Twin-turbocharged V6 power makes this one of the most desirable 3rd generation Pontiac Firebirds.
When we talk about high performance Pontiac Firebirds, we generally think about muscle cars with V8 engines. When we talk about twin turbo V6 performance from the 1980s, we bring up the Buick Grand National. For the most part, Chevrolet and Pontiac are better-known for V8 power and Buick is known for its powerful V6 engines, but back in 1989, the Firebird was briefly available with the same engine as the Grand National.
Only 1,500 examples of the 1989 Pontiac Firebird 20th Anniversary Turbo Trans Am were made and now one is listed on Bring-A-Trailer. Seeing how rare these are, this auction will prove interesting. We will see how collectible this GM performance oddity really is.
20th Anniversary Turbo Trans Am
The 1989 Pontiac Firebird shown here is outfitted with the rare and beautiful 20th Anniversary Turbo Trans Am package. In addition to the aesthetic features like the sporty body cladding, the package-specific badges, the gold wheels and the Official Pace Car decals on the doors, the heart of the Turbo Trans Am is the twin turbocharged 3.8-liter V6 tucked under the hood. This engine was conservatively rated at 250 horsepower and 340 lb-ft of torque. Meanwhile, the 5.7-liter V8 from 1989 offered 230 horsepower and 330 lb-ft of torque, making the boosted six the most powerful engine option for that model year.
However, these models were overshadowed by the V8, possibly due in part to the low production numbers and high cost, making the 20th Anniversary Turbo Trans Am a sought-after collectable.
In addition to the powerful engine and aggressive exterior, the 1989 Pontiac Firebird 20th Anniversary Turbo Trans Am has a loaded leather interior with all of the premium gadgets available from General Motors in the 1980s.
TTA #1,278
This particular 20th Anniversary Turbo Trans Am is practically new, with just 3,031 miles on the odometer.
The interior leather looks like new, as does the exterior paint and decals, making this the perfect third-gen for a collector who wants a cherry 80s Firebird. The video below offers a closer look at the car inside and out, leaving no question as to the quality of this rare Pontiac.
So, what do you think it’s worth? Office chatter says $25,000-$28,000, but with sites like Bring a Trailer, the sky is the limit. After all, a car is worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
