I recently purchased a 1982 Trans Am, and have now set about finding out whether it is an authentic Recaro, or whether the previous owner was just trying to make it out to look like a Recaro.

I've searched around here and come to the conclusion that the best way to know is by checking the cowl plate. My interior trim code (I think that's what code it is) says AR9. I was reading on another thread that it would say AQ9 if it was a real Recaro, but then another site said that was only a misconception. So, is my car definitively a non-Recaro? Any other codes I should check?

Thanks!

 

AQ9 is the RPO that was used for both the Recaro and multi-adjustable "Lear-Siegler" seats. 1982 is the only year that the RPO AQ9 on the Fisher Body tag on the radiator support would confirm that it is a real "Recaro Edition T/A" since the LS seat option wasn't available on the Firebird until 1983.

AR9 on the Fisher tag would mean your car originally came with the Viscount "PMD" seats with a one piece seat back and a hole in the headrest. These are the seats that KITT had in Knight Rider.

 

Thanks a bunch for the info!

This is semi-ironic, as I originally purchased the car to do a KITT replica.

 

Well atleast you won't get hanged around here for mutilating a real Recaro edition car into a KITT car.


Good luck with your KITT project,It's not gonna be easy or cheap LMAO


Dave

 

And here I find my self accidentally buying a Recaro TA with AQ9 tags to turn into KITT. Damn the luck.

 

I bought my black and gold '83 almost 20 years ago and it had seat covers on it. I removed the seat covers one day and noticed all the adjustments and thought I had a recaro edition all theses years! I found out the recaro seats had the PMD look to them about a year ago, which mine do not. I started researching and learned about the LS option here on the website. Mine has the AQ9 code as well.

 

Everyone butcheting these cars up turning them into S.H.I.T.T should be hanged... there! That's my $0.02 ☺

 

I feel ya, I see why so many have such passion for these cars. For me at least, I can say that almost every young memory I have as a kid relates to my obsession to Knight Rider. I watched that show over and over, owned all the toys, etc.

My whole life when I see a TA, it brings a smile to my face and a sense of home. so for me, because there is a market for Kitt parts, and it can be built, why not?

 

Don't listen to the the NEGATIVE "Anti-Knight rider" clowns I understand people have their opinions and personal views,But KITT is still a third gen and deserves some respect in that perspective.


Some people are just ignorant and small minded,They forget that KITT put the third gen birds into the spot light and will be there forever !!!
Even 30+ years later KITT and Knight rider are referenced in some way on the TV and in the Movies


Personally,I drive my KITT replica every weekend (nice weather) and it really brings POSITIVE feedback from all sorts of people young and old !! Hell I even got a free pizza once for letting a Pizza Hut crew take pics of my replica


If you need any help on getting started with your replica project feel free to PM me

Dave

 

.

 

Hey, my 82 TA is identical to the one in the pilot episode... that's how it should be

 

Amen brother...

 

I agree. If you must do a KITT conversion use an 85-up car.

KITT is just cheesy.

 

I personnally think that the 82-84 Firebirds got some of that je ne sais quoi, especially the 82's. They have a little bit of that late 2nd gen in them and nowadays they're more hard to find in stock form and in good condition.

I love Knight Rider because it's one part of my childhood and it's also why I like the 3rd gen F-Bodies. I think it's too bad to butch any 82-84 model but also the 85+ ones that are all stock with original paint and decals. But again there are conversions that are properly done and the parts are stored in case for a back to stock rebuild.

It looks like the people who do the Knight Rider conversion don't really care about the stock Trans Am, it's only KITT that counts.

 

My only issue with KR is the ***** that do a slap-dick half a$$ job of it. Nose not fully attached, bits here and there looking like total ****, etc.

Other than that, freakin go for it. You only drive up the resale prices for the rest of us by there being fewer stock cars. Plus not like it's hard to go back.