shiftman

In several posts over the last month or so, I indicated that I would be publishing a Third Generation Firebird fact and reference book.

That book, entitled “All 1982-1992 Pontiac Firebird Colors, Codes & Quantities,” is now available on Amazon (free shipping in the U.S.). For Firebird enthusiasts who live outside the United States, the book will soon be available on your country’s Amazon site, such as Amazon.ca (Canada), Amazon.de (Germany), Amazon.es (Spain), Amazon.co.uk (United Kingdom), Amazon.fr (France), Amazon.it (Italy), etc. You can simply order your book from your Amazon website and thereby pay a much lower shipping fee since your book will be printed in (or near to) your country. The book will always be in the English language.

For the book, please click this link:


For all my automotive books, see my Amazon author page:


SPECIAL RECOGNITION
It would be nearly impossible to complete such a book without the assistance of brilliant Firebird experts who have been mainstays of this website. I acknowledge and would like to send a sincere thank you to the ones who spent time speaking with me on the phone, emailing me, and/or texting. Their contribution of primary source documentation, including data reports and photographs, helped ‘fine tune’ some of the facts:

John Zofko (okfoz): First and foremost, John has been an endless source for primary source Firebird data. He has worked behind the scenes with me and unselfishly offered his Firebird knowledge to me. His knowledge of 3rd Gen ASC convertibles is unsurpassed. For 20 years, this forum has had the fortune to have a man like John provide facts for its pages. I will speak for all of us, John, thank you.

Tony Walch (TTOP350)
Mark Strembicke (Mark_ZZ3), guru of “Player’s Challenge Series” cars
Mac Logan (Maplehawk), author of “Firehawk: Fiercest of the Firebirds.”
Alex Claytor (92GTA)
Anita Gebhardt
Chris Gebhardt
Maryann Limongello, SVE/SLP
Christo Datini, GM Heritage Center
Mary Raetz, Director, Automotive News Data Center
Tim Dye, Pontiac-Oakland Museum

I apologize if other names have slipped from the shackles of my memory.

THE BOOK
This is a 200-page, well-researched, fact and reference book. As such, it does not have any full-color photos of Firebirds. The focus is on the production totals for colors and yearly RPOs. The book has four major sections:

Primary Source Information: How to read your car’s trim tags, SPID labels, VINs, and other labels, stickers, and stampings. These are “primary source documents” which will tell you exactly how the car was built at the factory. This information is vital when selling or buying a Firebird.

Production Totals: For each year, 1982-1992. This is the bulk of the book’s information. I am not aware of any other book which has the 1986 and 1988-89 breakouts for each model’s color, engine, transmission, and RPOs. Although Pontiac production reports are available for 1982-90, no Pontiac reports have been discovered for 1991-92 production. Consequently, Compnine information was used for 1991-92 production numbers. Compnine data is considered “incomplete” for those two years, but that is not entirely correct. Only the Compnine “matching” totals are not complete. The Compnine database actually does have all production VINs associated with the 1991-92 Firebird. This is explained in the book.

Included in this section is the 1982-86 Canadian Trans Am production for specific RPOs. This may seem strange to include the Canadian Trans Am totals, but this data is valuable. Pontiac domestic production data for 1982-85 does not break out the model build totals. The Canadian Trans Am build totals can inform us of the domestic build thinking and process.

Discussion Section: Several of the special model Firebirds are quickly discussed, including the Player’s Series cars, ASC Convertibles, 1989 Turbo Trans Am, 1988 RPO Z20 cars, Firebird XS and SSA, Firebird 500 LE, the “1992” SLP Firehawk, and others. Due to page-count limitations, these “articles” are limited to a maximum of two pages for each model discussed. The intent of this section is to introduce the Firebird enthusiast to these special models. In reality, some of these models should have their own books! Special thanks to Mark Strembicke (Mark_ZZ3), whose Player’s website was a fantastic source for Player’s information.

Appendix: Includes a complete listing of all generations (1967-2002) of Firebird colors and their GM paint code (WAxxxx); all 3rd Gen Firebird (and Camaro) monthly, calendar-year production totals (now you’ll see how much rarer your Firebird actually is when compared to Camaro production); 3rd Gen engine suffix, carburetor, and throttle body codes; confirmation of actual 1991-92 Firebird production totals (because the Firebird Red Book, Compnine’s “matching” totals, and the Standard Catalog of Pontiac 1926-2002, have very incorrect production totals); and more.

The book can be updated quite easily as additional primary source data is verified.

The goal of this book, as is the goal of all of my automotive books, is to compile and present in one publication the mound of data that is oftentimes cryptically presented in primary source documents, habitually scattered across the internet, and always deeply buried in the pages of online forums. I believe that information and/or data should not be kept hidden from automotive enthusiasts. This reference book gives everyone the opportunity to understand their own Firebird, and perhaps arm them with useful knowledge when a Firebird purchase, or sale, is imminent.

Enjoy!

Best,

Robert Casey

BizJetTech

iTrader: (3)

Congrats !! That is awesome !!
I just placed an order - thanks a bunch for your time and I hope it's a huge success!!

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

Just asked the wife if I should order now or wait for Santa.. ;-) Looking forward to reading this !

And yes, I agree, John is a invaluable resource for info for these cars!

blacksunshine'91

iTrader: (10)

Very nice. I will be getting one. Thanks for all your time and effort compiling all that information.

mwill316

iTrader: (3)

Just ordered mine thanks shiftman!

SirReveller

iTrader: (4)

Bullydawg

iTrader: (7)

I ordered one as well... Figured with 3 birds, why not!

scottmoyer

Glad you were able to complete this project. Good luck with the book.

DynoDave43

iTrader: (11)

Yeah, my copy is on my birthday list. Congrats on getting this into print, and thanks for all of the hard work.

yo soy el warg

Will your new book have any individual break down numbers for the 1988 GTA Notchbacks? As far as the colors of the 718 total cars produced for the US and Canadian markets. Their engine and transmission combinations made, interiors such as leather vs cloth and options like digital dashes vs analog styles produced?

shiftman

El Warg,

The extremely specific 1988 Pontiac GTA information for which you ask is likely nowhere to be found, at least domestic data. We have to recall that it was 1988, when computer reports were nowhere near what they are today.

Even 1987-89 Canadian records via Compnine have yet to provide combination totals for Trans Ams and GTA - at least I personally have not found a Canadian VIN which will provide combination totals for those two models for those three years. However, my book does provide 1989 Canadian Formula color breakouts on page 76.

I do have the individual RPO/UPC production totals for each model of 1988 Pontiac F-Body: Firebird, Formula, Trans Am, and GTA. These reports are called Option Analysis by Selected UPC Usage Reports. These reports do not provide combination totals. The book does provide 1988 GTA selected RPO totals on page 73.

What might be of interest to you is this: By doing a bit of math with those UPC reports, I was able to include the 1988 GTA LB9 engine breakout for MD8/GW6 or the MK6/GM3. Page 69.

Hope this helps.

Steve86TA

iTrader: (57)

I received mine the other day. Great book packed with information..Excellent job

BizJetTech

iTrader: (3)

irvan

iTrader: (1)

Nice to see happy buyers, I ordered mine yesterday and look forward to receiving it.

Mark_ZZ3

Hey! This is pretty cool. Awesome job. Always glad to see some "bibles" out there for people to reference. Glad to have been of help in any way.

Mark.

scottmoyer

Hey! I helped too. I told him to get in touch with John Zofko!!!

Someday, I might start learning more about the Firebird side of things, but I've forgotten so much Camaro info over the years, I don't think it'll work too well for me.

shiftman

Thanks for the kind words, guys. I appreciate it.

There is a lot of time and effort put into that book.

Scott, that made me laugh. Yes, you did refer me to John. Your honesty is unsurpassed.

scottmoyer

Bob88GTA

iTrader: (2)

Ordered a copy! Sounds like a great book to have! Thanks for the research Shiftman!

So I'm hoping it will tell me how many 1988 5.7, Flame Red Metallic GTA's had the Black Cloth Interior???

92GTA

iTrader: (11)

Just ordered my copy. I'm glad to have helped.

blacksunshine'91

iTrader: (10)

Got mine about a month ago. Very nicely researched and organized.

Reddragon88gta

Mine was a Christmas gift, very cool and has a ton of information.

DynoDave43

iTrader: (11)

Just made it all the way through mine today.

Skullie

iTrader: (1)

Very cool! I will be ordering one or asking for one for my birthday

shiftman

Thanks for the kind words, gentlemen. It's funny, I pick up that book and find little obscure tid-bits of information and I think to myself, "Did I write that?" The brain is kind of funny when it's focused on a project. I guess the memory is in the "short term" mode.

In about two months, I will be releasing two more books:

1993-1997 Firebird
1993-1997 Camaro

Keep an eye on my Amazon author page.

As always, the books will breakout the production totals, exterior/interior colors and combinations, engines, transmissions, etc. I mention it because I know some of you have one car of each generation sitting in your garage. I began researching and writing those books over two years ago but I found the 3rd Gen Firebird records and got excited about that so I put down the 4th Gen research. It is nice to return to it. As with any project, finding the actual time to do it is always the difficult part.

Happy new year!

Best,

Robert

Bobby Suth

iTrader: (2)

I don't buy anything from Amazon,e-bay or any of the trading site's. I would be happy to send a check and wait for the book.

BizJetTech

iTrader: (3)

wow.....is your real name Ted Kaczynski ???

SirReveller

iTrader: (4)

92GTA

iTrader: (11)

I had asked the author for an autographed copy since I provided assistance and was told these are print on demand books he does not have a stock of. Unabomber will have an impossible time obtaining a copy unless he finds a 2nd hand one somone is willing to accept a check for.

92GTA

iTrader: (11)

Received the book today, interesting stats on my 92 GTA:

Out of 354 1992 GTAs made -

40 had YF5 CA emissions cars
41 made w/LB9 & MD8 combo
59 had CC1 t-tops (only 2 in my color+MD8)
40 J42 brakes
49 GU2 rear gear
3 painted in 18U w/gray leather (35 GTAs painted in my color, period)

All seems to confirm my GTA is most likely 1 of 1 which I always thought.

Also, for my color 18U which was a 1 yr only 25th anniversary color, 1,169 1992 Firebirds were painted this color in total. Making it the 2nd rarest behind only Jamaica Yellow, one of the other 25th anniversary colors. Very cool.

On an unrelated note, my 69 Firebird turns 50 years old on Jan 14th according to the PHS docs, which is my birthday also. Thanksfully however, I'm not turning 50 haha!

shiftman

Bobby Suth,

I understand your stance. However, 92GTA is correct, I do not have any stock or inventory of any of my automotive books. All of my paperback auto books (and most paperback books on Amazon) are what is called "print on demand." When somebody presses the BUY button, the book is then printed. There is no inventory of books.

Perhaps a neighbor or relative can purchase for you (and you can pay them back)?

Best,

Robert

Bobby Suth

iTrader: (2)

People don't have to be ugly about the fact I pay with cash and checks. Mostly cash. At one time every body accepted cash. Can't even get a room in a hotel anymore unless you have a credit card. I've lived this long without it. Thank you for your hard work!!

okfoz

I am not sure how I got involved, but It was a pleasure helping out. It was always my dream to produce something along these lines, glad to be of some help...

John

roadthrills

I'm sure there is a breakdown of the '83 pace cars but is it also broken down into options?
Is there any info on the Mecham cars?

okfoz

Unfortunately no to both, 82-85 and interestingly 87 the data is pretty scarce. Some basic RPO quantities, similar to the Camaro White book.

86, 88-92 the data really gets interesting, there is a lot of great information in the book, blows White book out of the water for those years...

We suspect that the reason for this is they did not keep records like that from 82-85... The speculation about 1987 is still out there, Some could say because of the changeover from the lines from Firebird - S/E - Trans Am in 1986 to Firebird - Formula - Trans Am - GTA in 1987. But again the reason is unknown why 1987 does not have the detail that 1986 & 1988+ does.

Regardless of any shortcoming it might have, it is the single best source for information available today, no one has put this good much information in a single book for the Firebird EVER. This is not a coffee table book you leave out for your friends to finger thru, This is a hardcore research book for junkies... Well worth the money IMHO.

John

BizJetTech

iTrader: (3)

John - I agree, it's a GREAT little book. I reference it all the time and applaud Robert for putting it together and getting it into print
and yourself (and others here on TGO) that assisted him in putting it together......now we need one for the 82-92 Camaro's from you guys !!
Thanks for all that you do !! BTW, I really enjoy your web site as well !!

okfoz

WE have talked about that, unfortunately there seems to be less information on the Camaro than the Firebird...

I am tempted to make a trip to GM archives and see what they indeed have on hand...

John