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Non-T-top T/A?

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Old 01-04-2010, 07:49 PM
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Default Non-T-top T/A?

Did Pontiac make a FRC T/A in the 4th gen? I'm almost positive I haven't seen a LS1-powered non-ttop car.
Old 01-04-2010, 07:52 PM
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4th gen, yes. LS1, no.

1997 was the last year you could buy a hardtop Trans Am.

On the other hand, you could get an LS1 Formula as a hardtop.
Old 01-04-2010, 08:29 PM
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Hmmm I thought there were LS1 hardtop T/A's... just not very many.

I guess I learned something lol
Old 01-04-2010, 08:41 PM
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Originally Posted by chadaclysm
Hmmm I thought there were LS1 hardtop T/A's... just not very many.

I guess I learned something lol
T-tops became standard on Trans Am in 1998, that I'm sure of. If I remember correctly, they may have become standard on Formula for 2002 as well.
Old 01-04-2010, 10:26 PM
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Originally Posted by RPM WS6
T-tops became standard on Trans Am in 1998, that I'm sure of. If I remember correctly, they may have become standard on Formula for 2002 as well.
I know they were standard, but I wasn't sure if you could special order a hardtop T/A or not.
Old 01-05-2010, 02:46 AM
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Originally Posted by RPM WS6
4th gen, yes. LS1, no.

1997 was the last year you could buy a hardtop Trans Am.

On the other hand, you could get an LS1 Formula as a hardtop.
I'm curious where you found this information.

I've been a Firebird enthusiast for a number of years and have collected a number of books about the life (and death) of the car. I can't seem to find any information in any them to support or deny your statement.

As was stated in a previous post, the T-top option was standard for the Trans Am and Formula in 2001 & 2002, but I'm not so sure it was made manditory. In the Standard Catalog of Firebird 1967-2002 by John Gunnell, it states the the CC1 production code, removable hatch roof, was a $995 option in 2001 & 2002. To me, this reads as though you still had a choice.

In the same book, it states nothing about T-tops being standard for any of the Firebird models in the 1998-2000 models. But they were, again, a $995 option.

I'm not looking for an arguement. Far from it. I'm just very curious to find an accurate answer to this question that is supported by facts that can be proven.

Please, by all means, show me why you are correct and I will gladly accept it as fact.
Old 01-05-2010, 02:53 AM
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It's in the dealer brochure; that shows all the options. I'll see if I can find one online in the next 10 minutes.

This may have been the cover, I have one laying around the house somewhere.



But I'll second the no hardtop option for an LS1 TA. My Dad hates T-tops, but it's the only way he could get the last year Trans Am.

Last edited by TransAm12sec; 01-05-2010 at 03:05 AM.
Old 01-05-2010, 09:03 AM
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Originally Posted by Mumbles
I'm curious where you found this information.

I've been a Firebird enthusiast for a number of years and have collected a number of books about the life (and death) of the car. I can't seem to find any information in any them to support or deny your statement.

As was stated in a previous post, the T-top option was standard for the Trans Am and Formula in 2001 & 2002, but I'm not so sure it was made manditory. In the Standard Catalog of Firebird 1967-2002 by John Gunnell, it states the the CC1 production code, removable hatch roof, was a $995 option in 2001 & 2002. To me, this reads as though you still had a choice.

In the same book, it states nothing about T-tops being standard for any of the Firebird models in the 1998-2000 models. But they were, again, a $995 option.

I'm not looking for an arguement. Far from it. I'm just very curious to find an accurate answer to this question that is supported by facts that can be proven.

Please, by all means, show me why you are correct and I will gladly accept it as fact.
I did not pay extra for T-tops on my '00 Trans Am, that I bought brand new. It was standard and manditory (non-delete option). I remember it being listed as standard on window stickers going back to 1998, when I starting looking to buy a new one.

Also, I still have the dealer brochure from 1998 that lists T-tops as standard on Trans Am. I'll see if I can get a good pic of the page in a little bit....
Old 01-05-2010, 10:18 AM
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Alright, I tried my best to get readable pics of the brochure, this is all I could do with my limited equpitment. The first image shows the full page, the second image shows a close up of the section for "hatch roof with sunshades, removeable". You'll notice the second to the last column has an "S" for standard. That's the column for "Trans Am Coupe", in case you can see that in the first image.

This is the 1998 dealer brochure for Trans Am:



Old 01-05-2010, 10:38 AM
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Wow. Thanks RPM WS6.

Looks like Mr. Gunnell could have done a little more research before publishing his book.

Between getting ready for work this morning and taking care of some other things around the house, I've done a couple of searches on auto trader sites. I've yet to find one 98-02 T/A without T-tops (other than convertibles, of course).

Good job, man. Thanks for the proof.
Old 01-05-2010, 10:57 AM
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Originally Posted by Mumbles
Wow. Thanks RPM WS6.

Looks like Mr. Gunnell could have done a little more research before publishing his book.

Between getting ready for work this morning and taking care of some other things around the house, I've done a couple of searches on auto trader sites. I've yet to find one 98-02 T/A without T-tops (other than convertibles, of course).

Good job, man. Thanks for the proof.
No problem, and you're correct that this seems to be a little known fact that's rarely published. I only remembered it because I spent soooo much time looking at these cars (and their options) back in '98-'00. Thankfully, I saved the dealer brochure as well. I remember the day I picked it up back in Feb. '98, I was there looking at a Black WS6. I remember T-tops as always being listed under "standard" on the '98+ window stickers, and when I bought mine in '00 the dealer confirmed for me that T-tops were manditory for the Trans Am, and had been since '98.
Old 01-05-2010, 10:58 AM
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Originally Posted by Mumbles
Wow. Thanks RPM WS6.

Looks like Mr. Gunnell could have done a little more research before publishing his book.

Between getting ready for work this morning and taking care of some other things around the house, I've done a couple of searches on auto trader sites. I've yet to find one 98-02 T/A without T-tops (other than convertibles, of course).

Good job, man. Thanks for the proof.
he did plenty of research... the way you read it in your first post he said that for the bird it was a $995 option, but when you ordered the trans am package that was part of it. You could still get the v6 firebird with a hard top.
Old 01-05-2010, 06:07 PM
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A usual RPM is right on the money. I ordered my Car in Jan 1998, I didn't want T-tops and I didn't want Leather (both standard equipment in T/A's) So I ended up getting a Base model Formula Coupe.
Also want to point out that according to these Production numbers http://lair.evyl.org/1998-Firebird_P...on_Numbers.htm. There were 2 hardtop Trans Am's built in 1998 (check the t-top vs total T/A coupe numbers) One of them (a white car with cloth interior) was on the cover of Car & Driver
Old 01-05-2010, 06:10 PM
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I don't know why you would want a hardtop anyway... I like my mullet to flow in the wind
Old 01-05-2010, 06:39 PM
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Originally Posted by LS1W66
A usual RPM is right on the money. I ordered my Car in Jan 1998, I didn't want T-tops and I didn't want Leather (both standard equipment in T/A's) So I ended up getting a Base model Formula Coupe.
Also want to point out that according to these Production numbers http://lair.evyl.org/1998-Firebird_P...on_Numbers.htm. There were 2 hardtop Trans Am's built in 1998 (check the t-top vs total T/A coupe numbers) One of them (a white car with cloth interior) was on the cover of Car & Driver
Anyone have a picture of those 2 hardtops? or know where they're located? they would be a sweet find.
Old 01-05-2010, 07:04 PM
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Originally Posted by TAtoad
Anyone have a picture of those 2 hardtops? or know where they're located? they would be a sweet find.
They were probably early release press cars. Good chance they were never sold to the public. Although, sometimes a GM employee ends up owning cars like that, and eventually they do work their way out to the collector world.

Guess anyone could "build" their own hardtop Trans Am by doing a TA conversion on a Formula.
Old 01-05-2010, 07:36 PM
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Originally Posted by RPM WS6
They were probably early release press cars. Good chance they were never sold to the public. Although, sometimes a GM employee ends up owning cars like that, and eventually they do work their way out to the collector world.

Guess anyone could "build" their own hardtop Trans Am by doing a TA conversion on a Formula.
Exactly my thoughts aswell since that Car & Driver issue was released sometime in mid to late `97.

Also not many people know that they built 2 Formula convertibles in 1998. (the droptop Formula wasn't available after 1997)
Both of these Formula's were Red and WS6 equipped, one black top one white top one an Auto and one a manual. I don't remember all the specifics but one did fall throught the cracks and get sold to a private owner. The others where abouts are unknown.
Old 01-06-2010, 01:50 AM
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Originally Posted by LS1W66
(the droptop Formula wasn't available after 1997)
This, I was aware of.

Originally Posted by LS1W66
Also not many people know that they built 2 Formula convertibles in 1998.
This, I was not. Cool fact.

Originally Posted by RPM WS6
Guess anyone could "build" their own hardtop Trans Am by doing a TA conversion on a Formula.
Rather than transmutating a hard top Formula into a Trans Am (), you could simply remove the T-top roof and install a hard top from a donor Firebird or Camaro. Many have done the opposite to give themselves the T-top option. I'm sure the reverse wouldn't be anymore difficult to accomplish.

This thread is turning out to be very informative. We may just have the making's of a Sticky on our hands. ("sticky on our hands" LOL.)
Old 01-06-2010, 04:05 AM
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I know there was a white 1998 T/A hardtop on the cover of Car & Driver but from my digging through the compnine.com database the only two 1998 T/A's that come up without t-tops are vin number 00004 which is a red car with grey leather and a 6 speed, and number 00013 which is a black car with grey and an automatic.

There were also two cloth interior T/A's built, vin number 00001 was a sport gold T/A with neutral cloth and number 00008 was a silver T/A with grey cloth.

HTH,
Steve
Old 01-06-2010, 04:16 AM
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other than those two mentioned the hardtop LS1 Trans Am does not exist from the factory


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