Tickle Fingers that is honestly what they were trying to reorganize themselves into, however a few slight issues was what to do with Saab then? GM was pretty much competing against both Buick and Cadillac with Saab, so that would have had to go anyway :/ Back to the point though, they were trying to reorganize it like that mostly (however trucks would stay more Chevy, and GMC would turn more like the Buick of trucks/SUV's with their Denali lineup, which is actually what probably saved GMC) however them going bankrupt got in the way...
Oh sure. Then Chevrolet, Cadillac, and the other good stuff should have gone down with the Pontiac & Saturn ship. I loved Pontiac, but understand simple marketing and economics. Besides, even without the bankruptcy, Pontiac should have been dropped a long time ago, cool cars and all, because it had never really pulled its own weight in sales and even worse in profit margin. It's about the money and not illogical emotions, for emotions have nothing to do with logic. I miss my Trans Am WS6, but can always buy a new Camaro and have it converted into a Firebird/Trans Am by one of those silly conversion shops/tuners. No thanks. I'm just glad to have my new Corvette, which wouldn't be there if Pontiac wasn't justifiably gotten rid of. Sorry for that dose of reality, but your emotions don't have any bearing on viable decision making. Why don't you go, buy the name, and start another automotive company? Just this time, pay attention to the cost of manufacturing, marketing, supply, demand, and other not so trivial areas that make a viable company so it doesn't tank again. Nice vid, though. I wouldn't mind finding one of these in good condition and at a fairly decent price. IDK about it being cheap, though, considering the rarity.
@@vadimlevitin4382 no demand? Maybe it's just because of where I live but check your local Craigslist and see that there is more Pontiac vehicles on there than anything. The amount of early 2000s Grand Prix, Grand Am, Trans Sports, Azteks, etc. is crazy. They were in demand when new and in demand now which is why you see so many on the streets. People don't buy sporty cars if they are not useable on a daily basis. Pontiac was just that. Not to even MENTION that all cars now, no matter the brand at a moving into a "sporty" approach. Pontiac was the leader of that in the early 2000s. Taking a W body 3800 powered Buick and making it into a 2 Dr coupe Grand Prix with a high output supercharged v6 that got great mpg and still whooped up on any other useable economical car. Just one example
Wrong. The 1986 Corvette convertible pace car had no modifications, other than I think the color of the wheels. They literally just pulled a car off the line and put the logos on it.
Just 8 years prior, the 1981 Trans Am had a Turbo V8 that took nearly twice as long to reach 60 and got 13 mpg.. A lot of progress took place in the 80s.
As much as the emissions regulations (among other regulations) hurt car performance early on, it really forced manufacturers to make powerful cars that were better for the environment and got better gas mileage. I suppose in the end, we all benefitted
desertrat5522 ironic,indeed that the turbo 3.8 in the 1989 Trans Am made it through the 1/4 mile in 13.2 secs...and prob got 19 mpg in the city with the SFI system!!
desertrat5522 Yes the 301 (4.9) turbo Trans Ams of 1981 did 0-60 in around 8 seconds flat and had 1/4 mile times in the mid 16s. However, you have to understand that the turbo wasn’t there with the intention of major performance. The 301 turbo was designed with low emissions (for the time) in mind. And the fact was, it was quicker than a lot of other cars at the time even with it’s restrictions. The 1980-1981 Turbo Trans AMs were also 300+ lbs heavier than the 1989 model. I think that if the 1980-81 Turbo Trans Ams had been offered with a 4 speed manual and 3.55 rear gears, it would have been a much faster car. Perhaps then it would have gone 0-60 in 6.5 seconds, 1/4 mile in low 15s, and 17 mpg.
Always smile when I see a Firebird on the highways. It's one of those cars I lusted after as a kid in the 80's. Some of those current Camaro-to-Firebird conversions are pretty damn cool.
Yeah, the 02 WS6 is an all time favorite. But the Buick GNX and Syclone/Typhoon are so BEAST. They were at the time the fastest vehicle available in America exceeding Ferrari, Porsche and Corvette in acceleration. I would take a WS6 or a Buick GNX over most RWD power cars available today.
With those Honeycomb tails and flip-up quad headlights?! Forget about it, bro. Tasty fucking car right there. If I didn't have my 94 Probe GT in excellent condition, I'd have T/A or Firebird, no doubt.
whoohaaXL Yeah this rare Turbo boosted T/A was definitely a beast. And it only got better in performance from time FWD. Don't forget the 2002 WS6. That was truly a beast. Oh yeah, you sent the Ebay link. Damn, I just got my RX8 and 2010 Mazdaspeed 3 paid for. I need to wait a year or so before I go shopping for something again. That WS6 is top on my list. Cheers!
The typhoons and cyclones had different motors they had 4.3 liter v6 turbo which the 4.3 is a 350 with the 2 end cylinders cut off which is good because you couod put any transmission that a 350 takes onto them and you can get so many parts for the 350 for next to nothing so those motors are better parts wise if you need anything down the line than the 3.8 which is a more rare engine i mean the 350/4.3 you cpuld find part off anything from the late 50s till now
Actually they seem to sell for about the same number of USA dollars($30k) as new. Which means in real depreciated 2017 dollars they sell for about $15K 1989 dollars. So it was actually, like most cars, NOT an investment that earned money. They would need to sell for about $60K JUST to break even.
Comparatively speaking, it has done better than the 89 T/A or Corvette or just about any other 1989 car for that matter. But like most cars, they are a terrible investment.
Made me sad to think Pontiac is gone forever. Loved the '89 TTA when it came out! What a great concept, put the awesome GN motor in a more capable chassis. I believe most publications got quarter mile times in the 13.5 second range. The GN motor was positioned further back and took weight of the nose giving it better handling dynamics than the V8 GTA. If I recall, it was also the first pace car that needed no modifications to be able to pace Indy. I owned a GN and loved the turbo whistle and rush of torque when the boost kicked in. Flooring it at 40 mph, the trans would kick down, tires squealing, with the acceleration pressing me back into the seat. Such a great motor and car for its day. Wish I still had it.
GM made a mistake getting rid of Pontiac. If it had to be one of them it should've been Buick. There is a huge market for the younger generation right now and Pontiac fit that niche. In 15-20 years when most of the loyal Buick folks are gone Buick will suffer too.
jpratx No GM didn't make a mistake getting rid of Pontiac from a business standpoint. BUICK is a VERY popular car in China due to the Emperor owning a collection way back in the 1930's so a BUICK in China is legendary. There are a LOT of Chinese starting to buy cars and even though Pontiac outsold BUICK here in the USA in China there's a LOT of money to be made!!
Most people don't realize that the 3.8 used in the T/A's was actually a buick engine, the same engine used in GN's and turbo regals. It was basically a more aerodynamic grand national
I don't care for GM vehicles but I have to say that the 1985-1990 Trans Am and the 1986-1987 Grand National are awesome. They have the styling and performance that you expect.
I had a chance to buy either back in 04. This or a low mileage GN and went with the GN. The 89 TTA handled better, but the GN just looked menacing and handled well enough for the street.
It’s a shame these cars still have that old car stigma attached to them for most people. To me, the interior is beautiful and [80s] futuristic. I love it.
@@Livinghighandwise bring back a "child" company? What the heck are you talking about? Chevy like Ford was always considered the entry level, while Pontiac was the performance division( thanks to John Delorean)..Every gearhead knows this..
This is one of those cars that have a special place in my heart along with things like the 1993 Dodge Daytona RT, 1987 Buick Grand National GNX, 1992 Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX and so on. I remember seeing one for sale years ago on a used car lot and couldn't afford it. It sat there for months not being sold because so many people thought it was just a regular Trans Am and not something special like this one. Too bad the Grand National motor was only used for 1 year in 1989
Pontiac took the Buick engine and reworked the cylinder heads for even more horse power. This engine was very close to 300 HP. As Pontiac was known to do, they did not advertise their true HP numbers. This was the fastest production car made in 89, even better than the Vette. It should have come with a manual!
true even more amazing since the the 3.8 liter turbo would not fit with the original heads from the G body grand national Pontiac took some heads that were used on front wheel drive v6s so it can fit in the engine bay of the trans am they internally modified them and got plenty of horse power and they never had a speed limiting chip as the GN previously did they should have kept this turbo TA in production it was a breath of fresh air to see the formally defunked Buick turbo v6 to get one last hurrah they don't make cars like they used to shake my head RIP Pontiac 😎🔥
@@chiefpontiac1800 nice I know how u felt when GM got rid of Pontiac it was GM youth division it was formally the Oakland motor company then in the late 20s it became Pontiac . before Pontiac, demise it was in jeopardy in the I'm the fifties then Bukie knewston saved it then John Dolorian was at the helm of Pontiac it thieved through the 60s 70s and 80s so sad to see GM give it the ax including Oldsmobile in 2006 I feel your pain John ✌️
That’s a damn sexy car right there. Definitely not comfortable, but very sleek looking and powerful. I used to own an 82 Trans Am that had a 406 Chevy/super T10 in it - handled like it was on rails. Can only imagine how much better the TTA would handle with the new technology.
Hello guys this is Giovanni from Philly. I bought my 1988 Pontiac trans am GTA when I was a young boy. I still have my GTA. Gonna keep it forever. I have built it engine has stainless steel piston rings. Headers and hypertec chip with a crazy cam . Transmission has been done also by Rocky perrone transmission in Philly. I chirp alot I also can't help but to do a nice burnout today is Sunday February 9 2020 today my girl and I are gonna take it out for a long ride it's candy apple red. Really Sharp car
I love these cars, a friend of mine had one that he spent an incredible amount of money doing a full ground up restoration. It was pushing out nearly 400 horses after the rebuild, with the subframe connectors and other upgrades it was a killer car, albeit would spin the tyres a lot. None of it mattered as it looked lovely.
5.4 0-60 is pretty fast even for today. I loved going to the Pontiac dealer on Sunday as a teenager and sitting in the cars. Brand new, smelled great, everything still wrapped in plastic. It's such a shame Pontiac was discontinued, that GM's fecklessness let the brand degrade to what it was at the end. I bought an 02 firebird and after 02, at least to me, their cars just were not appealing. Just boring. Even the GTO and G8, though fast, really just looked like any other car on the road. Very easy to lose in a parking lot.
I don't understand the claims about lack of comfort. The GTA/TTA seats were by far the most comfortable I've ever had the pleasure to own. Drove the TTA 1000 miles from VA beach to Miami in one day and arrived fresh, with no saddle soreness. Granted in the TTA the 1000 miles only took 10 hours of road time, leaving time for leisurely lunch and dinner breaks.
@@dannyparis2942 I can't find info on the Torque but I assume it was also understated. As the horsepower is said to be closer to 300. Pontiac understated the specs as too not upset GM by beating the specs of the Chevy Corvette.
I remember these cars were running 13 second 1/4 mile and with a few tweaks were in the 12s fairly easy. I don't how they got a 14 second run unless it was a hot summer day when this was filmed.
Still the best looking American car ever made, imo. I LOVE these cars. I had an 89 GTA and I regret the day I sold it. To buy a house. With my now ex wife.
On the other Motorweek review of the Trans Am (305),Mustang GT,and IROC they said the Mustang ran a 14.2 quarter mile also. Something ain't right because an 85 GT would not run with a turbo TA.I owned a 86 LX notchback 5.0 back then and i can tell you for a fact the TA was faster. The TA was faster than a GN also.
I hate to bust ur bubble but theirs no way in Hell the Big GTA was faster than a stock GN especially if the weather was below 70 degrees. trust me l know. 1st hand because in my GN l street raced them all.
@@stanleyposey3397 You need to check the 0-60,1/4 mile,and top speed times from all of the magazines and people testing them back then. An 89 Turbo TA is faster than an 86-87 GN. It's just as fast as the GNX,if not faster. It had better heads,better turbo,better tuning,pushing more PSI,and more HP than a GN. Check the forums and the people that own both will tell you the same. I also watched them race many times back then and the TTA would always get the GN.
@@carlcarl6032 my bad ur you absolutely right I stand corrected the Turbo TA was most definitely faster than the GN because as far as the motor goes it pretty much had the GNX treatment to it.
Dude at 4:06 is such a stud. Sweet gloves and huge aviators. Man fashion was horrible back than. I remember because I was rocking a mullet at the time.
Pontiac should be complimented for bringing out this machine. And then the Exec’s hung for only producing 1500. You know you’re hopelessly American when you think if you hit the lottery a GN, GNX and TTA will be added to your garage.
i have always loved motor week, but they can not drag test a car to save there own lives my turbo ran mid 13's all day...even the stock grand national ran a 13.8 and it weighed more then the '89 T/A and had less power...13.4 was my best...have no idea what why they can't drag test a car with an automatic any better, very sad.
@@bilbobaggins4710 absolutely that makes a huge difference in what you run for track times especially with turbo or supercharged engines. Heat.... humidity... barometric pressure.... Height above sea level.... You're absolutely correct and that these all plan to a decent track time.
@@bilbobaggins4710the ' 87 GN ran a 6.07 (0- 60), 14.73 @ 95.1 1/4 mile. I'm holding an August of '87 Motor Trend in my hand. Your 13.8 is false info from a "corrected to sea-level" claimed testing. Ill go out on a limb and say you never got close to a 13.4 stock in a turbo T/A. I did a bit of quarter miling back in the day at Kil-Kare Dragway in Xenia, OH. ..... The GN also had a crappy top end to boot, they couldn't even hit 125 mph. .
These things were killer back in 1989! The collectors who paid top dollar for them new have had to hang onto them for a long time though, as it took many years for the value to finally slowly rise. I finally got to see a couple in person during last years Bandit Run.
Great review, great burnouts, great turbo motor, great color combo, etc. that’s an American 928! 🏁 My buddy in the Army had a Buick GNX til he blew it up racing a Ferrari in Italy - true!
This is like the only Motorweek I remember where they power braked. I'm going to guess from the typical testing, where they just press the gas pedal and go, they probably were getting a 0-60 around 6 secs, and the claim to fame of this car was the super fast 0-60, so they decided to make an exception on this and power brake. Personally I hate that since it means you can't really compare other cars to this because of that.
I had this car and I bought it used. It was repainted and the previous owner did a gear swap, intake and a few other tricks. Since it didn't have the Turbo decals and was all primer, people assumed it was a piece of crap V6. I remember beating so many Corvettes, Mustangs and Irocs and seeing their face when I told them "it's a 6". People just didn't know about this car or imagine there was a turbo TransAm. Some people were so stupid that when I popped the hood and showed them it was a 6 they didnt even know what the turbo was. The car ran consistent 13.8s to 13.7s in the quarter mi depending on how hot it was. I miss this car
Wow it seems like people were dumb and stupid even way back then too…I knew about this car immediately when it came out as did all my friends we knew grew up teenagers in the 80’s and the iroc. GTA Buick grand national and mustangs were all the talk and rage… when the gn was done in 87’ everybody was geeked the motor went into this white only ta….seen a few but not many as these were like 30,000 and in 89 30 grand was a lot of money
I went to college with a kid who had one brand new in 1989. And my cousin had a GTA. Both white so this brought back allot of great memories. Side note. How tue heck did they afford $30,000 cars in 1989? Lol
The one he's sitting in (exactly) is what made me want one back then. I saw someone with one at the business across from a place I worked every day. finding one was difficult,I ended up with a gray 1990 Firebird Formula 350, loved that car..handled real nice-quick not fast.I'd revisit that & a 1987 442 any time.
I really wished someone had bought the Pontiac company and revamped it all together! I woulda loved to see a new Trans am. They had just got their G8 as well which sold great, I know it will most likely never happen but I sure would love to see someone buy the rights to Pontiac and start making them again with fresh all new designs!
Pontiac died when they stopped selling cheap,fun and fast sports cars...and started selling the "Vibe" and the "montana" minivan...although insurance rates (especially on the young) going up and CAFE emissions didn't help either.
As I recall they ran mid to high 13s. Not sure why they only saw 14.2? And of coarse... like GN's it didn't take much at all to shave a full second off the 1/4 ET
I bought one in 91 and liked the car but the interior of coarse fell apart by the day , then in 92 or 93 in Colorado I got the opportunity to drive the actual car that paced the Indianapolis 500 , then bought a 1992 I-ROCZ 5.7 tuned port which was a good car with beautiful colors the maroon with gold trim and wheels with t-tops . But today as well all do regret selling things like my 89 GTA 3.8 turbo .
That’s an inaccurate reading that car pushes more then 250 it pushes 300 HP and the 0-60 is 4.6 but I own one and we did little modifications to it and now it does 0-60 in 3.1 seconds and makes 450 HP this car is just a sick and awesome car
There have been many upgrades and improvements for the Buick 3.8 turbo cars since 1989, with mostly simple bolt on parts it is easy to get into the 12s for the quarter mile for both the Trans Am and the Grand National.
GM should've never gotten rid of Pontiac.
Tickle Fingers that is honestly what they were trying to reorganize themselves into, however a few slight issues was what to do with Saab then? GM was pretty much competing against both Buick and Cadillac with Saab, so that would have had to go anyway :/
Back to the point though, they were trying to reorganize it like that mostly (however trucks would stay more Chevy, and GMC would turn more like the Buick of trucks/SUV's with their Denali lineup, which is actually what probably saved GMC) however them going bankrupt got in the way...
I wish Pontiac would have became it's own separate entity.
Oh sure. Then Chevrolet, Cadillac, and the other good stuff should have gone down with the Pontiac & Saturn ship. I loved Pontiac, but understand simple marketing and economics. Besides, even without the bankruptcy, Pontiac should have been dropped a long time ago, cool cars and all, because it had never really pulled its own weight in sales and even worse in profit margin. It's about the money and not illogical emotions, for emotions have nothing to do with logic. I miss my Trans Am WS6, but can always buy a new Camaro and have it converted into a Firebird/Trans Am by one of those silly conversion shops/tuners. No thanks. I'm just glad to have my new Corvette, which wouldn't be there if Pontiac wasn't justifiably gotten rid of. Sorry for that dose of reality, but your emotions don't have any bearing on viable decision making. Why don't you go, buy the name, and start another automotive company? Just this time, pay attention to the cost of manufacturing, marketing, supply, demand, and other not so trivial areas that make a viable company so it doesn't tank again.
Nice vid, though. I wouldn't mind finding one of these in good condition and at a fairly decent price. IDK about it being cheap, though, considering the rarity.
@@vadimlevitin4382 GM got rid of Pontiac because the government said so. You should've looked up some facts before writing your essay dipwad.
@@vadimlevitin4382 no demand? Maybe it's just because of where I live but check your local Craigslist and see that there is more Pontiac vehicles on there than anything. The amount of early 2000s Grand Prix, Grand Am, Trans Sports, Azteks, etc. is crazy. They were in demand when new and in demand now which is why you see so many on the streets. People don't buy sporty cars if they are not useable on a daily basis. Pontiac was just that.
Not to even MENTION that all cars now, no matter the brand at a moving into a "sporty" approach. Pontiac was the leader of that in the early 2000s. Taking a W body 3800 powered Buick and making it into a 2 Dr coupe Grand Prix with a high output supercharged v6 that got great mpg and still whooped up on any other useable economical car. Just one example
This was the first-ever Indy 500 pace car that needed no modifications. It was fast enough factory stock.
Wrong. The 1986 Corvette convertible pace car had no modifications, other than I think the color of the wheels. They literally just pulled a car off the line and put the logos on it.
Just 8 years prior, the 1981 Trans Am had a Turbo V8 that took nearly twice as long to reach 60 and got 13 mpg.. A lot of progress took place in the 80s.
As much as the emissions regulations (among other regulations) hurt car performance early on, it really forced manufacturers to make powerful cars that were better for the environment and got better gas mileage. I suppose in the end, we all benefitted
You're absolutely right. Many people forget that much of what makes emission controlled engines work well was developed in the '80s.
desertrat5522
ironic,indeed that the turbo 3.8 in the 1989 Trans Am made it through the 1/4 mile in 13.2 secs...and prob got 19 mpg in the city with the SFI system!!
Thats why they call it the High tech 80s!
desertrat5522 Yes the 301 (4.9) turbo Trans Ams of 1981 did 0-60 in around 8 seconds flat and had 1/4 mile times in the mid 16s. However, you have to understand that the turbo wasn’t there with the intention of major performance. The 301 turbo was designed with low emissions (for the time) in mind. And the fact was, it was quicker than a lot of other cars at the time even with it’s restrictions. The 1980-1981 Turbo Trans AMs were also 300+ lbs heavier than the 1989 model. I think that if the 1980-81 Turbo Trans Ams had been offered with a 4 speed manual and 3.55 rear gears, it would have been a much faster car. Perhaps then it would have gone 0-60 in 6.5 seconds, 1/4 mile in low 15s, and 17 mpg.
Always smile when I see a Firebird on the highways. It's one of those cars I lusted after as a kid in the 80's.
Some of those current Camaro-to-Firebird conversions are pretty damn cool.
The values on 80s cars like this are going crazy now. People and hot rodders are really discovering these great 80s cars.
I always preferred the looks of the 80s and 90s Firebirds to the Camaros and Mustangs. Give me a 2002 Trans Am WS6 mmmmm
Yeah, the 02 WS6 is an all time favorite. But the Buick GNX and Syclone/Typhoon are so BEAST. They were at the time the fastest vehicle available in America exceeding Ferrari, Porsche and Corvette in acceleration. I would take a WS6 or a Buick GNX over most RWD power cars available today.
Awesome~
With those Honeycomb tails and flip-up quad headlights?! Forget about it, bro. Tasty fucking car right there. If I didn't have my 94 Probe GT in excellent condition, I'd have T/A or Firebird, no doubt.
whoohaaXL Yeah this rare Turbo boosted T/A was definitely a beast. And it only got better in performance from time FWD. Don't forget the 2002 WS6. That was truly a beast. Oh yeah, you sent the Ebay link. Damn, I just got my RX8 and 2010 Mazdaspeed 3 paid for. I need to wait a year or so before I go shopping for something again. That WS6 is top on my list. Cheers!
The typhoons and cyclones had different motors they had 4.3 liter v6 turbo which the 4.3 is a 350 with the 2 end cylinders cut off which is good because you couod put any transmission that a 350 takes onto them and you can get so many parts for the 350 for next to nothing so those motors are better parts wise if you need anything down the line than the 3.8 which is a more rare engine i mean the 350/4.3 you cpuld find part off anything from the late 50s till now
This car sells for quite a lot of money today
Actually they seem to sell for about the same number of USA dollars($30k) as new. Which means in real depreciated 2017 dollars they sell for about $15K 1989 dollars. So it was actually, like most cars, NOT an investment that earned money. They would need to sell for about $60K JUST to break even.
they selling one in California for over 50k. has less than 1k original miles. I wish I can buy it. established 1989 baby!
Comparatively speaking, it has done better than the 89 T/A or Corvette or just about any other 1989 car for that matter. But like most cars, they are a terrible investment.
Not really!😎
@Squirmin Herman the one eyed German maybe in Canadian dollars. They rarely go past 50-60k in ultramint..You can get a decent one for 25k.
This car is friggin sweet. Still holds its value today.Who said they didn't make classics in the 80s?
Made me sad to think Pontiac is gone forever. Loved the '89 TTA when it came out! What a great concept, put the awesome GN motor in a more capable chassis. I believe most publications got quarter mile times in the 13.5 second range. The GN motor was positioned further back and took weight of the nose giving it better handling dynamics than the V8 GTA. If I recall, it was also the first pace car that needed no modifications to be able to pace Indy. I owned a GN and loved the turbo whistle and rush of torque when the boost kicked in. Flooring it at 40 mph, the trans would kick down, tires squealing, with the acceleration pressing me back into the seat. Such a great motor and car for its day. Wish I still had it.
Pontiac innovation is exactly what GM is trying to imitate with Buick these days.
Brodey Dover you missed that it was a Buick motor?
GM made a mistake getting rid of Pontiac. If it had to be one of them it should've been Buick. There is a huge market for the younger generation right now and Pontiac fit that niche. In 15-20 years when most of the loyal Buick folks are gone Buick will suffer too.
jpratx No GM didn't make a mistake getting rid of Pontiac from a business standpoint. BUICK is a VERY popular car in China due to the Emperor owning a collection way back in the 1930's so a BUICK in China is legendary.
There are a LOT of Chinese starting to buy cars and even though Pontiac outsold BUICK here in the USA in China there's a LOT of money to be made!!
Motor City Man hmm interesting. I guess I'm a little biased being more of a Pontiac guy, but what you said makes sense.
I believe these ended up being the fastest trans-ams to date. Which pissed people off since it wasn't a V-8 car.
+Jason Voorhees you're lucky yours actually runs. car has the. build quality of a lumpy potato. I owned one.
+Jason Voorhees BTW, you're very talkative and well spoken for a camp terror.
1991 firehawk beat it
+jquest43 wasnt a factory car. I believe this was the fastest America production car built in the 80's
+tyler bonser The Buick GNX was slightly faster
Awesome performance for an 80’s car. And GOOD gas mileage for back then. The 3.8 liter turbo was a great engine.
Another great 80's turbo car! Hardly anyone is familiar with the 3.8 liter turbo T/A. A very rare car these days!
Most people don't realize that the 3.8 used in the T/A's was actually a buick engine, the same engine used in GN's and turbo regals. It was basically a more aerodynamic grand national
The cost was completely outside my reach. I really wanted to buy one. Great car
My brother inlaw bought one of these bad boys new and it's still in a climate controlled building. Nobody can touch it and has 11 miles on odometer.
$30K back then was major money. If I had one I would drive it and enjoy it. Only on nice days though. And no heavy traffic.
It was pretty costly at the time and got recalled soon after launch due engine fires.
I miss T tops and hidden headlamps. Cars really did used to be gorgeous.
I'm LOL' ing at the dude with the pink shirt and driving gloves. So 80's.
I don't care for GM vehicles but I have to say that the 1985-1990 Trans Am and the 1986-1987 Grand National are awesome. They have the styling and performance that you expect.
I am one of the lucky 1,555 who has one. All stock and original with 8,500 miles.
I remember looking at one of these Pontiacs in awe at a local dealership when I was 16.
Pontiacs are often overlooked and the Trans Am and Firebird is no exception. Pontiac is an awesome GM product!
I have never seen one on the street. I remember reading about it. I told a few people they made a turbo V6 T/A but no one believe me.
I drove a diesel Chevette, as a rental, but the Chevy salesman didn't believe me.
all he needs is a shovel, rope and duct tape to go with those gloves.
This was the only engine of the day that actually impressed me.
The digital dashes on the 87-88 GTAa looked incredible, especially at night. I wish they would have carried that option forward to the TTA.
Pontiac - we build excitement !!
Pontiac - Driving Excitement !!!!
I had a chance to buy either back in 04. This or a low mileage GN and went with the GN. The 89 TTA handled better, but the GN just looked menacing and handled well enough for the street.
Wow, amazing story, thanks for sharing.
Great pickup. But I would have bought the TTA.
the interior looks like it comes brand new with mildew stench, sweat stains, and cigarette burns.
just like your mama!
I can't stop laughing
Audfile thank you t tops lol
Those options cost extra, so you were better off making those things yourself.
It’s a shame these cars still have that old car stigma attached to them for most people. To me, the interior is beautiful and [80s] futuristic. I love it.
One of my favorite trans am!! I also love the interior
This car is fast even by today’s standards, but in 1989 it destroyed everything on the road.
Yes! I picked up some many women with this car...it destroyed my marriage.
"those of us who prefer not to advertise our vices...." (will delete the decal) . Yea, because Pontiac always did "subtle" so well. :-)
The Trans Am is for the distinguished gentleman with a mullet, and a touch of class as well.
BRING BACK PONTIAC !!!
funny
GM could make a Chevy Trans-Am easy enough. Why bring back a child company to do it?
@@Livinghighandwise bring back a "child" company? What the heck are you talking about? Chevy like Ford was always considered the entry level, while Pontiac was the performance division( thanks to John Delorean)..Every gearhead knows this..
I want the Phoenix to come back!! It was Pontiac's most powerful and under-rated car! Bring back the X-Body!!
This is one of those cars that have a special place in my heart along with things like the 1993 Dodge Daytona RT, 1987 Buick Grand National GNX, 1992 Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX and so on. I remember seeing one for sale years ago on a used car lot and couldn't afford it. It sat there for months not being sold because so many people thought it was just a regular Trans Am and not something special like this one. Too bad the Grand National motor was only used for 1 year in 1989
These cars were awesome back in the day 1989 Trans am GtA Black with Gold rims 5.7 Tpi. Monster!!
Wanted a GN powered TA since they announced them.... True love
Pontiac took the Buick engine and reworked the cylinder heads for even more horse power. This engine was very close to 300 HP. As Pontiac was known to do, they did not advertise their true HP numbers. This was the fastest production car made in 89, even better than the Vette. It should have come with a manual!
true even more amazing since the the 3.8 liter turbo would not fit with the original heads from the G body grand national Pontiac took some heads that were used on front wheel drive v6s so it can fit in the engine bay of the trans am they internally modified them and got plenty of horse power and they never had a speed limiting chip as the GN previously did they should have kept this turbo TA in production it was a breath of fresh air to see the formally defunked Buick turbo v6 to get one last hurrah they don't make cars like they used to shake my head RIP Pontiac 😎🔥
@@DavidR-ub2dp Yeah, I was born and raised in Pontiac and my dad worked at plant 14 for 43 years. It sure broke my heart to see Pontiac go away.
@@chiefpontiac1800 nice I know how u felt when GM got rid of Pontiac it was GM youth division it was formally the Oakland motor company then in the late 20s it became Pontiac . before Pontiac, demise it was in jeopardy in the I'm the fifties then Bukie knewston saved it then John Dolorian was at the helm of Pontiac it thieved through the 60s 70s and 80s so sad to see GM give it the ax including Oldsmobile in 2006 I feel your pain John ✌️
they don't make GM cars like they used to it so iconic to see that body by Fisher badge on the door sil
@@DavidR-ub2dp Amen to that!
That’s a damn sexy car right there. Definitely not comfortable, but very sleek looking and powerful. I used to own an 82 Trans Am that had a 406 Chevy/super T10 in it - handled like it was on rails. Can only imagine how much better the TTA would handle with the new technology.
Hello guys this is Giovanni from Philly. I bought my 1988 Pontiac trans am GTA when I was a young boy. I still have my GTA. Gonna keep it forever. I have built it engine has stainless steel piston rings. Headers and hypertec chip with a crazy cam . Transmission has been done also by Rocky perrone transmission in Philly. I chirp alot I also can't help but to do a nice burnout today is Sunday February 9 2020 today my girl and I are gonna take it out for a long ride it's candy apple red. Really Sharp car
I have owned and sold two 1987 Buick GN low mile perfect cars. Loved them. This Trans Am is what I must have. I will find one.
the 20th anniversary t.a. was quite a machine. rated at 250 hp, i suspect it was closer to 300.
it was, tested on dyno.
probably lower
The 220 hp 400, in the late 70's, was actually closer to 260, based on acceleration times.
Yep, just like in the GN.
I love these cars, a friend of mine had one that he spent an incredible amount of money doing a full ground up restoration. It was pushing out nearly 400 horses after the rebuild, with the subframe connectors and other upgrades it was a killer car, albeit would spin the tyres a lot. None of it mattered as it looked lovely.
5.4 0-60 is pretty fast even for today. I loved going to the Pontiac dealer on Sunday as a teenager and sitting in the cars. Brand new, smelled great, everything still wrapped in plastic. It's such a shame Pontiac was discontinued, that GM's fecklessness let the brand degrade to what it was at the end. I bought an 02 firebird and after 02, at least to me, their cars just were not appealing. Just boring. Even the GTO and G8, though fast, really just looked like any other car on the road. Very easy to lose in a parking lot.
I love this car, it looked so fucking cool getting flogged on the track! Man I love these reviews! Thank you!!!
I've always thought this was a beautiful car
I don't understand the claims about lack of comfort. The GTA/TTA seats were by far the most comfortable I've ever had the pleasure to own. Drove the TTA 1000 miles from VA beach to Miami in one day and arrived fresh, with no saddle soreness. Granted in the TTA the 1000 miles only took 10 hours of road time, leaving time for leisurely lunch and dinner breaks.
A turbo firebird wow they're playing light My fire by The Doors.. this car was way ahead of its time 340 lb of torque
It actually had more, Pontiac understated the HP and torque
@@Bayfire-ki9du really do you have more information on this car and it's horsepower and torque.the info would be most appreciated
@@dannyparis2942 I can't find info on the Torque but I assume it was also understated. As the horsepower is said to be closer to 300. Pontiac understated the specs as too not upset GM by beating the specs of the Chevy Corvette.
@@Bayfire-ki9du very fascinating
@@Bayfire-ki9du I do believe you.. they did that with a lot of their sports cars both Pontiac and Chevrolet
I remember these cars were running 13 second 1/4 mile and with a few tweaks were in the 12s fairly easy. I don't how they got a 14 second run unless it was a hot summer day when this was filmed.
There launch sucked
They spun tires for 100 feet, thats how.
Love these retro episodes on TouTube. These rare turbo T.A.'s are worth some real money now.
hey Giovanni from Philadelphia. I still have my 1988 Pontiac GTA trans am. runs strong. 70,000 miles on car. love my GTA
Right on
R.I.P Sam kinison
Still the best looking American car ever made, imo. I LOVE these cars. I had an 89 GTA and I regret the day I sold it. To buy a house. With my now ex wife.
3:47 Ah, the 80's driving gloves. I remember wearing those as I drove my Oldsmobile Omega! :)
Tran Zam. That's how we pronounce it in the south.
+Motor City Man xD lool
mustang6035 I think that's how everybody pronounces it....
On the other Motorweek review of the Trans Am (305),Mustang GT,and IROC they said the Mustang ran a 14.2 quarter mile also. Something ain't right because an 85 GT would not run with a turbo TA.I owned a 86 LX notchback 5.0 back then and i can tell you for a fact the TA was faster. The TA was faster than a GN also.
I hate to bust ur bubble but theirs no way in Hell the Big GTA was faster than a stock GN especially if the weather was below 70 degrees. trust me l know. 1st hand because in my GN l street raced them all.
@@stanleyposey3397 You need to check the 0-60,1/4 mile,and top speed times from all of the magazines and people testing them back then. An 89 Turbo TA is faster than an 86-87 GN. It's just as fast as the GNX,if not faster. It had better heads,better turbo,better tuning,pushing more PSI,and more HP than a GN. Check the forums and the people that own both will tell you the same. I also watched them race many times back then and the TTA would always get the GN.
@@carlcarl6032 my bad ur you absolutely right I stand corrected the Turbo TA was most definitely faster than the GN because as far as the motor goes it pretty much had the GNX treatment to it.
@@carlcarl6032 l thought you were referring to the 5.7 V8 version of the Pontiac Trans Am Vs the Grand National
Yep, this car would regularly run 13.5 to 13.4. The Mustangs ran 15.5, Grand National 14.1 and the GNX would do about the same as the TTA.
"Light My Fire"
Light my Fire bird
Like you need to adjust the station when the doors are playing...
Not a GM fan, however the Buick 3.8 is an awesome engine.
My 87 gta was awesome too. 350 tpi engine was awesome. But took forever to wash those rims
The $30K price tag in 1989 comes to $58,391.85 in 2017 dollars.
Holyshit....
30-K In 1989 was a lot of money.
Always liked Trans Am ‘s 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
A low mileage one running 40 to 50 grand now. I say the price was worth it...
The Baddest 3rd F-Body ever Build Period, Only 3 convertible ever built
Dude at 4:06 is such a stud. Sweet gloves and huge aviators. Man fashion was horrible back than. I remember because I was rocking a mullet at the time.
Pontiac should be complimented for bringing out this machine. And then the Exec’s hung for only producing 1500. You know you’re hopelessly American when you think if you hit the lottery a GN, GNX and TTA will be added to your garage.
Secret! It actually produced 301 hp.
i have always loved motor week, but they can not drag test a car to save there own lives
my turbo ran mid 13's all day...even the stock grand national ran a 13.8 and it weighed more then the '89 T/A and had less power...13.4 was my best...have no idea what why they can't drag test a car with an automatic any better, very sad.
Seeing as how the test driver was power breaking it to the point of baking the tires should answer that question....
@@colinsdad1 weather conditions also make a significant difference ...Also track condition and location
@@bilbobaggins4710 absolutely that makes a huge difference in what you run for track times especially with turbo or supercharged engines. Heat.... humidity... barometric pressure.... Height above sea level.... You're absolutely correct and that these all plan to a decent track time.
@@bilbobaggins4710the ' 87 GN ran a 6.07 (0- 60), 14.73 @ 95.1 1/4 mile. I'm holding an August of '87 Motor Trend in my hand.
Your 13.8 is false info from a "corrected to sea-level" claimed testing.
Ill go out on a limb and say you never got close to a 13.4 stock in a turbo T/A. I did a bit of quarter miling back in the day at Kil-Kare Dragway in Xenia, OH.
..... The GN also had a crappy top end to boot, they couldn't even hit 125 mph.
.
love the TA, had a 91 GTA, best years of my life. Met my wife during that time with my GTA. would love to get my hands on another one before I die....
Also, you probably still had hair too, icing on the cake.
These things were killer back in 1989! The collectors who paid top dollar for them new have had to hang onto them for a long time though, as it took many years for the value to finally slowly rise. I finally got to see a couple in person during last years Bandit Run.
Great review, great burnouts, great turbo motor, great color combo, etc. that’s an American 928! 🏁
My buddy in the Army had a Buick GNX til he blew it up racing a Ferrari in Italy - true!
buy it remove the turbo badges put back the stock gta badging, dial up the turbo to 9 & embarrass a bunch of cars
and say its stock
I see you know some sh🤬t!
@Diamond Justice Or I could get a 150 shot of nitrous in the turbo ta and still Beat you!!!
High school shop teacher had one we all loved it
The magazines had it doing 13.4 in the quarter mile. Awesome car always wanted one. I had a 88Formula 350 and a 93 formula. Current car 1LE Camaro
This is like the only Motorweek I remember where they power braked. I'm going to guess from the typical testing, where they just press the gas pedal and go, they probably were getting a 0-60 around 6 secs, and the claim to fame of this car was the super fast 0-60, so they decided to make an exception on this and power brake. Personally I hate that since it means you can't really compare other cars to this because of that.
great channel guys , love these older reviews!
That poor guy wearing 'driving gloves' and that interior! Just wow. What was the world thinking in 1989?
Fast forward 3.2020 covid 19
Little bigger turbo, new fuel injection system and intercooler as well as a great tune, it would be a monster
30k was a boat load of money in 89. My buddy bought a new grand national for 16k in 87.
This is one of THE cars to own. Pontiac. Always. Pontiac.
THIS WAS A BEAUTIFUL CAR I LUVED THAT BLUE WITH SILVER SCHEME
Down sized 3.8 litre turbo engine. Talk about ahead of it's time!
I had this car and I bought it used. It was repainted and the previous owner did a gear swap, intake and a few other tricks. Since it didn't have the Turbo decals and was all primer, people assumed it was a piece of crap V6. I remember beating so many Corvettes, Mustangs and Irocs and seeing their face when I told them "it's a 6". People just didn't know about this car or imagine there was a turbo TransAm. Some people were so stupid that when I popped the hood and showed them it was a 6 they didnt even know what the turbo was. The car ran consistent 13.8s to 13.7s in the quarter mi depending on how hot it was. I miss this car
Wow it seems like people were dumb and stupid even way back then too…I knew about this car immediately when it came out as did all my friends we knew grew up teenagers in the 80’s and the iroc. GTA Buick grand national and mustangs were all the talk and rage… when the gn was done in 87’ everybody was geeked the motor went into this white only ta….seen a few but not many as these were like 30,000 and in 89 30 grand was a lot of money
I went to college with a kid who had one brand new in 1989. And my cousin had a GTA. Both white so this brought back allot of great memories. Side note. How tue heck did they afford $30,000 cars in 1989? Lol
The one he's sitting in (exactly) is what made me want one back then. I saw someone with one at the business across from a place I worked every day. finding one was difficult,I ended up with a gray 1990 Firebird Formula 350, loved that car..handled real nice-quick not fast.I'd revisit that & a 1987 442 any time.
Still fast even by modern standards!
I really wished someone had bought the Pontiac company and revamped it all together! I woulda loved to see a new Trans am. They had just got their G8 as well which sold great, I know it will most likely never happen but I sure would love to see someone buy the rights to Pontiac and start making them again with fresh all new designs!
Also the sweet Solstice GXP and GXP Coupe! I miss Pontiac.
Nice video. It's sad that Gm felt they had to close Pontiac.
Really good numbers for 1989.
Loved my '86 5.0L Trans Am. Handled Great, looked awesome got 29mpg on the highway @65mph......but slow as molasses.
@Steve Silvas I can't believe I have never heard of the California edition. That is really cool!! Thanks for sharing.
Pontiac died when they stopped selling cheap,fun and fast sports cars...and started selling the "Vibe" and the "montana" minivan...although insurance rates (especially on the young) going up and CAFE emissions didn't help either.
As I recall they ran mid to high 13s. Not sure why they only saw 14.2?
And of coarse... like GN's it didn't take much at all to shave a full second off the 1/4 ET
I bought one in 91 and liked the car but the interior of coarse fell apart by the day , then in 92 or 93 in Colorado I got the opportunity to drive the actual car that paced the Indianapolis 500 , then bought a 1992 I-ROCZ 5.7 tuned port which was a good car with beautiful colors the maroon with gold trim and wheels with t-tops . But today as well all do regret selling things like my 89 GTA 3.8 turbo .
Beautiful car
Still a great looking car!
Kick ass driving gloves.
Man, I could watch these classic videos all day.
My dad had a GTA. White. I think it got stolen once. It sure created attention
This and the Buick GNX really were the fastest cars coming out of Detroit back then. Such a cool car.
damn my buddy had the 89 GTA in white with the LT1 in it back in 1999, in mint shape that was a sexy car.
hell, it still is.
+Pan tera Was it a swap or did you mean L98 (LT1 was 93+)
thee best incarnation of the Turbo 3.8 liter....imo!
To this day I Love my 1989 formula firebird 5.0 305 tpi 5speed manual
That’s an inaccurate reading that car pushes more then 250 it pushes 300 HP and the 0-60 is 4.6 but I own one and we did little modifications to it and now it does 0-60 in 3.1 seconds and makes 450 HP this car is just a sick and awesome car
I know someone who traded in his modified Grand National For One Of These When It Was First Offered (1989 ) . Strong Running V-6 Turbo F-Body !!!
If John had been wearing a giant mullet wig with gold streaks it woulda been perfect!
There have been many upgrades and improvements for the Buick 3.8 turbo cars since 1989, with mostly simple bolt on parts it is easy to get into the 12s for the quarter mile for both the Trans Am and the Grand National.
I wish we still had Pontiac and the TransAm