Tuned Port Injection: Like-New 1987 Pontiac Trans Am GTA

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Lately, it’s been raining survivors but this 1987 Pontiac Trans Am GTA might be one of the best. With only 3,360 actual miles, this car might as well be new. These are the types of finds that make you wonder what series of events lead to them seeing almost no use! Regardless of how it remained like-new, this Pontiac is in fantastic condition and might be the best example out there. The dealership selling this car has two very similar Trans Am GTAs for sale, both of which are also very low mileage cars. Located in Michigan, find this Trans Am here on eBay or here on the Rev Up Motors website with an asking price of $26,995. Bidding  is at $11,300 with reserve not met on eBay. 

With a light colored interior, every single little defect is going to show. As can be seen in this picture, this Pontiac doesn’t appear to have any defects. The darker spot on the driver’s seat looks to be just from where the driver was sitting rather than a stain or wear. Though cars like this have not always been valuable or remarkable, in this day and age it is always shocking to see something like this in almost the condition it left the factory in. With the interior in mint condition, driving this car would be nerve wracking as the possibility of soiling the interior would be ever present!

The engine is a Tuned Port Injection (TPI) Chevrolet 350 V8. TPI is GM’s early multi-port fuel injection. Introduced in 1985, TPI was still a new concept when this Trans Am was produced. Originally designed to give the 305 more power, TPI quickly became applied to the 350 as well. This car is completely unmodified, however there is no mention of what maintenance has been done. If you’re wondering what maintenance an ultra low-mileage car like this could need, remember that 1987 was nearly 30 years ago and this car has been sitting for a substantial chunk of that period of time. Though it is unlikely this car will ever be driven on a regular basis, if it were gaskets and other non-metal items would begin to show their age.

This Trans Am is really in show car condition, inside and out. Though it would be great to know how this car came to be so well preserved, the important thing is that it is! This might be the best example in existence, and will more than likely end up in the hands of a collector. Car’s like this car tough to decide what to do with, and I’m on the fence. Would you drive it, or store it?

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Comments

  1. T Mel

    With T-Tops and a stick it could bring low 20’s, but like this.. maybe high teens IMO. I had a hard time getting $11,000 last year for my third gen auto with 32k original miles. By the way, these tan interiors are not that hard to keep clean if you care about your car. Not sure where the writer gets these ideas from.

    Like 0
    • John Duarte

      I would definitely drive this car, mainly in the summer

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    • Andrew TannerAuthor

      I’ve worked multiple jobs in the car cleaning industry, and you would be amazed what stains light-colored cloth. Not everyone cares about their car, and not sure where you got that idea from!

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  2. elrod

    Hagerty lists a #1 concours car at $21,900. Beautiful Pontiac, but no savy buyer is going for that asking price. There will be hidden issues related to age- Shocks/struts, hoses, belts etc. When you add it all up – this one is a pass.

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  3. GXP

    Keep it as is and open a museum for it

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  4. Jack b:-)

    Very nice! But in the high teens. It’ll likely stall around 15k, then he’ll have a ‘base’ to get it listed at something like Barrett-Jackson, as it’s just in time to get listed for Scottsdale 2018. Wink-wink. There it could bring $20k, and it might even help to sell a pair for double that. Crazy money at that joint. Get a couple of gen-xers bidding against each other, and a pair could bring $40k +. It happens a lot more there than ebay.

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  5. JimmyJ

    305👎

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    • John

      It has a 350 TPI, not 305

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  6. Mattyou63

    Too much $ for what it is..nice car not anything too exciting tho

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  7. Ron

    I’ve owned and maintained a few of these third gens. Kind of fun to work on these cars but I would have a hard time not putting at least a few thousand miles on it every year. I like the gaudiness of the trans am line since it’s inception and this car has it. The gold wheels are either like it or leave it. I like them although I prefer the formulas aluminum 16’s as my favorites.

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    • RT Elkin

      I would totally buy those wheels, unless they’re more than 20lbs each (that rules out most factory rims, I think). If you’re modifying a car for performance & doing wheels/tires, I think one of the 16-18lb rims would be ideal if it didn’t compromise the search for a wide contact patch.

      Like 0
  8. tom

    Have owned more than a few trans and irocZ they are a blast from the past they didnt hold up well not compared to mustang gt in the same time frame mustang would take a jerking owned them both many of them trans and irocz had heay doors that gave away and their 700 trasmission didnt hold up eighther they would barely all you could do to get 140 out of them then in the 90s mustang came along with a better gt and lx models that left gm behind on speed and dependability and with a few minor adjustments left the corvete behind from bottom to top with ease i have owned them all and i like them all but mustang was the winner in that time frame bodys held up trans held up most went over 300000 never turn the first screw

    Like 0
  9. Oingo

    I am thinking that is not the factory color paint and therefore not “original”

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    • DirtyBird

      Umm… You are wrong.

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    • Superdessucke

      It is called Flame Red Metallic (74U) and was (by far) the most popular colour for the 1987 GTA.

      Like 1
    • Mike

      Obviously you were not around to see these in person

      Like 0
  10. 8banger daveMember

    I agree JImmyJ. We work on a few of these from time to time – rather tame…Now a 383 stroker…

    Like 0
  11. Michael Proulx

    Cool cars , I remember when these cars were new , for the time they were expensive , we had a paintball team at the time and a army helicopter pilot on our team had one of these , almost this same color . I think I would have to drive it occasionally , I will keep my 1980 Y84 WS6 powered by PONTIAC 1972 455 H.O. with a 4 speed .

    Like 0
    • Andrew Pfalzer

      In the early 90’s Drove a TA from Buffalo to Denver in in 21hrs with a buddy . Awesome car cruising at 120mph in the Midwest states. Only TA in the mountains of Colorado with a ski rack. That TPI was great with the change of altitude, traction on snow packed passes not so good.

      Like 0
  12. Alex85

    Maybe if it had the European paddle mirrors.

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  13. Davis Jones

    I would buy this car in a heart beat… I was 20 years old in 1987 and could not afford the car or the insurance at the time

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  14. Stang1968

    Dwight Schrute is going to be bidding this car up.

    Like 1
  15. Ron

    Bought an ‘89 as a two year old used car, same color but with light gray interior, loved that car…

    Like 0
  16. Dallas

    It was either a GTA or TransAm… GTA was a sub series of Firebird not TransAm.

    Like 0
    • Ricky Bobby

      They are all firebirds. Firebird, Firebird Formula, Firebird Trans Am, and the Firebird Trans Am GTA. The GTA (Y84) was only offered on the Firebird Trans Am. The “GTA” as it is commonly referred to was the top of the line third gen firebird. Check out the GTAsourcepage.com. Also, the 305 TPI with the 5 speed and the 3.45 rear was just as quick as the 350 auto and 3.27 rear. 5 hp and 45 lb/ft difference in 87′. No stick or 3.45 offered with the 350. Cheers.

      Like 0
  17. Rob M.

    I had an 87. Black and gold. Not the quickest but fun car to drive. Sadly had to sell it when the kid came along. Going from a T/A to a mini van was tough.

    Like 0
  18. the chucker

    That under hood shot raises questions for me. Are there factory emissions/belt routing decals missing from that radiator support? It sticks in my head there should be some there. Hard to tell from photo, but there also appears to be significant overspray on the adjustable hood stops.

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  19. Roland

    My parents are selling an excellent condition 91 t-top GTA and their only asking $12000 canadian

    Like 0
  20. carsofchaos

    Couldn’t afford a nice one back then (I was in high school at the time) and apparently can’t afford a nice one now, either. Gorgeous car but curious to see what it’ll actually sell for

    Like 0

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