This is said to be a very rare vehicle. It is allegedly the first LS Trans Am ever made by Pontiac/GM and has a VIN #1. It was part of the GM Heritage Collection and was given a special title “Goldrush” as it is included in the 2000 GM/Pontiac Special Project Vehicles. This is a very unique opportunity to own a car that is part of American automotive history. GM issued it a branded title so it cannot be registered. Due to this, it would likely need to be purchased by someone who was interested in primarily displaying the car. It has just 16,500 miles and is listed on eBay for $115,000.
The car is said to be finished in a rare Sport Gold Metallic paint. It appears to be in excellent condition and is free of blemishes. The Trans Am wears 18″ x 10″ American Racing Torque Thrust III wheels wrapped in BF Goodrich G-Force tires which also appear to be in excellent condition. The seller notes that the GM Engineering and test vehicle decal is still adhered to the car.
The interior is finished in a custom dark grey leather interior which is in exceptional condition. An Auto Power roll bar is equipped as we all as a Billet Hurst shifter that is said to be a prototype. The rear seats are deleted. The interior has the comfortability of the stock version with the spirit of a racecar.
Unfortunately, the seller did not include any engine bay shots. The engine is a special build. According to the seller Westech Automotive built a stroked 6.3-liter LS1 engine equipped with a Lunati forged crank, a solid roller cam, and a Competition Cams rev kit. The car’s cylinder heads were built by Lingenfelter. The car is also equipped with an Accel dual-stage air filter, Accel spark plugs and race wires, Holley injectors, TTS Power Systems headers, a Borla cat-back exhaust, and a Centerforce clutch. It is clearly built to be a beast on the track. All that power is sent to the wheels via a Blueprinted T-56 transmission and a custom-built 3.5” diameter Carbon Fiber driveshaft. This is a very cool car that could be great in a showroom or a personal collection. I could see it going out on special track days periodically as well. If this car is for you be sure to contact the seller on eBay.
Wow
What so special about number one in 1998? Especially 115k special?…..uhmmmm ok?
Why can’t you register a “branded” title? People do it all the time. Some states may require an inspection first, that’s all, the only exception may be if the car doesn’t meet emissions specs.
Terry, I don’t know where the information that you can’t register a “branded title”, comes from. A branded title simply means that the vehicle has been written off as a “total loss” for one reason or another. It is meant to protect the consumer. In most, if not all states, all you have to do is to take proof of ownership and the vehicle to the local DMV, have it inspected, and presto, you have a registered vehicle. Also, if it can’t be registered, how in the world did it have 16,500 miles put on it. All that aside, I have always thought that both the Firebird and Camaro from this time period were atrocious, and this one does not change that opinion. The one thing about this particular car I find fascinating are the modifications to the motor. I’ll bet that this thing is an absolute screamer, (plus the interior looks comfortable enough to rival your living room couch.) I think that price is a little nutty, but if one found the car attractive, along with its rarity, maybe it isn’t that far out of line. It will be interesting to see where the bidding goes.
https://www.barrett-jackson.com/scottsdale-2009/docket/vehicle/1998-pontiac-firebird-trans-am-gold-rush-custom-71627
Sold for $33,000 in 2009
I wouldn’t buy a junker T/A and register it and then accidentally put the registration sticker and license plate on this one….nope….LOL!
Do ya think it could work? lol
Hey I’ve been pulled over 50 times in 48’ years and not once was the vin# checked.
Good point. Once it’s registered in a particular state, the VIN would never be checked again unless it were sold out of state.
I like a lot about this car, but I do like the last gen Birds. The color appeals to me and the wheels work for me also. Being serial number 1 someday will mean something. GM sold a lot of their tucked away cars some years ago on one of the auctions and they were clearly selling them telling people you can not register them. I have no idea on how that works or how you get around it. This car has 16,000 miles though? Seems odd to me to have been driven that much if you can’t register it. These last gen T/A’s with WS6 are rapidly appreciating in value for the good ones.
$115k???🤡🤡🤡
Right??
Why would you want a car that you can’t put on the road?. What good is it if you can’t issue a regular title? I don’t buy anything that I can’t use.except by accident. I wouldn’t pay $500.oo
You’re probably safe.
Curios how 16.500 miles were racked up with out a plate? Dealer plates ?
Manufacturer tags
This is a pretty Kool hot rod, with a extremely interesting history. I love the color, and the modified LS. As a general manager of a few dealerships, we bought a few test or mule cars and drove the dang things with dealer plates.
Sure it’s a lot of money, but I don’t think it would be a problem getting it registered. Especially being well over 20 years old.
I loved this style when it came out wanted one so bad but I had just got a great deal on a 2 year old Camaro and I was upside down in it (haha) and now can’t afford it lol don’t cost nothing to admire it she’s pretty.
Would it have killed you to pop the hood?
It could only look better in my driveway. And drive the wheels off it.
Well the add does say or best offer, I got $10k cash and that’s $2,000 more than I believe it to be worth.
It was a GM engineering and test car. Not sure that GM would put 16k miles on it but it was built to be tested and driven and it was. A manufacturer can do anything they want relative to engine mods and they don’t have to meet emission requirements. They can’t SELL the car for use on public highways that doesn’t meet the EPA requirements. That’s why the car has title restrictions since it was sold with the stipulation that it can’t be driven on the street since it isn’t EPA kosher. While you can’t technically drive it on public roads (the reason it didn’t sell for more when it was at auction) that doesn’t mean folks haven’t. You may have trouble getting a license plate on it in some states.