Omg!

[strc09]

I was surfing eBay tonight looking at the Trans AM stuff after looking at the covers Yumiko told me about. Well I found a 1987 GTA for sell. No big deal, right? Well, bidding on this particular GTA starts at a $100.00. I was a little hestitant at first because the picture showed it under a cover. I then scrolled down and saw the other pictures at the bottom and saw the color. The car looks to be in really good shape with the exception of a couple tacky things that were done to it.

The only reason that I say OMG about it is the color. I have already e-mailed the seller to confirm whether it is the original color. If it is the original color and according to Frankie's information on the 1987 RPR list then this car is the rarest Gunmetal car of all. I confirmed the VIN number through a VIN decoder site (http://www.f-body.org/oldfaq/html/vins/index.html)and it is in fact a 1987 GTA.

84U -- Exterior Color, Gunmetal Metallic -- 1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200015566235

Too bad I don't live in CA though because it says local pick-up on the delivery at the bottom. :( I hope this finds a good home because I would sure love to own it if it is in fact the original color of the car. DAMNIT!

[dougdez]

awesome find ,,,i looked at it as well ,, i hope someone transformers her back into her original glory !

[JeremyT]

I bet that figure is incorrect. I've seen more than a few 1987 GTAs in Gunmetal gray, though I think that color is rare for that year.

[gtayumiko]

The alternator and air conditioning pump are in wrong side to be 1987. And the seats are from something like a 1995 or newer Trans Am. I have seen these leather seats in the newer Trans Ams. Most distinct feature of these seats in my opinion is how thin the backrest of the fronts appear and how small the front headrests are (of course compared to the typical style of 1987 to 1992 GTAs). The rim pictured is not so close up so I can not tell if they are the dimple style which would be 1988 and I think until 1990. I would have to see the option sticker in glove compartment to verify this one, because of the discrepancies I see here, I would want to confirm more. Interesting car though. Sorry if I am to "detailed" thinking but I just know so much about 1987 GTA, I see many discrepancies, even with fender emblems too. Sorry. Yumiko

[gtayumiko]

Also, the 1987 GTA did not have the steering wheel radio controls, that option come out available starting in 1988. Notice also the leather seats color do not match the other brown color interiors like carpeting. Personally I would say this is a "low budget clone." And all the GTA items that you see in these photos (map pocket, emblems, and rims), I see those for sale on e-bay almost every single day, at least weekly.

If you are really interested in this car, you need to see it in person and really make sure the vin number matches the vin number on the option sheet in the glove compartment (if this option sheet even has the GTA option on it.)

By the way, there is a way to tell if the "1987" rims were actually manufactured for 1987 GTAs or if they are manufactured specifically after these specific rims were no longer available. I think the exact time was 1992 and after. I can send photos so you can see the difference what I am talking about. This is also important detail because you can then tell if the rims were original ones or put on after the fact. I will take photos and post them later of the rim differences. Both rims were manufactured in Japan and from a little distance they look the same but there are three physical distinctions from the original equipment 1987 rims and the ones manufactured for 1987 GTAs after 1992. Yumiko

[JeremyT]

I didn't notice, but those are good points. The alternator and a/c location is what was used on 1988+ 305/350s, so it doesn't match being a 1987. In regard to the steering wheel, to me, it doesn't look like it is leather wrapped like all others I've seen. The seats appear to be from a 4th generation F-Body, a common upgrade.

[subliminal]

He probably did a serpentine conversion, the steering wheel and front seats are definantly not stock

[strc09]

I got the response back from him.

the original color is gray I did not know it is call gunmetal but the car was painted 9 months ago gray. I told the body shop to paint it close to the original color. thanks

I rechecked the VIN# that's provided on the ad with the site I posted earlier.

1 ------- USA
G ------- General Motors
2 ------- Pontiac
F ------- F-Body
W ------ Formula, Trans AM
2 ------- 2 door coupe (hatchback)
1 ------- Manual Belts
8 ------- 350 ci V8 B2L/L98 (1987-1992)
4 ------- Check digit
H ------- 1987
L ------- Van Nuys, CA
227893 - Production Sequence

The recent paintjob could account for the misplacement of the badges. As for the steering wheel, maybe he upgraded it. -(dunno)- Like was mentioned, seats from a GenIV isn't uncommon. I've thought about doing that upgrade myself. Also, I don't know much about the rims and look similar to what is on my car. Could it be an early production 1988 eventhough the VIN says it's a 1987?

Maybe having him take a picture of the actual VIN number?

As for Frankie's figures, he's said and even mentions on one of the RPO pages that he got them from PMD so...I don't know.

[gtayumiko]

I also notice how some of the interior colors do not match. The back seat photo you can see the plastic siding parts which are gray. And the door jam lower plastic parts and the inside door color, it does not match the the carpet or the seats. Please correct me if I am wrong, but I thought that if you had a gray interior, everything was gray, and if you had a black interior, everything was black, and so on. I personally think that it is an plain 1988 Trans Am and they are advertizing it with a vin number to a 1987 gun metal gray GTA. The only way to really tell is by seeing it in person and making sure that the vin on the car and parts sheet in the center glove compartment match. Also check the stickers in the door jams and under the hood and trunk lid also to match. By the way, the steering wheel in the photos looks like the actual stock one. I read where some were thinking it was a fake one. But to me it looks like a real 1988 Trans Am steering wheel. Good luck to who ever buys it. Personally I would pass on it. Yumiko

[JeremyT]

I just noticed it has the '87 style airbox. Perhaps they did do some conversion or engine swap.

That steering wheel was on '88-89 GTAs and 1989 TAs as an option. I think I recall that steering wheel was a late model 1987 GTA option. This one appears to be missing the leather?

Frankie's figures are good, but they are not 100% accurate. No offense to Frankie, he knows it and has mentioned it. There are some examples I know of off hand. The U21 option for 1988 "Cluster, Instrument (Oil, Coolant Temp, Volt, Tach)" shows only 5. There is far more than 5 for that option. The other option, that I'm more personal with, is the AA8 option for 1988 "AA8 -- Rear Compartment Lid, Notchback". Frankie's figures show 624. I have a letter from Pontiac itself that states 718.

I believe that "1" Gunmetal Grey RPO for 1987 is not accurate.

[Klortho]

He says that the seats came out of an '89 model GTA. Those are 98+ seats in the car. I believe that all '87's also had the split rear so he changed all the seats out, thus the reason for the color difference with the carpet, but it does have . I think I'm going to call :bs: on this one.

Until I see a photo of the VIN and a photo of the RPO label I won't be convinced it's a GTA. It does have the UQ7 switch though.

I can't tell, but it does look like an 88+ wiper motor as well.

[gtayumiko]

What about the tach. It shows it only go up to 6,000 rpm. I know on my analog dash it goes up to 8,000 rpm. I alway thought that GTA models are the ones that go up to 8,000 rpm only. Perhaps I am wrong on that one, but does anyone know from their own GTA if the digital dash has tach that goes up to 8,000 rpm. Yumiko

[Klortho]

Both Dougdez and TripleTransAm has digital's and they only go to 6k.

http://www.gtasourcepage.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=11137


Plus I just noticed the gold Pontiac lettering missing from the driver headlight, that doesn't have to be removed for the car to be painted. The plastic bezel would to do it right, but not the lettering. And there isn't a straight on shot of the rear of the car, so can't tell if the taillight center has a gold bird in it either. Also mismatched center caps. Bird centers on the front, WS6 centers on the rear, but the wheels do not have the dimples.

[gtayumiko]

Most of everything I know about what should go on GTAs and stuff is from this web site. Before I was reading this site, I knew nothing about GTA figures and what should go on what years and so on. But after really reading everything on this site that Frankie has featured, I now know many things about our GTAs.

As for the split rear seat rest in that car for sale on e-bay, according to what I read somewhere I think on this site, the split rear seat rest is an option. I am not sure but I think that option was standard for GTA - the split rear seat rest. I think this because I have never ever see GTA WITHOUT the split rear seat rest option. Could someone confirm that this is true or not?

Interesting however is that the analog tach for the GTAs show up to 8,000 rpm while the digital tach for the GTAs only go up to 6,000 rpm. I guess that they design it that way for some reason. Pretty neat to me that we know so much about the GTA, but I would not be able to tell you anything about any other car. Yumiko

[gtayumiko]

During the first auction of this car, you could not find it if you searched for Trans Am GTA, I guess he advertise it some other way, perhaps just Trans Am or Firebird. Anyway, the person now is auctioning this car again but now you can find it if you specifically search Trans Am GTA. Notice that this seller has so much extra parts. Makes me confirm my suspicions that it may be a car put all together from a junk yard out of many different cars. And I never buy stuff on e-bay for my GTA because I am so tired of all these people trying to make "mint" off of every little part. But I guess that is true with everyone selling stuff no matter what it is, they want to make $$$. Maybe if I ever have a friend who one a GTA like me, I will give them some of my spare parts as birthday gifts and Christmas Presents. I rather do it like that then fight selling stuff on e-bay for mint. I am just frustrated with all of it.....sorry :-/ Yumiko

[Fourthkid]

A few items:
The rarest factory GTA color is Dark Brown Metallic (Code 68).
Many people try to pass off regular Trans Am's as GTA's - thankfully they usually do a pretty poor job of getting all of the details correct.
The rarest GTA's are original unrestored with low miles.

[gtayumiko]

You are right about that, but I also think that the ones with the lowest miles and original are the ones that are sold at highest prices. However, to me, I always have believed that stuff is only worth the amount someone is willing to purchase it for. Yumiko

[FearThisGTA]

However, to me, I always have believed that stuff is only worth the amount someone is willing to purchase it for. Yumiko


Couldnt have said it better myself. THat is soooooo true.

[Klortho]

A few items:
The rarest factory GTA color is Dark Brown Metallic (Code 68).
Many people try to pass off regular Trans Am's as GTA's - thankfully they usually do a pretty poor job of getting all of the details correct.
The rarest GTA's are original unrestored with low miles.

I have one of those Midnight Russet Metallic cars :D

and I agree, too many GTA clones out there right now.

[Klortho]

Now here is a prime example of a very clean GTA

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/one-owner-19-000-actual-documented-miles_W0QQitemZ120020109624QQihZ002QQcategoryZ6427QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[gtayumiko]

Yes that one is very nice I agree. Too bad it is not analog dash and 1987. I really do not care for the "dimples" style rims or the digital dash.

One thing however, 19,000 miles is very little. I wonder how the internal parts of engine and exhaust are and under the car. Actually, my GTA was in better "health" during time I drove it as a daily driver. When I stopped, stuff began to rust like the exhaust. Apparently, if you only run car once or twice per month, it does not give it enought running time to dry everything out completely. And then when exhaust system cool off, condensation begins to form. I notice now that my exhaust rusts much fast now then when my car was a daily driver type.

Also, I did not run my GTA from October to end of November 2001. And when we began restoration process by removing intake manifold from engine, there was parts rusting already inside. But this is the world of car restorations, many pro and con to low mileage cars and cars with a lot of miles but recently restored. And in order to get anything out of it, you really must love the car and do it for your own benefit cause you will never get back money that you spent to make it new again. The best you will maybe break even but that does not include all of your time doing the project.

I restore my GTA because I love my car, not to make money or something like that. But because I love it and plan to keep it for long time. Yumiko

[FearThisGTA]

Now here is a prime example of a very clean GTA

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/one-owner-19-000-actual-documented-miles_W0QQitemZ120020109624QQihZ002QQcategoryZ6427QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem


WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[gtayumiko]

I am noticing that just today a few really nice and "real" GTAs are for sale on e-bay. The red 1991 is really pretty nice, if it was 1992, I would bid on it just because of the rarity of 1992 GTA. I still prefer the 1987 to 1990 body style over the 1991 to 1992 however. But if I was going to purchase another one, it would have to be a 1992 because not so many of those were made. I also am starting to like the 1989 20th anniversary model too, but that is only recently. I wish I could purchase the most perfect one available. That would be neat to have. Yumiko

[JeremyT]

Notice there is another 1987 GTA Gunmetal on eBay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Pontiac-Trans-Am-GTA-1987-Pontiac-Trans-Am-GTA-Gun-Metal-Gray-T-Tops-305_W0QQitemZ140023410150QQihZ004QQcategoryZ6427QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Look hard enough and you will see the RPO on his sticker is 87U

Also notice this on Frankie's figures:

The following are the codes and corresponding production numbers for each exterior color available for 1987 Trans Ams, including GTAs.... the available GTA colors are in bold type:

13U -- Exterior Color, Silver Metallic -- 1,469
23U -- Exterior Color, Medium Maui Blue Metallic -- 2,006
40U -- Exterior Color, White -- 1,769
41U -- Exterior Color, Black -- 5,092
68U -- Exterior Color, Dark Russet Metallic -- 372
74U -- Exterior Color, Flame Red Metallic -- 8,494
81U -- Exterior Color, Bright Red -- 6,537
84U -- Exterior Color, Gunmetal Metallic -- 1
87U -- Exterior Color, Gunmetal Metallic -- 828

The 84U is not bolded. The 87U is.

[irritated_cube]

One thing however, 19,000 miles is very little. I wonder how the internal parts of engine and exhaust are and under the car. Actually, my GTA was in better "health" during time I drove it as a daily driver. When I stopped, stuff began to rust like the exhaust. Apparently, if you only run car once or twice per month, it does not give it enought running time to dry everything out completely. And then when exhaust system cool off, condensation begins to form. I notice now that my exhaust rusts much fast now then when my car was a daily driver type.

I can agree with you Yumiko, My car has only 36,000 miles on it and both catalytic converters have already been replaced, in comparison my uncle's GTA has over 220,000 kilometers on it and he still has the originals. My car has spent all of its life in Western NY state and Southern Ontario Canada it has barely been driven in the rain let alone the winter. Also at about 20,000 miles (1998ish) the transmission started slipping in second gear. A friend of mine once told me that a car needs to run, its been designed to operate, If a car sits for years, seals begin to dry up, brake lines rust, the catalyst in the converters begins to break down, etc... Its not to say that low mileage cars are cursed with poor mechanicals because they haven't been driven, I think it all depends on the previous owner and how they maintained them. However if i bought a car off ebay with 30 miles that has sat in a garage for 20 years, Id be quite nervous during that first run around the block