is. This car is about as perfect as they come, the owner is selling it to buy some farm equipment as this car sits in storage. He seems to think it is a special edition but doesn't have any details. Please look at the ebay link below which has several detail pics. Thank you everyone in advance for your help. darrenatsfo@yahoo.com

VIN : 1G2AW87S3DL235333

Link to ebay auction: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...m=260437838585

 

I don't see anything super special about it besides the low mileage. I don't think the hood bird is stock, along with the sail panel emblems or the one on the dash map pocket. It is a very well optioned TA, though. WS6, leather, basically every option.


[edit] did a little searching and the DX1 Hood Bird is not the one pictured, but it should be the bird with the "louvers" underneath it just on the turbo budge.

Like this: http://www.phoenixgraphix.com/transam/1983ta1.jpg

 

^^^^^ agreed nothing amazingly rare, but id say it's a hi dollar third gen just because of the documentation, condition, and low mileage of the car.

 

What do you think it's worth? I'm trying to prevent him from expecting to much $$ for it, but at the same time not give it away.

Thanks,
Darren

 

It's really too bad they threw all the aftermarket emblems on it, as imho, that is lower the value significantly. To return to the 100% stock most people that would buy a 28k mile car want you risk needing a repaint of at least the hood because who knows if that decal will come off and what the paint will look like compared to the paint that's been exposed to the sunlight for 28k miles. Also, all the aftermarket stereo detracts from the value of it, again imo, but it doesn't look bad. Just a 1993 3k stereo system probably isn't that much better then a budget system nowadays.

 

Does he still have the stock rims and head unit? The stock rims are worth over 1k easily. I would guess it is a 6-9k car as it sits.

 

IT would depend on which rims it had, the ones with the hubcaps are only desired because of the KITT conversions.

Some things that strike me. The car looks great, but as mentioned before the Hood bird is not original, The DX1 hood bird was on the scoop only (see attachment), the full sized bird did not appear until 1985 with the Flat hood. Also the car is a Crossfire car, both evident by the S in the VIN and the picture under the hood, but the hood decal has 5.0 Liter H.O., which would indicate the L69 4bbl.

I also suspect that the rear louvers are either not original as they are Gloss black, the originals were semi-gloss, but I do not remember what year they were "Factory" For some reason either 1985 or 1986 sticks in my head... Also there is no listing of them on the build Sheet.

The Sail Panel Emblem/bird is a 2nd Gen, The Emblem on the map pocket is also a 2nd Gen, The Floor mats are not the originals, they are the GM replacement type, The Brake peddle looks different, not sure what is going on there, but neither of my 1983's have that peddle pad IIRC. The Wheels are obviously aftermarket, The mudflaps are a Dealer installed thing,

More or less his claim that the car is "All original" It is not, sorry.

John

 

The hood bird looks nice IMO but I dont like the little red birds on it. Makes it look too 2nd gen, I prefre the 3rd gen bird anyway.. I've never seen an engine with "cross fire", never even heard of it.. So I'd say that's rare being the original engine.

It should fetch a good deal of money as it is in AMAZING condition for it's age. Most 83 trans am's have over 100k on the clock and are sitting in trailer parks, others have been junked and are stripped, It's a very small minority that are still in great condition, all factory or not..

 

Cross-Fire injection (Also know as Cease-Fire and many other disparaging names) was available from 82-83 in Camaro Z28s and Firebird Trans Am. It isn't very rare and isn't something that is really that desirable as far as induction system go. I think most people would prefer a L69 over the LU5.

Here are 82/83 LU5 production numbers that I found:

9,206 (1983) Trans Am LU5
13,037 (1982) Trans Am LU5

 

^ knows his stuff