Another great video. But there’s one detail you left out. That was the first car in completely stock trim to be the Indy 500 pace car. No performance or handling modifications were made to that car from what you could buy off the showroom floor. You can confirm that with Motor Trend, you don’t have to take my word for it.
I believe you're wrong, it was actually the early 80's turbo charged Trans Am's that were the first one's to do that, I believe the smaller reduced displacement V8 turbo car's that were the last year or two of the previous platform were actually the first factory direct car's to pace Indy, not these ones. Might be wrong on that but I'm pretty sure I read it in an article I was reading about those car's not long ago.
My friend in HS had a Turbo TA and still has it. I spent a lot of time in the passenger seat of that car cruising the strip. He had so much fun trolling 5.0 Mustangs and Camaro Z28's. One of the greatest cars in GM's history.
@@GordonIgnatowitz Thats how my firends TTA was optioned. Car was mint condition. 13.5 even high 13.s was pretty strong back then. A well driven 89 Z51 vette would run mostly 14s..best ever was 13.9
I have enjoyed the 1989 Turbo Trans Am since they came out in 1989. I have two of them. One is a Cloth Hardtop with 4K miles on it and the second is a Festival Car used at Indy and now has 5K miles on it. The handling is so much better on the 89 TTA than the 87 GNX. With minor tweeks (Performance Chip, Boost increase 20LBS, 100 Octane fuel, after market K&N air filter), the car pulled 300HP on the Dyno and ran in the high 12's, which equated to 380HP at the flywheel. Thank you for the very informative video!
Friend bought a new GN back in the day. Put a downpipe on it, few assorted bolt ons. DIdnt believe it was as fast as he said. Man was I wrong. Drove like a couch on wheels but sure was a factory sleeper if there was one. He removed the badges 2 month he ownedit.
Honestly, you could put a 350 small block into Regal / GN / GNX. It’s the same platform as the Cutlas, GP and Monte. Then again you could do vice versa and put 3.8T in the other cars as well. That video also gave me an idea about putting the Supercharger 3.8 into a 4th generation Firebird. Supercharging is better than turbocharging at least in my opinion because you have no lag with SC. You would still have upgrade the pistons, rods and cam with stronger and lighter parts. Sorry went off into tangent. I would buy both if I had the money. Maybe buy two turbo birds meaning a TTA, Turbo Coupe. Can’t go wrong either way.
My ex had 2001 grand prix with a 3.8 with over 200k miles started blowing white smoke coolant in the oil changed the intake gasket and fixed the problem that was the flaw that send them to junkyard in my opinion anyway the "experts " obviously say blown head gasket but we have the knowledge and experience to know they were great engines I was tempted to Turbo my ex's grand prix but broke up with the 5150 LMAO
@@m4rvinmartian Yeah the 3800 in the first few years were full of tears.. The engineering department didn't give up though. It became a great engine in its last few iterations. A true credit to a hand full of engineers.
No man they were relatively crap. You can buy stock 300HP+ 4-cyl with half the displacement and far more reliable and smoother-running. You gotta stop smokin' that dope, boy!
Those GM turbo 6s wreaked absolute HAVOC on Philly’s Front street back in those days. It was shocking to watch the GN and Turbo T/A walking built cars through second gear in stock form. ❤
I owned a TTA. What a car. The main thing with it was you better be pointed straight when you floored it. If not you would be passing yourself. Took mine to the Texas Mile. Open exhaust, and race gas, it did 150mph in the standing mile. It was stupid fast, for the time. The ride was firm. Steering was OK, recirculating gearbox was not as good as rack and pinion. The brakes were great. Seats comfortable and held you in the curves. Super passing power on the highway, without even going full throttle. A great looking car.
I raced one of these back in the 90s in my modified 5.0. I didn't know much about it other than the big Turbo emblem on the side... I was shocked at how quick and quiet it was... Beautiful car too
Same, I got beat by a GNX in my 87' 5.0, soon as I slammed 2nd gear, I usually walk from any other car, the Turbo kicked in and it walked away from me!! 😂
Same here, I owned a 73 and 77 T/A and thought they had gone soft like most of the other GM products. One gave me a good run in my modified 1984 Mustang GT 5-speed.
@@lucascady4992 GNX were outrigth fast. Remember those cars trolling older iron My 86 5.0 felt quick even though it wasnt .87 and up would pull away from it in 2nd though.
The Trans Am hands down. These were great autocross cars in their day. The first F body to go over 150 mph i believe. Imagine this car with a 5 speed manual
> The first F body to go over 150 mph i believe. Imagine this car with a 5 speed manual Sure. I just have to imagine my twin-turbo Supra but 30mph slower and with one less gear and a rough engine, and lousy quality.
@@rarecars3336 Nah, the interior would still be crap and engine still underpowered. My '95 Supra had 330hp stock from 3 liters, and 375hp with the smallest possible modification. AND a 6-speed manual. THAT was a fun car. And it wasn't T-top either, instead a full targa top. You might as well have been in a convertible except if you turned around and looked behind you.
Not really, an automatic allows the turbo to stay spooled. Every time the throttle plates close the boost would be lost thru the blow off, then it would take a few seconds to rebuild. These older turbo cars needed an auto. @@rarecars3336
In 1988, I worked for Joe Varde’s IMSA Firestone Firehawk team. It was his first year partnered with Prototype Automotive Services, based in Farmington Hills, Michigan. PAS did all the prototype work on the 20th Anniversary T/A for Pontiac, along with a prototype turbo Bonneville, which later became supercharged before it hit showrooms as the SSEi. I drove one of the test mules once when they sent me out to get some non-detergent oil to break in some race motors on the dyno. Surprised the hell out of some dude in a new Corvette at a stop light.
These cars are beautiful, I love them. The science of it all just makes sense. The power, the handling, and the lightweight. Thanks for sharing, captain.
My God the cars we could have had. Don't get me wrong I love the Corvette and especially the unloved C4 but damn did it hold some stuff back. Pontiac always seemed to get the shaft too. Imaginehe the Fiero with money behind it and without the Corvette to hamstring it. Just look at what they turn into when you combine an 88 (the only one without the shitty Chevette suspension) and a stock l67. Why someone didn't just say "Instead of making these other cars slower why don't you make the Corvette faster" is beyond me.
@@rarecars3336I had a friend in high school in the early 90’s that had an ‘88 Fiero, retrofitted with a modified GM 5.0 liter V8. There was nothing short of an exotic at the time, that could take that thing down. GM seems to have a tradition of getting so close to the mark and then 💩ing the bed.
love the Fiero more so the v6 body with that big open-air hole in the front of the nose just a hot sexy car and they were just getting the bugs worked out of them the whole, they chough on fire thing hurt them but they were just getting over that bug and then they stopped just sad now people are buying them to make Lambo kit cars lol
Had a handful of C4s inc a ZR-1. Favorite was an 89 Z52 car did everything pretty well. PRoblem is finding one that isnt hacked up to death. Lot of car for the money
TTA, But to me the Buick looks a little more cooler W/ all the black look and more people fear it. The TTA is more my style leave them guessing what you have got under the hood. That's money in the bank.💲
I worked for a single-point Pontiac Dealer in the 80's and early 90's. A lot of these cars did not sell at the dealerships they were originally sent to and ended up at factory auctions with MSO (Manufacturers Statement of Origin) and bought by any Pontiac dealer. If my memory is correct there were 1554 of these built in total, 1500 were T-Tops, 50 were hardtop, 3 were track cars and 1 prototype/proof of concept that was likely an 88 and was crushed. This part will make you sick. For a short time these were available and we had 7 of the cars that we bought at auction. I think 2 were hard tops and the rest were T-top. We sold all of them for 20k or less and all had less than 750 miles on the odometer. One ting I found that was odd and may have contributed to the lack of interest was that most of the cars were shipped with the door decals, fender and hood badges not installed on the vehicles, but were in a parts bag in the vehicle and a couple went missing. However, the Turbo badge under the rear hatch keyhole is from the factory. You could see an un-badged 89 Turbo hardtop, especially in southwest Ohio. In my opinion, these cars weren't unpopular or unliked, they were unknown. They were not set apart from your typical GTA at the time but were more expensive without the benefit of training materials for the sales department to set it apart from the others Very intersting cars.
Great story. I own #491 with 8.6k miles all stock and original. It is an excellent car and a beast. If money was no object I would own both the TTA and a GNX.
These had a reputation growing up for me (graduated in 05) of being kind of slow. Never understood why people thought that, because of the GNX drivetrain I knew it was quick.
Back in 1987 I owned a Grand National with the 3.8 turbo and I can say it was one of the fastest production cars at that time (including faster than a Corvette.) It is funny since at work, a husband bought a new Vette and his wife bought a new Grand National and they raced and he was p*ssed that her car was faster than his. 🙂
Grand National in general gentleman. The GNX was 547 Grand Nationals sent to ASC/McLaren for a lil loving. Same 3.8 litre Turbocharged V6 in the Turbo T & T Tyoe Regals also. Not just GNX. 👍🏻✌🏻
@@JT-sl3ui When I bought my GN which was on the dealers showroom floor, they had a GNX beside it too. At $30K it just was out of my price range. (It would have been a great investment though, looking at what they are going for now.)
Never saw ONE of these on the road. Only saw one on display in 89, inside of a Mall. My buddy, who drove an SS Monte, knew exactly what was under the hood. As he constantly lost light-to-light drags, with Grand Nationals.
When I was a kid I saved all my money for 4 years and I had accumulated enough to buy this car when I turned 17. My dad was scared to get me a sport car, so anything with a V8 was out. So my focus went to this rare turbo Firebird and a Tbird SC, both with a V6. I found a Firebird in my price range with some miles and interior damage, but it was well below market value, and in my price range in 1995. So I sold my dad on it and we took a 500-mile trip to take it for a test drive with cash in hand. I sold him on the fact that it was only a V6 auto trans like he wanted but when he got on the throttle and 2nd gear kicked in the tires spun and that car just took off. I still remember the oh shit surprise on my dad's face. He came from the old school V8 and blowers and had no clue what a turbo was. When I heard those tires break I knew he wasn't going to let me have it no matter what I said to try and talk him into it. I ended up with a T-bird SC for much less money instead. I use the leftover cash to change the pulley with a tune and that SC became faster than every V8 in the school parking lot. That 3.8 V6 walked an Iroc Z, 5.0 GT and Hacthback, Typhoon, and an older Mustang Mark 8. So despite all of my dad's efforts I still ended up with a car he felt was too fast. Now when I see the value of this rare Firebird I still give my dad a hard time for keeping that car away from me and failing at why he did it whenever I see the crazy price tag an 89 Turbo Firebird today. I would have kept that car. If he had known what I was going to do to that SC he would have not let me get that car either. Ford detuned that car to be slower than a Mustang just like GM did to the Iroc Z and TA. But with a slight modification with a tune that my dad wasn't aware was possible I was able make that heavy T-Bird with a small blown V6 almost as fast as the Firebird he denied me. That was a rare car and that's why I wanted it so bad. Other people had TA's but not like that one. It was a car I would have kept, the SC isn't never was or will be in the same class and I knew I missing out on something special over a speed issue that became a mute point in the end.
that is sad your pop did that my dad was just the opposite my first car was a 84 v6 firebird it got wracked the second was a 86 5.0 trans am it got wracked damn I wish I had that one back and then I finally got my head out of my azz and I got a 93 trans am gt 5.7 I say gt do to it had the cool azz big wing on the back that car was nice and it was hot but I sold it to go to school in Daytona for motorcycle mechanics that was my whole issue my first car was a motorcycle lol a 81 xs 650 yamaha and then I got an 87 yamaha FZR 1000 that a azz hole did a left in front of my bike and took my out for a few months so I had to get a car and I guess I though I had to show my azz and piss off my dad but I did some growing up in high school and realized that being safe and not showing off was how to live on the bike you didnt show off or your dead I had to do the same in a car I still to this day as a 47 year old guy kick my azz for f#$@ing up that 86 trans am miss that car it was show room nice black on black t tops if I had it today I put a 6.0 with a turbo in it
@@johnrhodes101875 that's awesome. I wanted to get a sport bike right after I graduated, and this time I was 18 so I didn't need him but my dad still got his way. He would not allow me to park a bike in the garage even though there was plenty of room. That was his way of stopping me from getting a bike. He was way too over protective and when I finally got my freedom of adulthood I made horrible choices. It would have been nice to have some of that freedom you got. Being denied every car or bike I wanted I put off going to college. Instead I went to work in construction to make as much money as I could to get the car I was waiting for. I eventually bought a new 97' Z28 30th anniversary edition fully loaded with T-tops at 20 and then put a ton of money into it. By the time I was 22 I sunk over $30,000 of mods into that car. Between the car and the mods I wasted $65,000. Life would have been easier if I went to college with my friends. Don't get me wrong I loved that car, I have dreams that I still own it sometimes. It had 865 hp to the wheels in 1999, it was the fastest car on the road back then, and ran low 9's, sometimes 8's. 8.74 was the fastest time I got out of it. I was so obsessed I didn't see the big picture that if I just went to school and got a job with a degree I would eventually be able to get the same level of car, but I would have had to wait even longer. I put building a life for myself on hold to work my ass off for the money to sink into that Camaro. I know it was a horrible life choice but damn I loved that car.
@@johnrhodes101875those Firebirds were sharp cars at the time. In pops defense I did live in Michigan and a convertible Camaro is not the ideal car for winter. So I did the same thing you did, I bought 750 Suzuki when I was 17. They were so cheap back then! My parents were so pissed! You are so right about sports bikes. It's a blast to ride but everyone I rode with had more experience and balls than me. With 20+friends I often found myself alone at the rear of the pack. I was involved in and saw many close calls from people not paying attention. A good friend got hit on I-696, he never had a chance. Then I lost another friend about 8 months later when he was practicing to audition for a movie. We are putting some things on tape for him. The plan was with no traffic pull out of a sub, do a 180° endo, set the rear tire down and pop a wheelie back into the sub. He was a great rider, and it was a pretty simple trick for him. There was a side street on the other side of the main road. The lady wasn't paying attention. She never yielded, but instead accelerated expecting a sports bike to take off, which he didn't. She didn't have enough time to really get going but it was still enough to take his leg off, and he passed from his injuries about 2 weeks later. I sold that bike about 6 months later. It doesn't matter how good of a rider you are, there are too many stupid and selfish aggressive drivers out there. I loved that bike. Over 25 years later I still have dreams that I have that 750 in my garage.
@@crankychris2 you're right lol. Too late to change it now though. It was a Mach 1 and I don't know why I put said Mark 3. Wasn't there a Lincoln Mark 3 in the 90's? That might have been where I got it from. I appreciate you being normal pointing out my mistake. Everyone loves to act superior and cut others down for anything they can these days so thanks for being real.
Ditto. I have always thought of this Trans Am as one of my all time favorites. It has the looks and speed when not many cars could say that. Never owned a Pontiac unfortunately but beside the old GTO’s this would be the one. Awesome car. Awesome video. Should have bought one when they were in the 20’s. Thanks again for a great channel
I'd take a Buick T-type with the Grand National options so I could get it in all maroon and have room in the back. Grew up with F-bodies, and I love them but they are really impractical. And I'd feel a lot less guilty putting miles on a T-type than one of these.
Impractical how? Drove nice could fit kids in teh back quiet etc. Id never feel guilty about miles? Ill never understand that...its just a car and once GenXs lose interest in older cars nobodys gonna buy them.
The 89 TTA remains one of my favorite Pontiacs of all time. I was a big chief nut & have owned several TA's. I also owned an 87 WE4. Honestly, however, I don't think I can justify what the TTA's are bringing when I have a 21 ZL1 in my garage.
My 5.0 got whipped by one of these alien beautiful cars! I had no idea they put a Grand National motor inside my other car, which was a regular Trans Am. This monster was just a beauty to get beat by and be happy afterward, just like that monster the GTA. Love them all!
Great video. Very informative. Yeah, these TA’s were definitely something else! Idk though, think I’d still rather have that Grand National. Just something about those menacing black beauties that I just love. Although TA’s are some of my favorite cars of all time, especially in the “newer car” category. I always said that out of all newer cars made (from 80s to present) the GN and the 98/02 TAs would be my picks
Beautiful cars!!! But... Uhh so slowly( at least european minds) . 5.0l 135 din hp that size of car an' those old automatic🤯... Of course torque means hellaffa More. Here In finland those body 1&2 are most expensive types. Usually theres some kind of charger under the hood. Turbo Or kompressor. Sometimes manual gearbox.
Generally true, but our Callaway C4 we had when I was growing up was ballistic, even in the early 2000s. With a better fuel system tune and billet wheel turbos it put down 500whp and over 650 lb/ft wtq.
As a street racer on Staten Island in the mid to late 80s, i got to see all the 'new age' Detroit muscle in action on a regular basis. Friends had cars like 5.7 IROCs, Grand Nationals and 5.0 Mustangs and i got to drive them all.... but... there was this Dude from Jersey who had one of these TAs and did some work on it... he would door handle with cars i knew were capable of 11s... the same guy also came out with a Typhoon AND a Cyclone a few times... also stupid fast, of course... hey... my brother...on that note... how about changeling your name to Rare TRUCKS for a few episodes... like the Dodge Lil Red Express with a 360 and W2 heads that was the fastest American car... uhhh... i mean truck... available in 1977...
fun fact, in 1987 the Australian GM owned company Holden produced a tuned port EFI 304ci v8 Commodore sedan for homologation for international Group A touring car racing. The road going car of which only 750 were built was initially to be produced with 260KW (350HP) and 400NM (295 ib/ft) but head office ordered Holden to detune it to 180KW (240 HP) and 380NM (280 ib.ft) . Now we know the reason, cant be more powerful than the vette, even though it didnt compete in the same market
Saw one of these on a semi car hauler today on I-75 headed southbound through Kentucky. It was perfect in appearance. I thought back to seeing this video, and slowed to look it over. Thought id come back and comment.
Pretty sure the RS500 was pushing at least that much. They were claiming 260 HP from only 2 litres and supposedly that's underrated and ~300 is a closer estimate. The R32 GT-R was under 1 bar and is estimated to make around ~320 HP, although they claim 276 as was the style at the time. Makes you wonder how much more power the Buick engine could have made if it breathed better. Better intake efficiency will mean a lower boost number, but higher CFM, so more power.
I owned the 88 gta with the 350 and came across one of these and they absolutely were amazing. Even with upgrades that little turbo would pull away like I let off the gas
In the mid to late 90's you could pick up nice examples of these for $5,000-$6,000 all day. Cars this special are always bound to skyrocket in price though.
I owned car #1218 and with little tweaking and some mods and she was a 12 second car and handled awesome also owed a 1986 grand national and that was also a quick car but the handling was not even on the same level as the tta
You can get it from pontiac Historical Society. The cars came with a special box which includes a letter telling you your build number a cassette key chains and your indy 500 door decals
I've owned many third gen firebirds (currently drive a 91 Formula WS-6 in medium green pearl) and own many others, but I will say tuning Buick 3.8T motors is outrageous. They make utterly huge power, very fun on on-ramps, as they start out NOT slipping, and as you build speed and RPM, they start blowing the tires loose as you reach freeway speed. It's just a fun and funny thing, compared to powerful V8 cars. My mother had a turbo regal. I worked on several, in the mid 2000's, as tuner cars, but I would hands-down choose this engine in a firebird over a regal. -No questions asked. They are so much more fun to drive!
Just found you. Hey good job. Very informative and I love all the videos you included. That's so true, 245 hp lol . Thats why they built the zr1 , because of this car ?. Can you do a video on the zr1 Or that crazy 400hp 4 cylinder dodge built in like 80.. it was in that wraith movie with Charlie Sheen. That engine was insane.
Great video! I've always known the Turbo T/A had different heads from the GNX, but I DIDN'T know the reasoning behind that was because the motor wouldn't fit otherwise. Crazy that I'm just now learning this. I like both cars, but to be honest, I'd take both but ONLY if I were a car collector and were just going to use them for display purposes. Here's the deal... I've owned two 1988 GTAs and I currently own a black 1991 GTA, and for me, the way a car sounds is EXTREMELY important. The exhaust note from my cars sound absofreakinlutely amazing with their deep, chest pounding, earth shaking rumble note! There lies the problem with the TTA and GNX. To me, the exhaust note from those two cars sound disgustingly HORRIBLE!!! I have yet to hear one that I thought sounded good, and that's stock or with a modified exhaust setup. My mindset has always been, whatever a V-6 can do, a V-8 can and will do it better, all while sounding amazing. With THAT said, for cars I'd want to drive and actually enjoy, I'd rather build a GNX clone with a built V-8 like the one The Roadster Shop built. Like I said, I already have a black 1991 GTA with a built 383 c.i. engine, so that takes care of the F-Body platform. I must admit that I'd love to have two more GTAs... a 1988 - 1989 white one like the TTA or a Flame Red (burgundy) one like I had before. Again, great video! I'll have to check out some of your other ones.
I had a"Done"86GT in 1990. A guy nexted to where I worked had one.Turbo GTA was one of the only neck&neck cars at that time. Quick and fast. The only winner was the shop selling VR Gatorbacks😂
I currently own two 20th Aniv Turbo Trans-Ams. I am having both modified, one specifically for the Booneville Salt Flats, the other as a street car. When mine was new, I had lots of fun with it. Even in stock form, its still fast even by today's standards, though back in 1989 and the early 90s, there was nothing short of a Viper or 911 Turbo that could take it. I even raced crotch rocket bikes with it for top end, and often, it was faster on top than the 1000 cc sport bikes of the era.
It was a strange sensation. I had an 87 gn with mods in 2002 and corvettes mustangs always took a car length on me but then boost came on 22psi and blew past them.
The Grand National of course will be my choice no questions asked that blacked out look is legendary il take GN over the trans am or any new high performance pos
Those T/As were sweet! GM has broken their Corvette rule a few times before 1989. In 1987 a Grand National would take a 1987 (C4) Corvette. There's a video of a new, stock GNX taking a Callaway twin turbo Corvette by quite a few car lengths. The video quality was poor but it's pretty cool.
1987, I was 29 years old, and not aware of this ride, At the time, I was rocking a 1969 Chevelle SS 396, and the motor was built by my friend, Dennis Mitchell, he was a drag-racer, THX for posting. subbed. 👊😎
I used to own one and I do miss it. Sold it to someone overseas many years ago and this video made me miss it all over again 😔. Lol thanks for trip down memory lane.
Long time fan here... We had commented on a previous vid about the 77-1/2 Z28/ Any movement on that? Also, I came across a very rare one just yesterday. Being a long time car guy, was shocked it existed. Look into the 1980 M80 Malibu. About 1901 were made, distributed only to North and South Carolina near Darlington Raceway, super interesting car. Check it out please, youll love it and it fits right in here.
An interesting aspect of the 200-4R: Because of how it was designed, it sapped less power being left in the "overdrive" detent than when it's manualized... and I mean a LOT less. As of result, those who understood that model transmission knew not only to build one to be "Nuke-Proof", but also to tune the shift points & firmness to allow the operator to get best performance from it, while never touching the shifter while under extreme acceleration.
@@naughtmeenaym869 About 700 hp max was it and they started breaking parts. High 9 second grand national was about the limit for reliability. Most fast turbo buicks went to a 400.
Worked with a guy in '93 at the Canadian Tire on Erin Mills Parkway in Mississauga ON. that had one of these. We used to go for rips on our lunch break....amazing car.
They really did make that little power, they just had over 300 lb/ft of torque. They were lazy and didn’t rev out enough to make horsepower due to the bad intake manifolds and heads that flow so little it seems intentional.
I've grown up around muscle cars, and at 19 I blow my 68 f100 351w motor up do to it just not reving high as I wanted. Being a 2 stroke bike racer I had to have the Rev, that's when I got a little 94 civic. 120hp was so fun. Now I have a 07 civic si with a k24a swapped in it that makes 250hp with a low gear ratio 6 speed and it so fun. Lsd diff keep both wheels hooking up an blasting throw the turn on back roads is so fun. But it also open up on the highway and run 150+ if I anted to pushed it that far. Wild how cars have changed. LOL
Worked on one when I worked at the dealer from 97 to 02 the guy would bring it in for service which rotating the tires was so fun but got to drive it with the owner to verify the balance was good and it was a fun car to drive.
I remember when I was a kid in like the late 90s there was one of them in the paper in the classified ads for like a man cheap like 10 grand it's a beautiful car. I'd wear rather have the Trans Am
First off, the car came first, the Indy invite came after . It wasn't conceived to be an indy 500 pace car , it's the 20th Anniversary Turbo Trans Am which was then given the honor of becoming the pace car . It was conceived to be a limited edition 3.8 liter turbo . The video narrator is just spewing ignorant bs . The Horsepower story is pretty much accurate though.
Those were different times back in the 80's. Turbo cars had compression ratios of 7 to 1 and wouldn't dare go pass 10lbs of boost! Now cars are running 10.5 to 1 compression and 10 to 12lbs of boost from the factory! Three decades and a ton of technology.
My older brother had a '68 GTO convertible. Was the car of the year that year. Brother was real good with cars. Had it tuned real nice. I was in high school in the mid 70's and was with him once when he pulled the front end off the ground...going into 3rd. I was suitably impressed. Once I peeled myself off the seat, I tried to look back to see the look of the dude hanging out on the trunk of his Chevelle. Too much smoke ;) Low end torque all day! His GTO had something like 100K, maybe 110Kmiles and you couldn't hear a valve. 365HP from the factory and went 0-100 in 10s as I recall. In my Pontiac phase, I ended up getting a '70 LeMans and a 69 Firebird. Those were definitely the days.... living the dream.
My family owned a GM dealer during this time in 1989. If memory serves me, we had a grey TT/A with grey leather interior on the lot. The kids and my mom were not allowed to demo it. Not that my mom would’ve been interested. Her demo was an 89 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser station wagon. My demo as a 19 year old kid attending college? An 89 Oldsmobile Toronado Trofeo. It had one of the first touch screen displays in a vehicle. I can remember how people would stop and talk to me and ask if they could see it. What a time to be alive.
@@williamthornton5856 thank you for the correction. Grey was my dad’s favorite color so a lot of things got ordered in grey. But I can absolutely see it now in my head and was for sure white. Memory isn’t as sharp as it used to be.
Pontiac made 1555 of these and there were two options: hard top verses t tops and leather or cloth interior. The exterior badging faded very quickly on these and the rear spoilers often have paint bubbles.
Get rid of the T-top for less rattle & water drops and remove the rear spoiler which is awful anyway and demolishes the beautiful line of the car which doesn't need it.
@@93notchback Are you a member of a third gen f body forum? Every one of them has a multitude of aero spoiler repair threads specifically for the separation problem, never heard paint peeling mentioned once.
There was one built for testing with a manual trans...it ran low 12s stock. I test drove one in high school 60mph-120mph was insane from my 15year old brain.
I had a set of Turbo TA gold wheels on my S-10. At the time it was so easy and inexpensive to get them. Now good luck finding just one. I got so many compliments with those wheels.
I would love for you to do a video on the Jaguar XJ-S Lynx Eventer. This was a coach built shooting break made on the XJ-S body. And to me it is a thing of beauty. Thanks for the videos!
It’s a GMC/Buick dealership around the corner from my parents house, that used to also carry the Pontiac brand. Every now an then you see who I believe to be the owner or family of the owner parked out front in one of these, it’s near perfection
These cars were quick. Surprisingly quick. I was lucky enough to have driven one. Wasn't pace car badged it was black. Had the hood hump on the driver's side.
Another great video. But there’s one detail you left out. That was the first car in completely stock trim to be the Indy 500 pace car. No performance or handling modifications were made to that car from what you could buy off the showroom floor. You can confirm that with Motor Trend, you don’t have to take my word for it.
Great addition I will pin this comment!
Fact
I'd get both of them but nod to the T/A because it's a better chassis, handler and I'm a Pontiac guy..
I believe you're wrong, it was actually the early 80's turbo charged Trans Am's that were the first one's to do that, I believe the smaller reduced displacement V8 turbo car's that were the last year or two of the previous platform were actually the first factory direct car's to pace Indy, not these ones.
Might be wrong on that but I'm pretty sure I read it in an article I was reading about those car's not long ago.
These Trans Ams always intrigued me 😊
I still want the Grand National. I grew up in the 80's and this car was a poster on my wall.
GM should have never got rid of Pontiac as they built beautiful cars and were powerful at the same time !
Catalina?
Bonneville?
....uh...yea....ok😂
My friend in HS had a Turbo TA and still has it. I spent a lot of time in the passenger seat of that car cruising the strip. He had so much fun trolling 5.0 Mustangs and Camaro Z28's. One of the greatest cars in GM's history.
Super great car and definitely underrated and underappreciated
Ive owned mine since High school and drove it everyday back then.
Oddly...they made about 100 TTA that had no t bar roof and no leather...my understanding these command way more then even the GN X s...gri
@@GordonIgnatowitz Thats how my firends TTA was optioned. Car was mint condition.
13.5 even high 13.s was pretty strong back then. A well driven 89 Z51 vette would run mostly 14s..best ever was 13.9
I have enjoyed the 1989 Turbo Trans Am since they came out in 1989. I have two of them. One is a Cloth Hardtop with 4K miles on it and the second is a Festival Car used at Indy and now has 5K miles on it. The handling is so much better on the 89 TTA than the 87 GNX. With minor tweeks (Performance Chip, Boost increase 20LBS, 100 Octane fuel, after market K&N air filter), the car pulled 300HP on the Dyno and ran in the high 12's, which equated to 380HP at the flywheel. Thank you for the very informative video!
Friend bought a new GN back in the day. Put a downpipe on it, few assorted bolt ons. DIdnt believe it was as fast as he said. Man was I wrong. Drove like a couch on wheels but sure was a factory sleeper if there was one. He removed the badges 2 month he ownedit.
If money was no object, I’ll buy both of them. Great video.
Before Covid, you could get a mint TTA for 22-25k. Car prices in general are obscene today.
I'd rather have the v8 but some engine bays are too small for that so the v6 would be a great option too... fieros and maybe old pickup trucks?
Honestly, you could put a 350 small block into Regal / GN / GNX. It’s the same platform as the Cutlas, GP and Monte. Then again you could do vice versa and put 3.8T in the other cars as well. That video also gave me an idea about putting the Supercharger 3.8 into a 4th generation Firebird. Supercharging is better than turbocharging at least in my opinion because you have no lag with SC. You would still have upgrade the pistons, rods and cam with stronger and lighter parts. Sorry went off into tangent. I would buy both if I had the money. Maybe buy two turbo birds meaning a TTA, Turbo Coupe. Can’t go wrong either way.
That wrap around spoiler, full width tail lights and r-tops had me sold.
Those 3.8L and 3800's that came later were some of the best motors ever made.
My ex had 2001 grand prix with a 3.8 with over 200k miles started blowing white smoke coolant in the oil changed the intake gasket and fixed the problem that was the flaw that send them to junkyard in my opinion anyway the "experts " obviously say blown head gasket but we have the knowledge and experience to know they were great engines I was tempted to Turbo my ex's grand prix but broke up with the 5150 LMAO
Nah bro, the 3800s are crap motors. I have had more trouble with those than just about any other engine. Except maybe an old VW diesel.
@@m4rvinmartian Yeah the 3800 in the first few years were full of tears.. The engineering department didn't give up though. It became a great engine in its last few iterations. A true credit to a hand full of engineers.
No man they were relatively crap. You can buy stock 300HP+ 4-cyl with half the displacement and far more reliable and smoother-running. You gotta stop smokin' that dope, boy!
Most real mechanics totally agree with you. The 3.8 is extremely reliable.
Those GM turbo 6s wreaked absolute HAVOC on Philly’s Front street back in those days. It was shocking to watch the GN and Turbo T/A walking built cars through second gear in stock form. ❤
They must not have been very "built" if a gn was walking it stock lol.
I owned a TTA. What a car. The main thing with it was you better be pointed straight when you floored it. If not you would be passing yourself. Took mine to the Texas Mile. Open exhaust, and race gas, it did 150mph in the standing mile. It was stupid fast, for the time. The ride was firm. Steering was OK, recirculating gearbox was not as good as rack and pinion. The brakes were great. Seats comfortable and held you in the curves. Super passing power on the highway, without even going full throttle. A great looking car.
I raced one of these back in the 90s in my modified 5.0. I didn't know much about it other than the big Turbo emblem on the side... I was shocked at how quick and quiet it was... Beautiful car too
Same, I got beat by a GNX in my 87' 5.0, soon as I slammed 2nd gear, I usually walk from any other car, the Turbo kicked in and it walked away from me!! 😂
Same here, I owned a 73 and 77 T/A and thought they had gone soft like most of the other GM products. One gave me a good run in my modified 1984 Mustang GT 5-speed.
My 5.0 was definitely eaten up by one of these monsters! I still remember my jaw dropping and falling in love with this monster!
@@lucascady4992 GNX were outrigth fast. Remember those cars trolling older iron
My 86 5.0 felt quick even though it wasnt .87 and up would pull away from it in 2nd though.
I remember reading about these in all the car mags back in the day and it blew my mind, man what a car!
The Trans Am hands down. These were great autocross cars in their day. The first F body to go over 150 mph i believe. Imagine this car with a 5 speed manual
> The first F body to go over 150 mph i believe. Imagine this car with a 5 speed manual
Sure. I just have to imagine my twin-turbo Supra but 30mph slower and with one less gear and a rough engine, and lousy quality.
With a manual these would be so fun
@@rarecars3336 Nah, the interior would still be crap and engine still underpowered. My '95 Supra had 330hp stock from 3 liters, and 375hp with the smallest possible modification. AND a 6-speed manual. THAT was a fun car. And it wasn't T-top either, instead a full targa top. You might as well have been in a convertible except if you turned around and looked behind you.
Not really, an automatic allows the turbo to stay spooled. Every time the throttle plates close the boost would be lost thru the blow off, then it would take a few seconds to rebuild. These older turbo cars needed an auto. @@rarecars3336
@@lqr824nobody gives a fuck about your car dude. Stop acting like anybody should know you or your whip 😂
Turbo trans Am, no question. 25 years ago my friend bought one of these, we took it to the track and it was as advertised. Wild ride for sure.
In 1988, I worked for Joe Varde’s IMSA Firestone Firehawk team. It was his first year partnered with Prototype Automotive Services, based in Farmington Hills, Michigan. PAS did all the prototype work on the 20th Anniversary T/A for Pontiac, along with a prototype turbo Bonneville, which later became supercharged before it hit showrooms as the SSEi.
I drove one of the test mules once when they sent me out to get some non-detergent oil to break in some race motors on the dyno. Surprised the hell out of some dude in a new Corvette at a stop light.
Haha poor guy probably sold that vette after LOL
These cars are beautiful, I love them. The science of it all just makes sense. The power, the handling, and the lightweight. Thanks for sharing, captain.
Thanks for watching!
& more aerodynamic than its modern equivalent based on the Camaro submarine without windows .
These were the best Buick 3.8 turbo cars ever made. Particularly had assembled.
My God the cars we could have had. Don't get me wrong I love the Corvette and especially the unloved C4 but damn did it hold some stuff back. Pontiac always seemed to get the shaft too. Imaginehe the Fiero with money behind it and without the Corvette to hamstring it. Just look at what they turn into when you combine an 88 (the only one without the shitty Chevette suspension) and a stock l67. Why someone didn't just say "Instead of making these other cars slower why don't you make the Corvette faster" is beyond me.
The fiero was a sad one they could have really made that car super special
@@rarecars3336I had a friend in high school in the early 90’s that had an ‘88 Fiero, retrofitted with a modified GM 5.0 liter V8. There was nothing short of an exotic at the time, that could take that thing down. GM seems to have a tradition of getting so close to the mark and then 💩ing the bed.
love the Fiero more so the v6 body with that big open-air hole in the front of the nose just a hot sexy car and they were just getting the bugs worked out of them the whole, they chough on fire thing hurt them but they were just getting over that bug and then they stopped just sad now people are buying them to make Lambo kit cars lol
Had a handful of C4s inc a ZR-1. Favorite was an 89 Z52 car did everything pretty well. PRoblem is finding one that isnt hacked up to death. Lot of car for the money
TTA, But to me the Buick looks a little more cooler W/ all the black look and more people fear it. The TTA is more my style leave them guessing what you have got under the hood.
That's money in the bank.💲
Lots of money to mod the TTA with!
I love this generation f body!😍
Congrats to 30 videos.
It would be a hard decision but I think I would go with the TA.
I worked for a single-point Pontiac Dealer in the 80's and early 90's. A lot of these cars did not sell at the dealerships they were originally sent to and ended up at factory auctions with MSO (Manufacturers Statement of Origin) and bought by any Pontiac dealer. If my memory is correct there were 1554 of these built in total, 1500 were T-Tops, 50 were hardtop, 3 were track cars and 1 prototype/proof of concept that was likely an 88 and was crushed.
This part will make you sick. For a short time these were available and we had 7 of the cars that we bought at auction. I think 2 were hard tops and the rest were T-top. We sold all of them for 20k or less and all had less than 750 miles on the odometer. One ting I found that was odd and may have contributed to the lack of interest was that most of the cars were shipped with the door decals, fender and hood badges not installed on the vehicles, but were in a parts bag in the vehicle and a couple went missing. However, the Turbo badge under the rear hatch keyhole is from the factory. You could see an un-badged 89 Turbo hardtop, especially in southwest Ohio. In my opinion, these cars weren't unpopular or unliked, they were unknown. They were not set apart from your typical GTA at the time but were more expensive without the benefit of training materials for the sales department to set it apart from the others
Very intersting cars.
I do think 31k as an MSRP did probably push some buyers away, but great insights thanks for sharing!
Great story. I own #491 with 8.6k miles all stock and original. It is an excellent car and a beast. If money was no object I would own both the TTA and a GNX.
Wow that's a real nice example of one then, congrats on getting such a cool ride!
You should post a video on your car! I went for a ride in one about 20 years ago. What a awesome car.@@rarecars3336
Nice!! Put plenty of miles on it, driven regularly is the best maintenance you can give it
These had a reputation growing up for me (graduated in 05) of being kind of slow. Never understood why people thought that, because of the GNX drivetrain I knew it was quick.
Back in 1987 I owned a Grand National with the 3.8 turbo and I can say it was one of the fastest production cars at that time (including faster than a Corvette.) It is funny since at work, a husband bought a new Vette and his wife bought a new Grand National and they raced and he was p*ssed that her car was faster than his. 🙂
Grand National in general gentleman. The GNX was 547 Grand Nationals sent to ASC/McLaren for a lil loving. Same 3.8 litre Turbocharged V6 in the Turbo T & T Tyoe Regals also. Not just GNX. 👍🏻✌🏻
@@JT-sl3ui funny that the turbo 3.1 Grand Prixs ASC/McLaren did are nowhere near as valuable
@@JT-sl3ui When I bought my GN which was on the dealers showroom floor, they had a GNX beside it too. At $30K it just was out of my price range. (It would have been a great investment though, looking at what they are going for now.)
@@JT-sl3ui Very true, GN looked to cool in that maphia black completely overshadowed the Regal
Never saw ONE of these on the road. Only saw one on display in 89, inside of a Mall. My buddy, who drove an SS Monte, knew exactly what was under the hood. As he constantly lost light-to-light drags, with Grand Nationals.
When I was a kid I saved all my money for 4 years and I had accumulated enough to buy this car when I turned 17. My dad was scared to get me a sport car, so anything with a V8 was out. So my focus went to this rare turbo Firebird and a Tbird SC, both with a V6. I found a Firebird in my price range with some miles and interior damage, but it was well below market value, and in my price range in 1995. So I sold my dad on it and we took a 500-mile trip to take it for a test drive with cash in hand. I sold him on the fact that it was only a V6 auto trans like he wanted but when he got on the throttle and 2nd gear kicked in the tires spun and that car just took off. I still remember the oh shit surprise on my dad's face. He came from the old school V8 and blowers and had no clue what a turbo was. When I heard those tires break I knew he wasn't going to let me have it no matter what I said to try and talk him into it. I ended up with a T-bird SC for much less money instead. I use the leftover cash to change the pulley with a tune and that SC became faster than every V8 in the school parking lot. That 3.8 V6 walked an Iroc Z, 5.0 GT and Hacthback, Typhoon, and an older Mustang Mark 8. So despite all of my dad's efforts I still ended up with a car he felt was too fast. Now when I see the value of this rare Firebird I still give my dad a hard time for keeping that car away from me and failing at why he did it whenever I see the crazy price tag an 89 Turbo Firebird today. I would have kept that car. If he had known what I was going to do to that SC he would have not let me get that car either. Ford detuned that car to be slower than a Mustang just like GM did to the Iroc Z and TA. But with a slight modification with a tune that my dad wasn't aware was possible I was able make that heavy T-Bird with a small blown V6 almost as fast as the Firebird he denied me. That was a rare car and that's why I wanted it so bad. Other people had TA's but not like that one. It was a car I would have kept, the SC isn't never was or will be in the same class and I knew I missing out on something special over a speed issue that became a mute point in the end.
that is sad your pop did that my dad was just the opposite my first car was a 84 v6 firebird it got wracked the second was a 86 5.0 trans am it got wracked damn I wish I had that one back and then I finally got my head out of my azz and I got a 93 trans am gt 5.7 I say gt do to it had the cool azz big wing on the back that car was nice and it was hot but I sold it to go to school in Daytona for motorcycle mechanics that was my whole issue my first car was a motorcycle lol a 81 xs 650 yamaha and then I got an 87 yamaha FZR 1000 that a azz hole did a left in front of my bike and took my out for a few months so I had to get a car and I guess I though I had to show my azz and piss off my dad but I did some growing up in high school and realized that being safe and not showing off was how to live on the bike you didnt show off or your dead I had to do the same in a car I still to this day as a 47 year old guy kick my azz for f#$@ing up that 86 trans am miss that car it was show room nice black on black t tops if I had it today I put a 6.0 with a turbo in it
@@johnrhodes101875 that's awesome. I wanted to get a sport bike right after I graduated, and this time I was 18 so I didn't need him but my dad still got his way. He would not allow me to park a bike in the garage even though there was plenty of room. That was his way of stopping me from getting a bike. He was way too over protective and when I finally got my freedom of adulthood I made horrible choices. It would have been nice to have some of that freedom you got. Being denied every car or bike I wanted I put off going to college. Instead I went to work in construction to make as much money as I could to get the car I was waiting for. I eventually bought a new 97' Z28 30th anniversary edition fully loaded with T-tops at 20 and then put a ton of money into it. By the time I was 22 I sunk over $30,000 of mods into that car. Between the car and the mods I wasted $65,000. Life would have been easier if I went to college with my friends. Don't get me wrong I loved that car, I have dreams that I still own it sometimes. It had 865 hp to the wheels in 1999, it was the fastest car on the road back then, and ran low 9's, sometimes 8's. 8.74 was the fastest time I got out of it. I was so obsessed I didn't see the big picture that if I just went to school and got a job with a degree I would eventually be able to get the same level of car, but I would have had to wait even longer. I put building a life for myself on hold to work my ass off for the money to sink into that Camaro. I know it was a horrible life choice but damn I loved that car.
A Mustang Mark 8? Perhaps you meant a Mach One...
@@johnrhodes101875those Firebirds were sharp cars at the time. In pops defense I did live in Michigan and a convertible Camaro is not the ideal car for winter. So I did the same thing you did, I bought 750 Suzuki when I was 17. They were so cheap back then! My parents were so pissed! You are so right about sports bikes. It's a blast to ride but everyone I rode with had more experience and balls than me. With 20+friends I often found myself alone at the rear of the pack. I was involved in and saw many close calls from people not paying attention. A good friend got hit on I-696, he never had a chance. Then I lost another friend about 8 months later when he was practicing to audition for a movie. We are putting some things on tape for him. The plan was with no traffic pull out of a sub, do a 180° endo, set the rear tire down and pop a wheelie back into the sub. He was a great rider, and it was a pretty simple trick for him. There was a side street on the other side of the main road. The lady wasn't paying attention. She never yielded, but instead accelerated expecting a sports bike to take off, which he didn't. She didn't have enough time to really get going but it was still enough to take his leg off, and he passed from his injuries about 2 weeks later. I sold that bike about 6 months later. It doesn't matter how good of a rider you are, there are too many stupid and selfish aggressive drivers out there. I loved that bike. Over 25 years later I still have dreams that I have that 750 in my garage.
@@crankychris2 you're right lol. Too late to change it now though. It was a Mach 1 and I don't know why I put said Mark 3. Wasn't there a Lincoln Mark 3 in the 90's? That might have been where I got it from. I appreciate you being normal pointing out my mistake. Everyone loves to act superior and cut others down for anything they can these days so thanks for being real.
The T/A hands down!
Congratulations on your growth of the channel!!!
Thank you! It has been a wild ride so far and I am soooo happy everyone watches
Ditto. I have always thought of this Trans Am as one of my all time favorites. It has the looks and speed when not many cars could say that. Never owned a Pontiac unfortunately but beside the old GTO’s this would be the one. Awesome car. Awesome video. Should have bought one when they were in the 20’s. Thanks again for a great channel
My favorite 80’s muscle/sporty car
I'd take a Buick T-type with the Grand National options so I could get it in all maroon and have room in the back. Grew up with F-bodies, and I love them but they are really impractical. And I'd feel a lot less guilty putting miles on a T-type than one of these.
Sounds like the one that Vice Grip Garage put a video of the other day
Impractical how? Drove nice could fit kids in teh back quiet etc. Id never feel guilty about miles?
Ill never understand that...its just a car and once GenXs lose interest in older cars nobodys gonna buy them.
The 89 TTA remains one of my favorite Pontiacs of all time. I was a big chief nut & have owned several TA's. I also owned an 87 WE4. Honestly, however, I don't think I can justify what the TTA's are bringing when I have a 21 ZL1 in my garage.
That is fair the ZL1 is more car than any TTA ever will be and the prices for those TAs are creeping up there
I'm new to this channel and I sincerely would like to express how phenomenal this video is. Good job, I look forward to seeing future uploads.
My 5.0 got whipped by one of these alien beautiful cars! I had no idea they put a Grand National motor inside my other car, which was a regular Trans Am. This monster was just a beauty to get beat by and be happy afterward, just like that monster the GTA. Love them all!
The boosted T/A w/ t-tops for sure... and a heavy metal mix tape \m/\m/
Ultimate 80s vibes
Both the TTA and the Buick Grand National were awesome cars !
Great video. Very informative. Yeah, these TA’s were definitely something else! Idk though, think I’d still rather have that Grand National. Just something about those menacing black beauties that I just love. Although TA’s are some of my favorite cars of all time, especially in the “newer car” category. I always said that out of all newer cars made (from 80s to present) the GN and the 98/02 TAs would be my picks
Been driving one of these for over 33 years. Fast and easy to maintain
I've been a Trans Am junkie since smokey and the bandit. I'd take a TA over a buick any day
Love the buick, but I agree the TA just has that special something!
It’s because of Smokey and the Bandit that I will never buy a used T/A. People ragged the hell out those cars after that movie came out.
@@darkstar92772 Exactly why I retro modded mine, took years and more $ than its worth but driving those cars it just fun
Beautiful cars!!! But... Uhh so slowly( at least european minds) . 5.0l 135 din hp that size of car an' those old automatic🤯... Of course torque means hellaffa More. Here In finland those body 1&2 are most expensive types. Usually theres some kind of charger under the hood. Turbo Or kompressor. Sometimes manual gearbox.
I wouldn’t take one if someone gave it to me 😂
A buddy of mine bought one of these turbo T/As brand new.That thing was FAST!
I can't image rolling around in one of those in 89, must have been sweet
crushing the Corvette from the late '80's isn't much of a problem. I did that with a 1968 Mustang 302 I built in the driveway as a teenager.
Really. I like how revisionary looking back at these cars makes them bigger and badder than they actually were.
Generally true, but our Callaway C4 we had when I was growing up was ballistic, even in the early 2000s. With a better fuel system tune and billet wheel turbos it put down 500whp and over 650 lb/ft wtq.
Lol exactly… I’ve got a civic that crushes 80s vettes
@@Tangelos Yeah I like those.
i was lucky enough to see one this last summer...beautiful car and the owner knew it was special. couldn't have been in better hands.
As a street racer on Staten Island in the mid to late 80s, i got to see all the 'new age' Detroit muscle in action on a regular basis. Friends had cars like 5.7 IROCs, Grand Nationals and 5.0 Mustangs and i got to drive them all.... but... there was this Dude from Jersey who had one of these TAs and did some work on it... he would door handle with cars i knew were capable of 11s... the same guy also came out with a Typhoon AND a Cyclone a few times... also stupid fast, of course... hey... my brother...on that note... how about changeling your name to Rare TRUCKS for a few episodes... like the Dodge Lil Red Express with a 360 and W2 heads that was the fastest American car... uhhh... i mean truck... available in 1977...
....thoughts going in my head
@@rarecars3336 Lightnings, Typhoons and Cyclones... LOL
Syclone, with an S.
Mine was a blast back in the day. Good times...
It's insane to think the value cars have gone up in just 23 years. Absolutely mind boggling...
fun fact, in 1987 the Australian GM owned company Holden produced a tuned port EFI 304ci v8 Commodore sedan for homologation for international Group A touring car racing. The road going car of which only 750 were built was initially to be produced with 260KW (350HP) and 400NM (295 ib/ft) but head office ordered Holden to detune it to 180KW (240 HP) and 380NM (280 ib.ft) . Now we know the reason, cant be more powerful than the vette, even though it didnt compete in the same market
Saw one of these on a semi car hauler today on I-75 headed southbound through Kentucky. It was perfect in appearance. I thought back to seeing this video, and slowed to look it over. Thought id come back and comment.
Wow thanks for giving the video a second watch - crazy how that happens. I see a car and i also immediately go back to youtube to see more
Over 1 bar of boost on a standard turbo car was virtually unheard of back in the 80s 😊
Yeah when I first heard that was the boost they were running I was stunned
....WITH an intercooler.
Pretty sure the RS500 was pushing at least that much. They were claiming 260 HP from only 2 litres and supposedly that's underrated and ~300 is a closer estimate.
The R32 GT-R was under 1 bar and is estimated to make around ~320 HP, although they claim 276 as was the style at the time.
Makes you wonder how much more power the Buick engine could have made if it breathed better. Better intake efficiency will mean a lower boost number, but higher CFM, so more power.
The last hooray for the awesome, legendary turbo Buick V6. Proud ‘87 GN seeker 😊👍🏻✌🏻💙🇺🇸🦅
Turbo Trans Am all the way!
I owned the 88 gta with the 350 and came across one of these and they absolutely were amazing. Even with upgrades that little turbo would pull away like I let off the gas
In the mid to late 90's you could pick up nice examples of these for $5,000-$6,000 all day. Cars this special are always bound to skyrocket in price though.
Wow that is a lot of car for the money at $5,000
That's absolutely not true. Ive owned a Turbo Trans Am since 1991. They were 31k new, they were not 6k ever
GNX - managing turbo lag takes the fun out of cornering for me, so might as well just be for straight line and better visibility
I owned car #1218 and with little tweaking and some mods and she was a 12 second car and handled awesome also owed a 1986 grand national and that was also a quick car but the handling was not even on the same level as the tta
Sweet that you had one, thanks for sharing your experience with it!
Where can you see what number TTA you have?
You can get it from pontiac Historical Society. The cars came with a special box which includes a letter telling you your build number a cassette key chains and your indy 500 door decals
1987 GNX was called the "Corvette Killer" ...
If money were no object, I'd choose BOTH!!
I've owned many third gen firebirds (currently drive a 91 Formula WS-6 in medium green pearl) and own many others, but I will say tuning Buick 3.8T motors is outrageous. They make utterly huge power, very fun on on-ramps, as they start out NOT slipping, and as you build speed and RPM, they start blowing the tires loose as you reach freeway speed. It's just a fun and funny thing, compared to powerful V8 cars. My mother had a turbo regal. I worked on several, in the mid 2000's, as tuner cars, but I would hands-down choose this engine in a firebird over a regal. -No questions asked. They are so much more fun to drive!
Just found you. Hey good job. Very informative and I love all the videos you included.
That's so true, 245 hp lol . Thats why they built the zr1 , because of this car ?.
Can you do a video on the zr1
Or that crazy 400hp 4 cylinder dodge built in like 80.. it was in that wraith movie with Charlie Sheen. That engine was insane.
Definitely will do one on the ZR1 at some point!
Buick gnx i grew up with one of these i really miss it
Great video! I've always known the Turbo T/A had different heads from the GNX, but I DIDN'T know the reasoning behind that was because the motor wouldn't fit otherwise. Crazy that I'm just now learning this. I like both cars, but to be honest, I'd take both but ONLY if I were a car collector and were just going to use them for display purposes.
Here's the deal... I've owned two 1988 GTAs and I currently own a black 1991 GTA, and for me, the way a car sounds is EXTREMELY important. The exhaust note from my cars sound absofreakinlutely amazing with their deep, chest pounding, earth shaking rumble note! There lies the problem with the TTA and GNX. To me, the exhaust note from those two cars sound disgustingly HORRIBLE!!! I have yet to hear one that I thought sounded good, and that's stock or with a modified exhaust setup.
My mindset has always been, whatever a V-6 can do, a V-8 can and will do it better, all while sounding amazing. With THAT said, for cars I'd want to drive and actually enjoy, I'd rather build a GNX clone with a built V-8 like the one The Roadster Shop built. Like I said, I already have a black 1991 GTA with a built 383 c.i. engine, so that takes care of the F-Body platform.
I must admit that I'd love to have two more GTAs... a 1988 - 1989 white one like the TTA or a Flame Red (burgundy) one like I had before. Again, great video! I'll have to check out some of your other ones.
A better choice would be last of the 4Bbls, an L69 , t5 car with 4 wheel discs and factory 3.73 gears. Lot of fun and all the noise
Or an aftermarket waste gate for the fighter jet whistle
Personally, I'd like a K-swapped 3rd gen.
I had a"Done"86GT in 1990. A guy nexted to where I worked had one.Turbo GTA was one of the only neck&neck cars at that time. Quick and fast. The only winner was the shop selling VR Gatorbacks😂
Turbo T/A Alllllll day long!!!!!! But I'd have to make it stick shift!
I think that would be the play, t56 6 speed would be perfect
Turbo TA, hands down. There are some for sale that are reasonably priced. I'll keep my eyes open for a car from the SW.
turbo trans am
This was fantastic. I wonder how many of these I have seen and just assumed were GTA's from that year. Great episode.
Not many it is rare 1,550 made
I currently own two 20th Aniv Turbo Trans-Ams. I am having both modified, one specifically for the Booneville Salt Flats, the other as a street car. When mine was new, I had lots of fun with it. Even in stock form, its still fast even by today's standards, though back in 1989 and the early 90s, there was nothing short of a Viper or 911 Turbo that could take it. I even raced crotch rocket bikes with it for top end, and often, it was faster on top than the 1000 cc sport bikes of the era.
Beating a 1000cc bike in your TA must have been a great feeling!
@@rarecars3336 Yeah, but couldn't do it until 150 +
It was a strange sensation. I had an 87 gn with mods in 2002 and corvettes mustangs always took a car length on me but then boost came on 22psi and blew past them.
Love the videos man, keep them going. Has anyone said you sound a lot like Mike Musto?
Yes haha its so funny I get that a lot and I am flattered, Mike Musto makes killer content
@@rarecars3336 it’s meant as a very high compliment. Your content is truly top notch!
The Grand National of course will be my choice no questions asked that blacked out look is legendary il take GN over the trans am or any new high performance pos
Loved the 80s cars,had a V8 1985 Pontiac Grand Prix,in my early 20s,wish I still had it.
Those T/As were sweet! GM has broken their Corvette rule a few times before 1989. In 1987 a Grand National would take a 1987 (C4) Corvette. There's a video of a new, stock GNX taking a Callaway twin turbo Corvette by quite a few car lengths. The video quality was poor but it's pretty cool.
The SD 455 Trans ams and Formulas ,
I had no idea this car existed. Such an awesome car. Pontiac always made fun cars up until their demise.
Turbocharger first appeared on Trans Am in 1980. And they produced 6000 turbo Trans Ams that year.
1987, I was 29 years old, and not aware of this ride, At the time, I was rocking a 1969 Chevelle SS 396, and the motor was built by my friend, Dennis Mitchell, he was a drag-racer, THX for posting. subbed. 👊😎
Thanks for subbing! And hey a big block Chevelle is still a MEAN ride!
The syclone.
My friend took me to the dealership to see it on the showroom floor. I love it
I used to own one and I do miss it. Sold it to someone overseas many years ago and this video made me miss it all over again 😔. Lol thanks for trip down memory lane.
I owned 2 Regal T Types and preferred it over the GN. Id really like to see how a similarly prepared suspension in a G body would compare to the TA
These F body cars were really cool. Those Pontiac signature gold snowflake wheels are iconic.
Long time fan here... We had commented on a previous vid about the 77-1/2 Z28/ Any movement on that? Also, I came across a very rare one just yesterday. Being a long time car guy, was shocked it existed. Look into the 1980 M80 Malibu. About 1901 were made, distributed only to North and South Carolina near Darlington Raceway, super interesting car. Check it out please, youll love it and it fits right in here.
I had two of these in the late 80’s early 90’s. Wished I still had them 😢. Fun cars.
An interesting aspect of the 200-4R: Because of how it was designed, it sapped less power being left in the "overdrive" detent than when it's manualized... and I mean a LOT less. As of result, those who understood that model transmission knew not only to build one to be "Nuke-Proof", but also to tune the shift points & firmness to allow the operator to get best performance from it, while never touching the shifter while under extreme acceleration.
Totally wrong.
Untrue
The 2004R was a POS even though these got some OEM mods.
The only reason it was used was because they needed an overdrive and it fit the car.
@@naughtmeenaym869 About 700 hp max was it and they started breaking parts. High 9 second grand national was about the limit for reliability. Most fast turbo buicks went to a 400.
@@rolltide9547 Yeah I agree. The 200-4R is not a performance transmission at all EVER.
Worked with a guy in '93 at the Canadian Tire on Erin Mills Parkway in Mississauga ON. that had one of these. We used to go for rips on our lunch break....amazing car.
The 1990 Pontiac GTA looked very similar. Remember driving one with the 5.7 rated at 235hp. No way that car made only 235hp.
Junk 235 HP WOW!
They really did make that little power, they just had over 300 lb/ft of torque. They were lazy and didn’t rev out enough to make horsepower due to the bad intake manifolds and heads that flow so little it seems intentional.
@@Tangelosjust like the 5.0 mustangs from back in the day, good torque but no horsepower
I think its european net hp(din) with generator, kompressori, belts aso. Not the u.s brt hp(sae) with out them
. Net hp is the only right one.
I've grown up around muscle cars, and at 19 I blow my 68 f100 351w motor up do to it just not reving high as I wanted. Being a 2 stroke bike racer I had to have the Rev, that's when I got a little 94 civic. 120hp was so fun. Now I have a 07 civic si with a k24a swapped in it that makes 250hp with a low gear ratio 6 speed and it so fun. Lsd diff keep both wheels hooking up an blasting throw the turn on back roads is so fun. But it also open up on the highway and run 150+ if I anted to pushed it that far. Wild how cars have changed. LOL
Worked on one when I worked at the dealer from 97 to 02 the guy would bring it in for service which rotating the tires was so fun but got to drive it with the owner to verify the balance was good and it was a fun car to drive.
I think a 4th gen Camaro or Trans Am convertible with an all aluminum Ls1 is the best deal for the dollar.
They area great value per dollar
I remember when I was a kid in like the late 90s there was one of them in the paper in the classified ads for like a man cheap like 10 grand it's a beautiful car. I'd wear rather have the Trans Am
I would take the GNC. It just looks wicked.
Trans-Am definitely! Great video! Miss the PMD very much.
First off, the car came first, the Indy invite came after . It wasn't conceived to be an indy 500 pace car , it's the 20th Anniversary Turbo Trans Am which was then given the honor of becoming the pace car . It was conceived to be a limited edition 3.8 liter turbo . The video narrator is just spewing ignorant bs . The Horsepower story is pretty much accurate though.
yep 100 %
It would absolutely be the Turbo TA! It ranks higher tan the 1976 6.6 TA Blackbird!
16PSI? I do 20PSI on my way to work everyday. That’s my low boost setting.
Congratulations
Those were different times back in the 80's. Turbo cars had compression ratios of 7 to 1 and wouldn't dare go pass 10lbs of boost!
Now cars are running 10.5 to 1 compression and 10 to 12lbs of boost from the factory!
Three decades and a ton of technology.
My older brother had a '68 GTO convertible. Was the car of the year that year. Brother was real good with cars. Had it tuned real nice. I was in high school in the mid 70's and was with him once when he pulled the front end off the ground...going into 3rd. I was suitably impressed. Once I peeled myself off the seat, I tried to look back to see the look of the dude hanging out on the trunk of his Chevelle. Too much smoke ;) Low end torque all day!
His GTO had something like 100K, maybe 110Kmiles and you couldn't hear a valve. 365HP from the factory and went 0-100 in 10s as I recall. In my Pontiac phase, I ended up getting a '70 LeMans and a 69 Firebird.
Those were definitely the days.... living the dream.
If money is no option I want them both
Fair enough lol!
My family owned a GM dealer during this time in 1989. If memory serves me, we had a grey TT/A with grey leather interior on the lot. The kids and my mom were not allowed to demo it. Not that my mom would’ve been interested. Her demo was an 89 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser station wagon. My demo as a 19 year old kid attending college? An 89 Oldsmobile Toronado Trofeo. It had one of the first touch screen displays in a vehicle. I can remember how people would stop and talk to me and ask if they could see it. What a time to be alive.
Grey or biege interior, but on the outside they were ONLY made in white GM 338 white. No other exterior color was ever made.
@@williamthornton5856 thank you for the correction. Grey was my dad’s favorite color so a lot of things got ordered in grey. But I can absolutely see it now in my head and was for sure white. Memory isn’t as sharp as it used to be.
Pontiac made 1555 of these and there were two options: hard top verses t tops and leather or cloth interior. The exterior badging faded very quickly on these and the rear spoilers often have paint bubbles.
Get rid of the T-top for less rattle & water drops and remove the rear spoiler which is awful anyway and demolishes the beautiful line of the car which doesn't need it.
They don't have paint bubbles- they have spoiler bubbles. It's the rubber peeling off the spoiler frame because the frame inside is rusting.
@@cabaneencac5168 It was literally the best looking factory spoiler on any American car in the 80's.
@@henryknox4511 never saw any rubber peeling on mine. It was paint
@@93notchback Are you a member of a third gen f body forum? Every one of them has a multitude of aero spoiler repair threads specifically for the separation problem, never heard paint peeling mentioned once.
I have a 87 GN stroked to a 4.1 , GN1 heads ect…
Got lucky and picked up a 89 Turbo Trans Am barn find! Cleaned up nice!
Wow that is quite the stable of cars!
There was one built for testing with a manual trans...it ran low 12s stock. I test drove one in high school 60mph-120mph was insane from my 15year old brain.
Back in the 80s these cars had to feel like a rocketship
I had a set of Turbo TA gold wheels on my S-10.
At the time it was so easy and inexpensive to get them.
Now good luck finding just one.
I got so many compliments with those wheels.
I would love for you to do a video on the Jaguar XJ-S Lynx Eventer.
This was a coach built shooting break made on the XJ-S body.
And to me it is a thing of beauty.
Thanks for the videos!
It’s a GMC/Buick dealership around the corner from my parents house, that used to also carry the Pontiac brand. Every now an then you see who I believe to be the owner or family of the owner parked out front in one of these, it’s near perfection
If money was no object, I'd have both.
Great answer
These cars were quick. Surprisingly quick. I was lucky enough to have driven one. Wasn't pace car badged it was black. Had the hood hump on the driver's side.