wildjeff

iTrader: (1)

I just bought this cherry 1982 Trans Am. It’s 99% original with 62,000 miles and a great survivor car. Since it has all the right parts I am going to strip it, throw out the interior and turn it into the best KITT replica ever….. Is what I would say if I didn't care about originality and wanted a KITT replica. HA! j/k I could never turn this nice of a car into a replica.

I bought the car on eBay last week from a gentleman in Wisconsin, I'm in Seattle. That's about a 2000 miles difference. I flew out Friday morning with my uncle, bought the car Friday night and drove it home. Not something that would generally recommend people do, buying a car sight unseen and driving it 2000 miles, but the car was great. I've never driven a new Firebird (I was too young when they came out) but this car drives like a new car. We didn't have any problems with the drive back, the car always started and didn't complain about anything.

The car itself is a Crossfire WS7 T/A that was well taken care of. You can see the seat bolts is not rusted, which is common with t-top cars and a good indicator of the condition of the interior. The original owner had it for 20 years and they always stored it in a climate control garage during the winter.

The interior is in great shape. The seats don't have any tears or rips. The plastic is not faded or cracked although there are a few issues but nothing major. There are some things that need to be replaced such as the turn signal lever, and it only needs to be replaced because the white lettering is coming off. The car did come with N89 Turbo cast aluminum wheels and all four caps which I removed for the drive back.

The trip took 34 hours and use 100 gallons of gas and I got on average 17.9 mpg. Tomorrow I'm off to get the emissions checked to get the title transferred. Once I have the title I'm going to give the car a thorough detailing.

Agent13

iTrader: (6)

Red/Black with Charcoal Viscount interior. That is my favorite type of 1982 Trans Am. Looks great.

3rdgenparts

iTrader: (8)

Nice score Jeff,You don't see many around like that anymore.

Dave

1982TA

iTrader: (1)

Awesome car, same interior as mine! Nice title too...when I read that and saw your name I thought you turned to the dark side Nice to see you were joking

86WS6

iTrader: (1)

I like it! Nice find.

86WS6

iTrader: (1)

Hi Jeff, Glad you appreciate originallity, since your found such a nicely optioned original car in good condition. So many of these things are getting chopped up that in a few years, decent original cars are going to be rare and expensive. Back in 2003, like an idiot, I sold my 1983 T/A that I had bought new. It was a garage baby with 44K miles. Not as nicely optioned as your car, but a very well kept car. Some dude wanted to buy it to make a KITT replica out of it, and I refused to sell it to him. Us old farts are like that! A few weeks later another prospective buyer wanted the car for it's originality, and he took it home. Enjoy your car! Charles

kizz

iTrader: (1)

wildjeff you scared me there.. I'm glad it was a joke.

Ah yes, the cross country trip with a newly unearthed Firebird... I did the same thing about 6 years ago, and YES it was extremely fun

I live in NC ; a friend of mine in NJ found a Light Jadestone 1982 Firebird S/E in Lewiston WA that looked quite original, other than the missing hubcaps, and well-equipped. He was totally awestruck by the car's color ; it was the first Light Jadestone S/E either one of us had ever laid eyes on, other than in the movie "Falling Down". We knew it was a valid color according to 1982 documents, and I guesstimated that they made about 250 total, although I don't remember how I got that number. He had to have it, no questions asked. The asking price was $2295 I think. He had no time for the trip, but I did. He sent me a wad of cash and I got on a bus from NC to WA. Couple of days later I arrived in WA. The used car dealer picked me up, IIRC, and we drove back to the Firebird. I spent a long time on the phone to NJ describing the good, the bad, the ugly, etc.

$1400 later, I was on my way. Highway 12 and Interstates 90 and 94 through ID / MT / ND / WI are some of the most remote and some of the most scenic roads on the Northern Tier. I got some really good pictures at the snow-peaked Crazy Mountains near Big Timber, MT. It was really fun just doing 600 - 700 miles a day and feeling like I still had forever to get there. It was the first time I had ever been to the western US so it was a very adventurous thing for me, exploring this newfound terrain. It took me about 5 days, and I arrived in NJ with no problems, then took a bus back home to NC.

That car's still around and going strong. (some Trip Pics)

GT

wildjeff

iTrader: (1)

86WS6 - I too had a Firebird I sold a few years ago that I now regret, oh well, I've learned my lesson, I'll never sell any more of my Firebird's! oh boy, I hope I didn't just jinx myself.


kizz - That's a great story, and I thought my trip was long. I considered having it shipped or renting a trailer and driving my truck out to pick it up. I didn't want to have it shipped because I wanted to pay for it in person so I could see what I was buying. Plus, it would probably been about $2000. I was really tempted to drive my trunk out and trailer it back but that probably would've costs $2400 and have taken five days of straight driving.

I too took interstate 90 and 94 and it is a great drive, Montana has more hills then I would have expected. I just had to remember to start looking for gas station when my gas gauge hit one-quarter tank, don't want to get stuck in the middle of nowhere with no gas.

It turns out in Washington you don't need an emission checks for vehicles 25 years old and older. Not that I was worried but it was one less thing to do for the title transfer.

kizz

iTrader: (1)

I wonder if those wheels are the Silver or the Natural. I like how they're a little greyish on the inside, sort of like a set I have. Sweet looking car. I hope you stay original,

GT

kitt_me

iTrader: (3)

VV nice bird you have there

86WS6

iTrader: (1)

KIZZ, that sounds like a great adventure. Unusual car. Cool pic's also.

wildjeff

iTrader: (1)

They are natural, just a little dirty. They should clean up nice, I just need the time. hopefully in the few weeks.

luvofjah

iTrader: (2)

Eagele one mag wheel cleaner does magic on those types of wheels...
Then use zip ties for the caps...

I used a 91 Formula for my Kitt replica...
82 wheels, 84 fenders (not installed yet) 88 Notchback and Procharger to install soon! I've spent $1k on sound deadening, I have subframe connectors, Jet Hot Hooker 2055 heaers and many upgrades... My car never had it so good...

Some people do actually make them nicer instead of just tearing them up...

Nice ride you have...

L69HAWK

iTrader: (1)

its awesome to see more and more poeple take the 82-84 birds and bring them to back to life. that is a great find. congrats.

this is to me the 1st gen of the 3rd gens. they were still a crossover/ throw-back to the 80-81 2nd gens. with their power bulge hoods and louvered tail lights.

i too have gotten rid of an 84 t/a i had back in 96,wish i never did that. but now i have my current love,this 84 has all options available except for the recaro opt. the original owner spent $5,011 in opt when he/she ordered it.

my intensions are to keep the interior completely orig. i am only changing a couple exterior parts. wheels and tailights. but i will not get rid of or throw away anything. it will all go in my basement. i might even rebuild my L69,but have it massaged alittle. about 350 h/p is plenty, especially with my fct 3.73 gears. but i have been thinking about goin with a 350 or 383. what do u guys think? should i change the motor or keep the original in there. i don't care about cost with 1 vs the other.

i did run duals and l/t headers. (sorry but i love l/t's and duals) i get it back from the exhaust shop wednesday and friday it goes in for body work. then i can drive it.sorry so long.

the suspension will be updated to handle nicley.

here she is before i spent 6 hrs compounding it







and here she is now.

bobbyk3lly

Looks good its clean for an 82...