What's new
By:
TurboTransAm.com

Register today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

How many are left

W

Warbird89

Member
I've had three of these cars in 20 years I remember even 20 years ago people were speculating about how many of these cars are actually still on the road or in collections many of them have seen off-road Adventures or telephone poles or neglect Beyond repair.

I remember someone in 2006 who worked at an insurance company who said they speculated their may have only been 700 still left as of 2006. Does anyone really have some type of verifiable estimate
 
Warbird89 said:
I've had three of these cars in 20 years I remember even 20 years ago people were speculating about how many of these cars are actually still on the road or in collections many of them have seen off-road Adventures or telephone poles or neglect Beyond repair.

I remember someone in 2006 who worked at an insurance company who said they speculated their may have only been 700 still left as of 2006. Does anyone really have some type of verifiable estimate
Click to expand...
Ok so 2 tta are left... yours and mine. Got it.
 
I'd guess there's probably more than that estimate since a lot of them are likely tucked away in garages or barns like yours, just not being driven anymore.
 
skyking said:
I'd guess there's probably more than that estimate since a lot of them are likely tucked away in garages or barns like yours, just not being driven anymore.
Click to expand...
In a way I'm kind of glad they're tucked away because honestly I think these are one of the coolest cars ever made having owned three of them I would own 20 of them if I had the finances and I everyday drove my earlier ones for almost 20 years and put a smile on my face everyday no other car has made me feel the same way and I've owned over 250 cars and a wide variety and the Turbo Trans Am at the highest I wish it had anti-lock brakes but can't have it all I guess
 
I completly believe GM tried to supress the car after its introduction.
The Buick Regal was gone with the "Grand National" Nascar feeder series name and car change just like the "Winston Cup" primier series in Nascar.
Buick had done wonders for sales and as a reward for all the succesful years they were "rewarded" with the pace car engine as s Swan song. As long as it wasnt fastet than corvette.
I reab an interview with one of the Buick engineers on the program. He hsd alteady been shown the wrinting on the wall so to speak , and was aware this was the last chance for s parting shot.
The 1988 Corvette engineering team and the Buick Pace car guys ended up at the same testing facility and were watching each other test. The Buick guys were sandbagging and saw what Corvette was capable of,,, and when the production version was released it embarrassed G M and the corvette , thus the lower published HP claims and the end of production. The Buick guys were hopeing for another few years of the engine/fbody platform once they showed what it would do but GM balked.
In the following years the car was allowed to slip into obscurity, fell in value, ended up in the hands of the Turbo six guys and were modified into drag racers or wrecked. A few of us were able to save them.
Like you I just love the combination,, I dont care its value, I am keeping it for the next owner as with any really collectable car you are only the caretaker.
Regards
 
Haven't been here in a while but I'll bite. 1077 still going strong. 66k miles original paint, spoiler and seats. Also from western NY area. Gets about 200-500 miles a year, mainly local shows and trailer to TA Nats the last 3 years. Family owned, purchased new in May of 89 by my parents. Handed down to me in 1998, enjoying it ever since. I would love to have a hard top , but always find myself getting something else instead. Just bought a 91 Formula 1LE 3 years ago and now looking at possibly purchasing an '87 Formula 350, the yellow poster car actually. So one of these days I might say what the hell and go after a hard top TTA, we'll see.
 
I think we're making progress we're already at number five but I just feel like these cars are underappreciated by about 10 billion people in the world. Maybe if we paint them black they'll become more popular I mean if the Grand National was white would have been as popular
 
Warbird89 said:
I think we're making progress we're already at number five but I just feel like these cars are underappreciated by about 10 billion people in the world. Maybe if we paint them black they'll become more popular I mean if the Grand National was white would have been as popular
Click to expand...
I would like to see them get the recognition they deserve. But, on the other hand mine is not gor sale and sny increase in value just makes my insurance go up!
 
Warbird89 said:
I've had three of these cars in 20 years I remember even 20 years ago people were speculating about how many of these cars are actually still on the road or in collections many of them have seen off-road Adventures or telephone poles or neglect Beyond repair.

I remember someone in 2006 who worked at an insurance company who said they speculated their may have only been 700 still left as of 2006. Does anyone really have some type of verifiable estimate
Click to expand...
I have one since 1994. Used it as a everyday car till 2003.
 
jerry99j said:
No
Click to expand...
Was your car ever in Houston Texas? There was a Jerry who ran an auto shop here that owned a TTA and Grand National. I have no affiliation with this site, but there is a link here to the registry if it is still being maintained.
 
Jettech said:
Was your car ever in Houston Texas? There was a Jerry who ran an auto shop here that owned a TTA and Grand National. I have no affiliation with this site, but there is a link here to the registry if it is still being maintained.
Click to expand...
No, not since I've owned it. Don't know before that.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top