1989 Pontiac Firebird

The 1989 Pontiac Firebird came as a 'base', Formula, Trans Am, and Trans Am GTA. With a wide range of engines and options, the Firebird spanned several price points, ranging from $12,000 - $20,400. New this year was a special limited-edition model called the 20th Anniversary 'Indy Pace Car' version of the GTA which came with a high-output, turbocharged, intercooled V-6 sourced from the Buick GNX.

Standard equipment on the Firebirds included three-point lap and shoulder belts for rear seat occupants. All Firebirds could be purchased with optional removable T-tops, a variety of radios, and an all-new compact digital disc player with the Delco II theft-deterrent system. If power was interrupted, the unit would become inoperative.

The base models came with V-6 engines. Multec fuel injectors were added this year to help boost reliability and fuel efficiency. The Pass Key anti-theft protection system, which had previously been standard only the GTA, became standard on all Firebird models. This anti-theft system had an electronically coded resistor embedded in the ignition key that activated a control module in the ignition lock.

Other improvements to the 1989 Pontiac Firebird included improved sealing for the door glass seals. It helped keep out the elements and reduce road noise. All Firebirds received clearcoat paint over the base color. A new color joined the list of colors - Bright Blue Metallic.

The Trans Am package came with a 5-liter TBI V8 engine rated at 170 horsepower. It was mated to a five-speed manual transmission. It also came with a limited-slip differential.

The Trans AM GTA had a 5.7-liter TIP V8 rated at 235 horsepower. This engine was sourced from the Corvette. They also had a five-speed manual transmission, limited-slip differential, WS6 performance suspension, deflected-dis gas-filled shocks and struts, 16-inch lightweight cross laced aluminum wheels, Z-rated Goody years, cloth articulating buck seats, power windows and door locks, cruise control, air conditioning, AM/FM cassette radio with graphic equalizer, power antenna, and redundant radio controls on the steering wheel hub. They also had 45/55 split-folding rear seats with integral headrests.

by Daniel Vaughan | Jul 2016

With a powerful V6 turbo engine, the 1989 20th Anniversary Turbo Trans Am Convertible, or TTA, could reach 0-60 mph in a startling 4.6 seconds. The TTA was faster than a Firebird 455 S/D, an original Z28 and a 911 Carrera 4S before direct injection. With a top speed of 162 mph, the TTA was the brainchild of Bill Owen of Pontiac and a gift to loyal fans celebrating twenty years of the Trans Am. The TTA project was outsourced to PAS, Inc., which was an engineering firm spearheaded by Jeff Beitzel. Beitzel and his team did most of the development work of the TTA. PAS constructed the V6 turbo engines in their huge City of Industry, CA plant before they were shipped to GM's plan in Van Nuys, CA where they were installed into GTAs on the F-Body assembly line. After all of this, they were shipped back to PAS for the final assembly, testing, and quality control.

GM manufactured a total of 1,555 Pontiac Turbo Trans Am's. Even with a price increase of around $10,000 more than a GTA, devotees were lined up. The GTA chassis were randomly selected so there is no correlation between VIN number and production sequence number. The TTA looked very similar to the GTA, but the main differences were found in the special '20th Anniversary' emblems on the hood and B-pillar, a 'Turbo' badge between the taillights and on the front fenders. Arriving only with automatic shift, the 20th Anniversary model had a clean exterior without racing stripes.

A special turbo boost gauge was found on the inside built into the tachometer face, and a '20th Anniversary' logo was found on the leather map pocket. The TTA was delivered to the owner with special Indy Pace Car stickers for the windshield and doors. Though these stickers weren't delivered to the car attached, the driver had the option to do so.

Offered as a complete package, the 20th Anniversary TTA featured T-tops, plush leather interior and white with saddle (tan) on the inside. The Turbo TA came with a Delco ETR AM/FM cassette with graphic EQ and an optional CD player was available. A special owner's manual supplement was delivered with each original TTA along with a unique box that held door and windshield stickers, a Turbo TA keychain, a leather owner's manual cover, and a letter of congratulations. The Firebird service manual and TTA supplement could also be ordered from Helm, like with most GM vehicles.

Pontiac used the 3.8-liter V6 turbo powerplant from the legendary 1986-87 Grand National for the TTA. The differences between the TTA motor and the Grand National version lay in the different heads used to squeeze the motor between the strut towers. These new heads aided in the improved exhaust flow and combustion chamber design and were adapted from the transverse FWD version of the 3.8-liter motor. New pistons had to be used to keep the combustion chamber volume along with a cross-drilled crank, specially-designed stainless-steel headers, larger 12 fin/inch GNX-style intercooler in place of GN's 10 fin/inch designs, higher-pressure Bosch 237 fuel pressure regulator, and a recalibrated control module for the engine.

Motor Trend tested the Pontiac TTA and found that though the engine was rated at 250 HP, the Trans Am actually developed 301 HP. Sporting a special 1LE racing brake package that upgraded the front discs to 12-inch police rotors, Corvette twin-piston aluminum calipers, and semi-metallic pads, the Turbo TA had brakes that were virtually fade proof. This rare brake package was installed to legalize the 1LE package for Firehawk endurance racing. Utilizing Corvette single-piston calipers, the rear disc brakes were bumped up to 12 inches in 1989. Brake pads can be changed in a mere thirty seconds thanks to a quick-change design.

Halfway through the TTA's first production year, updates included a redesigned turbo inlet tube which was much more durable and now had a clamping rib on either end which kept the hoses attached more securely. During the spring of 1989, GM went from glass to Lexan T-tops to save some weight. Unfortunately the new T-tops weren't as reliable and had major issues with cracking and scratching and GM had to replace the majority of them under warranty. GM went back to glass T-tops in 1990 following numerous problems with the Lexan T-tops.

For the 73rd Indianapolis 500, the 20th Anniversary Turbo Trans Am was chosen as the Official Pace Car. Bestowed this honor for the Indy 500 held on May 28, 1989, the Turbo Trans Am along with three other cars, was the first-ever in the history of the 500 to do so without any performance modifications. Only minor updates like safety equipment required by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, like a five-point seat belt harness, pace car lighting, and TV-related equipment were installed on the car to make it pace car ready.

Other modifications to the Pace Car included strobe lights fitted into the front fog lights, front turn signals, and side marker lights. In the space between spoiler and decklid was another additional set of strobe lights. The rear windows no longer had a defogger grid so that there would be a clear rear view of the track with the rear-facing ABC TV camera.

Besides the three pace cars, 162 'Festival' Turbo Trans Ams arrived at the Indy 500 for VIP and parade duty. All of the TTA's had interior cloth and T-tops. For $25,854.83 GM employees could purchase 100 of the festival cars, not through a raffle, but by simply filling out a form that they wanted the car at that price. The price was firm and no choice was offered of the car and buyers received a car with anywhere from a few hundred to 7k miles on them.

One of the three pace cars was given to race winner Emerson Fittipaldi, one was given to the Indianapolis Speedway Museum and the final one is in the Pontiac collection.

Sources:
http://89tta.turbobuicks.net/ttahist.htm
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/1989-pontiac-firebird-20th-anniversary-trans-am.htm
http://www.carthrottle.com/retrospective-1989-pontiac-20th-anniversary-turbo-trans-am/

By Jessica Donaldson