abray1

Hey Gang, We had that black 87 Vert a while back that came with the bose option factory. The car had the kick panels and the factory bose RPO code. I was wondering what other extremely rare vert options there were. The bose option on the 87 was not functional after the ASC conversion and the rear shelf speakers were obviously removed. Does anyone have an RPO code for an overhead console in there vert? Were there any buick V6 turbo verts made? That would be a very rare car and one of the most sought after third gens ever made. Maybe someone had a 89 indy pace car and sent it to ASC for conversion. Factory rear disc brakes would be rare, factory 350 verts would be rare even though I have heard that a few of the trans ams slipped through with 350s. Anyone know or have an extremely rare optioned vert. Mine is a 92 heritage car black on black with windows, locks,good interior, 305 tpi, cruise, 308 posi, power mirrors, body side molding. Fairly typical vert with a lot of options and 1254 made in 92. Lets hear from some of the gurus on the rare verts and where they are now.

MY87LT

iTrader: (2)

Option B4E was sort of rare for 1987. The LT convertible.

BADNBLK

iTrader: (11)

Is yours a Heritage? From what I remembered I though yours was just a 92 Z28.

I have no clue about odd ball RPO's, but obviously the Z03 (heritage edition) RPO is a rarity.

botch1

I have a Black 1987 Iroc Z ragtop with the 6th digit 2. Non dealer ordered ASC Car. Special edition # 115. It has 45,000 miles 305 TPI, 700r4 trans. Rear disc brakes. It also has the standard high back bucket seats in black vinyl, which it think is cool for the ragtop cars. Is this a pretty rare 1987 ragtop? Car is a real nice original that only needs a new paint job. THANKS JIM

okfoz

To answer the first post.
Rare 3rd gens.
1) Yes there was 2 TTA Convertibles made, one had leather, the second was sent by PAS to ASC and had cloth.
2) There was a known 143 (1989) Trans Am and GTA convertibles made with the 350, 43 known (1989) Formula 350's and 4 (1987) IROC Z Convertibles with the 350. They were all done by ASC, who also made the factory convertibles, so they are technically "factory" in the sense that they were made by the same people and procedures as any other convertible, but they were aftermarket as they were special ordered by the dealership.
3) The BOSE was eliminated with the Convertible RPO, but was available when a dealership special ordered a car, the rear hatch piece would have to be modified or removed for it to work properly...
4) There was no overhead console in any convertible. It would be crushed when you put the top down.

okfoz

THere are different sources out there that have different information. As far as your car goes with the options and the year, I would say it is pretty uncommon. Considering that the TPI/A4 was not available in 1987 as a RPO combination on the convertibles, that would make it rare. The White book shows 263 base Camaros and 744 IROC or Z28 convertibles (these do not include your car) ASC reported only making 955 Camaro Convertibles for 1987 (info supplied directly from ASC). The Dealer information I have is also 744 TOTAL Convertible Camaros for 1987. Another Dealer source has 1007 Convertibles for 1987 which would be consistent with the White Book information.

I forget the highest number of the special cars, I want to think 230 or 250 for the special Edition numbered camaros for 1987.

Possibly one of the rarest option for 1987 Camaros is the power mirrors, if you car has that.

abray1

So power mirrors was rare for 87? How many verts of every year had rear disc brakes? How many came with aluminum drive shaft? and how many came with dual cats? Did any come factory with a 9 bolt rear end? Did any come with the factory console clock?

okfoz

I apologize, I forgot that the White Book for 1987 is out there in left field. They show something like 1861 Power mirrors. The real number is probably closer to 31,409 for 87 Camaros... It was more common than I stated.

As for the question of rear disc brakes, for 1990 - 1992 there was 0 Convertibles with rear disc brakes. I think for 88 + rear disc bakes may have been NA...

1987 was kind of an odd year, the first year reintroduction of the convertible on the camaro with the VIN identifier (3) or an RPO since 1969 (it was not 3 in 1969). Because of the insanity that is pursuant with certifying a car, they only certified two flavors, the LG4 (4bbl) with an Automatic, or the LB9 (TPI 5.0) with the 5 speed manual. So, with that said you could only get a base or an LT with the 4BBL (LG4) and an automatic. The LG4 I am almost 100% certain that it did not come with rear disc brakes. the LB9/M5... I am not sure about that either, It may have, but I would almost need someone more familiar with the 87 LB9/M5 cars with a convertible to chime in.

First we have to recognize that NONE of the "Factory convertibles" were "made at the factory," they were all made as T-top cars, shipped off to ASC, and converted. In 87, the only way you could get a convertible is like mentioned above, the LG4/A4 or LB9/M5 so If you have a V6, LB9/A4 combo, LG4/M5 combo or a L98 (350) - Yes there are 4, then they would not show up on any GM registry of information as they were converted by ASC, therefore to get a definite number, or even close of how many of these cars came with the rear disc brakes is more NA as I do not have the logs from ASC.

Because of this I have a hard time not saying that any ASC convertible is not factory, it was made by the same hands, same jigs, same pieces as the cars that were ordered through the GM RPO system, the only differences was how the car was ordered, not how it was made or manufactured. The only year that the dealer ordered ASC convertibles that have any information is the 1989 Firebirds, the 86-88 Firebirds and Camaros that were dealer ordered I am afraid that the information is long since gone.

abray1

The two 89 turbo verts would be the verts to acquire. Are there any pictures of them? In 89 Emmerson Fittipaldi won the Indy 500. I can't remember if one of the pace cars was a convertible. I remember he ran away with the race and clearly had the best car there. That is when the Indy 500 was a great race before Tony George tried to hold it hostage and muscle everyone out. That guy should go down as one of the biggest idiots of all time. I remember when Michael Andretti and Rick Mears or Emmerson Fittipaldi and Al Unser Jr would be driving there rear off trying to win the greatest race on the planet. Those red and white Marlboro cars of Roger Penske were hard to beat. Those were the days. I am getting off subject, are there any pictures of the 2 turbo verts?

Javier87z28

iTrader: (1)

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...inal_miles.png
Found this, had to see it for myself

simo

Woodley Park in Van Nuys.

When it was new.

okfoz

The TTA PAS/ASC convertible with the cloth interior is actually owned by a guy that has several of the prototype TTAs... I cannot remember his name, but he has a website, from GA or some place out east. He has a Red TTA, Black TTA the Convertible TTA. THat car was actually sent by PAS to ASC to be converted.

The TTA convertible with Leather interior is on its third owner AFAIK, maybe more now. Originally sent to CA as dealer stock (of all things), (I have the ad from 1989) then to its first owner, then to someone in PA IIRC and it has now been sold again as of a few years back.

Really in my opinion the 2 TTA's & 1 Firehawk convertibles would probably have the most desirability, followed by the 350 powered Convertibles...

IMHO the cars to have, in this order:
1 - 1 - Firehawk vert
2 - 2 - TTA Vert
3 - 24 - Firehawk
4 - 1553 - TTA (any)
5 - >200 - 350 powered Convertibles
6 - anything 1LE, or a players car
7 - 350 cars
8 - LB9/M5
9 - LB9/A4

Its not complete, but you get the idea...

abray1

Don't forget the two prototype 25th cars (white with black stripes) with aluminum heads and slp runners. Also, they made one LT5 powered third gen car that was white with some kind of purple flames. The two turbo verts would be my pick.

okfoz

How can we count one off "Prototypes"?

John

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

I normally start at 1 then go to 2 then 3 and so on and so on.

BADNBLK

iTrader: (11)

I think the Heritage cars need a spot on that list

okfoz

There is always one... Let me rephrase that.

How can we consider one off "Prototypes" As they were not available to the public.

Smarty...

okfoz

IMHO the cars to have, in this order by Stars:
1 - ******1/2 24 - Firehawk
2 - ****** 1553 - TTA (any)
3 - *****1/2 - anything 1LE, or a players car
4 - ***** 350 cars
5 - ****1/2 LB9/M5
6 - **** LB9/A4

Add 1/4 star for Heritage.
Add 1 star Star for Convertible in those combinations above

The Heritage I only give a 1/4 star addition because it was a sticker package, no performance was added.

Happy?

abray1

GM made 2, 25th prototype cars but only kept one. Did they sell the other one? I think they were RS cars or the one they kept is a white RS with black stripes. In 89 they made several prototype ZR-1 corvettes (10-12) and even two convertible ZR-1s. A guy I met ended up with one of the verts and had it re-assembled with the correct pre production engine (MEGA RARE) and I heard that Rick Hendrick was trying to purchase it. So the really rare prototypes do end up in the hands of the public.

okfoz

True, there are some cars that end up in private hands, but typically when these cars make it to the public they cannot be titled because they do not have a VIN or they have a VIN that was not intended to be titled, some cars end up with a salvage title.

The problem is cars made by the manufacturer with special engines, special features, new features, concept cars, test cars, etc. often cannot be "sold" for public road use because they have not passed the certification process for crash-worthiness, or EPA regulations for fuel economy and emissions. (It is truly a sign that our Government has gotten to big.) Remember the legend of 50 350 powered 1986 Camaros? These cars probably existed, But they were all test vehicles. why the number 50 sticks I am not sure. Another example is the first 13 1991 Firebirds and first 13 1991 Camaros were actually made on October 31, 1989, they were test vehicles and I highly suspect they were crushed in the end.

I am waiting for some ding-a-ling point out that people modify cars all the time... well it is quite different for a manufacturer who is regulated by the government to make changes to a car that has been certified for production.

abray1

Yes, I agree. There is a reason that they go to the trouble to crush them instead of selling them. It makes life a little more interesting that some of them escape into the hands of the public. I would like to see some museum gather these cars like the corvette museum does for the corvettes. It would be much better than crushing them. The corvette museum has a fully active suspension 89 ZR-1 Corvette that has many boxes and hydraulic lines. It is a very advanced car with the new (at that time) LT-5 engine and all the pumps and computers. They should have a museum for the camaro and firebird. Everyone should take a tour of the corvette plant at Bowling Green. At the end when the car is fully completed a 69 year old chubby woman climbs into it and burns rubber from 12 car lenghts inside the plant untill she is out the door and headed to the test track. She should be on youtube.

82tarecaro

iTrader: (4)

One of the TTA Verts is claimed to be owned by a member here. His screen name is Andre#4

86T/A_Ram_Air

a friend of mine owns 1 of those 43 and he is a member here

okfoz

Did I get him his sequence number and a data package for his car?

86T/A_Ram_Air

I have no idea. He has the car in storage right now. He bought it like 12 years ago and it was a mess. He's currently getting ready to start working on it again probably in the spring. His user name is tedgerlach

okfoz

The name came back as no good, have him PM me and I will get him some stuff on the ASC convertibles, Get me the last 5 digits of the VIN and I will get him the number as it correlates to the other 42 Formula 350 convertibles, when it was ordered by the dealer, when ASC shipped it to the dealer, the dealer that ordered the car etc...

Let me know

Thanks

John

86T/A_Ram_Air

I know that's the user name. Might have to put a space in it. I know he was a huge parts for sale thread going

Edit: here you go https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/member.php?u=15448