mudlissa

So I'm going through craigslist and come across what is said to be a 1990 firebird base model. It's a really nice car but has me puzzled in a few ways. First, the hood, engine, and spoiler are all indicative of the base model and the guy doesn't try to pawn it off as something else, but it has trans am ground effects. As far as I know, there was no option for base models to have these, so I'm assuming someone added them on. Also, the dash says "performance suspension" but I thought that this was only found in formulas. So I e-mailed the guy to ask if he added the ground effects and he gave me the runaround probably because I'm a girl, and tried to convince me that his car is "one of a kind" and that it "came that way that year and that's why it's special". I know that there was a limited production and that they are considered rare but I'm pretty sure that this guy is a lot of bull. Thoughts?

StevenB L98/LS1

Any pictures? Would be helpful. Or post the link. And yes the trans ams also got the ws6 performance suspension too, need to know anything of the 90 year just ask, my buddy had one before he sold it so i learned pretty much a good in depth of what the 90 models were like. What was the motor in it? tbi? or tpi? And the guy btw does sound like a lot of bull.

JT

iTrader: (1)

This sounds like the optional W68 aero package which consisted of ground effects on a base Firebird that would make it appear as a Trans AM.

As far as the Performance Suspension badge, that came on GTAs, Formulas and could also Trans AMs. It does not mean the car has WS6.

AmorgetRS

iTrader: (6)

1990 Firebird where available with the Aero package.. in fact I have two of them. Not rare at all, in fact I'd say it's more common in 1990 then the non-gfx base models. The Performance Suspension Badge is odd, but easily added if you just grab a junk yard dash piece.

mudlissa

Wow I learn something new everyday. I had no idea you could order an aero package as an option. The guy said the engine was a 3.1 v6 so definitely a base model. I think he deleted the ad because I can't find it anywhere. But anyway thanks for your help and knowledge.

Thirdgen Ranch

iTrader: (5)

If it's a base model 3.1 V6 car it definitely shouldn't have the "Performance Suspension" badge so that's something that was added at some point.

tavert91

iTrader: (1)

I believe that a suspension upgrade other than WS6 could be ordered or may have been part of the W68 package. I ordered a base Firebird in '85 with a 5 speed TPI V6 and a suspension upgrade and it had the "Performance Suspension" badge just like the WS6 cars. The RPO code may have been F41.