I was talking to some one the other day who had this rednecked out "GTA" now I have always thought without a doubt that Trans Ams and GTAs where EXACTLY the same appearance wise except for emblems,

well this was an 88 or 89 with a 350, the front fenders did not have the scoop things like my car has, he insisted it was a GTA, I asked if it had ever been in an accident, he said yes and walked me to the other side of the car and showed my damage, which would tell me that it HASNT been fixed yet and that they are the original fenders

it was red, had T/A tail lights, T/A gfx, hood, and aero spoiler, didnt look to see a dash pouch or what it said. had a TPI motor he says 350 I dont know if it was 350 or 305

On the fenders you could see there were GTA emblems on it but had been taken off.

Tell me Im not crazy!



this guy was funny though, he tells me about the "HUGE" system that he has with a "custom install" well this HUGE system was in a box that took up the Entire rear from seats to hatch with only 2 12's and 1 4" vent. wires everywhere. backseats was folded down and bolted to that was a Ham radio, wires running over top of everything pinched rite out the hatch around onto the decklid where a 7" antenna was mounted. His car had american racing rims on it with more dirt than my unpaved driveway, on top of all that he had the nerve to talk sh** on my exhaust crackle when all he had was flowmasters.....I normally like flowmaster but his sounded like one of those imports that are high pitched and sound like they are wound to tight.

Just thought you might enjoy hearing the rest of the story of my encounter with this guy just for a good laugh, and they wonder why our cars have a bad name to some people.

 

86FyrBrd,
Are you questioning the fenders? If so, the GTAs did not have the side extractors like the TAs did. I found this out when I was buying my '89 GTA. My '88 TA had them so I thought that the person selling the GTA was trying to pull a fast one.

For what it's worth, I like the side extractors.

-Schultzy

 

i'll second that. GTA's do not have the fender vents. Never did.

the differences between a TA and a GTA are those fenders, paint, emblems, available wheel/tire combos, etc.

 

Hey 86Fyrbird, it really bothers me how idiots butcher these cars and give them a bad name, too. I'd rather buy a rough original than some of the monstrosities I see around here with stick on chrome, stickers, mismatched wheels, etc. There's this 91 or 92 teal V6 RS that's been parked in front of the same house for the past 3 years that I've watched go from a clean V6 RS to a real mess of a car. Late winter of the first year, I notice a donut on the front passenger side and some fender damage. A few weeks later they get a new front wheel, and that's how it sat for the next year or so. Next comes a big 3" exhaust tip sticking out of the back. After that comes the primered fiberglass hood and aero wing to replace the stock IROC type spoiler, and the fender still isn't fixed. I'm not a resto freak by any means, but stuff like that pisses me off.

 

This is about as close as you can get to a GTA without being a GTA. Has every option but a CD Player or SWC's. Even a L98.

 

ok learn me GTA stuff, when was GTA started and when did it end and whats so hot about them ? better than SW6, or ? i have no clue..

 

Start here... www.gtasourcepage.com

 

The GTA started in 1987 & went thru the 1992 model year. The GTA was noting more than a Upscale package on the T/A. There were no performance options that could be had on the GTA that could not be ordered on a T/A. The short list of GTA goodies that could NOT be had on a T/A were GTA specific articulating seats, Air Extractor Delete, Gold Cross lace rims, GTA badging. When you ordered the GTA package the Level III Suspension Package, full logic Cassette with steering wheel controls, 5.7L TPI with auto (5.0L TPI with Stick or auto could be had for credit), 4 wheel disc brakes (come cars came with drum, I dont know why), all the power goodies were added on.

That is the short list, there are more details that can be found on www.transamgta.com or www.gtasourcepage.com .

jay

 

86 frybird you are crazy, GTA's don't have the side scoops on the fenders. That's the easiest and biggest difference between a GTA and a T/A. I bought an 89 GTA 305 5 speed. Pretty much a mistake, sure it's kind of rare, 1 of 366 '89 GTA's with a 5 speed, but the steering wheel radio controls won't work with an aftermarket radio(my stock radio does weird things/doesn't really work anymore), 9-bolt rear broke, power leather seats that are torn up now(ans supposely were after only 2 yrs(1991)), double vanity lights on the rearview.

Just something to think about.

I'd say it's more important to get a car in nice condition to start with if it's going to be your daily driver, then something rare. I paid $3000 for a car that probably wasn't worth more than $1500 b/c it's a GTA. Oh well, I have like $8000 total invested and can't get my money back now.

14.4 @ 96.8 mph

 

Hey karfreek, from one Freak to another, that is one bada$$ T/A!!! Just beautiful Man! Is it yours?

 

Yes it is. I bought it in 2000 for $7,300 with 23K on the odo from a Pontiac Dealer in Rural Upstate NY. I love that car & get tons of compliments, even from the 'Import Tuners'. Thanks for the kind words!!!

Jay