Topic: The Dirty Bird - 85 Trans Am

[Firm]

I needed something decently reliable and dirt cheap for as a "leave behind car" when I am driving press-cars. I toyed with the idea of a 10-15 year old regular car, but just couldn't get my head around the concept of putting money into something that will always be worthless. So in keeping with my "break-even or better" approach to transportation I sourced this pile.

It's an 85 T/A, 305 V8 4bbl. 700R4 automatic. It only has 132,000km and I bought it off the second owner, a 74 year old lady who had owned it since 1989. The car was her baby and she claims that she never, ever took it out in inclement weather. That does show as the body and underside are ridiculously rust free. The paint is filthy from sitting in a dirty old garage, but it'll come up nicely. The interior is on the rough side, she was a smoker so there's ash and dirty everywhere, dash is cracked and things inside just generally need attention.

It was freezing out today so I didn't play around with the car much at all. Mechanically, the thing starts almost instantly and runs really well. The v8 pulls hard and the tranny feel tight. I think the front end needs some work because it's kinda "crunchy" sounding when turning at low speeds or on sharp bumps. Brakes are a little soft, so i think they either need to be bled or the master cylinder is weak; I was very pleasantly surprised to discover that the car has the (rare) optional 4-wheel disc brakes. Other than those two things the only other noteworthy issue that I am aware of is the exterior lighting....it's a disaster, headlight motors are not working properly, none of the parking lights work, and signals are intermittent; I suspect bad grounds and/or fuses.

I won't do anything until the weather warms up, then I'll get the mechanical stuff done so I can get it safetied and on the road. Then I'll deal with the cosmetics.

It's weird, but I do really like these old F-bodies...when they're in good working order (and most arn't) they are very easy and comfortable cars to drive. Surprisingly roomy inside, simple to repair and easy to find parts. Plus, I love the looks, especially these third gen cars...

And now onto the photos....like I said, filthy. It's too cold to wash anything too, so it'll have to stay filthy until the weather turns around.

[revalations]

Love it! I've always wanted a nice clean Trans Am from this vintage. It looks real clean and original.

[Snowman]

Excellent find and congrats! Ya have to like buying a mint T/A from a 74 year old woman.

[Bubba]

Great find.

[Railton]

Boss. You should trade stories with Dex on Fire chickens.
Railton

[Hannibalsmith]

Still love those tail lights after all those year. Nice find, but where are you keeping it? Or is this just a prelude to lift #2?

[bridgecity]

Nice find!  Very cool to see the two generations of Firebirds side by side.

[Firm]

Thanks guys
Right where you see it sitting is where it's going to have to live for now Once it's on the road it'll be more of a gypsy, spending most of it's time in various manufacture lots. But that'll have to wait until the weather gets warm enough to work on it.

I would put this generation T/A a close second to the Iroc as the best looking (to me) F-bodies.

[mrthompson]

 

[Arthur Dent]

That looks fantastic. I love the mesh style rims on these. Nice find for sure. Febreeze bomb it a couple times, always drive with the windows down and it might smell decent in a couple months! I had to do that with a Taurus I owned for a while.

[revalations]

Thanks guys
Right where you see it sitting is where it's going to have to live for now Once it's on the road it'll be more of a gypsy, spending most of it's time in various manufacture lots. But that'll have to wait until the weather gets warm enough to work on it.

I would put this generation T/A a close second to the Iroc as the best looking (to me) F-bodies.

I just missed a very clean 89 Iroc this past week. Turned up on kijiji for $5,000, was sold within a few hours. I grew up wanting any F body from this generation, still think they're such a pretty car. To me, the Iroc ragtop was the best looking.

[aquadorhj]

congrats!!!

[johngenx]

Leave it looking old and tired and put a big block in it and earn back the investment by taking money from blowhard Mustang drivers at "run what ya brung" nights.

(well, my Gen 2 F-body Camaro "only" had a small block but was still a serious 11sec car that left a lot of Ford owners going home without beer money...)

[Northernridge]

Cool. Those cars have an enduring charm.

[evil_twin]

The world needs more people with 2 T/A's in driveway.

Good for you

[Snowman]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WNrx2jq184

[quadzilla]

Great find

Right where you see it sitting is where it's going to have to live for now

Can you move it up a few feet so the old ladies can easily walk past your house. 

[mrthompson]

[Fobroader]

Track monster FTW......nice purchase.

Sent from my Galaxy S3

[Firm]

Wow, thanks for all the encouragement guys. It’s awesome to see so many people enthused over a 30 year old GM. We only get to go around once, and while I refuse to spend my hard earned money on a flashy expensive car, I am damn well going to drive what I love!

Plans are honestly just to clean it up, fix what’s broken, catch up on maintenance and enjoy it as an original survivor car. Sadly 90% of these cars fall into two buckets now; junk (rotten or poorly modded) and garage queens. As long as I own this particular car it will be a solid & reliable driver, I don’t ever want to worry about parking it somewhere or getting it wet.

F-bodies run in my family, my grandfather started driving Camaro’s in the early 70’s and drove them right into the early 2000’s. My uncle went through a few in the 80’s, and my dad drove a Camaro (the one I own now) daily from 84-05. I spent a lot of time in these as a kid, and as a driver, so they feel like home to me.