What do the Buick guys think of TTA's? ---

["Turbo-T"]

I think my next turbo car will be a TTA. I've heard they handle better than the GN does while being just as quick. They're obviously sportier than a GN. Only bad thing I've heard on them so far is when you step out of one it's almost like you're stepping out of a go-kart/you can pretty much roll onto the ground out of one...but I've found that to be so with almost any F body.

Of course my ideal TTA would be a hardtop without the gaudy door decals. :wink:

 

[2QUIK6]

No one hardly gives the TTA another look, some will ask if it is a V8 because of the "Turbo" badges..those that even look that close, when you say no its a V6 they walk off uninterested....
It is very fun to drive up on the LS1 Camaros and they think its a joke that you're interested in a race until you're looking at them in the rear view..done that on several occassions
That's the funnest thing about a TTA...
The GN always gets respect and stares when driving it...

 

[Grumpy]

No one hardly gives the TTA another look, some will ask if it is a V8 because of the "Turbo" badges..those that even look that close, when you say no its a V6 they walk off uninterested....

That's the funnest thing about a TTA...
The GN always gets respect and stares when driving it...

Thats what I liked about the TTA in 89.. Nobody knew what it was! Thats why it was one of the best cars I ever owned for the fun factor!! Today I still like em BUT I am to old to get another. These cars were a joke at the dealers in 89.. Dealers thought they were goin to cash in like the GNX's.. Didn't happen!! They were giving them away in Sept 89.. Dealers were hounding me. Could have bought a new one for $22 or 23k.. They started off @ $50k !!! Had 5 of them in stock !! Ohhhh wellll... Time goes on.

 

[GNBRETT]

Thats what I liked about the TTA in 89.. Nobody knew what it was! Thats why it was one of the best cars I ever owned for the fun factor!! Today I still like em BUT I am to old to get another. These cars were a joke at the dealers in 89.. Dealers thought they were goin to cash in like the GNX's.. Didn't happen!! They were giving them away in Sept 89.. Dealers were hounding me. Could have bought a new one for $22 or 23k.. They started off @ $50k !!! Had 5 of them in stock !! Ohhhh wellll... Time goes on.

I wasn't aware there was a mark up that high on those. They basically looked like a regular TA which is why I guess they were not a good seller. I could never tell the difference till I got up close which imo DID make them more desirable because it was a sleeper of sorts.

 

[Pronto]

Don't forget there also was alot of people that were unhappy with the idea of mixing and matching of engines amongst GM brands. The idea of a non Pontiac engine in T/A was still blasphemy.

 

[Black Power]

TTAs are AWESOME!

 

[2QUIK6]

Don't forget there also was alot of people that were unhappy with the idea of mixing and matching of engines amongst GM brands. The idea of a non Pontiac engine in T/A was still blasphemy.

Yeah no kidding, but it wasn't the first time they had done it and it actually went over quit well putting Olds 403s in the 78 and 79 models, they sold over 100k of them Especially since they did well to sell upwards of 20k a year in latter the years after that. All automatics in '79 had the Olds motor.

 

[DJ Red Barron]

hahaha, you and me both, thought i was the only one.
i have the same plans, will own one someday and it will be painted black.

Yep, allll black on the outside, black and silver interior.... Will be sweet I think.

You outta take a look at the TTA in the classifieds section. $4700. Engine and trans are out of the car. But for that price, it might be a good candidate. If I had the room, I'd jump on it myself.

 

[CST 03]

They're ok, but i'd rather have a GN/TR

 

[Pronto]

Yeah no kidding, but it wasn't the first time they had done it and it actually went over quit well putting Olds 403s in the 78 and 79 models, they sold over 100k of them Especially since they did well to sell upwards of 20k a year in latter the years after that. All automatics in '79 had the Olds motor.

Yes, I had a 79 T/A with the 403. Went 13.4@105 with a very mild rebuild and regular street radials. Had lots more left in it too. All it needed was early 350 heads and mild cam and good exhaust.

 

[gnbooster87]

ive had the pleasure of actually driving one a few years back and i love the ride better than a GN

 

[corsair231]

Yeah no kidding, but it wasn't the first time they had done it and it actually went over quit well putting Olds 403s in the 78 and 79 models, they sold over 100k of them Especially since they did well to sell upwards of 20k a year in latter the years after that. All automatics in '79 had the Olds motor.

I think there were a couple of differences you have to look at to compare the two. First in '79 the tenth anniversary package was the "special model" and I'm not sure but I think that was an apperance package that was not limited production or engine dependant. GM had already started the corporate engine practice so the 403/6.6 (except for the turbo cars) was the only engine available for the auto cars. It was what you got. Granted Pontiac was the only one that kept any apperance of performance alive during the '70's but for disco birds it was all about apperance anyway so the bigger the chicken and the deeper the spoilers, the better.
Also, the muscle car market was just starting to catch on then. For the most part a Hemi or big block Chevelle was just a 10 year old used car. The purist mentality wasn't even invented yet :biggrin:.

Fast forward 10 years later and the muscle car collectors are in full on kill mode and it's all about breeding. Unlike the GNX which is promoted as a special performance edition of a special model that has already garnered alot of attention, the TTA was promoted as a 20th anniversary/pace car when the GTA was thought of as being the top model. Most of which prior to then were mostly cosmetic packages that had to be modified to actually serve pace car duties. The TTA sort of snuck a heavyweight performance car in wearing lightweight clothing. They didn't have enough visual clues to really stand out and it wasn't promoted as a performance package so I think the collectors at the time just didn't pay them enough attention.

Point is, the 6.6's were just a Trans AM with the big motor. The TTA was really a seperate model. The problem was Joe Public still wanted the GTA with the big 8 which is what people thought made TA's special. It was just too odd to be a hit at the time. The only people that really understood then/understand now why it is really special are Buick people. :biggrin:

My Buick isn't going anywhere but I would still love to have one. I almost bought a TTA in early '90. I called the dealership which was about an hour and a half away and they had one. By the time I got there someone else had already started the paperwork on it. Almost bought a new Syclone too but that's another story.

 

[pacecarta]

I think there were a couple of differences you have to look at to compare the two. First in '79 the tenth anniversary package was the "special model" and I'm not sure but I think that was an apperance package that was not limited production or engine dependant. GM had already started the corporate engine practice so the 403/6.6 (except for the turbo cars) was the only engine available for the auto cars. It was what you got. Granted Pontiac was the only one that kept any apperance of performance alive during the '70's but for disco birds it was all about apperance anyway so the bigger the chicken and the deeper the spoilers, the better.

to that i'll say wrong , all wrong , you should to do some research before you post

the tata (79 Tenth Anniversary TA) was a limited special order in the like of the gnx ordering , and was a seperate model with a seperate vin code "X" and only came fully loaded with only the engine choice as an option since CA couldnt have a 4spd so they were offered with the 403 optional and the pontiac 400 with manual which also deleted cruise because gm wouldnt make a 4spd with cruise control

each car had an order form and dealers only got a certain number of #forms to order based on sales , and they have a unique LE # because of that form . and the cars if they chose not to buy one thay had to return the form to be given to another dealer as pontiac corporate felt fit , and no 90 day grace before interest like std , the cars had to be paid for upfront by the dealership when the form was sent in

and in 79 the base TA engine was the 301 ...available with auto or the 49 state could have a 301 4speed , the 6.6 olds was an option as was the 400 4spd

yeah ive had a few (dozen ) TAs including TATA 4spds and still have quite a few TAs

 

[pacecarta]

heres an order form i have for the 79 TATA
only a few thing available to check off as far as choice
engine 403 auto or 400 4spd, if california emmisions and if for high altitude emmisions

and the LE # on the form was also put on the build sheet , the tata 4spd i still own is LE# 0655 built 2-19-79


oh subject was TTA vs GN
being a pontiac guy for over 25yrs i liked the TTA since i saw the original test cars runs at etown and was truly impressed by the little 6cyl , i was there with my 78gold SE4spd running 15s watching the black test car run 11s.... ended up with GNs , never cared for the third gen ride having owned the 83 daytona pace car
knowing the gn as well as i do and knowing the TTA its not a gn motor in a trans am , even though they may appear to be the same and many magazines wanted to claim to this day that its a gn motor stuffed into a pontiac they share only a few parts ... the tta version of the 3.8v6 for all the changes they did at pontiac division's expense make it a pontiac motor.... and is superior to the GNs motor

 

[Turbo6Smackdown]

I dont see many TTA guys in the lounge, so I was curious.

Just answer the poll, thanks ---

You don't see many tta guys in the lounge, because there AREN'T any tta guys LEFT lol. I love tta's. They look good, and are very fast. I just can't drive F bodies well, cuz I'm a little short, and I don't like having 38 feet of additional car in front of me, and not be able to see every inch of it, and where exactly it ends. Still love 'em though.

 

[pacecarta]

and i dont know what pontiac was thinking
the tta was to be an all out performer and handler and they went against what they knew building them with the ttops ....popular or not all the TTAs should have been hardtop only in following with the 350gta restrictions

 

[JOHNDEEREGN]

and i dont know what pontiac was thinking
the tta was to be an all out performer and handler and they went against what they knew building them with the ttops ....popular or not all the TTAs should have been hardtop only in following with the 350gta restrictions

AMEN to that:biggrin: wanna sell that TATA order sheet?

 

[GNTIM]

I think most GM guys were used to the corporate engine thing by 89. What a fiasco that was when they started it in the late 70's, without telling people. Lawsuits are us. You didn't know what you would find under the hood of an intermediate or full size. Only the Chevrolet had mostly Chev engines, but the BOP cars and engines were shuffled like a deck of cards. The TTA had the best engine available for the job at the time. Hell, I'm glad my 90 Fleetwood has a 350 Chevrolet because that was the best available at the time.

 

[pacecarta]

AMEN to that:biggrin: wanna sell that TATA order sheet?

if you like that .....heres some more rare stuff

original pontiac car order aknowledgement for the TATA on that form dated
11-22-08

 

[JOHNDEEREGN]

I love the TATA, had a 403 auto. Want a 400/4 speed