Beyond the usual wear and tear items, make certain the car has all hard-to-find pieces:

• Stainless steel exhaust tips (original dual twin tips)
• Original 16x8 forged aluminum mesh wheels
• Intercooler duct (check for cracks)
• All hoses in good condition
• "Turbo" fender emblems, "20th Anniversary" nose and B-pillar emblems
• Owner's kit (pace car stickers, keychain, cassette tape, letter, leather manual cover)

Check service records and oil change intervals — synthetic oil is critical for turbocharged engines. Look for oil leaks, especially rear main seals which are notorious on these motors.

During a test drive, listen for detonation and pay attention to gear shifts. They should be positive with no "flaring," especially the 2-3 shift at both part throttle and wide-open throttle.

If it has T-tops, check whether they're glass or Lexan (plastic). Glass tops are more desirable as the Lexan tops tended to split and scratch.

Also inspect: rear spoiler (cracks are common, replacements discontinued), spare tire and tools, braided stainless flex coupling between downpipe and catalytic converter, power antenna, seat adjustment buttons, and headlight raise/lower speed.

The TTA market has strengthened considerably. Based on recent auction data from Bring a Trailer, Mecum, and Barrett-Jackson, here are current market ranges:

• Low-mileage / excellent condition: $50,000–$80,000+
• Average condition, moderate mileage: $30,000–$50,000
• High mileage / project cars: $15,000–$30,000

Recent Bring a Trailer Sales

Description	Mileage	Sold Price	Date
700-Mile TTA Pace Car	700 mi	$56,100	Jan 2026
4,800-Mile TTA Pace Car	4,800 mi	$46,577	2025
13k-Mile TTA Pace Car	13,000 mi	$38,250	Dec 2024
61k-Mile TTA	61,000 mi	$31,250	2025

Other Recent Auction Results

Auction House	Description	Sold Price	Date
Mecum	20th Anniversary TTA Indy Pace Car (3,926 mi)	$57,200	Jan 2026
Barrett-Jackson	20th Anniversary TTA	$46,200	Jan 2026
PCARMARKET	20th Anniversary TTA	$43,050	Jan 2026
Private Sale	TTA Pace Car (9,000 mi TMU)	$64,995	Nov 2025

Market overview: According to CLASSIC.COM, comparable TTA sales range from $33,931 to $74,903 based on 30 recent transactions. Hagerty reports the highest auction sale in the last 3 years at $101,325.

The majority of TTAs were equipped with T-tops and leather, so the rarer hardtop and cloth configurations command premiums. Documented Indy Festival TTAs and cars with complete owner's kits also fetch higher prices.

Yes. A manual transmission prototype was built but wasn't produced for a number of reasons, including cost and reduced performance. All 1,555 production TTAs received the 200-4R 4-speed automatic.

The generally accepted explanation is GM's unwritten rule which states no passenger vehicle shall have a higher horsepower rating than that year's Corvette.

In 1989, the Corvette was rated at 255 HP. The TTA's actual dyno-tested output of 301 HP would have embarrassed the flagship sports car, so Pontiac officially rated it at 250 HP — safely below the Corvette.

Unlike a Buick GNX, whose sequence number is prominently displayed on the dash, your TTA's sequence number is nowhere on the vehicle or original documentation.

The TTA community has researched and documented build numbers for over 95% of all TTAs made. Use our Build Number / VIN Lookup Tool to find yours.

Additionally, Pontiac Historical Services offers a TTA information packet which includes press releases, a press photo, and the car's sequence number (for a fee).

In 1989, a CD player was available for Trans Ams but did not offer steering wheel controls. The 1990–91 Trans Am CD players had steering wheel controls but used a different signal protocol, making them incompatible with the 1989 steering wheel.

However, Delco unit p/n 12340956 has been reported to work as a plug-and-play replacement with the correct grey faceplate and no special wiring adapter needed.

The 8" K&N (p/n RE-0910) is the time-tested, proven choice. The nose of the filter can be gently squeezed and fitted into the inner fender area for cold-air pickup.

The Walker Ultra Flow (p/n WLK-17266, ~$110) is polished stainless, high quality, and has no droning sound that many other mufflers have with the turbo motor.

For a complete cat-back system:

• Walker Part #44074 — First intermediate pipe
• Walker Part #43248 — Over-axle pipe
• Walker Part #17296 — Muffler
• Walker Part #44279 — Universal tailpipe

Or for a mandrel-bent 2½" cat-back under a single p/n: Walker #17494.

GM touch-up paint p/n 1#1052906, White, Code 40, WA8554.

GM kit p/n 10071496, color: Beechwood. These padded inserts fit under the glass T-tops and keep the interior cooler and quieter. Note: These have been discontinued by GM and are increasingly hard to find. Check the Wanted section of our forum.

Use 3M Scotch Mount Double Coated Acrylic Foam Tape (Gray) — the same OEM-approved material GM uses. Steps:

1. Clean all old tape off the emblem and car with solvent or alcohol
2. Apply tape strips to the emblem in full coverage, leaving the red film backing on
3. Flip emblem over and trim tape around edges and openings with an X-Acto knife
4. To position precisely: stick two strips of artist's tape to the emblem face with 6" hanging up, hang it on the fender, step back to verify position
5. Flip emblem up (leave artist's tape in place), peel the red film, set emblem in final position
6. Remove artist's tape and apply firm pressure to set