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First off... Hello everybody! I'm new to this forum but not new to cars. Here is my story...
back in 1993 I was 22 years old working at a Pontiac dealer as a mechanic. A 48 year old lady traded in a 1991 white Trans Am for a Grand Prix. I loved the way the car looked. As soon as she drove onto the road I was checking out the TA. It had the black honeycomb rims and grey interior with 19k on the odometer. I loved the GTAs but hated the gold trim and interior (sorry GTA guys). I looked the car over and it was perfect. I was ready to walk away but said out to loud, as I looked at the vin, it only has a 30 50!!! The 8th digit was an 8! I had to buy the car so I did. I babied that thing put a competition stereo set up in it (6500 worth) and enjoyed the hell out of it. In 2002 I decided I wanted a 69 Z28 so I parted with my 32000 mileTA and went onto a 69 Camaro project that I finished and still had. Below is a picture in 2002 of my TA.
I lived on the South side of Chicago and so did the new owner. I would see the car from time to time until he sold it around 2009. I since move 25 miles South out of the city had no Idea whether my car was still around or a tin can. On Jan 27 I'm browsing on Craigs and I come across a white TA. I was thinking looks like one I had. I look at the pictures and see some paint peeling, a few rest bubbles and scuffs along interior a little dirty. As I looked at the interior pics I see the keys in the ignition and see the Clifford alarm fob and said haha I had that alarm. I see the BIG red alarm light next to the hatch release button and thing oh mine was there too and I hated that. Then I look at the door panel and see the custom made speaker pods that I made in 1994. I was floored! I found my old TA and wasn't really looking. I emailed the guy because there was no phone # in the ad hoping he would call me back I mean the ad was on for a whole 8 hours... maybe he sold it. Twenty minutes later I get a call from the current owner and ask to come look at it. He says the next day is good. I said I have to work all day and am about a 1/2 hour away from him can I be at his house at 8:30 pm? He says ok! I was like a little kid. My wife was telling me to calm down but I just had to see this car again in person. Turns out he was only a 17 minute drive away from me. I looked at it went for a drive and what a rush I got. I talk to him he tells me a little past history on the car (he is the 3rd or 4th owner after me). His asking price was more then fair and just like that I bought it. Again! I left my deposit and come back on Jan 29 to get my TA back. I told him right before we were exchanging money for title I previously owned the car and showed him my old pictures. He was just as puzzled as I was about how this came back to me. I dove it home looked it over and will be giving is a pretty decent overhaul to put it back to the way it was when I had it. The car currently has 68K on it and runs strong. I look forward on coming to this site to ask questions and share my progress. I remember back in 1994 thinking to myself, someday people will be restoring these cars. I never would have guessed I would be restoring my actual car. Thanks for reading my story. Below is the pic of how the car sits now.
That is a very cool story & great re-find! Must have been killing you to get through the work day wondering if somebody else was going to swoop in & grab it. I had almost the same thing happen to me with a 78 Trans am I own, but not going to impose on your thread with my story. But I know the feeling, & its awesome! congrats.
So what are your plans? Putting the thumping stereo back in, or back to factory?
68K miles isn't too bad at all.
Welcome aboard the site!!! And congratulations on getting your old car back, that's a rare situation, doesn't happen often. Hold onto your car forever now!!
You should swing down to Dayton Ohio last weekend of August to the Trans Am Nationals, biggest, best time time for a Firebird (or car enthusiast) of the year!!
That is a very cool story & great re-find! Must have been killing you to get through the work day wondering if somebody else was going to swoop in & grab it. I had almost the same thing happen to me with a 78 Trans am I own, but not going to impose on your thread with my story. But I know the feeling, & its awesome! congrats.
So what are your plans? Putting the thumping stereo back in, or back to factory?
68K miles isn't too bad at all.
I plan on giving the car a complete paint job along with a good power wash of the carpet, cleaning and or dying the interior. I will detail the engine bay and the underside of the car with all new
calipers, pads, rotors shocks, links, lines and so on. As for the stereo I will freshen up the door pods with a nice Bluetooth head unit. I have an amp and a center channel processer in my stock pile and the old phoenix gold cables are still in the car. Ill do one sub and not be as radical with neon lights, plexi glass, capacitors and stuff that it previously had. I will set it up so it can be put back to stock easily if desired. I think to do it right like I had it when I drove it I need to put some power into the speakers for more of a reminiscent feel for me. My music tastes have change through the years so I don't really see myself thumping to Haddaway "What is love" anymore. Well at least not when people can see me that is.
Well I was busy all last winter into half way into this summer (August) working on this. I'm sorry I haven't been keeping everyone updated on the progress so I guess I should post a few pics of the restoration. The above pics are the before. the below pics are the during. I am very happy with how they turned out.
91-92 T/A's are my favourite third gen, so seeing this one brought back to beauty is awesome. Few people give the banshee noses the kind of attention that Camaro's or 80's Birds get! Sweet car though, and congrats on getting it back. I would kill to have my GTA back
1. Awesome car and good story. Stories like yours remind me to never get rid of my car.
2. Great work, I love seeing these cars get the work/attention they deserve
3. Pretty envious that you have a lift in your garage..
4. I really, really hate to be "that guy" but am I going crazy or are your wheels backwards?(fronts in the rear and rears in the front)
LOL! yea it was a stormy day and there was a tornado warning that day so the wife was having some fun with photoshop. As for the wheels... They are right but you did make me do a double check. Thanks for all the compliments.
LOL! yea it was a stormy day and there was a tornado warning that day so the wife was having some fun with photoshop. As for the wheels... They are right but you did make me do a double check. Thanks for all the compliments.
Wow I totally see it now. Funny you don’t when you’re just scrolling through pictures lol
cool story and lucky too! nice job on resto looks sweet!- who says you cant ever get back? seems like most guys get a fondness to a hot rod or two over the years - then we all want it back I have a 87 TA I bought in 91 went through all sorts of stuff to decide to sell it -to my son, and yup I got it back and then found a 90 Formula 350 that I honestly bought because of the intake system it had- he wouldn't just sell that - only to find it also has a Dana 44 too I'd of never guessed!! (Even a blind squirrel finds an acorn now and then) so all in I'm glad but now I have 5 toys and a truck something will have to go
Oh PS when can you make me a sub box like that? nice too
But I know the feeling, & its awesome! congrats.
and then found a 90 Formula 350 that I honestly bought because of the intake system it had- he wouldn't just sell that - only to find it also has a Dana 44 too I'd of never guessed!! (Even a blind squirrel finds an acorn now and then) so all in I'm glad but now I have 5 toys and a truck something will have to go
