blakbird89

Found my dream car, 1989 black on black GTA. It has everything I've been looking for but there are some things that don't make sense and I was hoping you guys might have some insight.

First of all, the guy says it's "limited edition" but from what I've been able to find, there really is no such thing. Truth?

He mentioned also that it has a digital dash, but from what I'm aware 1988 was the last model year to have this correct?

And, what is this hood? I think I've seen one on the boards here but I can't for the life of me find it again.

AmorgetRS

iTrader: (6)

True

Correct

I believe that hood is known as a Daytona Twin Turbo hood.

kentuckyKITT

iTrader: (4)

Have you looked at this car in person, verified the RPO for GTA (Y84)? The sail panel emblem is in the wrong place and not even close to the right place. The fender emblem looks off was well. When you see it in person, look at the driver's headlight PONTIAC lettering...it should be gold. The car could have been repainted and the emblems put back on wrong, but I've noticed almost every "clone" owner forgets or doesn't know about the headlight lettering which would make me suspicious immediately upon seeing it in person.

blakbird89

I'm have a feeling it is a fake. I haven't seen it in person yet, and I was a bit suspicious. The way I see it, IF a limited edition GTA did exist then I couldn't see why the owner wouldn't restore it or at least keep it stock.

I don't mind if it is just a regular TA, it's still basically the same combination I've been after.

Although I'm sure this would depreciate the asking price...
So what would you guys pay for something like this then if it's just a plain 1989 Trans Am?

- newly replaced 5 speed/clutch
- aluminum flywheel
- T-tops
- digital dash (obviously swapped)
- Twin turbo hood

- missing front seats, needs carpet

AmorgetRS

iTrader: (6)

If it has the OEM digital dash I'd actually bet it's not a 89.

blakbird89

Lol, I should've thought of that. I just like '89 because it's my birth year but I guess an '88 is good too right?

88gunmetalgta

iTrader: (1)

If he's lying about it being a GTA, imagine how much bondo and rust he's also lying about. I'd offer about $800, he can keep the hideous hood.

2007xl50

, but first what's the mileage on the car? how's it run and drive? What is the asking price if you don't mind saying? That hood sucks IMO, worse the the one they make like that for the Camaro's. Also what's it look like under that bra? Bet the nose is chipped and or rashed like crazy.

blakbird89

That's the only pic, not sure about the mileage but the asking price is 2k. It does run apparently. Does it run well? That's tbd...

Slater126

iTrader: (1)

We can all be thankful for that.

ac riggs

i have my 89 trans am in the drive way im comparing with. mine is 95% original except the motor. the emblems look wrong. the wheel caps are wrong. idk about the dash mines analog. check out the suspension on it to see if it has the wise performace suspension. that should be a dead give away if it a wanna be gta. the car still looks nice besides the hood lol

conlinj

iTrader: (3)

Well if it is not a gta, he swapped the fenders to get rid of the vents. All T/As had the fender vents. It's probably just been repainted, its rare the emblems go back where they should on "budget" repaints

88gunmetalgta

iTrader: (1)

Maybe it's not even a TA? I'll agree it is rare for emblems to get back to the right spot.

BlackenedBird

iTrader: (5)

But if it is "just a Firebird" then it would have have had no vents in the fenders. Funny how the top of the line GTAs got the same fenders as the base model TBI/V6 cars. lol You'd think the vents woulda come on GTAs only just for "style points", even though I prefer the non-vent look myself.

As for the sail panel bird emblems.....The correct spot is "out of place" (off center & low) so it is very common for body shops to center them up.

SeanO23

even if the front end is perfect on it, if hes had that bra on there for too long it will be much blacker than the rest of the paint.

okfoz

1) Get the VIN, it will tell you at least whether or not it is a Trans Am/GTA or a base Firebird or Formula.
2) If it does not have TPI, then it is NOT a GTA
3) The center caps are 1987 (mentioned by previous poster)
4) The Hood is Daytona (mentioned by previous poster)
5) The GTA Emblems are in the wrong place too... too high

More than likely it is a GTA that someone repainted, put the emblems in the wrong places, and put a Daytona Hood On it for some reason.

86TA355SR

iTrader: (1)

Here is the help you need. Frankie has put together a great site with excellent information.

http://www.gtasourcepage.com/newauthentication.html

Hope it isn't to late...

blakbird89

Now that i'm thinking about it, is there a possibility that this car could have been made late in the 1988 production run but labeled as an 89?


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AmorgetRS

iTrader: (6)

Whatever the VIN says is what the model year was. So it is either a 88 MY or a 89 MY, a 88 MY could of been produced in 87 or 88, and a 89 in 88 or 89.