1987 Pontiac Firebird GTA

Description

You can probably bet the ultimate version of a famous sports car from a discontinued brand is going to be an expensive classic, right? Well, this 1987 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am GTA is the rare kind of coupe that's survivor-grade and it's available today at an affordable price.

The GTA was the pinnacle of Pontiac performance of the '80s, and this is the first year the legendary package was offered. It received the biggest tires, biggest brakes, and the best full body kit, including rear wing, to represent all-out performance. For a genuine classic that has hit the 30-year-old mark, it also looks remarkably well preserved. The paint is original, and aside from a few usual road marks, it shows little wear or fading over its low 22,846-kilometer lifetime (about 14,200 miles.) Red is arguably the best color because it's the right hue for the more aggressive features. Plus, it draws attention to the darker elements like the hood slats and tinted rear taillight panel. But when a GTA is at the car shows, you know everyone is focused on those cool factory crosslace gold wheels.

Inside is everything you want from an original GTA, and it's just as original and nicely preserved as the exterior. It starts with the GTA-exclusive Ultima bucket seats for the best in comfort. The driver gets the three-spoke steering wheel, with the proper GTA-specific badging. Beyond that are a full set of clear analogue gauges. Because this was the top-of-the-line car for Pontiac, it comes loaded with features like power windows, power locks, power steering, remote trunk opener, cruise control, and an AM/FM/cassette stereo. And because the T-tops will make you want to share this experience with the world, you'll be glad the air conditioning was upgraded to modern R134a to be running nice and cold.

These third-generation T/As are especially desirable for what's under the hood. After all, we all love a classic that also includes a fuel-injected V8. The 305 cubic-inch powerplant is original to the car, and it's known for being smooth on the highway and quick off the stoplight. GM's 700R4 four-speed automatic transmission was a good paring because its stout nature can handle the power and torque. Plus, it's quick shifting nature and overdrive setup make it versatile for everything from street to highway use. But besides the drivetrain, the GTA was the king of the streets because it received the WS6 suspension as standard. This includes sway bars front & rear, special shock absorbers, performance coil springs, and a limited-slip rear axle. Those upgrades made the WS6-equipped Pontiac one of the best handing domestic sports cars of the day.

This first-year Trans Am GTA has always been treated with the classic status it deserves. It's hard to believe this full low-mileage package is available for under $22K. So you know it won't be this affordable, or available, forever. Don't miss out, call today!!