Vehicle Description
If you're a Trans Am enthusiast, the 1989 Pontiac Firebird Turbo
Trans Am 20th Anniversary pace car (with a moniker that long, you
know it's good!) really is the one to own. It's still the
fastest-accelerating T/A ever built, and it was the first Indy 500
Pace Car that didn't need any modifications to reach the required
pace car speeds needed on race day. This particular beauty, with
only 29,004 actual miles, is one of the cleanest, most documented
examples available anywhere. Cool, fast, and rare? Where do we sign
up?
This might be the most subtle GM pace car ever built, but the
off-white Trans Am rocks the horsepower, and that's really all that
matters. Heck, they probably tried to downplay that they stuffed
the Buick Grand National's turbocharged powerplant into a car that
could actually handle and brake properly, so white was the logical
choice. The third-generation F-bodies were pretty good looking
cars, particularly the Trans Am, and all the unique styling aspects
are extremely well-preserved, including the ground effects and rear
spoiler, which always had a tendency to crack. The fact that this
is a 'slicktop' hardtop car with cloth interior is actually a
really big deal, as this is only 1 of 15 cars made in that
iteration. The paint is about as good as you could expect on the
showroom floor, thanks to a lifetime as a cherished collectors'
item, and this is one of the few that actually proudly wears its
original pace car decals. Functional vents on the hood and a subtle
TURBO badge on the front fenders are your only tipoff that this is
a special car, but thanks to the impeccable preservation, you can
go out and demonstrate its abilities without worries. Perfect it is
not, but there certainly aren't many nicer than this left in the
world.
Only 39 total hardtop 20th Anniversary Pace Cars were built in
1989, and only 15 came with the tan cloth you see inside this T/A.
The deeply bolstered buckets are still incredibly comfortable even
after 32 years and show really no wear and tear to speak of (even
the plastic seatbelt clips still look practically new), again
attributable to owners who understood that this was always an
important car. Like most T/As, this Pace Car comes loaded with
options including power windows, locks, and seats, factory A/C,
cruise control, tilt wheel, and a powerful Delco AM/FM/cassette
stereo that all came standard. In typical Pontiac fashion, there
are seemingly thousands of buttons on the dash and steering wheel,
but you'll get a feel for them quickly enough and it all works
properly; even the A/C is nice and cold. A small boost gauge was
integrated into the Trans Am's standard instrument panel, and Indy
500 Champion Johnny Rutherford (winner in 1974, 1976, and 1980)
signed the map pockets hanging off the dash. The door panels are in
excellent shape, as is the Synthwave-style center console, and the
plush carpets have been protected with purposely numerated (this is
car #486) mats that have likely been there since new. It's likely
that the rear seats have never been used, and the cargo area behind
the seats looks practically new as well - at this point, did you
expect anything else?
The real reason these cars are special is under the hood: Buick's
stunning 3.8 liter turbocharged V6 that was typically reserved for
the lightning-quick Grand National. This was the only Trans Am
model to be powered by a V6, but don't think this car is some
slouch. Pontiac rated it at 250 horsepower to keep from stepping on
Corvette's toes, but the GM factory dyno rang up 301 horsepower on
a pretty consistent basis. And as insanely easy as the turbo engine
is to modify, this numbers matching unit remains completely stock
and nicely preserved, right down to the black plug wires. A 4-speed
automatic overdrive transmission and 1LE brake and suspension
package make this a formidable car even when the roads start to
twist, neatly remedying the Buick GN's lone Achilles' heel. You
want a fast F-body, they don't come much more wicked than this and
that engine offers almost unlimited potential. As a ready-to-show
collectable, this one is completely stock and incredibly original,
right down to the gold mesh "Honeycomb" alloy wheels (the set
that's on the car now are also correct, but the actual alloys and
Goodyear Eagle tires that this car was born with also available),
which wear 245/50/16 BFGoodrich G-Force tires, probably only the
second set it's ever worn.
Fully documented with a reproduction window sticker, special
promotional items, all the original owner's manuals, and other
miscellaneous important history, this is an investment-grade Turbo
Trans Am Pace Car that's also completely amazing to drive. Call
today!
