They said it was faster than a 1973 Super Duty Trans Am. The Indy 500 Pontiac Trans Am Pace Car was fitted with the Buick Grand National 3.8 liter intercooled and turbocharged V6 engine in 1989. With 19k miles, this car is listed for $28,000 and can be seen here on craigslist. The Trans Am is located in Cummings, Georgia just north of Atlanta.
The heart of this car is a 3.8 liter V6 engine that produced 250 horsepower. Car magazines at the time recorded 0-60 times of less than 5 seconds and a best quarter mile of 13.4 seconds. All 1,555 Pace Cars replicas were white and were modified by PAS for Pontiac. Due to the narrow engine bay, different cylinder heads and stainless steel headers replaced the Buick parts which improved performance. Many enthusiasts believe that the car produced closer to 300 horsepower and, with some minor modifications, the car would run a 12.5 quarter mile.
The interior of the car looks immaculate and the seller states that they have had the radio rebuilt and a new headliner installed. The car must have sat for a long time because the ad explains that the car has had extensive work done to the fuel system, brakes, injectors, etc. The wheels have also been stripped and clear coated.
So if we were not quarantined at home, it would be tempting to fly to Atlanta and drive this car home. The car has new tires so there is plenty of tread to burn off at every stoplight on the way home! Who has owned one of these Buick powered rockets and can share their experience.
Liked better with a 403.
Dont you mean the Pontiac 400?
The 403 Olds was inferior to the Pontiac 400.
Doesn’t matter since neither were available in the 1989 Trans Am.
It matters if you’re going to put a different engine in it.
Jerry, most, not all, but most people won’t buy a 19k mile original, one of 1,555, then run out and find a 400 for an engine swap! Guess it takes all kinds. Enjoy that project.
Why in the heck would you do that ? You can do more to the 3.8 that’s in there too make it run high 10’s if wanted a car to run faster then new vettes
Absolute blast to run down the 1320. More fun than my GN when it was stock
I almost bought one when new.
I beloved it was 32k on sticker, dealer wanted 38k.
Could sit in it but not drive. Always wanted one, or the 91 ZL1 vette.
I walked have paid 34k dealer would not budge.
One more child at home for one year, mabey then l can get one.
These are fantastic looking cars and also performed well considering that it was 1989. I know, there are all of these modern car that are so much better. We’ve all heard it sooooooo many times before!
In the immediate years following, PAS was the company that built the Syclones and Typhoons for GMC. My understanding is they applied the same turbo technology – owner by two ex-GM engineers who made a mint.
I currently own one. 42k mile driver. Has a few bolt on mods and is silly quick. A total blast to drive.
However, you’ll need to understand how these vehicles work for continually maintaining them. A scanmaster or equivalent monitoring system is a must.
Definitely so!! Back in the day, had an old scanmaster, wideband, 3 bar map and logger to keep me from blowing a gasket..lol
my dad had a 350 gta… not a turbo but still a fun car
There was one of these sitting in the driveway a few blocks away for many years. Never moved, until the one day it wasn’t there any more. Wish I had been bold enough to make an offer to the owner..
I had the 87 GTA 5.7 if I still had my time slipped I could show you mine ran 13.66 !
I had a neighbor about 5 yesterday she was selling one of these I wanted it so bad. Couldn’t afford it. They want like $17g for it and it had less 20,000 miles !
Car would have really been something if they put the GNX motor in it !
I have a Flame Red 86 Trans Am with only 14k miles. I got it with 7600 miles 6 years ago so you can see she is not driven a lot. She is all original 305 4BBL CARB. Just a blast but don’t get the chance to enjoy her as much as I want either.
Maybe these were quicker than the ’73 Super Duty, gonna say that I suppose it’s got the earlier RA IV, the ’71-72 455 HO beat as well….finally, with Buick power.
Clean ride and plenty quick in its day…
But those steering wheels, and nary a photo.
Less than 5 sec 0-60?? I aint buyin that.
Depending who and how it was tested, they ran 4.6-5.5 for 0-60 times.
God bless them but i think they are padding their numbers just a bit!
You’re not keeping up RTS…..my comment on the 400 was in response to CALs comment that he liked the 403 better.
I never said you should swap the engine.
Thanks Jerry, keeping up just fine. Guess you forgot your comment above “It matters if you’re going to put a different engine in it”? Remember that? FYI – We all have the ability to look at previous comments.
Ok I gotcha…..I should have clarified exactly what I meant….my bad.
I think Jerry is onto something. Maybe you’re currently laid off, sitting in the garage, having a few Natty Lights, and staring at your near mint 19k mile ’89 TA Pace Car replica. Then you see the ’70’s Pontiac derby car in the back yard and it comes to you. You’ve got tools, you’ve got time, and there’s another 30 rack of Natty on ice. Time to get to work.
Guess I must not be keeping up either. Pretty sure I also read your previous comment about putting a different engine in it, which I can’t understand why. The turbocharged 3.8 is perfectly fine in this.
Guess not……again I was responding ti CALs comment that he liked the 403 better……so I mentiined the 400 was a better motor……I never said the motor should be swapped out.
STEVE THE D…..😄😄😄
What does the D stand for, short for Richard?? 😄
Back to the garage Jerry! That awesome Pontiac 400 engine swap isn’t going to complete itself!
Hey you’re right about the Pontiac 400 being a Awesome motor!
I had a car show buddy years ago who was a mechanical engineer and he owned a Buccaneer Red 73 455SD Trans Am and a Black 440 Challenger….forgot the year…70 I think?
Anyway he was telling me how great the Pontiac 400 was compared to the Olds 403, larger ports or heads or something like that among other features that made the 400 a more high performance motor and more buildable I think? Was almost 20 years ago so I don’t remember all the details…….
Whats a Natty Light?
Natural Light?
Do they still make that urine water?😄