Gen X T/A

Can anyone tell me if the little "Trans Am" mud flaps on my car are a factory option, a dealer option or aftermarket? They are the only item on my car that do not appear stock to me.

okfoz

Probably dealer installed, could be aftermarket tho... not a factory option that I have actually seen as an RPO tho.

3.8TransAM

Dealer option.

They can be found new here and there at swap meets.

Basically made for our cars by the General and came in GoodWrench packaging.

You would need two packs as they were sold in two's from the one's that I have seen.

I also have them on my 91 GTA.

okfoz

As I thought about this 3.8TransAm is correct... being that Trans Am is a trade name of the Trans Am racing, and GM was paying Trans Am to use the name, they would almost have to be GM parts, unless they are some bogus part... So Dealer installed... It would help if you had the original invoice for them...

xcalibur

Yep, in 1982 Pontiac was contributing exactly $5 for each of the two "Trans Am" decals that were applied to the side fenders of each Trans Am they made. Something happened in 1983 however. Either the SCCA relaxed a bit, or Pontiac had deeper pockets: they added a third "Trans Am" decal to the right rear bumper. I suspect that Pontiac may have alluded that they were thinking about going the BFG way and call them "T/A"s instead. By the way, the official GM "Trans Am" decals were only about $7.50 each in 1983. If $5 was still going to the SCCA for each decal in '83, they were a real bargain then. I bought one for the back of my '82.

okfoz

I always thought it was $5- per car...

First I ever heard it was per decal...

Been wrong before...

John

xcalibur

You AIN'T wrong, unless they changed their original deal. Here's what Hemming's had to say about it:
"In 1969, Pontiac agreed to pay the Sports Car Club of America $5 per car for use of the name "Trans Am." This continued, and through 1978, Pontiac paid the SCCA $1.29 million just to use the name."

So there must have been another reason the 82's were cheated out of the rear decal.

okfoz

Might have been a styling thing... Of course with the car being new in 1982, they might have wanted to add to the mystique of it... Pull up behind a new cool car, has no emblem on the back... have to figure out what it is... Psyche games and all...

John

Gen X T/A

It probably was a styling decision. I think the location of the nose bird was at the tip of the hood in '82 as well. Guessing that bird decal position changed to the front fascia along with the addition of the front and rear "Trans Am" decals in '85 for the first facelift. If that had involved a significant cost increase Pontiac probably would not have added the additional decals, but who knows?

Gen X T/A

Unfortunately my car did not come with any documenting paperwork. I had to verify the mileage through AutoCheck and visually by inspecting wear. So if the mud flaps are a dealer installed GM part then it looks like I may have succeeded in my goal of finding a bone stock example and still end up with many of the features I was wanting. That was a challenge. It took a year, and two others got away.

scottmoyer

As a famous politician seems to like to say quite a bit, "Let me be clear!", the mudflaps were an over the counter part from the dealership. That does not mean that they were dealer installed. I used to purchase these with every car I bought and I installed them, not the dealer.

Gen X T/A

Great point! Still, it was a GM produced accessory for the car sold through their dealers, so in my mind it's closer to original equipment than aftermarket regardless of where it was installed, and consistent with an original appearance, at least in my mind.

They look tasteful and seem to help protect the finish, so I'll leave 'em on.

scottmoyer

They are definitely a GM part, and they are period correct for your car. Ask me how I know? I just wish mine said IROC-Z instead of Chevrolet.

okfoz

A great politician used to say, "There you go again..."

Just kidding, great point Scott...

They are probably a hard to find item now.

John

majobis

iTrader: (3)

z28v8

iTrader: (1)

That's what I want

scottmoyer

Me too. There's a set on ebay right now that are correct, but they say Z28 on them. The problem I have is that the seller is asking $150. I used to buy these for $15 a set!

Gen X T/A

Nice IROC by the way

okfoz

yes... yes it is... It happens to be a 999 point car mind you...

John

micktroup2

If they said 'IROC', that would look dumb, since yours is a Z28...

okfoz

Hate to break it to you, he has an IROC, the IROC got "Z28" emblems on the rear bumper some years, not all...

I want to think that only 88-90 had the IROC emblem on the rear bumper, as prior to that the IROC door decals were not deletable, could be wrong.

82tarecaro

iTrader: (4)

I had a set of aftermarket Pontiac mud flaps on my TA for years and I finally removed them when I had the car painted. The aftermarket set has a clip that wraps around the lip in the fender so no holes have to be drilled. They held fine for years, and I saved them just in case I felt the need to re-install them. I am surprised the factory set does not have that clip, and looks as if drilling is necessary to install. That would be the last thing I would want to do is drill unnecessary holes.

Gen X T/A

I never looked to see whether mine are clipped or drilled into place. If not there already I would not drill holes to mount either, but they were already installed before I bought the car so all I can do now leave them and let them serve their purpose.

okfoz

On the front I would think you could use the push-in pin retainers that are used for the inner fenders, The rear's I think the only way to do it would be drill or use the clips... I always thought that drilling holes was not a great idea.

90 GTA Black

Here's one with just the bird - aftermarket or GM?

86blackiroc

iTrader: (12)

This thread made my day. I never realized my Z28 flaps were original GM items until now.

JT

iTrader: (1)

It's difficult to see the emblem for sure but it looks to me like the 2nd Gen Firebird.

90 GTA Black

You know, I think you're right. They look like they have been on the car a long time and it's an 83.

jackiegeorge

my 85 iroc had them along with the rear window louver.

scottmoyer

Those are aftermarket