I envy those whose youth intersected with the peak of America’s grand tradition: the dealer introduction of the new model year. Invariably, in September or October said dealers would paint or paper up the windows and steel themselves against the onslaught. It was a big deal, because every year, something on the floor was all new or significantly updated. It was the 1980s by the time I was a little kid waiting expectantly for the model changeover. It wasn’t quite as big a deal then, but for some reason, I recall 1987 as being a banner year. And one of the “big deal” cars in the myriad magazines I read was the Firebird “GTA,” a sort of luxury-touring Trans Am that managed to transform its street-fighter image into something more suave. The brochure cars were deep red with harmonizing gold “diamond spoke” wheels, just like this ’88 model above, which is now for sale on Craigslist.
Let’s get this out of the way: The GTA is for sale at a dealer for $26,995. That sounds like a lot for a third-gen Firebird, but this one has a claimed 22,000 miles with a full vehicle history. After 36 years, it’s easy to assume that there’s some funny business going on whenever we see a low-mileage claim, but this one certainly looks the business. The leather is nice but not “new upholstery” nice.
The GTA had a long list of standard equipment, including air conditioning, 350 TPI V8, power everything, limited slip differential, four-wheel disc brakes, etc. Optional equipment shown here includes leather seats and the “only-in-the-’80s” digital dashboard, which I could do without even if I secretly couldn’t. The only improvement would be a saddle-colored interior. As a kid, I loved all the buttons. As an adult driver…maybe not.
If the interior wasn’t convincing, the engine compartment should be. Not only must this be a low-mileage original (or an impeccable restoration), it must have been stored in a climate-controlled garage for 36 years. There’s none of the powdery corrosion on the aluminum bits that you normally find after a year or two in variable climates (this one is located in Sioux Falls, SD, as variable a climate as anywhere, I guess). This should be a 225-horsepower 350 Tuned Port, but the 305 was available as a credit option, according to the brochure. I doubt, however, that a car this well-equipped would have been ordered with the lesser engine to save a few bucks.
From what I recall, the hubbub over the GTA died down fairly quickly and it became just another Trans Am out on the roads, but seeing one this nice reminds me of those dealer changeover days, collecting piles of brochures and annoying salesmen with my know-it-all childish tedium.
It’s a good thing this dealer isn’t in my neighborhood. Thank you to T.J., as always, for sending this one to Barn Finds.
Comfortable cruisers, easy motoring w the desirable 350 and
OD Hydramatic autoloader.
Nice design, tidy, well-proportioned. An excellent year for Pontiac.
Bought one new in 87 same color could not get t tops so before delivery I had them put in at a custom shop the 350 was ok but I had been driving a 69 Camaro with a 427 so anyway came up on a grand national and right away I new I had to go get the Camaro drove it one year traded it on a new 4 wheel drive truck
I ordered and bought an 86 in that color, in January when the 350 option came out. Could not get the 350 with T-Tops or power driver seat due to some epa ruling on the weight class which with the bit heavier 350 would have required recertification for the higher weight thus no t-tops. Pontiac ended up cancelling the 350 availability for the 86 model yr so I updated my order to a fully loaded 86 TA and did the same as this guy, built my own 350 and installed in 87.
Why is it easy to assume there is some funny business going on with a low mileage claim? I have a 90 Iroc with 17k. Check the carfax if you are t sure. No funny business, just thought I chose to keep a low mile potentially collectible vehicle and I am the original owner. Broad comment you made. Everyone should do their homework but I worry more about flood cars etc coming out of the southern states.
Because most people in that time frame bought their cars to drive. I never drove my 86 TA in the dinner or bad weather and still had 50k miles in 7 yrs. Besides, it is so easy to reset the odometer in that era with no electronic monitoring of miles in the ecm. This one looks legit, but Buyer beware of low mile cars is a smart move. Also not sure CarFax was even thought of in the 80’s/90’s, let alone service stations keeping paper records very long.
These are nice driving cars. Handle very well and has more than enough power. A fellow that I worked with at a dealership had one EXACTLY like this. He would regularly race another sales guy who had a 5.0 LX Mustang on the street in front of the dealership. Lost every time. But still a nice car.
Price seems slightly high for this, but for someone looking to relive the day it might be worth it.
Pretty sure you could not get the 350 with T-Tops in 1988… I could be wrong but I read somewhere that ’89 was the first year you could get that combination.
Why would you say
“ it’s easy to assume that there’s some funny business going on whenever we see a low-mileage claim”
Maybe somebody did what I did and put away a potential collectible vehicle with low miles. Maybe like my 1990 that has 17,000 miles I decided I’d rather have it looking like a relatively new car instead of driving through the snow or the rain. That doesn’t make any sense at all, I think you should be more worried about flood cars coming out of the south
The first day of autumn meant pennant races and World Series to some. For me it was the new car year beginning. I was eleven when Dad took me the first time. Wow, the aroma of new cars and brochures in the showroom was intoxicating. I paid a lot of visits to that Chevy Olds store over subsequent years and our little Ford dealership. The magazine ads were wonderful, as well. Remember how the backdrops were places you’d want to be? Airplanes are boats both had a role in these ads. Air travel was relatively new and special. To acquaint the car with these things was aspiring for people. What a time to be alive.
As for this car; so very eighties GM with the steering wheel controls and digital instrument cluster. Take you back to being Knight Rider.