1989 Pontiac Trans Am Indy 500 Edition
Vehicle Description
Beyond the all-white livery, all Turbo Trans Ams got an aero package, a performance suspension, and upgraded cooling. Power was sent to the ground through a four-speed automatic with a limited-slip rear differential. Most were equipped with T-tops as this one.
At the 1989 running of the Indy 500, the 20th Anniversary Turbo Trans Am distinguished itself by being the first pace car not to require modification (apart from the necessary safety equipment). It was just that fast. Owners like to joke that it was also the first pace car to "win" the Indy 500, as a wreck just before the final laps meant that winner Emerson Fittipaldi crossed the finish line behind the Firebird leading the field under yellow flags.
With 110,000 miles showing on its odometer, and a fun bit of provenance trivia, this 20th Anniversary Turbo Trans Am is as good as they come. It sits right at the center of the Venn Diagram overlap between enthusiasm for Buick and Pontiac, and is just plain one of the coolest limited-edition cars produced under the General Motors umbrella. The photos used in this add are representative of the automobile. This car has the door and windshield decals. Small things could be different in the photos.
The 1989 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am was the official pace car for the Indianapolis 500. It was a limited-edition 20th Anniversary Edition with a turbocharged engine.
Features
- 3.8-liter turbocharged V6 engine
- 250 horsepower
- 340 ft/lbs of torque
- 0-60 mph in 4.6 seconds
- 153 mph top speed
- Performance Package with transmission and oil coolers
- Limited-slip differential
- Performance Brake and Fuel Package
Significance
The Firebird was selected to be the pace car to celebrate the Trans Am's 20th Anniversary. However, a wreck just before the final laps meant that winner Emerson Fittipaldi crossed the finish line behind the Firebird.
