1989 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Pace Car

Description

I'm pretty sure this 1989 Pontiac Trans Am pace car, with its turbocharged V6, is still the fastest-accelerating Trans Am of all time. One of the greatest factory sleepers to come out of GM, this is also a very well-preserved, totally stock piece of GM history that deserves a place of honor in your collection.

The off-white paint on these cars is beautifully subtle and the soft color is the perfect way for this apex predator to hunt out in the open. In GM tradition, the pace car decals were shipped separately and they were never installed on this car, so it's quite easy to slip under the radar with it. And like all instant collectables, this one has led a very easy life and has always been treated as something special, most visibly in its ultra-low 4267 mileage reading. The paint is 100% GM-applied, the bodywork underneath is as the factory did it, and even the rear wing (which was noted for cracking) is in excellent condition. There are a few signs of age, which are pretty much impossible to combat, but overall this is a show-quality car that has been carefully maintained to keep it in top condition. All the gold Indianapolis 500 badges are bright and crisp, the weather seals are supple, and we're guessing that the T-tops have never been off the car and they seal up beautifully.

Tan upholstery was standard in the pace cars, but the leather found in this one was optional, making this car the one to own. There are some very, very minor signs of use but otherwise it remains in showroom fresh condition throughout. I'm sure someone has spent some time behind the wheel, but there's no scuffing on the outer bolsters and you'll note that the factory plastic wrap is still protecting the carpets. The Turbo came loaded with just about everything you could imagine, including A/C, power windows, locks, mirrors, and seats, cruise control, and an AM/FM/cassette stereo system with equalizer. It all works, of course, and if those floor mats somehow get dirty, there's a spare set in the trunk along with the original pace car decals, which have never been opened.

The reason these cars were so special is because they united GM's most potent powerplant the (grossly under-rated) turbocharged Buick 3.8 liter V6. Finally, the blown torque factory that made the Grand National was given a home in a car with the suspension and brakes to fully take advantage of it. Sure, the marketing department was careful to keep output under the Corvette, but the truth is, this car is still scary fast, even 26 years later. And despite all the upgrades available for the GNs to turn them into true monsters, this one remains 100% stock to preserve its investment potential. A 2004R 4-speed automatic transmission was the only choice, since there were no manual transmissions at the time that could handle the torque, but its quick reflexes and deep overdrive make this car a no-compromises performer. It's also got 4-wheel disc brakes, a suspension that actually corners as well as launching in a straight line, and 16-inch alloy wheels that still wear their original 245/50/16 Goodyear "Gatorback" performance radials.

Documented with the original window sticker and a special portfolio that includes parking permits from the 1989 Indy 500, suggesting that this car was part of the festival, this is a sure-fire future collectable that also happens to be a fantastic car to drive. Call today!