old cars and small kids, lap belts and da law....

1989 Pontiac Firebird History


GM makes new N10 dual catalytic converter exhaust available for the '89 Firebird, freeing up 13% more power from some LB9 and L98 equipped 1989 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am's. 1989 Firebird models optioned with t-tops receive new Lexan plastic tops. The new tops are lighter in weight and tinted darker, but are more dome shaped and age rapidly. GM replaces many sets with glass under warranty, but the Lexan tops continue through 1992. All rear disc brake optioned Firebirds now receive PBR brake calipers and larger brake rotors. This resolved issues GM encountered with the earlier rear discs, and increased stopping power. Introduction of GM's Vehicle Anti Theft System or V.A.T.S. makes all 1989 Pontiac Firebird models more theft resistant by incorporating a small resistor into the key. VATS equipped cars also display antitheft system warning decals in the lower rear corners of side windows. Shoulder belts are added in the back. The 1989 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am is selected to pace the Indianapolis 500. Pontiac markets a new 1989 Pontiac Firebird pace car replica. This special 20th Anniversary 1989 Pontiac Firebird Turbo Trans Am (TTA) based on the GTA is only available in white with tan interior and comes equipped with a Buick 3.8L V6 with a turbocharger developed from the Grand National. These 1989 Firebird replicas are as close to the actual pace car as any replica offered up to this time. The only changes made to the cars that actually were on the track during the race were the additions of strobe lights and safety equipment. 1,555 were produced, 5 being test cars. Out of 1,550 cars produced by PAS, the actual pace cars were randomly selected and sent to Indy for testing and modification. When they were released to the public they were underrated in power. Not all came with T-Tops or came with leather either, there were hardtops and cloth cars. Every car in the 1989 Pontiac Firebird Pace car replica line has an an automatic transmission, the 2004R. The five test TTA's, because they were for pre-production use, were pulled off of the assembly line without regard to color and they were not white. At least two of these test cars were sold to private individuals. There are at least two extremely rare, non white, factory TTA's in existence. Its known that one is red and the other is black. GM did not offer a factory convertible TTA. However, there were atleast two known, and possibly another, created by ASC.