Hi all, first time owner. Been an old Ford truck guy my whole life, but today an 87 trans Am GTA fell into my lap, and always loved trans ams. The 'decal/sticker/sheet' for the RPO codes is missing. Whats the best way to go about finding out that info, if possible? TIA

 

Pics? If RPO sticker is missing you can only find out from the VIN the engine it came with.

 

If the SPID sticker is missing, there are few options:

1) Order a copy of the factory invoice from http://www.gmmediaarchive.com/?page=1
The invoice will not contain every single RPO code that was on the SPID but it will list some of the major ones. It will also include the Bill/Ship to Dealership, and dates, that wouldn't have been on the SPID.
2) If the car was an export, such as to Canada, records might be available.
3) Find the master build sheet. There is no specific location for the master build sheet and many were not included as they were trashed.

Otherwise, there is no service that can reproduce the contents of the SPID for a 1987. It's too old of a vehicle and part of the lost records by GM.

 

Thanks guys, good info. From what I've researched, I believe it to be a true trans am gta. Has the 87 correct wheels, steering wheel with horn pad, glove box/map pocket thing/body stickers; and I think seats. Guy said it had rare white interior, but haven't found info on that. Also, I'm guessing the car was originally red lol

 

There was no white interior trim option on the GTA nor the Trans Am, except the 15th Anniversary which uses different parts. Your white interior color is not original. As you probably figure, based on the repaint alone, the car has been modified and is over 30 years old.

All the parts that you note of distinguishing a GTA are fairly easy, and commonly, swapped onto a Trans Am to mislead when trying to sell the car. So while it may add up to suggest it's a GTA, the SPID or RPO Code Y84 is what tells the real story. The GTA doesn't have a special VIN from the Trans Am so it's not the simple to research based on VIN alone - without getting a copy of the invoice if the SPID sticker is missing.

 

I figured with the white interior, as i did not see that info online for an 87. I think the shoulder belts are blue. The 'repaint' was probably just a meth head with a HF gun, they went over all the decals lol. Whether it ends up being a GTA or not doesnt bother me. Runs n drives for $1000 is always a win in my book

 

Congrats on the car and welcome to the club! Henderson huh? I live right across town. West Vegas

 

Nice! I moved here from the west side a few months ago. So much more space! I have a big shop, but still waiting for my 2 post lift to come in a few weeks. What are you driving now? I went through your threads, an 84 TA? Im looking for parts for my 87 if you have any good sources. I was at both Pic a parts yesterday, but they were mostly a bust. I need a pair of window switches, but its like $75 new lol

 

Yes mine is an 84 Trans Am. From what I can see, yours is not a Trans Am, but I thinks it’s a GTA. It doesn’t have the fender vents of a regular Trans Am. I realize the car has been modded quite a bit, but it does have the correct tail lights, hood, fog lights, ground effects, speedo and the remnants of the wrap around wing the GTAs came with. The door panel trim appears to be from a newer model.
You probably hit NVPAP. Did you try Main Gate? I’ve had luck there.

 

It's definitely a trans am based on the vin 100%. They didn't have fender vents. I've never heard of main gate. Where is that?

 

The tail lights, hood, fog lamps, ground effects and speedo are all the same between the Trans Am and GTA with exception to some Trans Ams having the 120MPH speedo and the GTA having a gold center emblem in the tail light while the Trans Am could be red, blue, silver, etc. The GTA did not have fender vents. All these parts are bolt-on parts and the car is over 30 years old.

There is no official answer to the question as it requires a VIN check. It was quite popular early on for people to try and sell their Trans Am as a GTA - with or without changing the bolt-on parts. The vehicle in question does have everything that is associated with the GTA. But, then again, someone took the time to do the interior with white trim to include the map pocket when that wasn't available on the GTA or Trans Am of that period.

 

Yes, Ive looked into the GTA specific parts, and its almost all correct from what I can tell. 87 had the 1 year only wheels that are correct, the gold accents on the tail light, the gold accent on the 'pontiac' head lamp, 87 steering wheel with horn pad. Its definitely ALOT pointing towards a GTA. I totally understand people try to pass off trans ams as GTAs; but at $1000 purchase price, that does not feel like it is at play here. Financially it wouldnt make any sense to have a potential 1987 GTA parts car & a 1987 Trans am to make 1 car. Either way, it doesnt matter to me, its just a cheap car Id like to make a little reliable around town cruiser.

 

Trans Ams did have fender vents. GTAs did not. Main gate is straight down the side road from NVPAP off Lamb

 

Agreed. That’s why I think it’s a GTA