If you walked into a Pontiac dealership in the spring of 1987, the vibe was electric. Performance was finally coming back after a decade of smog-choked engines and uninspired styling. Right there, under the showroom lights, sat the 1987 Trans Am GTA. It looked mean. No flashy decals, no screaming chickens on the hood, just a sophisticated, monochromatic beast that looked like it wanted to eat the lunch of every European grand tourer on the road.
Honestly, the GTA—short for Gran Turismo Americano—was a bit of a gamble for Pontiac. They wanted to move away from the "Smokey and the Bandit" image. They were chasing a more mature buyer. You know, the person who wanted the power of a Corvette but needed the (slightly) more practical 2+2 seating of a Firebird. It was a high-stakes play to redefine what American performance meant during the Reagan era.
What Really Made the 1987 Trans Am GTA Different?
People often mistake the GTA for just another trim package. It wasn't. The 1987 Trans Am GTA was a distinct model (RPO code Y84) that bundled the best performance parts Pontiac had in the warehouse.
The centerpiece was the engine. You had two main choices, but the one everyone talks about is the 5.7-liter 350 cubic inch L98 V8. This was essentially the same engine found in the C4 Corvette of the time. It featured Tuned Port Injection (TPI), which gave the car a massive surge of low-end torque. We're talking 210 horsepower and about 315 lb-ft of torque. In 1987, those were serious numbers. If you wanted a manual transmission, though, you were stuck with the 5.0-liter 305. The 700R4 four-speed automatic was the only gearbox stout enough to handle the 350's torque back then.
Visually, the GTA was a masterclass in "less is more." It ditched the two-tone paint jobs common on regular Trans Ams. Instead, you got a solid color—often Flame Red or Black—with gold lace (cross-lace) 16-inch wheels. These wheels are legendary among F-body enthusiasts. They were light, looked expensive, and set the car apart from the crowd.
Inside, things got even weirder and cooler. The 1987 Trans Am GTA introduced the "Ultima" seats. These were multi-way adjustable buckets with inflatable lumbar and bolster supports. You had a little hand pump or electric switches to dial in the fit. It felt more like a cockpit than a car. And we can't forget the steering wheel. It was a chunky, leather-wrapped piece with integrated radio controls. That might seem standard now, but in '87? It was like something out of Star Trek.
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The WS6 Suspension: The Secret Sauce
You can't talk about the 1987 Trans Am GTA without mentioning the WS6 Special Performance Suspension. This wasn't just a marketing badge. It included massive sway bars, gas-filled struts, and a quick-ratio steering box.
The car sat lower. It felt flatter in the corners. While the Mustang GT of the same year was great in a straight line, it felt like a pogo stick compared to the GTA when the roads got twisty. The GTA used 245/50VR16 Goodyear Eagle VR50 tires—affectionately known as "Gatorbacks." These were the premier performance tires of the era.
- Handling: The GTA could pull nearly 0.90g on a skidpad.
- Braking: It came with four-wheel power disc brakes as standard.
- The Ride: It was stiff. Very stiff. You felt every pebble, but that was the price you paid for slot-car handling.
Most people don't realize how much work went into the aerodynamics. The wrap-around rear spoiler and the revised nose weren't just for looks. They helped the car cut through the air with a drag coefficient that put many modern cars to shame. Pontiac was obsessed with the wind tunnel during this phase.
The Corvette Rivalry
There was a lot of internal tension at General Motors back then. The Corvette was the "Golden Child," and the engineers at Chevrolet didn't like the idea of a Firebird being just as fast as their flagship.
Because the 1987 Trans Am GTA shared the L98 engine with the Corvette, it was dangerously close in performance. In some real-world tests, a well-driven GTA could keep pace with a 'Vette to 60 mph. GM eventually stepped in and "underrated" the Pontiac's horsepower to ensure the Corvette stayed on top of the hierarchy. If you look at the specs, the Corvette's L98 was usually rated about 30-40 horsepower higher, mostly due to better exhaust scavenging and aluminum heads (the GTA kept iron heads in '87).
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Common Myths and Misconceptions
One of the biggest lies you'll hear at car shows is that all 1987 GTAs had the 350. Not true. A fair number were ordered with the 305 TPI (LB9) because buyers wanted the 5-speed manual (the Borg-Warner T-5). If you see a GTA with a factory stick shift, it’s a 305. Period.
Another misconception involves the "Notchback." While a few Notchback GTAs exist, they didn't really hit the mainstream until 1988. In '87, you were getting that huge, heavy glass hatch. It looked great, but it acted like a magnifying glass for the sun, which is why so many of these cars have cracked dashboards today.
Then there's the digital dash. Some 1987 GTAs came with a full digital instrument cluster. It looked like a video game. While cool, they are notoriously finicky today. If you're looking to buy one, most collectors actually prefer the analog gauges. They just age better.
Reliability and What to Look For Today
If you're hunting for one of these now, you have to be careful. The 1987 Trans Am GTA is a tough car, but it’s still a 40-year-old GM product.
The TPI system is actually quite robust, but the Bosch fuel injectors from that era don't handle modern ethanol-blend gasoline very well. They tend to clog or short out internally. Replacing them with modern units is usually the first thing an owner does.
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The biggest enemy is rust—specifically in the floorboards and the rear wheel wells. Because of the way the T-tops (if equipped) leaked, water would settle under the carpet and rot the floors from the inside out. Always, always lift the carpet if you can.
- Check the Hatch Motor: The power pull-down motor for the rear hatch is famous for breaking. It uses a plastic gear that strips over time.
- Headlight Motors: They will fail. It’s not a matter of if, but when.
- The Dash Pad: Finding an uncracked original dash pad is like finding a unicorn. Most have been covered by those carpeted mats, which is a tragedy.
Why the 1987 GTA is a Modern Classic
Values are climbing. For a long time, the third-generation Firebird was the "cheap" performance car. Not anymore. Collectors are realizing that the GTA was the pinnacle of the platform's development in the 80s.
It represents a specific moment in time. It was the bridge between the raw, carbureted muscle of the 70s and the high-tech, computer-controlled performance of the 90s. It has a soul. When you turn the key and that TPI V8 rumbles to life, it doesn't sound like a modern car. It sounds mechanical. It sounds heavy. It sounds like 1987.
Actionable Steps for Potential Owners
If you are seriously considering putting a 1987 Trans Am GTA in your garage, don't just buy the first one you see on Facebook Marketplace. These cars were often abused by third and fourth owners who couldn't afford the maintenance.
- Verify the RPO codes. Look for the sticker in the center console or the glove box. You want to see "Y84." That confirms it’s a real GTA and not a base Firebird with a body kit and wheels.
- Inspect the "Gatorback" replacements. Nobody runs original 1987 tires anymore (at least they shouldn't if they want to live). Ensure the current tires are 245/50R16. Some people put narrower tires on to save money, which ruins the handling.
- Check the steering. The GTA should feel tight. If there is more than an inch of play in the wheel, the steering box or the "rag joint" is shot.
- Join the community. Sites like ThirdGen.org are absolute goldmines for technical data. There isn't a bolt on this car that hasn't been discussed in detail on those forums.
- Budget for electronics. Even a "mint" car will likely need a new heater core or window motors. It’s part of the charm.
The 1987 Trans Am GTA isn't just a car; it’s a vibe. It’s the smell of old velour, the sound of a cassette tape clicking into the deck, and the feeling of that massive hood stretching out in front of you. It might not be as fast as a modern minivan in a straight line, but a minivan will never make you feel like a rockstar. This car does. Every single time.