The top surfaces are polished and rubbed a little smoother than the sides, which is typical of factory paint and production. It is very well preserved. We did not notice any imperfections in the paint, although the owner pointed out a couple of slight nicks on the bottom of the front door (scroll down and click to see more photos). There is a slight little touch-up spot on the nose, and a little nick and a small run at the bottom corner of the right door.

[ Body ] – We did not see any imperfections in the body. It seems very straight and correct without any apparent dents or dimples. The gaps on the hood, trunk, and the doors look uniform and all seem to fit correctly.

Each time we list a car, we use a magnetic paint gauge to detect filler. The gauge only works on metal surfaces… and the only metal surfaces on this Trans Am seem to be the hood, and left/right rear quarters. The rest appears to be non-metal. The gauge measures 7-8 thousands on the hood, and the quarters are about the same (maybe a little more). Those are the only panels on which we could use the gauge, and did not detect any deviations suspect of repair.

[ Exterior ] – Anyone could see by looking at this collector’s edition car that is has had very little exposure. It spent most of its time up on a rack in the owner’s garage with a cover over it. So, when you inspect the black plastic, black painted surfaces, lenses, exterior non metal parts, etc., they all show beautifully. It looks like a car that is only a couple of years old.

[ Glass ] – All of the glass looks great without any discoloration, delamination, bulls-eyes, cracks, wiper wear, or any type of wear on any of the panes. What really blows us away is when Chad opened the door to reinspect glass from the inside out. The interior of this car smells practically brand new! After 15 years, you would think that smell would have faded, but inside it still smells like a new car!

[ Convertible Top ] – The top works very smoothly, and from what we understand, it is original. It has extremely good coloring, with no apparent unevenness or signs of wear. It does not seem to be quite as bright white as the body of the car, but we do not think the tops usually are.

When we look at the stitching, beading, and seams, we see no signs of wear or damage. We took pictures of the car right after the top had been down for a while, so as it sits it should smooth out a bit more. The rear window is glass.

[ Interior ] – The seller reminds us that he has not made any serious changes to the car since he bought it – no paint work, interior components, top, touch ups, or accidents. He changed the oil and maintained the car himself.

When he purchased the car there was a little run in the bottom of the right door, but he did not want anyone to mess with it. He was afraid of what could happen, and wanted to leave it the way it was. As far as he knows, the interior is all original.

The vinyl and leather is in outstanding condition. One of the quickest places to show wear is the driver’s seat bolster, and this Trans Am does not look like it has any wear on it.

The interior not only smells, but looks amazingly fresh. The dark plastic areas do not show age or brittleness (you can tell it has not had much exposure). The headliner and sun visors look fine. The carpet looks fresh. The gauges, controls, and everything on the dash look almost new!

[ Trunk ] – If you look carefully at the trunk photos, you might see a little dust inside (and MAYBE a little wear), but you will not see any damage. If you look at the condition of the hinging, jams, etc., you can see it is extremely well cared for. Inside you will also find a carrying case for a 3 piece hard boot that comes with the car. It is easy to put on – you just lay it in place and shut the trunk to hold down the back side.

[ Tires and Wheels ] – The seller tells us that these are the tires that were on the car when he bought it. All 4 are Eagle GS-C, P245 – 50 ZR 16. The front tires have about 8/32 tread, and the rears have about 7/32. We do not see any cracking, deterioration, or curb damage on the tires or rims. Also, the paint on the rims is just about flawless.

[ Engine ] – Looking under the hood, everything looks like it is the original design. Nothing appears to be added or deleted. The attention to detail under the hood is astonishing….it was just beautifully kept.

[ Chassis ] – Looking at the bottom side, you would swear this was a 1-2 year old car that has seldom been driven. That’s how clean it is! If you look at the sub-frame and floor, you do not see anything that indicates obvious repairs. Everything appears original.

What’s really amazing is that there isn’t even a hint of surface rust. The components look like the car has only been driven a few times. We do not see any additional rust proofing, so this Trans Am was left all natural… the way it was intended from the manufacturer.

We do not see any excessive dampness or dripping from any drive train components. The car was driven on short trips on a regular basis which is why the seals are not dried out or leaking.

The seller also tells us he installed a new water pump 7-8 years ago, and also replaced the oil light and idle air control. He adds that everything is operating just as it should and works properly.