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What does RS stand for?
What does GTA stand
for?
What's included in the B4C police package?
What's included in the 1LE Performance package?
What is a MR MSE Trans Am?
What is a Macho
T/A?
What is a "notchback" Trans
Am?
What does "RS" stand
for?
"RS" denotes "Rally Sport" and was a slightly cheaper
model Camaro.
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What does GTA stand
for?
Grand Tourismo Americano (or Grand Touring America,
in English). 1987 thru 1992 Trans Am GTAs received the L98 5.7 liter (350
ci)
TPI V8 (like the Corvette). The GTA came with light weight 16 inch diamond
spoke alloy mag wheels and gold "Trans Am GTA" badges. The interior had new
bucket seats (optional on the regular Trans Am). The 5.0 liter (305
ci) engine
was also available in the GTA with a 5 speed manual
tranny, but this required
engine deletion of the L98 and had to be special ordered directly from
Pontiac.
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What's included in the
B4C police package?
It was an RS Camaro with air conditioning, Z-28 power
train, 140 amp alternator and came with some (but not all) of the 1LE option
package equipment. This included dual cats, special suspension, 4-wheel disc
brakes, posi-traction, special axle ratio, oil cooler, 16" aluminum wheels, 145
MPH speedometer, and 245/50ZR16 blackwall tires. In order to determine if it is
a true B4C, look for the "B4C" code on the option label located inside the
glove box.
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What's included in
the 1LE Performance package?
In 1988, the secret showroom stock racing 1LE option
(option level 0 IROC-Z) was first available; however, only 4 were produced.
Then in 1989, the option became more well-known as 111 were produced that year.
The package was obtained by ordering the following:
-
Level 1
IROC-Z with 5.0 TPI engine with 5 speed or
5.7 TPI engine
-
Optional axle ratio (G92) (305/3.45, 350/3.27) and
its required options
-
Air conditioning delete (C41) (standard heater)
The package originally consisted of:
-
Fog lamp delete
-
Aluminum driveshaft (JG1) (part # 10085375)
-
Performance exhaust system (N10) (dual catalytic
converters)
-
Special deflected disc shocks
-
Aluminum spare wheel with smaller spare tire (N64)
-
Lower control arms (part # 10164151)
-
Larger (11.86 inch) front rotors (part # 18016035)
-
Larger front spindles (part #'s 18016737 /
18016738)
-
PBR front, dual-piston aluminum calipers (part #'s
10132827 / 10132828)
-
Special swinging fuel pickup in gas tank and
special 18 gallon baffled fuel tank for fuel pickup down to .5 gallon reserve
to prevent fuel starvation in hard cornering
-
Some came with special 16" x 8" light alloy mesh
wheels (XWL)
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What is a MR MSE Trans
Am?
These cars were created from '82 - '85 by Dennis
Mecham, of DKM Macho T/A fame. He started Mecham Racing Inc.
(MR) located in
Glendale AZ and Tacoma WA. MSE stood for Motor Sports Edition. The '82 models
were a two tone paint scheme (split just below the doors at the rocker panel)
with several colors combos to choose from. The '83, '84, and '85 models were
painted similar to the 1984 15th Anniversary Trans Am with a two tone paint
scheme split at the bodyline or middle of the doors. MSEs got a full width
front spoiler, a low resistance "aerotail" rear spoiler, and emblems
proclaiming it a Mecham Racing Machine. On the sail panels behind the doors are
either MSE emblems or a big olive branch-wreathed letters
MR, with Mecham
Racing, USA, and SCCA champions underneath. There may be additional
numbers/emblems on the drivers side headlight door, fenders, rear spoiler, or
rear bumper depending on the year. MSEs also got special MR centercaps and a MR
hood emblem. 500 were built in '82, 150 in '83, 50 in '84, and only a few in
'85.
The stock 305 ci engine got a recurved distributor,
advanced timing, and a rebuilt performance carb all good for about 25 HP. All
cars came with a "Git Kit" in the rear hatch area which included a 600 Holley
carb, aluminum intake manifold, Mallory distributor, Coil spark plug wires,
Champion spark plugs, low restriction air cleaner, Tri-Y headers, and Y-pipe.
Some cars were came fitted with a non-EGR Edelbrock intake manifold, Tri-Y
headers, Doug Nash 5-speed, and a rebuilt Q-Jet or Holley 600
carb. Some even
received an entire engine transplant that included a 440 horsepower 406 ci
Chevy small block with various available performance combos, including a twin
turbo for export use.
All MSEs came with the WS6 performance package from
the factory, but a "Tallon Suspension" was optional with stiffer springs,
urethane sway bar bushings, additional front cross member, Koni adjustable
shocks, rear droop limiter straps, Firestone tires on Modern Wheel 15" x 7"
alloys or special "Diamond-spoke" alloy rims. This suspension was capable of
.90 to .95g on the skidpad. Inside included a "Duesenberg-like" leather-wrapped
steering wheel (with MR insert), Motorola sound system, 160+ MPH speedometer,
8000+ RPM tach (both with MR Logos), Recaro seats, and dash or console
plaque.
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What is a Macho
T/A?
Macho Trans Am's were mostly built by DKM from 1978
to 1980 (see the 2nd Generation section for more details). But in addition to
the MR MSE Trans Ams built in 1985, only 20 Macho T/A's were also built. They
had either a large MACHO T/A on the lower doors or a smaller "Macho" decal on
the doors and the front and rear bumpers. These were also numbered like the 2nd
gen Machos and MR MSEs. All other modifications were similar to the
MSEs.
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What is a "notchback"
Trans Am?
In 1988, Pontiac offered the notchback as a factory
option on the GTA. There were 718 produced. The notchback is a fiberglass piece
that bolts on in place of the regular glass hatch (with the exception of a few
differences). It has a small back window which comes directly down behind the
rear seats (at a 75 degree angle). Then a flat area (like a trunk lid) extends
to the rear of the car with a ridge running down the center. It has a spoiler,
but not like the standard wrap around one. While aftermarket reproductions are
found all around, an option code of AA8 was used for the factory notchback
along with the 10th character of the VIN being a
'K'.
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