Vehicle Description
Cruisin Classics is pleased to present to you today this 1989
Pontiac 20th Anniversary Turbo Trans Am Pace Car. The 20th
Anniversary Trans Am is significant because it was the last
"anniversary" model to feature more than a custom interior and
special exterior paint trim, and it is the first Indy 500 Pace Car
that did not require an engine, suspension, or other performance
upgrade to handle pace car duties at Indianapolis. Pontiac really
set out to make this Trans Am a special car, and a huge part of
that goal was a potent powerplant. Pontiac chose the 3.8 liters LC2
V-6 turbocharged Buick engine used in the 1987 GNX with 2
modifications: re-engineered cylinder heads (because the F-body had
less engine room than the G-body) with 8:1 instead of 9:1
compression and upgraded turbocharger components that provided
extra boost (16psi vs 14psi for the GNX). Though officially rated
at 250hp and 340 lb/ft of torque, dyno-testing regularly recorded
over 300hp. Hagerty has reported that the Turbo Trans Am was .1
second faster than the GNX in both 0-60mph and � mile tests.
Pontiac didn't just stop at the engine though, this car is equipped
with WS6 high-performance suspension, Chevrolet's high-performance
"Police Camaro" 1LE 4-wheel power disc brakes, and a high-capacity
transmission cooler. Pontiac produced 1,555 of these commemorative
anniversary cars in 1989, but only 187 of them were equipped with
glass T-tops and a cloth interior - and this is one of those
special cars!
This 89 Turbo Trans Am comes to us in its original white paint with
Indianapolis 500 livery still in very good driver condition. Its'
vented hood sits above an aero kit lower fascia with integrated fog
lights, separated by pop-up headlights and a gold 20th Anniversary
badge in the center. The headlights light up when turned on, but
they do not pop up. It would seem that the most recent owner was
aware of the issue, as there is a new set of replacement gears
gaskets in the console storage box. When you look down the sides of
the car it's clear that Pontiac wanted to differentiate this Pace
Car from the herd. Pace Car decals adorn the doors, the fenders
wear "TURBO Trans Am" badges, the lower aero kit rockers have
spectacular-looking "Indianapolis Speedway" badges, and the
B-pillars share "20th Anniversary" cloisonne emblems. Color-keyed
dual sport mirrors and door handle insets enhance the white body.
Tinted glass locking T-tops sit above the doors and there is a like
new storage bag for them in the hatchback. This Trans Am still
retains its original attention-grabbing gold diamond-spoke aluminum
wheels with "WS6 Pontiac Performance Suspension "center caps. The
tires are Goodyear Eagle F1s up front and OHTSU FP7000s on the
rear. The long rear hatchback glass leads down to a very cool
Aero-Deck rear spoiler. It should be noted that the rear spoiler
does have a 3" crack on the driver's side which you can see in the
photos. Grid-pattern taillights stretch across the rear of the car,
separated in the center by a Gold Firebird cloisonne badge above a
"TURBO" decal. Beneath the rear aero bumper are polished stainless
steel outlets for the dual exhaust. At the center of the bumper is
a nice metal commemorative Pace Car license plate.
Lift the hood to reveal the aforementioned 3.8-liter Turbocharged
V-6 housed in a clean, stock-appearing engine bay. The turbo cover
housing has "TURBO TA" cut into it, just like the Buick GNX had
"GNX" cut into the same housing. Finned valve covers, the turbo
intake, and a chrome alternator draw attention while power steering
and A/C components reside below. The powerful V-6 is mated up to a
200-4R 4-speed automatic overdrive transmission that puts down the
power via a 9-bolt rear end with a 3.27:1 limited-slip rear
differential.
When you open the driver's door, courtesy lights come on to
illuminate a stock Camel cloth interior in very good condition. The
2-tone tan door panels look great and offer power locks and map
pockets. The manually adjustable cloth front bucket seats are free
of stains, tears, or signs of wear, and so are the high-back rear
folding seats. Separating the front buckets is a center console
with an armrest/storage box, controls for power windows and
mirrors, a decklid release button, the leather-wrapped shifter for
the automatic transmission, the emergency brake, and an ashtray.
The driver is treated to a 4-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel
(complete with quick-touch stereo controls) mounted on a tilt
column with a stalk for cruise control and intermittent wipers. A
flat crack-free black vinyl dash is home to a 140mph speedometer, a
6K tachometer with an integrated turbo psi gauge, and working
gauges for battery, fuel, oil, and temperature. The odometer reads
29,706 miles and the "actual miles" title backs that up! An
Autometer boost gauge has been mounted on the far left top of the
dash and the boost gauge on the tach is now inoperative. A Scan
Master 2.1 diagnostic box is mounted under the dash to the driver's
right and we believe (because we have the manual for it) that a
Commander Performance Chip has been added to the car for heightened
power. Between the dash and the center console is where you'll find
the climate controls that offer cold factory A/C, hot heat, a rear
defogger, and a strong fan. Beneath the HVAC controls is a factory
Delco AM/FM/Cassette stereo with 5-band EQ. The stereo works as it
should, but the power antenna does not work, so pulling in stations
can be difficult. Directly ahead of the passenger is a group of
storage pouches for small items. Underfoot is a nice tan factory
carpet with carpeted floormats and overhead is a tight tan cloth
headliner. Back in the hatchback is a cargo security screen and a
new set of struts for the hatchback lid. This Trans Am comes with a
great deal of original paperwork including the window sticker,
dealer invoice from Don Sisk Pontiac in Indianapolis, application
for title, Indiana registration, dealer inspection checklist,
owner's manual, warranty book, maintenance schedule book, and tire
warranty.
If you're a Trans Am aficionado or just a fan of fast cars, you're
going to love this Turbocharged Pace Car! With roughly 300hp in a
low-slung lightweight car, this Pontiac is sure to provide the
exhilarating driving experience you're looking for! This Pace Car
was ahead of its time in 1989 and with so few produced, it is sure
to be sought after by collectors for many years to come. Give us a
call today before someone else snatches up this awesome low-mileage
example!
ENGINE
3.8liter LC2 V-6 with Turbocharger (8.0:1 Compression)(16psi
Boost)
"TURBO TA" Turbocharger Housing Cover
High-Performance Fuel System
Engine Oil Cooler
Power Steering
Factory A/C
Finned Valve Covers
Chrome Alternator
Commander Chip (for Buick Turbo V6 and 89 Turbo Trans Am)
Scan Master 2.1
TRANSMISSION
200-4R 4-Speed Automatic Overdrive
High Capacity Transmission Cooler
9-Bolt Rear End
Limited Slip Rear Differential with 3.27:1 Gears
BRAKES
High Performance "Police Camaro" 1LE Brakes
4-Wheel Power Discs
SUSPENSION
WS6 High-Performance Suspension
EXTERIOR
Original White Paint with Indianapolis 500 Decals and Badging
Aero Body Kit and Aero-Deck Rear Spoiler
Vented Hood
Fog Lights
Pop-up Headlights (Do Not Pop Up, Gear Replacement Kit Included
with Sale)
20th Anniversary Cloisonne Badging
Locking Tinted Glass T-tops with Vinyl Storage Bag
...for more information please contact the seller.
