Someone PLEASE tell me what this is!
02-14-2006, 08:57 PM
#1
Someone PLEASE tell me what this is!
What is this car? I have never, ever seen one before! Can anyone provide some background/history on the body/hatch style?
Is it very desirable?!?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1988-...QQcmdZViewItem
Is it very desirable?!?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1988-...QQcmdZViewItem
02-14-2006, 09:13 PM
#2
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Car: 88 TBI Formula, 98 LS1 TA, 77 400 T
That is a GTA Trans Am with the notch back hatch option. This was a 1988 only option. I believe that there were less than 1000 made. At one time you could buy a replica notch back hatch aftermarket, I don't know if it is still available.
Oddly enough, neither the firebird redbook or the Standard Catalog of Firebird mentions the notchback.
Oddly enough, neither the firebird redbook or the Standard Catalog of Firebird mentions the notchback.
02-14-2006, 09:19 PM
#3
There was 718 Notchbacks produced in 1988, according to a Pontiac letter.
http://www.gtanotchback.com/document...iacletter1.jpg
I have pictures of other Notchbacks on my website:
http://www.gtanotchback.com
http://www.gtanotchback.com/document...iacletter1.jpg
I have pictures of other Notchbacks on my website:
http://www.gtanotchback.com
02-14-2006, 09:57 PM
#7
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Car: 88 TBI Formula, 98 LS1 TA, 77 400 T
Hard to tell, but I think that you may be right. The space between the windshield and t - top is more than the factory ones.
Does anyone have a picture of the Notchback from inside? That is from the drivers seat looking back? Or with the deck lid up, the underneath of the notch back?
Does anyone have a picture of the Notchback from inside? That is from the drivers seat looking back? Or with the deck lid up, the underneath of the notch back?
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02-15-2006, 09:02 AM
#10
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Location: Doghouse ······································ Car: 1989 Formula 350 Vert Engine: 350 L98 Transmission: 700R4 Axle/Gears: B&W 3.27
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Car: 87 Formula T-Top, 87 Formula HT
Engine: 5.1L TPI, 5.0L TPI
Transmission: 700R4, M5
Axle/Gears: Sag 3.73, B&W 3.45
There is a local guy that has one, its White with the notchback...
He is even a member to the same Country club as I but have never spoken to him... I thought about seeing if he wanted to sell it because its so crappy looking, could really use some paint.
John
He is even a member to the same Country club as I but have never spoken to him... I thought about seeing if he wanted to sell it because its so crappy looking, could really use some paint.
John
02-15-2006, 10:36 PM
#12
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Car: 1990 GTA
Engine: 5.7
Transmission: 4L60
Axle/Gears: 3.27 Posi
Originally posted by aaron7
Wow... GTA... 350... notchback... 5100 miles! What a beautiful car. Wish I had $12,000!
Wow... GTA... 350... notchback... 5100 miles! What a beautiful car. Wish I had $12,000!
02-16-2006, 10:52 AM
#13
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Location: Doghouse ······································ Car: 1989 Formula 350 Vert Engine: 350 L98 Transmission: 700R4 Axle/Gears: B&W 3.27
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Car: 87 Formula T-Top, 87 Formula HT
Engine: 5.1L TPI, 5.0L TPI
Transmission: 700R4, M5
Axle/Gears: Sag 3.73, B&W 3.45
I know there is speculation of wether the C&C t-tops will be an issue for resaliability.... I am not convinced, this is how I see them
If you talk to Drew, he will say there crap and you shoudl avoid them like the pleague... and to a diehard collector they would make a difference, they might pass on the car, However if someone were to cut off the top and revert it back to a hard top I would find it hard to believe that would help the value either.
I think a C&C T-top car would be worth slitghlty less than a Factory T-top, but slightly more than a Hard top. The ones I have seen in junkyards seem to be well enough done, not to mention they have some special features that factory T-tops did not have llike the ability to pop up in some instance.
My thoughts on the style of the car and the value:
Convertable **** (4 stars)
T-top *** (3 stars)
C&C t-top **1/2 (2.5 stars)
Hard Top ** (2 stars)
It truely depends on the buyer and wether or not he cares...
John
If you talk to Drew, he will say there crap and you shoudl avoid them like the pleague... and to a diehard collector they would make a difference, they might pass on the car, However if someone were to cut off the top and revert it back to a hard top I would find it hard to believe that would help the value either.
I think a C&C T-top car would be worth slitghlty less than a Factory T-top, but slightly more than a Hard top. The ones I have seen in junkyards seem to be well enough done, not to mention they have some special features that factory T-tops did not have llike the ability to pop up in some instance.
My thoughts on the style of the car and the value:
Convertable **** (4 stars)
T-top *** (3 stars)
C&C t-top **1/2 (2.5 stars)
Hard Top ** (2 stars)
It truely depends on the buyer and wether or not he cares...
John
really?
02-16-2006, 01:01 PM
#16
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Location: Doghouse ······································ Car: 1989 Formula 350 Vert Engine: 350 L98 Transmission: 700R4 Axle/Gears: B&W 3.27
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Car: 87 Formula T-Top, 87 Formula HT
Engine: 5.1L TPI, 5.0L TPI
Transmission: 700R4, M5
Axle/Gears: Sag 3.73, B&W 3.45
The one set I looked at did not attach the the body like the factory unit. Where the Factory unit slips under the center bar and the pins or hooks latch the outside. IIRC the C&C tops actually mounted to the roof, along the front and the rear with some brackets, This alowed them to pop up, a really nice idea if you ask me...
John
John
02-17-2006, 02:17 PM
#17
The C&C T-tops on my 88 did not do that, but it could be option or a later model change.
My C&C T-tops are one of the main reasons I bought my 88 TA. I doubt I would have bought it if it had not been altered. I would deffinatly take a C&C Notchback before a hard top Notchback and would probably pay the same for a C&C T-top car vs a Factory t-top car.
My C&C T-tops are one of the main reasons I bought my 88 TA. I doubt I would have bought it if it had not been altered. I would deffinatly take a C&C Notchback before a hard top Notchback and would probably pay the same for a C&C T-top car vs a Factory t-top car.
02-17-2006, 02:39 PM
#18
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Location: Doghouse ······································ Car: 1989 Formula 350 Vert Engine: 350 L98 Transmission: 700R4 Axle/Gears: B&W 3.27
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Car: 87 Formula T-Top, 87 Formula HT
Engine: 5.1L TPI, 5.0L TPI
Transmission: 700R4, M5
Axle/Gears: Sag 3.73, B&W 3.45
I think it was an option...
John
John
02-18-2006, 11:37 PM
#20
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Car: 1989 Iroc, 1987and 1989 formula 350
Engine: 305tpi,350tpi,ls1
Transmission: 700r4,t-56
Axle/Gears: 3:08,3:27,3:23
I had a gta with those t-tops and hated them...the trim was too noticable..it didn't flow nice with the body.....just my opinion from owning one
02-19-2006, 10:47 AM
#21
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Car: 2004 Chevy Avalanche
Engine: Some that run, some that don't
Transmission: 700R4's, a T-5, and a Turbo 350
My '88 notchback has C&C T-tops. Actually, I don't know if you could get a notchback with factory T-tops. I've never been a fan of notchbacks and never looked into it. If factory T-tops weren't available I would think that the C&C tops could be a plus down the road. They are not as good of a design as factory tops but they're not that bad either.
02-19-2006, 01:42 PM
#22
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Car: 2012 Nissan Leaf
Engine: 80-kW AC synchronous electric motor
Transmission: Automatic
Axle/Gears: n/a
for me the t-tops ruin the cars collectobility (cc tops that is). but to each his own. i would much rather have a hard top car, especialy an 88 notchback
that thing has been on ebay a few times now.
that thing has been on ebay a few times now.
02-19-2006, 03:10 PM
#23
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Car: 1987 GTA
Engine: LT1
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 9 bolt 3.70 posi
My '86 had C&C tops, didn't leak a drop of water, hard rain, power wash anything. My GTA has C&C tops, I put new weather stripping on them since the glass from my '86 was used, doesn't leak a drop either. IMHO the C&C tops are better quality than the originals.
I knew someone in '87 that had an '84 Z28 with factory tops, and they leaked like you were pouring water in the window when it rained, it was pitiful.
I knew someone in '87 that had an '84 Z28 with factory tops, and they leaked like you were pouring water in the window when it rained, it was pitiful.
