1990 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am GTA

This car represents the very top of the line when it comes to Trans Am in 1990. The GTA (Gran Turismo Americano) was the highest-available option package, listing for about $24,000. In today's money, that's roughly $45,000.

The original owner of this car ticked the GTA option package which automatically includes the WS6 performance & handling package, limited-slip differential, special sport bucket seats in premium cloth and signature gold 16-inch, flat-mesh, diamond-spoke wheels. This car also features the 5.7L (350 CID) high-output V8 with tuned-port fuel injection. Although General Motors discontinued offering T-tops on 5.7L cars in 1990, the buyer specified dealer-installed T-tops, so you get the full "glass cockpit" feel in this car.

This car is a head-turner. The classic red body with gold wheels is eye-catching. And it's comfortable to drive with power-everything and supportive sport seats. Although some will mistakenly call this a "muscle car", it's more properly a "grand tourer". Power comes quickly, but is also delivered with the smoothness that's unique to normally-aspirated V8 engines of relatively high displacement.

I took this car on as a basket case and have done my best to honor what some consider to be the peak of the Trans Ams. Before this, the cars were often lumbering and slow. Afterwards things got a little too boy-racer. The 1990 GTA hits a real sweet-spot. It's fast enough to be entertaining, but not all in-your-face and loud. The ride is firm, but compliant. My goal with this restoration has been to give an honest representation of the 1990 GTA. Therefore, it's here in "street dress", without a bunch of cheezy go-fast junk, crazy aftermarket wheels or engine mods tacked onto it.

The one concession to modern improvements I have made is a bit of chassis stiffening via a front strut-tower brace and "wonder-bar". This has helped buy-back the rigidity lost when the roof was cut for the dealer-installed T-tops. Had GM offered those enhancements when the car was new, they would have been able to continue offering factory T-tops without the concern that the 5.7L V8's torque would twist the car apart.

This is one of three 3rd Generation Firebirds in my garage. Whether this is a car from your past or you're just interested in seeing what one of these cars is like, I think you'll really enjoy spending a little time with this Trans Am.