The Firebird Trans Am that Pontiac used as the pace car for the Indy 500 had a Buick turbo V-6 engine put into it. Because of this, it was the fastest production car in the US at the time. This example features low mileage, recent servicing, and was previously owned by an engineer who worked on the project. The limited-edition GNX and the turbocharged V-6 Buick Grand National were two of the most beautiful cars of the 1980s. They had the look of old-school power cars. If you put that amazing straight-line speed into a car that was made for sports, what would happen? This is what Pontiac did with the 1989 Firebird 20th Anniversary Turbo Trans Am, which you can buy on Bring a Trailer (a part of Hearst Autos, which is like Invoice Pricing). This pony car could have easily reached 60 mph before it crashed in 13.4 seconds at the quarter-mile trap, even though the name sounds cool. In 1989, Invoice Pricing said that this Trans Am was the fastest-sprinting production car that could be bought in an American shop. Even though it was only rated at 250 horsepower and 340 pound-feet of torque, the Turbo Trans Am wanted to put 300 horsepower into the back wheels. Also, that was before the owners made the boost stronger. Bill Owen, who was in charge of testing Pontiac engines, came up with the idea for the Turbo Trans Am. It was more complex than just putting a Buick engine in a Firebird. To make room, the 3.8-liter turbocharged V-6 got cylinder heads from the 3800 V-6, which is used in front-wheel-drive cars. Owens was also in charge of changing the Turbo Trans Am engine. It now has dished pistons, a cross-drilled crankshaft, and a radiator that was shared with the scary GNX. The cars were actually made by Prototype Automotive Services in California, not by General Motors. PAS was also in charge of the GMC Typhoon, and Scott Kelly, the company’s engineering liaison, went back and forth with GM to make sure the program was going smoothly. Kelly also owned this Turbo Trans Am as his own car. Since all of the 1555 20th anniversary Turbo Trans Ams were finished in Code 40 White, they were like Darth Vader’s Star Wars stormtroopers for the GNX. The 16-inch basket-weave alloy wheels set the mood, and a few small marks on the Trans Ams made them easy to spot. The winged Indianapolis 500 wheels on this rocker panel are a work of art in their own right. All Turbo Trans Ams got an aero kit, a performance suspension, and better cooling, in addition to the all-white paint job. Power was sent to the ground by a four-speed automatic transmission with a limited-slip rear differential. Most cars come with T-tops, but this one was ordered with a fixed roof. In 1989, the 20th Anniversary Turbo Trans Am stood out as the first pace car that didn’t need any changes (other than the safety gear that was needed). That quick. People who owned the car like to joke that it was also the first pace car to “win” the Indianapolis 500 since Emerson Fittipaldi crossed the finish line after the Firebird, which was in first place after a crash just before the last circuits. This 20th Anniversary Turbo Trans Am is the best choice because it has only 6,000 miles on it and some interesting facts about where it came from. It is one of the most beautiful limited-edition cars that General Motors has ever made, and it fits right in the middle of the Venn Diagram where people love Buick and Pontiac cars. We want the person who wins to bring it to Indianapolis for this year’s 500. One of the sexiest Indianapolis pace trucks ever made will be easy for everyone to spot. January 16 is the last day to bid.
