Originally posted on the fourth of July in 2014, here’s some eighties American iron.
“The Only Modification It Needed To Pace The Indy 500 Was A Decal.”
For 1989, there was big news in the Pontiac camp was the release of the 20th Anniversary Turbo Firebird Trans Am, which was essentially a Trans AM GTA coupe with an exclusive engine option and some specific trim elements.
Rated at 250 bhp but actually making about 300 bhp, the LC2 3.8 liter/231 ci sequential fuel-injected, turbocharged, and intercooled V6 was teamed with the 200-4R four-speed automatic transmission. Mileage was 16 city/24 highway by the day’s standards (15/22 by today’s standards), and nobody cared. What they did care about was the acceleration—Car and Driver managed to achieve a 4.6 second 0-60 time (Pontiac had claimed 5.5 seconds) and a top speed of 153 mph. At least in power, the third generation Trans Am had come a long way from 1982 …
For $31,198 (about $82,800 in 2025 dollars), 20th Anniversary Turbo Firebird Trans Am buyers got all the Trans Am GTA exterior and mechanical equipment, which included fog lamps, a power antenna, four-wheel disc brakes, special performance package, a limited slip differential, and 245/50-VR16 black sidewall tires (a size still readily available) mounted on gold 16 x 8 diamond-spoke aluminum wheels. Turbo Trans Am-specific additions included larger brake rotors and softer front springs. In addition, there were Turbo Trans Am emblems on the fenders and 20th emblems on the nose and rear pillars.
Inside, standard GTA equipment included air conditioning, power door locks, power windows, power mirrors, tilt steering, cruise control, a rear window defroster, a power deck lid release, and an AM/FM stereo cassette with equalizer and steering wheel controls. Turbo Trans Am owners also got a turbo-boost gauge inside the tachometer face.
Options & Production Numbers
Pontiac built a total of 1,550 Turbo Trans Ams for sale (there were another 5 test cars), with 85% of them being t-tops with leather bucket seats (buyers could order cloth bucket seats and/or the hardtop, but few did). Period window stickers show the t-top roof and the custom leather interior combined in a value option package.
The View From 2025
Unlike many other eighties cars, 1989 Turbo Trans Ams hold their value just fine. According to Hagerty’s valuation tools, all the money for a 1989 20th Anniversary Turbo Trans Am in #1/Concours condition is $66,400, though some have sold for more. A more “normal” #3/Good condition example is valued at $29,900. Turbo Trans Ams often come up for sale in the Hemmings Motor News classifieds and on eBay Motors, but many are now sold at auction, whether online (Bring a Trailer) or in-person.
Make mine White, please. As with many other General Motors special editions, there’s no color option.
I evidently can’t help myself with eighties Trans Ams; I’ve written about the 1981, the 1982, the 1984 15th Anniversary, and the 1985. I have also written about the 1986 SE, but I probably should write about the Formula at some point—perhaps even the base car.
Last updated March 2025.
Eighties Cars 