Calm Me Down, Somebody....

***FrankieRider2*** · 04-17-2007

Lou Wassel just sent me this morning a photo showing one of the GTA styling proposal cars taken at GM in late '85 or early '86.

He was not present at this particular viewing, but the photo was taken later than his original tire-kicking session. The black GTA does have differing styling proposals on either side. I'll post it as soon as I can get the time.... there is also a wide-view shot of the GTA, a T/A, and also a Formula.

Great stuff....

Nirbush · 04-17-2007

Stephen · 04-17-2007

What a tease!

Tell us about a pic, but then tell us we'll hafta wait?

***FrankieRider2*** · 04-17-2007

Not, not a tease.... just in a hurry this morning. Had to wait for the good old lunch break....

Here they are.... enjoy:

Nirbush · 04-17-2007

Nice I like it except for the GTA in the front right bumper and i think im glad they choose the emblems they did. I like the style though it looks a little sleeker.

Stephen · 04-17-2007

Cool! It's got the early paddle mirrors, like it should for a prototype.

I know that, apparently, the whole passenger side, has the gold pin stripe, since only have of the nose has the pin stripe just above the ground FX. I'm betting it was used as a comparison vehicle, to look at both sides, to see which way to go. The nose emblem is on the hood, instead of the nose too.

Louvers · 04-17-2007

Very cool photo ... interesting that the car doesn't have the door body moldings ... Another interesting item are the front seats ... they look almost like some type of racing style. I have to say that they did well with the final finished product. If our cars had matched this prototype .... they would have looked a little too similiar to a regular T/A IMO.

It's always great to see the history of our cars. I am still really wrestling with the idea of selling my GTA but everytime I see a picture of these cars in mint condition and especially in black ... I just fall in love with them all over again.

Darrell

Stephen · 04-17-2007

I didn't notice the seat. Looks like a Recaro TA seat.

merc3065 · 04-17-2007

They look like the PMD seats actually.

Kinda neat.

***FrankieRider2*** · 04-17-2007

According to Lou, these photos were taken at an F-car exterior color review in late 1985 or early 1986. I'm not sure how much of this would have been slated for production, as the brown Formula has T/A ground effects and the Trans Am has a version of the Pontiac Aero Lite rim on it.

The seats in question are the RPO AS5 Recaro seats, optional in 1985 and 1986 on the Trans Am.

I agree with Darrell, but it is interesting to see part of the overall progression of the GTA to its final form. I'd sure like to see the other side of that car, though....

Still, I thought you all would be interested in this.

twobirds · 04-17-2007

Maybe just me but, the front and rear rims look to have the same offset on the gta??

Stephen · 04-17-2007

I thought the rears looked like front wheels, but figured it was my eyes.

Cool to see I was right about the Recaro seats! My neighbor had a Recaro TA, but moved a few months ago. Otherwise, I would have gone to get a pic of his, to double check.

BadAzzGta89 · 04-17-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Louvers

Very cool photo ... interesting that the car doesn't have the door body moldings ... Another interesting item are the front seats ... they look almost like some type of racing style. I have to say that they did well with the final finished product. If our cars had matched this prototype .... they would have looked a little too similiar to a regular T/A IMO.

It's always great to see the history of our cars. I am still really wrestling with the idea of selling my GTA but everytime I see a picture of these cars in mint condition and especially in black ... I just fall in love with them all over again.

Darrell

I will have to take some pictures of mine soon as i get her out of the garage and a final tune!

Klortho · 04-17-2007

A medium russet metallic Formula....how about that.

And yes, the rear rims are the same as the front, but if you look....they're different than the crosslace wheels we have all come to know and love.

strc09 · 04-23-2007

Very cool stuff Frankie.

TX_1987_GTA · 04-24-2007

I will have to agree with the general decision on this one..... This is super cool.

04-17-2007	#1
*FrankieRider2* Site Administrator Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: North Central Arkansas Posts: 2,233 GTA Year: 1988 GTA Engine: 350 TPI Automatic	Calm Me Down, Somebody.... Lou Wassel just sent me this morning a photo showing one of the GTA styling proposal cars taken at GM in late '85 or early '86. He was not present at this particular viewing, but the photo was taken later than his original tire-kicking session. The black GTA does have differing styling proposals on either side. I'll post it as soon as I can get the time.... there is also a wide-view shot of the GTA, a T/A, and also a Formula. Great stuff.... __________________ Frankie Rider, 2 Administrator The GTA Source Page E-Mail

04-17-2007	#2
Nirbush Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 81	Re: Calm Me Down, Somebody.... __________________ 1989 GTA 5.7 350 Red/Grey Leather interior

04-17-2007	#3
Stephen Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 997	Re: Calm Me Down, Somebody.... What a tease! Tell us about a pic, but then tell us we'll hafta wait? __________________ 5.7/700R4/3.27 M78--4th gen front seats/stock split rear seats-- 17x9 275/40s front/17x11 315/35s rear custom widened & powdercoated ROH Snypers--02 Rear wing 3rd gen parts 4 sale

04-17-2007	#4
*FrankieRider2* Site Administrator Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: North Central Arkansas Posts: 2,233 GTA Year: 1988 GTA Engine: 350 TPI Automatic	Re: Calm Me Down, Somebody.... Not, not a tease.... just in a hurry this morning. Had to wait for the good old lunch break.... Here they are.... enjoy: __________________ Frankie Rider, 2 Administrator The GTA Source Page E-Mail

04-17-2007	#5
Nirbush Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 81	Re: Calm Me Down, Somebody.... Nice I like it except for the GTA in the front right bumper and i think im glad they choose the emblems they did. I like the style though it looks a little sleeker. __________________ 1989 GTA 5.7 350 Red/Grey Leather interior

04-17-2007	#6
Stephen Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 997	Re: Calm Me Down, Somebody.... Cool! It's got the early paddle mirrors, like it should for a prototype. I know that, apparently, the whole passenger side, has the gold pin stripe, since only have of the nose has the pin stripe just above the ground FX. I'm betting it was used as a comparison vehicle, to look at both sides, to see which way to go. The nose emblem is on the hood, instead of the nose too. __________________ 5.7/700R4/3.27 M78--4th gen front seats/stock split rear seats-- 17x9 275/40s front/17x11 315/35s rear custom widened & powdercoated ROH Snypers--02 Rear wing 3rd gen parts 4 sale

04-17-2007	#7
Louvers Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,443	Re: Calm Me Down, Somebody.... Very cool photo ... interesting that the car doesn't have the door body moldings ... Another interesting item are the front seats ... they look almost like some type of racing style. I have to say that they did well with the final finished product. If our cars had matched this prototype .... they would have looked a little too similiar to a regular T/A IMO. It's always great to see the history of our cars. I am still really wrestling with the idea of selling my GTA but everytime I see a picture of these cars in mint condition and especially in black ... I just fall in love with them all over again. Darrell __________________ My Garage

04-17-2007	#8
Stephen Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 997	Re: Calm Me Down, Somebody.... I didn't notice the seat. Looks like a Recaro TA seat. __________________ 5.7/700R4/3.27 M78--4th gen front seats/stock split rear seats-- 17x9 275/40s front/17x11 315/35s rear custom widened & powdercoated ROH Snypers--02 Rear wing 3rd gen parts 4 sale

04-17-2007	#9
merc3065 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 2,057	Re: Calm Me Down, Somebody.... They look like the PMD seats actually. Kinda neat.

04-17-2007	#10
*FrankieRider2* Site Administrator Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: North Central Arkansas Posts: 2,233 GTA Year: 1988 GTA Engine: 350 TPI Automatic	Re: Calm Me Down, Somebody.... According to Lou, these photos were taken at an F-car exterior color review in late 1985 or early 1986. I'm not sure how much of this would have been slated for production, as the brown Formula has T/A ground effects and the Trans Am has a version of the Pontiac Aero Lite rim on it. The seats in question are the RPO AS5 Recaro seats, optional in 1985 and 1986 on the Trans Am. I agree with Darrell, but it is interesting to see part of the overall progression of the GTA to its final form. I'd sure like to see the other side of that car, though.... Still, I thought you all would be interested in this. __________________ Frankie Rider, 2 Administrator The GTA Source Page E-Mail

04-17-2007	#11
twobirds Mile High Thirdgens. Join Date: May 2004 Location: Thornton,Co Posts: 150	Re: Calm Me Down, Somebody.... Maybe just me but, the front and rear rims look to have the same offset on the gta?? __________________ 1987 GTA 350 1967 Firebird 400

04-17-2007	#12
Stephen Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 997	Re: Calm Me Down, Somebody.... I thought the rears looked like front wheels, but figured it was my eyes. Cool to see I was right about the Recaro seats! My neighbor had a Recaro TA, but moved a few months ago. Otherwise, I would have gone to get a pic of his, to double check. __________________ 5.7/700R4/3.27 M78--4th gen front seats/stock split rear seats-- 17x9 275/40s front/17x11 315/35s rear custom widened & powdercoated ROH Snypers--02 Rear wing 3rd gen parts 4 sale

04-17-2007	#14
Klortho Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Kingston, Tn Posts: 578	Re: Calm Me Down, Somebody.... A medium russet metallic Formula....how about that. And yes, the rear rims are the same as the front, but if you look....they're different than the crosslace wheels we have all come to know and love. __________________ 1987 GTA, LT1/T56 BW 9bolt 3.70 posi 1 of 372 Medium Russet Metallic

04-23-2007	#15
strc09 Displaced Texan living in NC Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Linden, NC Posts: 1,405 GTA Year: 1988 GTA Engine: Custom	Re: Calm Me Down, Somebody.... Very cool stuff Frankie. __________________ -Patrick GTA: Grand Turismo Americano (Grand Touring America) *1 of 930 1988 Gunmetal Metallic GTAs produced (RPO 87U)* Built by Zeus Performance and tuned by Alvin from PCM4Less Check out my website: Night Vision GraFX

04-24-2007	#16
TX_1987_GTA GTA Owner Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Amarillo, Texas Posts: 528	Re: Calm Me Down, Somebody.... I will have to agree with the general decision on this one..... This is super cool. __________________ Thanks, Joe. Top of Texas Trans Am Club of Amarillo ( 2010 President ) http://www.transamclubofamarillo.com/ 1981 Turbo Trans Am 1987 GTA Trans Am Hardtop 5.7 T.P.I. ( 90000 miles ) 1989 GTA/TTA, 20th Anniversary, Indy Pace Car, #402 ( 35000 miles ) 1989 Formula T-Top 5.7 T.P.I. " SOLD " 1991 GTA Trans Am Hardtop 5.7 T.P.I. " SOLD " 2000 Ram Air Trans Am LS1 Auto " The EX got it! " 2002 Ram Air Trans Am LS1 6 Speed ( 13700 miles ) " SOLD "

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