I am looking at a 1984 blue and white 15th Anniversary edition Trans Am to purchase. The car looks just like a 15th Anniversary with all the striping and emblems, everything looks right about the car exept for the seats, they are not Recaro, they could have been replaced but they are cloth and they match the back seats. The blue and grey interior is the right color, and it has the grey leather wrapped steering wheel with the 15th Anniversary logo in the center and the grey leather shifter (auto) and emergency brake lever. The car has all the correct body stripes and the 15th Anniversary emblems on the sail panels, and the correct white wheels and the stripes on the hood blister with the "5.0 H.O." logo. I have the vin but I cannot find anything out on the web using it exept that it has the correct H.O. motor. The lack of Recaro seats is really what has me concerned. Is there any other way that I can tell if this car is genuine and not made out of a regular white '84 T/A?? I really am dying to just go ahead and buy it, but if it is not genuine, that kindof defeats the purpose since I want a good investment for the money I would be paying for it. If it is genuine, I could overlook the lack of the correct seats in hopes of finding replacements one day. Is there anybody that can help me to correctly identify this car?? Any info would be greatly appreciated, thanks,
Clay

 

If all the badging and emblems are there, their is a good chance it is real. The last 15th I saw was also missing the original interior (I saw it before and after the original interior was removed). The seats probably did not hold up well to the wear.

I have never heared of a "Blue" interior, from what ive heared and seen the interiors were grey and white (I could be wrong). Also is their a white "map pocket" on the dash? their should be.
Do the taillights have white paint along all the louvers, is the bird in the taillights white/blue?

If you really want to document the car you could try Pontiac Historical Services, they will give you all the information on the car (you send them the vin and $30).

I do not know of any other way to authenticate the car. If you like it go for it! Im a big fan of the 15ths and hope to own one someday. Do not buy the car as an investment (unless its dirt cheap) buy it because you like it, cars are often very bad investments. 15ths are sweet cars. Good luck.

------------------
1983 TransAm
1984 TransAm
1994 TransAm GT
1994 25th TransAm GT
1990 T-Bird SC
1971 Boss 351

Four TransAm's are not enough. Firebirds for all.

 

The tail lights have the white paint running along the louvers, but I havent paid that much attention to the bird. It has the map pocket on the dash. The car runs really good and looks good, it just needs a good detail job done on it. The lady wants 3,500.00 for it, it probably is a good deal either way even if it is not a real 15th, although it has like 145,000 miles on it. I have owned T/A's and Firebirds before, but never any special editions. My first one was a 67 with a 6 cylinder 3 speed, and I have also had a blue 78 4 speed and a 81 black turbo T/A and a white '86 T/A. This '84 would be a definite keeper for me, even if it turns out not to be a true 15th, it will still turn heads and be a pleasure to drive, but if it is the real thing, that would just be awesome. What do you think about the price and mileage? There is no rust or dents and the paint looks great, the interior is a little distressed where feet have been scrubbed on the kick plates but the seats are not torn or anything and it looks as thought the T-tops have never leaked, and the dash is not cracked. I just wish there was a secret code that could be checked for authenticity, what about the paint codes, would they hold any clues?

 

Unfortunetly their just isnt much info on the 15ths around. I think PHS is your best bet, its worth the $30 if you are really serious about the car. It sounds like it is in nice shape. The mileage is pretty high but if the car is as nice as you say it is I can understand the price. Not many people know what 15ths are, so their probably are not many fakes out there. Their is a 1 in 1500 chance it is real

The interior condition is not as important, because once (if) you get the original seats you can hopefully repair what needs to be on the inside, As long as everything besides the seats are there it sounds good, carpet is easy to put in. The steering wheel, shifter handle, and parking brake should all have white/grey leather trim. Also the Map pocket on the dash should be white.
All the 15ths were fully loaded 84's therefore they should all have a leg pad on the center console (your right leg would rest against it while using the gas pedle).
It should be covered in black faux leather, it is in the shape of an L. All 15ths I have heared of have had this pad. It may not be present on your car due to the high mileage, it may have been removed/ discarded long ago, but their should be atleast a metal mounting plate attached to the driverside of the console (it is also large) My non-anniv. 84 also has it. Again, I do not know if all 15ths had this, but if it dosent dont be worried. Hope that helps.

Also be sure to ask the owner "where are the original seats?"


------------------
1983 TransAm
1984 TransAm
1994 TransAm GT
1994 25th TransAm GT
1990 T-Bird SC
1971 Boss 351

Four TransAm's are not enough. Firebirds for all.

[This message has been edited by TAdan (edited October 17, 2001).]

 

This doesn't happen to be for sale in texas with a 327 under the hood, does it?

------------------

The IROC Homepage
<A HREF="http://www.rit.edu/~jli4307/camaro" TARGET=_blank>
View the restoration of an 85 IROC</A>
Custom Thirdgen Subwoofer Enclosures
"I didn't know a bored out Ford could go so slow" -Shenandoah

 

The car has the leg pad on the drivers side, it is in good shape, that's one thing that I noticed right off that was kindof neat, it also has the subwoofer switch on the console near the radio. The car has the 305 under the hood with all the original equipment such as the rubber boot on top of the air cleaner for the induction blister. I am going to get it PHS documented, that should tell me something about it, 30 bucks is worth it to find out more about it. I don't know how much time I have though, it will probably get snatched up before I can get to it if I wait too long. I am going to go look at it again later this evening, I'll report back in here tomorrow, is there anything that I should look for that could give us some more clues to it's authenticity? I found another rare car here locally that I didnt purchase because I couldnt find anything rock solid out about it, it was a 1958 Pontiac Catalina "Golden Jubilee" edition, with all the special "Golden Jubilee" gold emblems on it, I didnt buy it because I couldnt really find anything out about it, I should have gotten it PHS documented(too late now), I talked to a guy somewhere out West(cant remember exactly where now) who was a member of a Pontiac club and he said that there were only one to each dealership and that the gold and white two tone paint was an experimental color that year, and it had gold woven carpet and was an anniversary edition and should be a real cream puff, but I fooled around and didnt buy it and now I regret it. That's one reason why when I found this '84 T/A anniversary model I got so exited. I guess I shouldnt drag my feet on this one.

 

Clay30, I believe the car should have a special code on the ID plate (located on top of the radiator support). You should be looking for a Y82 or Y88 (I think). The Y84 was the special edition Recaro cars and to the best of my memory the 15th had a "Y 80 something" code.

It does sound like it might be the real McCoy though. I bet finding those seats would be near to impossible. Of course, I thought finding a nice set of leather Recaros for my 83 Daytona 500 TA would be as well... got a very nice set on ebay a few months back! You never know...

Best of luck,
TA76

 

Well? how did it turn out!? I cant take the suspense

I found a 15th interior available in Indiana, check out the Body/interior board.

 

It sounds as if you may have found a diamond in the rough. I have a 15th Anniversary as well and they are beauiful cars (check out my link below). It sounds as if with all the white leather apointments inside that it is real if not a real good clone. But just incase....does it have the "15" badges on the sail panels? White 16" wheels? 32mm front sway bar?
As far as the Recaros go they were special to that year only. I had a set of 15th Anniversary Recaros up to 4 months ago but I sold them for $400.00. I truly believe you will have a heck of a time finding a replacment set. That seat was used in the '82/'83 T/As but not with the "Recaro" silk screening in them. Anyway there may be a set out there....

This is a very limited edition car. There were only 1,500 made (approximatly 300 or so 5-speeds and 1,200 or so automatics). You don't see many for sale and when you do they want a fair amount for it. I paid $8,000 for mine a year ago off a 70 year old lady. I know these cars well (my buddy got one new in High School back in '84-I've wanted one ever since!!) and I know with my low mileage (32,000) and how clean and straight this is it is worth an easy $11,000-$13,000 as it sits. If she is aking $3,500 jump all over it. Oh! other than the PHS documentation it is hard to determine if it is actually a 15th .
I have a replacement set of a complete decal set and the white powder coated 16" wheels if you are in need of them.

Good luck and don't let that ship sail. Jump on a rare 1 of 1,500 Anniversary T/As. You won't regret it!!


http://www.execpc.com/~steveb/transa...ge2.html?31,21

http://www.firebirdgallery.com/

[This message has been edited by '84 15th Anniversary T/A (edited October 19, 2001).]

 

Wow 84, that has to be the most awesome 15th ever!

Thanks for posting those pics, they really show the impeccable condition of the car.


Don

 

WELLLLLLL..... I am BUYING it! Just got back from checking it out again and everything looks great, it drove awesome and sounded awesome too. I will try and get some pics of it up real soon. Too bad about the seats, I would have bought them for 400 bucks, but I may find a pair out there somewhere. It has all the badging, even the ones on the sail panels. It also has the white leather map pocket and all the white leather interior trim pieces. The feel of that V8 rumbling under the hood and the power at my fingertips is what the life of a F body fan is all about, totally awesome. More to come soon, thanks for all the advice, gonna need more though on small details. I took a good friend of mine with me to look at it and he is a MAAAAJOR T/A nut and as soon as he saw it, he said "buy it, buy it NOW".

 

Contact 87 T/A LB9 @ potato50@yahoo

He found a junked 15th in Indiana, w/ a full interior, including seats.
Check out the Body/interior board for more info.

Congratulations on the new(to you) car!

 

One way to identify this car as genuine is through the wheels. Because the 16" wheel was unique to the 15th Anniversary (and only third gen in 1984 with 16-inchers), check the tire decal on the driver's door. If it lists the 16-inch wheel with correct VIN, you've got an anniversary car!

------------------
Willie

Supercharged 1987 305 IROC-Z, Daily-Driver, Emissions-Legal.
Former Paxton (6-psig) with 50-hp nitrous: 12.043 @ 112.86 mph.
ATI D1SC (10-psig): 12.056 @ 116.62 mph.
All stats are altitude corrected for 3,100 feet using NHRA's Altitude Correction Table.

http://willie.camaro-firebird.org/

1987 "20th Anniversary Commemorative Edition" Z28 Convertible -- Super Chevy Show Class Winner, 1998.

 

I'm glad to hear another one will be saved. I'd like to see some digital pictures if possible of it when you get a chance to snap some. Good luck and you won't regrete the purchase I'm sure....



[This message has been edited by '84 15th Anniversary T/A (edited October 21, 2001).]

 

'84 15th, I want your car!!! That is the best looking 15th I've ever seen! Great car man!

------------------
www.TransAmGTA.com THE 3rdgen Firebird Site!
1992 GTA (226 made), 1 of only 18 "Dark Jade Gray Metallic" 92 GTA's, My Window Sticker, Original "SLP/GM Performance Parts Kit" equipped GTA, LB9, 4L60, T-Tops, Grey Leather, and EVERY available option except U1A.
Current Mods/Upgrades: 80 Series Dual Outlet Flowmaster, TPIS Air Foil, K&N Air Filter, and Mobil 1.
Future Mods/Upgrades: None but a complete restoration.
Best Track Time: 14.6sec@96.6mph

"If it ain't broke, fix it til it is!"
Webmaster www.TransAmGTA.com
My 3rdGen Firebird Message Board!

 

Thanks for the compliments! I really love my car and it would be tough to ever part with. As I mentioned, I've wanted one since '84 and it took me 17 years to get one. In fact, I have a 1996 Mustang GT painted rare Opal Frost Metallic with only 990 original miles on it to date and with $14,000 in modifications to it (Vortech supercharger, Recaro Sport {aka '00 Cobra R seats} seats, Full Saleen S-351R suspension and many more items) I'd like to sell and get a 1989 20th Anniversary T/A. I hate to sell an original low mileage GT but my heart is in the Pontiac thing (even though the big Blue Oval pays my bills).

 

I will have some digital pictures up soon. I hope to have it looking almost as good as that amazing low mileage 15th soon, MAN that is one awesome car, your a lucky man '84 15th, i'm happy to be joining the club. I will check on that interior on that junk 15th, that sounds just like what I need, that is just too cool, maybe it's fate, THANK YOU TAdan!!! Are the back seats supposed to be recaro also or are they just cloth originally? The back seats that are in it now match the rest of the interior, but they are not Recaro either. Also, would you guys reccomend a full repaint and re-stripe or should I try and keep the original paint as much as possible? It looks good but needs a few small places touched up, all the stripes are in excellent condition, it just has some wear to the front air dam and some scuffs on the inside rockers where feet have scuffed in and out. I probably would have to repaint it to show it, or not, I dont really know the protocols on that. The interior is no problem, I have local guy that is well known for his top notch interior jobs, original and street rod, of course this one will stay all original. I wonder how hard it would be to get an original owners manual?, now that is probably going to be the needle in the haystack. Was there a special 15th Anniversary owners manual, or were they all the same for the '84 T/A's?

 

Congrats on the new car (again) Its an awsome ride.

Paint: The car is high mileage but if the paint is in nice shape every where but the nose and rockers they could be repainted. White is an easy color to match. If you want to do the whole car I dont think it would hurt. (Just make sure its done right!). A full paint/stripe resto would be a good thing. (only if its needed though). Its really up to you and if you are wether or not your happy with the current paint.

Good luck w/ the interior. I hope it will work out for you. The back seats should match the fronts. They should be white recaro w/ TransAm lettering on them.

I have the original owners manual for my 84. I have heared of some appearing on E-bay occasionally. I do not know if the 15th had a special owners manual.

Best of luck w/ it.

84' 15th Anniversary T/A, thats an awsome car youve got there.(I am so jealous!) Great story behind it too, it was a great find.

 

Wow! I'm surprised at how many know or even admire the 15th T/A. It is appears as if it is the 'red headed stepchild' of the Anniversary cars. Most of the time it is over shadowed by the '89 20th Anniversary. In any case, I'm glad to know that there are people out there who truly appreciate the 15th Anniversary.

Clay30 if there is anything I can help you out with don't hesitate to email me at MustangGT@peoplepc.com

As far as the owners manuals ther were no special ones for the 15th Anniversary; just your standard '84 Firebird/Trans Am issued manual. I've seen them on e-bay for the $9-$15 range. I have many article regarduing these cars from the '83/'84 era. From Motor Trend to Car and Driver to Pontiac Enthusiast and others.

Send some pics my way when they are taken.....