Thinking about rare options, I know in 1988, some lucked into 1LE cars, and there were a few other super rare years. But what about other, perhaps "lesser known" RPO Codes of Camaros and Firebirds of the 3rd Gen?

What have you seen?

Here's a pic of an SPI Label - 1 of 394 GTAs from 1989 w/ factory CD player (and the leather steering wheel without steering wheel controls)

 

Not sure if this was factory installed or dealer, but they have a RPO code Z20. Aftermarket sells them now. I really don't like how they look but each to his own.

 

Some off the top of my head


DD9 euro paddle mirrors and 82-84 Trans am euro market taillights


And my personal holy grail....

Formula Aluminum hood


Dave

 

People like to equate "rare" to "valuable". "Rare" and obscure options are usually rare because they're polarizing. Notchback Trans Ams are arguably "rare", they're also arguably ugly to a lot of people. Funny colors are the same way, some go crazy for them, others couldn't care less. Goofy Porsche mirrors? No thank you.

Personally the options that excite me aren't all that rare, they're just the options that make the car interesting to me. I look at the engine first, if it's not an HO or better I'm not terribly interested. If it's not a 350 it has to be a 5spd. Does the car have decent exhaust and decent gearing? These are things that make or break the driving experience. A 305 with a 2" exhaust and 2.73 gears is just terribly boring to drive. While a dual cat, 3.23 or 3.42 geared car isn't exactly a rocket-ship in 2017, it sure feels like one next to the average TBI wheeze machine. The way things usually work out, the cars with the performance options are vastly outnumbered by the slugs, which in turn makes them "rare" in comparison.

 

bjpotter; that spoiler looks pretty interesting. Might look good on top of a 91-91 batwing spoiler; maybe also make it a bit more functional (a la gurney flap style)

pols, back on topic

 

When it comes to ordering cars, dealers generally order what hey bought last year, or what the manufacturer shows them as "trends". Case in point, in the spring of 2009, the new Corvette Grand Sport could be ordered. A dealer I knew didn't order a single one and when I asked the guy, he said, "it was because last quarter, nobody else had..." Well, duh. It wasn't available then. Turned out to be one of the most popular C6 Corvette models made, with good sales results.

Another dealer, back in 1992 never ordered power windows or other "fancy options". I asked why. He said, "I can trade for anything I want, so why floor the expensive stuff". I guess he could have more (cheap) cars on his lot as a result. Sigh.

 

What's the story on that, and how could one order?

 

The aluminum hood only came on very early Trans ams (extra cost) and comp package 92 Firehawks. (had 3 aluminum hoods at one time)
Of course, its the same hood (in steel) used on 87-92 formulas.

The most rare obscure option I have seen is rpo B4U

 

My 1992 B4C/1LE RS with GAM rpo code US government ordered

 

Look what I found for $10K in SF bay area LMAO, Has V6 and crank windows


https://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/cto/5936268239.html

 

Wow! Nice to know those cars are still out there (pampered V6s) but that price is full retard. 135k miles? I wonder how bad it was wrecked. Overspray on the hood latch and a replacement fender on the passenger's side, driver's fender doesn't line up with the door, it's not exactly a cream puff. Looks nice in white though, better than the other colors in this thread.

Edit: Damn, missing spat too...

 

Ya It's a CA car, 1 out 5 have been in some type of wreck or......car chase


Dave

 

I'm sort of partial to the 1LE's with some years more rare than others.

Aluminum hoods are cool too.