What's up folks!?

Little bit of a light topic to help you get through your Thursday. I'm just curious as to the specifics of the Trans Ams with the silver GFX. From what I can tell, they were available every year up to 91, when the body changed. Is there any other significance to the body color/silver color on the TA's or was it simply an option that you checked off at time of purchase? Were all the drive-train options available with either option?

The Trans AMs with the silver GFX seem to be a lot less popular, but man I love 'em. I've been saying for awhile that I'd like to pick up another thirdgen, and I think I'm leaning towards these Trans Ams. No plans of heavy mods, just a good driver. Maybe a catback and some K&N's and a few subs in the back! -you know...the basic mods we did in the 80's! LOL

 

Two-tones seemed to generally fall out of favor around that time. I think they look great. I especially like when the top part over the silver GFX is dark blue, dark red, or even yellow.

I think it was just a popular option to order. I don't know for sure, someone else will, but it seemed that at one point maybe around 1985-86, all Trans Ams had some sort of two-tone effect with the GFX. A friend had one that was brown over gold, and while people often cringe at "brown," it was a pretty sharp car. It was a very deep brown color, not the lighter tan that you sometimes see.

 

These are the TAs and Zs I remember when I was a kid and these cars were all over the place. I agree the color scheme on these was cool with the silver, reminded me of the 88’ black and silver Z24 I had in high school…made the Z24 feel like the Z28s little brother.

One thing I have noticed with these 2 tone cars is the ones I have seen and one I almost bought all seemed to have either the LG4 or LB9 and had highway gears/drums so I would be curious if anyone has one with the performance options of the day.

I also ran across this absolute cream puff 86’ TA whose owner is a relative of my wife’s good friend. Car is one owner and I don’t think it’s seen actual rain. Only has 30k mikes or so and is a LG4. Only flaw is the wraparound spoiler is showing its age a bit but is still the nicest original thirdgen I have seen in person.

 

I think that car above it really sharp. That or the dark red were great two-tones.

I don't recall higher performance two-tone T/As. My friends two-tone that I mentioned above was an '86, with a carbureted 5.0. But I have seen some Formulas and Formula 350s in two-tone paint.

I didn't think that two-tone Trans Ams were available as late as '91, as the OP said. I was thinking they were gone by the late '80s.

 

That fire red metallic/dark red is my favorite. Almost bought one that color in HS! -Agree with the dark blue too. I actually posted one in the "5 speeds for sale" thread yesterday. I've never seen one like that in yellow, but that sounds cool too. The Fox bodies came in those colors too, and had a polo green over silver. My buddy had one and it was gorgeous.

My friend has a dark red over silver Z24! 5 speed. Loved that car!

I was thinking this too, but the one I posted up in that other thread was a 5 speed LB9 car. Not sure of the gearing or RPO's, but it's no slouch for sure. At least a 3.08. ...that car is actually what prompted this thread. Thought maybe the silver was base and monochrome was an option package with different drivetrain or something. Certainly seems most are TBI cars.
Up UNTIL 91. Meaning the 90 TA's could get the silver, at least according to a quick google images search. Not very scientific, lol. I've Never seen a 91/92 with the new body painted that way.

Here's that one I posted yesterday. It's the dark blue color, but it looks black in the pic.

 

I love the silver ground FX cars. Its what I seen as a kid going up and down the road

 

I referred to them as two-tone myself but I'm not sure that's completely accurate. D84 was two-tone code but not available for the T/A. However, the sales brochure does state "two-tone", for Trans Am, but is the aero package and not like the D84 on the base Firebird that was much more of a color balance.

The 1985-1990 silver aero was WW2 option code. There were a few other option combos - such as the WW5 Champagne aero with the black primary exterior. It was not limited to powertrain options and was simply an appearance option combo.

I always think of these earlier ThirdGens to have more character due in part because of the different accents, and other things like the DX1 hood bird, etc., that was later dropped from the options.

 

Here's a pic of what he's talking about

this is a order sheet for 86 Pontiac Firebirds

 

On the right side displays the WW2/WW4/WW5/WW8 aero color codes

 

Nice. Appreciate seeing that document.

...so what year is that for? Some interesting color options. I see silver metallic AND grey metallic aeros. I never realized the difference! ...and it was mentioned earlier, but I don't recall seeing a yellow/Silver TA either. ...and I see the Russet brown as well as brown metallic. Now I'm familiar with both colors, but thought the brown was only a GTA color, and obviously have never seen a TA that color with Champagne aeros.

Huh. ...interesting.

 

Yellow. Wow. ....still processing. Wow. That's awesome.

 

So both the yellow and Silver got the Medium grey aero, NOT the silver aero. ...and that red transition stripe....interesting.

 

My 89' was originally two tone, blue and silver but the previous owner had the GFX color matched, I like both but I like it the way it is now more. However I'm still thinking about either painting the baskets of the wheels silver or a charcoal color.

 

Kincer, I don't dislike the all blue at all. For me, it's kinda a throwback style thing. It LOOKS dated, and I like that. The monochromatic color is more modern, and heck as the owner of multiple Irocs, I can't argue!!! -but there's still something old school thirdgen about those two tone trans am that takes me back.

...and since I did call out those 3 color options.... ...guess I'm on the line to show a photo of brown, not Russet, with champagne aero.

 

Maybe one of the best looking Thirdgens on the planet. Yea I like the silver GFX

 

Yeah, that's sharp! ...my go to is the fire red metallic, but I ain't kickin' that blue outta the garage if ya know what I mean!!!!

 

Speaking of fire red metallic!!!!!! This one is actively for sale via the link on FB if anyone is interested. ....I'd need T Tops and a 5 speed, prefer an LB9, but the engine isn't a deal breaker. Appearance wise, this is it. Thirdgen TA's don't get any better looking in my book!
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...8-009e17e50d75

 

Nothing beats the Bright Blue Metallic Upper and Silver Metallic Aero!

 

From 1985-1990 Silver was typically used on all other colors except for White, Yellow and Silver upper cars. Charcoal was used on White, Silver and Yellow cars.

It was an option, and some years with some colors it was a mandatory thing, much like there were only Yellow Gold with Charcoal stripe on 87-88 Formulas, same can be said for the Trans Am.
WW1 - White
WW2 - Silver
WW3 - Charcoal
WW4 - Black
WW5 - Chestnut
WW6 - Flame Red Metallic
WW8 - Bright Red

Some interesting factoids...
Silver WW2 lower was a Trans Am only thing from 88-90 (I do not have the numbers for 1987), Even though the GTA got the WW1, WW3, WW4, WW6 & WW8
All Trans Ams and GTA's from 88-90 got a WW() RPO
WW3 (Charcoal) was only used on GTA's from 88-90, no Trans Am got the Charcoal Gray Lower.

1986 - 48,870 Trans Am total
13U - Silver - 3652 (WW3 - Charcoal - ALL)
23U - Bright Blue Met - 4179 (WW2 - Silver - ALL)
28U - Midnight Blue Met - 4680 (WW2 - Silver - ALL)
40U - White - 7393 (WW1 - White - ALL)
41U - Black - 9883 (WW4 - Black 6584) (WW5 - Chestnut - 3299 )
51U - Yellow - 284 (WW3 - Charcoal - ALL)
68U - Russet Brown - 982 (WW5 - Chestnut - ALL)
74U - Flame Red Met - 6024 (WW8 - Red - ALL)
81U - Red - 11793 (WW8 - Red Met - 6524) (WW2 - Silver 5,269)

1987 - No Data

1988 - 8,794 Trans Ams
13U - Silver - 428 (WW3 - Charcoal - ALL)
23U - Maui Blue - 1420 (WW2 - Silver - ALL)
40U - White - 2109 (WW1 White - ALL)
41U - Black - 2046 (WW4 Black - ALL)
81U - Red - 2791 (WW8 Red - 1822) (WW2 - Silver - 969)

1989 - 5,727 Trans Ams
40U - White - 1157 (WW1 - White - ALL)
41U - Black - 1226 (WW4 - Black - ALL)
81U - Red - 1648 (WW8 - Red - 1035) (WW2 - Silver - 613)
87U - Gunmetal - 623 (WW2 - Silver - ALL)
98U - Bright Blue Met - 1073 (WW2 - Silver - ALL)

1990 - 1,060 Trans Ams
40U - White - 192 (WW1 - White - ALL)
41U - Black - 254 (WW4 - Black - ALL)
75U - Red Met - 174 (WW6 - Red Met - ALL)
81U - Red - 207 (WW8 - Red - ALL)
87U - Gunmetal - 94 (WW2 - Silver - ALL)
98U - Bright Blue - 139 (WW2 - Silver - ALL)

Enjoy.

John

 

Does anyone have a source for the WW2 paint? I need to do some touch-up.

 

It should be on your SPID, you are looking for the WA number, it would look like WA 1234L for Lower and WA1234U for the upper paint.