Being chosen to supply the Official Pace Car for the Indianapolis 500 is both a great honor and an excellent marketing opportunity. Pontiac fulfilled that role in 1989 with the Turbo Trans Am. Our featured vehicle is a stunning survivor with an extremely low odometer reading. It has no apparent needs and is ready for action. I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Jack M. for spotting the Turbo Trans Am listed here at Motorcar Classics in Farmingdale, New York, for $39,900.
Pontiac threw a party in 1989 to not only recognize its achievement of the Turbo Trans Am being selected as the Indy Pace Car, but to celebrate the badge’s 20th Anniversary. Buyers could choose their classic in any color, as long as it was White. However, Pontiac prevented the car from appearing bland by adding the ground-effects body kit, subtle badges and decals, and a beautiful set of 16″ wheels. This car retains those items and features a desirable T-Top. Interestingly, the T-Top was one of only two factory options available, with leather interior trim the other. This Trans Am presents superbly, with no cosmetic issues or evidence of rust. The decals look crisp, and the wheels are perfect. It seems to genuinely tick the right boxes for potential buyers seeking a high-end driver.
As the model designation suggests, lifting this Trans Am’s hood reveals a turbocharged engine. The fact that it is a 3.8-liter V6 may sound familiar, because it is the same motor Buick utilized in the Grand National and the GNX. It produces a factory-quoted 245hp and 340 ft/lbs of torque, which many learned individuals believe is a significant understatement. Car & Driver Magazine tested a Turbo Trans Am upon its release, and it easily produced a ¼-mile ET of 13.4 seconds. Other publications returned similar figures, speculating that the true output may have nudged 300hp. There was no manual transmission, with all cars featuring a four-speed automatic transmission, power steering, and power four-wheel disc brakes. This classic has a genuine 29,000 miles on the clock, and its engine bay is spotless. It doesn’t flatter to deceive, because the Trans Am is a turnkey proposition.
Pontiac didn’t skimp on luxury touches, equipping the Trans Am’s interior with air conditioning, power operation for the windows, locks, driver’s seat, mirrors, and hatch release, cruise control, a leather-wrapped tilt wheel, and a premium AM/FM radio/cassette stereo with a graphic equalizer. Interestingly, the steering wheel controls for the stereo are inoperative from the factory on every Turbo Trans Am. This car’s Tan interior is as impressive as its exterior, with no wear or other issues. It has no aftermarket additions, and it looks like a vehicle that has always been treated respectfully.
Producing a Special Edition to leverage the exposure of an Indianapolis 500 Pace Car is common, and some are more common than others. Pontiac produced 1,500 examples of their 1989 Turbo Trans Am to celebrate both the occasion and the badge’s 20th Anniversary. This one is a beauty, and recent successful sales suggest that the seller’s price is realistic. It needs nothing, making it ideal for enthusiasts seeking a turnkey classic. Do you fit that description? If so, would you consider pursuing this Pontiac further?
Be still my beating heart,……..
These T/As are pretty badass!! I believe they are quicker in the quarter mile also!!
The only Trans Am ever made with a V6
And a potent one at that!!
An auto trans in a car like this is tragic, imo.
Not when the transmissions are built strong for this car!! You can manually shift it if so desired…
Manually shifting an auto is not even close to the same thing as a manual trans. Sure wouldn’t be for me.
What I meant to say though is the tragedy isn’t that it has an auto, it’s that they didn’t offer a manual for those that wanted one.
The same reason Buick placed autos in all Grand Nationals, you will lose turbo spin when clutching and shifting, so it didn’t make sense to do so.
The turbo motor would have killed the T-5 transmissions that were going into F-bodies at the time. Same reason they didn’t put manuals behind 350s.
Add some cylinder head work, a 7th injector & you would be wishing you had traction control. Had a friend that had just that.
3.8 V6 was okay with a turbo, but truly they needed a V8 Turbocharged.
True rockets 🚀. Heard they may run a little hotter under that sleeker hoodline.
The engine wasn’t exactly the same as the GN unit. It used heads from the FWD 3800 V6 due to clearance issues. Better flow was a welcome side benefit. The turbo was also different, and produced more boost than the GN unit. Actual output is believed to be over 300HP.
The automatic, sad as it is, is appropriate here. Technology of the day couldn’t keep the boost up during manual gear changes, so the automatic was the fastest option.
First I heard that the steering wheel controls are inoperative on a Turbo T/A. Problematic? Absolutely; but, they worked when new from the searches I did.
I was working at a Pontiac dealer when these hit the dealer lots. MSRP base was about 30K, a good chunk of cash in 1989. We had 2 customers order identical packages, leather and T-tops included. One kept his pristine, the other ragged his out within 6 months. Awesome cars!
I have never heard that the steering wheel controls were inop on the these. I wonder why that is?
40k seems like light money for what it is.
That price is a steal , in a couple years it will be 100k…