My buddy just bought a 94 "trans am" from an auction that has a six speed and an lt1 engine, 34k miles . When I looked at it today, I told him it was an f-ing firebird with a v8. It has the spoiler of a firebird, (not raised), no t-tops, and the back bumper of a firebird. < Could be a formula I guess.

"CONFISCATED FROM DRUG DEALER" - you can still see on the back bumper where the decals used to be, and where "formula ls1" decal should be: it said "Police V8". Theres even holes in the hardtop from the police lightbar.

Bottom line - Is there a way i can find out (from vin, rpo, something) if it's
really a trans am, formula, or just a bird with a v8.
The panel between the tail lights says "trans am" , but those can be switched, or they are just decals.

It may have the gov't issued chip which would be cool, but hard to find out.

If someone has the vin codes for 94 t/a or something helpful it would help a lot.

 

you sure its got a formula rear bumper? does it have the cutouts for the quad tips?
does it have the TA GFX?

in 94 the TA spoiler was optional on the base trans am, only the trans am GT had it... but the rest of the TA stuff (front/rear bumpers gfx) were standard on the regular TA

 

minor cutouts for the quads, looks more like a firebird bumper though.

I thought the spoiler was a dead giveaway, but like u said it might be a base model with the deck lid.

The front bumper is different than the one in your pic, smaller fog lights (oval shaped)

 

formula fo sho

 

Looks like this?????

 

I'd say it's similar to the Camaro police package of that time....base model car (no exterior identification) with the drivetrain of the Z28.

 

wouldnt the RPO code say "B4C" if it was real?

 

I think B4C was only a camaro thing, but I could be wrong

 

i dont think he said it was a cop car, i think he said it was a seized car, could have been converted to a cop car, in pompano beach, fl they have a 94 25th anniv trans am cop car

 

Your probably right. Anyway, to more specifically answer his question I think the RPO codes for a Trans Am is "Y83" and the code for a formula is "Y82". Not exactly sure though. Check out this complete RPO list here RPO Codes

 

My friends car looks exactly like fantomzero's from above. I imagine it was seized, then converted to a cop car. There are still distinct traces, like weatherstripping cut where the electrical cord for the light bar would go.

Carfax says it comes up as 94 Pontiac Formula/trans am/trans am gt < so at least it's not a firebird with an engine swap, so i'm betting formula like phantomzero said.

 

would they have used a six speed in any police vehicle?

 

i believe some of the FHP camaro's were 6 speeds, but i could be wrong

 

I'm sure that it was a "DARE" car, or some other seized car that the police use for public relations like car shows, and DARE assemblies in schools. When I was in school the police had a black '90 firebird formula that was seized I used to think it was the coolest thing.

 

Isn't it kind of ironic that a Formula would be used as a D.A.R.E. car when really, the third gen Trans Ams and Formulas have often been considered as the redneck drug dealer car of choice? Either way - I'm amused.