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My -88 "GTA"?

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Old 04-13-2016, 03:39 PM
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My -88 "GTA"?

Hey guys!

Is there any other ways to tell is my car really GTA or just Trans am than the center console sticker? Cos i dont have it.

My car has gone through alot. Its been crashed, repainted, motor swapped from 305 to 350 and now been here in Finland the last 6 years.

In the papers it says GTA but theres no actual signs of it.

If someone answers, thank you.
-Anna

Old 04-13-2016, 03:52 PM
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Re: My -88 "GTA"?

Only official ways to tell are:
1) SPID sticker showing Y84.
2) Finding Buildsheet showing Y84. Buildsheets are difficult to find as most are gone.
3) Ordering a copy of the Invoice
4) If the vehicle is an exported vehicle, run the VIN through Compnine.

Given the fact that the car is about 28 years old and anything could be changed, and you indicate your car has been changed, it's merely guessing if basing off parts on the vehicle that could have been changed in those 28 years.

Don't know what paperwork you have, but given the GTA and Trans Am shared the same VIN prefix of 1G2FW, a lot of times you'll see a car identified as Trans Am / GTA even though it may not be a GTA.
Old 04-13-2016, 04:40 PM
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Re: My -88 "GTA"?

Thank you for your answer.

You were right about those vin decoders, others say GTA and other Trans am.
There is no buildsheet or sticker :/ ...
What that basically means ordering copy of Invoice?
My english isnt that good since im from Finland.

Does it help if i know the old U.S license plate number?
Im curious to know was it identified as GTA in U.S too or did some customs guy here just wrote it to the cars papers when it came here.

What would you recommend to do or is there anything?
Thank you again.
Old 04-13-2016, 05:40 PM
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Car: 92 Trans Am Conv
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Re: My -88 "GTA"?

Did the gta come with the fender vents? I guess they could be replaced in the wreck.
Old 04-13-2016, 05:49 PM
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Car: 88 GTA Notchback
Engine: 350 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: don't know
Re: My -88 "GTA"?

http://www.gtasourcepage.com/newauthentication.html
Old 04-13-2016, 08:10 PM
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Re: My -88 "GTA"?

No, the GTA didn't come with fender vents.

Originally Posted by Vanilla Ice
Did the gta come with the fender vents? I guess they could be replaced in the wreck.
While that's a great resource, the owner has said the car has been repaired and is 28 years old. Fenders are bolt on items. Everything the GTA has can be bolted/fitted to a Trans Am.

Since the owner knows the car has been rebuilt and things changed, there is no 100% way of knowing if it's a GTA or not without one of the things in my list being used to verify. Everything else is based on assuming the parts on the car currently are original. Apparently, that is not this case since the owner has said the car was rebuilt.

If the car is an export, it's possible we can pull records on it.
Old 04-13-2016, 11:07 PM
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Re: My -88 "GTA"?

i have an actual emblem (not sticker) on the b-pillar i dont see one on yours no vent and looks like gta emblem on fender is too far forward and too small would like to get closer pix

Last edited by mk1431; 04-13-2016 at 11:15 PM.
Old 04-14-2016, 12:25 AM
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Re: My -88 "GTA"?

Won't measuring the front swaybar tell you?

Isn't the GTA the only car to get the 36mm?
Old 04-14-2016, 07:45 AM
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Re: My -88 "GTA"?

Originally Posted by BrutalT/A
Won't measuring the front swaybar tell you?

Isn't the GTA the only car to get the 36mm?
The WS6 cars got the 36mm bar, so could be a Formula, T/A, 1LE, or GTA with the 36mm.
Old 04-14-2016, 08:46 AM
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Re: My -88 "GTA"?

The GTA emblems can be purchased on eBay (aftermarket and NOS) for a reasonable price. Seeing GTAs on the market for decades, one of the most common things is missing or misplaced emblems after a repaint, or GTA emblems on a Trans Am and the car marketed as a GTA because it carries more value and is recognized as being (generally) the top of the line Firebird. The fenders are bolt on items. The owner has said the car was wrecked and rebuilt.

So trying to determine what this car is at this point is purely guessing based on parts that may not be original after a rebuild and 28 years have passed. But if you want, GTA Sourcepage's GTA Authentication page, as someone linked above, goes into details:
http://www.gtasourcepage.com/newauthentication.html

Unfortunately the VIN of this car is not in Compnine's database, so it must not be an originally exported car. So probably the only way to knowing for sure, in this case, is going to be ordering an invoice for the car.

Originally Posted by mk1431
i have an actual emblem (not sticker) on the b-pillar i dont see one on yours no vent and looks like gta emblem on fender is too far forward and too small would like to get closer pix
Old 04-14-2016, 08:54 AM
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Car: 88 GTA Notchback
Engine: 350 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: don't know
Re: My -88 "GTA"?

What color is the PONTIAC emblem on the headlight door, and type of seats? I have seen many a GTA clone, and none of them had the gold emblem there. Also, the clone makers never change the seats as they are expensive and hard to come by.

what Steering wheel does it have?
Old 04-14-2016, 09:01 AM
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Re: My -88 "GTA"?

Trans AMs also could be ordered with the "GTA" ultima seats.

Personally, I don't think it's a good idea to hinge a decision as it if it's a GTA or not based on some external stickers that can be purchased (even the gold Pontiac emblem can be purchased aftermarket) for a car that was disclosed as not being original and rebuild.

Unless you see Y84 on the paperwork with the VIN, it will never be 100% certain or possibly accurate.

Originally Posted by Veaceonee
What color is the PONTIAC emblem on the headlight door, and type of seats? I have seen many a GTA clone, and none of them had the gold emblem there. Also, the clone makers never change the seats as they are expensive and hard to come by.

what Steering wheel does it have?
Old 04-14-2016, 10:25 AM
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Re: My -88 "GTA"?

Thank you for all the answers.

Originally Posted by JT

Unfortunately the VIN of this car is not in Compnine's database, so it must not be an originally exported car. So probably the only way to knowing for sure, in this case, is going to be ordering an invoice for the car.
What this ordering invoice means and how can i do it?
Old 04-14-2016, 10:58 AM
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Re: My -88 "GTA"?

You can order a copy of the invoice from GM using the following link and service:
http://www.gmmediaarchive.com/?page=1

This documentation will not replace your SPID sticker that was located on the center console that contained dozens of 3-character RPO codes. There is no replacement for that. But this invoice will list the major RPO codes, such as Y84 (for GTA) to tell you with certainty what you have.

Originally Posted by Ann-nie
Thank you for all the answers.



What this ordering invoice means and how can i do it?
Old 04-14-2016, 11:50 AM
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Re: My -88 "GTA"?

Okey thank you again!
Old 04-16-2016, 09:45 PM
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Re: My -88 "GTA"?

Let us know what you find out.
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