Special Edition Vehicles - 2002 Collector's Edition Trans-Am color choice of yellow?




35thAnniversaryPhil
12-01-2011, 01:11 PM
I've thought about it countless times and discussed it with my pals. Why is the 2002 Collector's Edition TA yellow? I know that the 1999 30th Anniversary Trans-Am was white with the blue stripe.

I always thought that the 2002 Collector's Edition should have been blue with a white stripe. WHY YELLOW?

Scott Settlemire gave a whole explanation why the 35th Anniversary Camaro looks the way it does, is there an explanation from the Pontiac team for the 2002 Collector's Edition?

http://www.amcarguide.com/wp-content/gallery/pontiac-firebird-c2/1970-pontiac-firebird-trans-am-ram-air.jpg

http://www.dankoreproductions.com/wp-content/themes/danko/images/products/transam/1970-1973/1970-1972-firebird-trans-am-complete-decal-kits-gm-licensed.jpg?phpMyAdmin=roDbYNH2gge-L6Zhj8O-2wgYQQf

http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_images/1/1931/61/4825030015_large.jpg


1965GP
12-01-2011, 01:21 PM
Very good question. I could see black and gold as well.

Although I like yellow I prefer the 93/94 Sunfire Yellow.

JohnnyBs98WS6Rag
12-01-2011, 08:34 PM
Indeed, white / blue has historical significance for the T/A as ALL first year T/As were white / blue stripes. However, the 25th and 30th anniversary cars were both white/blue stripes and it was time to change up. Black / gold has historical significance from the '76-'78 SE ("Bandit") T/As, although Pontiac may have felt that the '98 Hurst/LPE and '01 10th anniversary Firehawks had already stolen that thunder (although the production numbers of those cars paled in comparison to the 30ths). But big-bird yellow?? Apparently Pontiac had a vote from "the market" from what I remember. And yes, the yellow used in '93-'94 probably left folks longing for it's return. But IMO, yellow doesn't age well, while white/blue and black/gold are timeless.


35thAnniversaryPhil
12-02-2011, 01:31 AM
Indeed, white / blue has historical significance for the T/A as ALL first year T/As were white / blue stripes. However, the 25th and 30th anniversary cars were both white/blue stripes and it was time to change up. Black / gold has historical significance from the '76-'78 SE ("Bandit") T/As, although Pontiac may have felt that the '98 Hurst/LPE and '01 10th anniversary Firehawks had already stolen that thunder (although the production numbers of those cars paled in comparison to the 30ths). But big-bird yellow?? Apparently Pontiac had a vote from "the market" from what I remember. And yes, the yellow used in '93-'94 probably left folks longing for it's return. But IMO, yellow doesn't age well, while white/blue and black/gold are timeless.

A vote from the market you say...maybe its best the market does not choose sometimes.

But what about light blue with white stripes?

69camaross
12-03-2011, 04:37 PM
What was Stettlemeier's reasoning for the 35th? I'd really like to know who's idea it was for those stripes. That car could have been done sooo much better.

If I remember right the CETA being yellow was mainly to be different from the crowd. It wasn't an anniv year so white/blue wasn't an option. Silver could have been an option like the 10th TA but the Comp TAs had cornered that color and were still fresh on everybody's mind. Also you have to remember at the time Pontiac had exclusivity on Daytona 500 pace cars with the TAs. So being "wild" was part of the mission. Also DKR (if I remember right) had just built a millennium yellow 00 or 01 WS6 TA for SEMA that received rave reviews so that could have played into some influence.

Xsta Z 28
12-04-2011, 10:05 AM
2002 Trans Am was not and Anniversary car . . . thus not white/blue . . . . they wanted something unique.

BANDITCAR
12-04-2011, 05:07 PM
My theory was that Yellow had yet to be a factory color choice on the 98+ Firebirds. Choosing to bring back Sunfire Yellow and allowing it to only be used on the Z15 package seemed ideal. That and is made it more difficult to clone than just by using a standard model year color like white, black, silver, blue, red, etc,.

Xsta has it right...they wanted something to stand out. Yellow was the wise choice and I for one, am more than happy with that choice.

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/297037_10150315806023423_773053422_8227806_1834098 502_n.jpg

INMY01TA
12-04-2011, 11:54 PM
My theory was that Yellow had yet to be a factory color choice on the 98+ Firebirds. Choosing to bring back Sunfire Yellow and allowing it to only be used on the Z15 package seemed ideal. That and is made it more difficult to clone than just by using a standard model year color like white, black, silver, blue, red, etc,.

Xsta has it right...they wanted something to stand out. Yellow was the wise choice and I for one, am more than happy with that choice.

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/297037_10150315806023423_773053422_8227806_1834098 502_n.jpgI agree on all points.

35thAnniversaryPhil
12-05-2011, 01:02 PM
Anybody here would have liked light blue with white stripes? I for one would have loved it!

Z28/2002
12-06-2011, 02:20 AM
Very good question. I could see black and gold as well.

Although I like yellow I prefer the 93/94 Sunfire Yellow.
The yellow on the '02s was the same as the 93-94 cars, just renamed

daytonajim
12-07-2011, 10:58 AM
It's for sale...........

http://www.daytonapacecars.com/id48.html

329375

Yellow makes it very different from all the others. That's just the way it is.

gm02ceta
12-07-2011, 01:14 PM
Yellow isn't a color choice for 95% of most but if you want to attract attention then there's few colors except red, orange, white and candy colors. I will admit that a black base color car has the same dramatic impact appeal but in a subtle way.

IMO it was the best color for Pontiac to send off its wildly popular and historical ponycar! Lot's of other vehicle that look great in yellow hues it's just a personal preference.

1965GP
12-07-2011, 08:35 PM
I did not realize it was the same yellow- I guess I like the clean look better.

I think lucerne blue and white stripes would have been cool as well- but As others have said it was not an anniversary car so blue/white was out.

69camaross
12-08-2011, 11:03 PM
They did make a 4th gen TA in a color fairly close to Lucerene blue. Bright blue metallic on the 98s and some 99s.

http://www.performancetrucks.net/forums/avatars/blu99t-a-58312.gif?type=sigpic&dateline=1246811086

It did not sell well and was discontinued.

CETA2002WS6
12-09-2011, 09:43 AM
Yellow isn't a color choice for 95% of most but if you want to attract attention then there's few colors except red, orange, white and candy colors. I will admit that a black base color car has the same dramatic impact appeal but in a subtle way.

IMO it was the best color for Pontiac to send off its wildly popular and historical ponycar! Lot's of other vehicle that look great in yellow hues it's just a personal preference.

Yellow may not be but my opinion is I think black and yellow are a great color combo and make the car stand out...I love it!:nod:

CETA2002WS6
12-09-2011, 09:43 AM
My theory was that Yellow had yet to be a factory color choice on the 98+ Firebirds. Choosing to bring back Sunfire Yellow and allowing it to only be used on the Z15 package seemed ideal. That and is made it more difficult to clone than just by using a standard model year color like white, black, silver, blue, red, etc,.

Xsta has it right...they wanted something to stand out. Yellow was the wise choice and I for one, am more than happy with that choice.

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/297037_10150315806023423_773053422_8227806_1834098 502_n.jpg
LOOK I drove that lol