Dumb Luck...

[Coup de Grace]

Long story short. I wanted a LS1 WS6 T/A, but had trouble finding one that I was really interested in owning. So, I stumble upon a 96' WS6. The owner had a lot of documentation about the car, i.e. maintenance, mods, etc. However, there wasn't any mention about the nature of the possibility of the car being rare. I am by no means an expert when it comes to GMs because until recently I have been mostly into Mustangs. At any rate, what caught my eye was the fact that the car was a confirmed WS6, but there was something about it that just looked out of place. I realized what it was when I went to take a look at the car. It was a hard top. I had yet to do any real research on the rarity of the such a model until after the sale. I have since confirmed that it is a true WS6. Now, if I am correct, I have 1 of only 32 1996 hard top WS6s in the world. Is this correct?

[Smittro]

I don't know anything about the rarety but I do know that is an LT1 not an LS1 car..

[Coup de Grace]

I am aware of that. What's your point?

[Smittro]

I am aware of that. What's your point?

Take the attitude elsewhere it does'nt belong here.

You stated you were looking for an LS1 car, I stated you have'nt got one..

[Coup de Grace]

Take the attitude elsewhere it does'nt belong here.

You stated you were looking for an LS1 car, I stated you have'nt got one..

No attitude here. I know what I said; I WAS looking for an LS1. When it comes down to it, I guess I'd prefer to have an
LT1 that was 1 of 32 made in the entire world than an LS1. Moreover, it has some of this and that under the hood and elsewhere, so I can't say that I'm all that concerned about it not being an LS1. Honestly, I'd take what I have over a modded LS1 with 1000 HP. BTW, what are the production numbers like on your vehicle(s)?

[Smittro]

No attitude here. I know what I said; I WAS looking for an LS1. When it comes down to it, I guess I'd prefer to have an
LT1 that was 1 of 32 made in the entire world than an LS1. Moreover, it has some of this and that under the hood and elsewhere, so I can't say that I'm all that concerned about it not being an LS1. Honestly, I'd take what I have over a modded LS1 with 1000 HP. BTW, what are the production numbers like on your vehicle(s)?

I have many vehicles which one would you like.

Also a 4 time F-body owner.

The best way to determine the rarety would be to check your RPO codes and VIN numbers against T/A build numbers from that year.

[Coup de Grace]

I have many vehicles which one would you like.

Also a 4 time F-body owner.

The best way to determine the rarety would be to check your RPO codes and VIN numbers against T/A build numbers from that year.

I have checked the RPO and VIN, along with a lot of research. What I found was that it is 1 of 32. I was just asking if this is actually correct or can be verified by others.

[Smittro]

You'll find that specailty cars from GM leave much to be desired in the way of documentation.

Such as SLP not even keeping good records of which and what F-bodies they messed with.

Sucks I know, I have no idea why they would have such a lack of documentation.

Really screws those whom would like to know exactly what they have.

[MrAFX]

i did not know slp did not have records. either way. PHS will have recoirds of the vin and that will show if the car was shipped to SLP.
Proving a real Firehawk will be possible. Maybe whats not possible is what unique firehawk options the car actually got.

as for the 1 of 32 hard tops, is it a trans am or a formula. If it's a formula, it may not be as rare being a hardtop, but then there were not as many ws6 formulas made as there were Trans Am's, a TA Hardtop may actually be much rarer.

either way the car will always have it's followers. right now, being that it is the LT1, that still hurts the value of the car as the LS plat5form is recognized as the performance icon of the F Body line.

In another 15 to 20 years the significance of the car over just the LT1 may and probably will come into play as far as the value of the car.

histroically though, the model year of any car with the best engine typically always carries a premium.

I like the front end of the LT1 cars better than the front end of the LS cars.

[Coup de Grace]

i did not know slp did not have records. either way. PHS will have recoirds of the vin and that will show if the car was shipped to SLP.
Proving a real Firehawk will be possible. Maybe whats not possible is what unique firehawk options the car actually got.

as for the 1 of 32 hard tops, is it a trans am or a formula. If it's a formula, it may not be as rare being a hardtop, but then there were not as many ws6 formulas made as there were Trans Am's, a TA Hardtop may actually be much rarer.

either way the car will always have it's followers. right now, being that it is the LT1, that still hurts the value of the car as the LS plat5form is recognized as the performance icon of the F Body line.

In another 15 to 20 years the significance of the car over just the LT1 may and probably will come into play as far as the value of the car.

histroically though, the model year of any car with the best engine typically always carries a premium.

I like the front end of the LT1 cars better than the front end of the LS cars.

According to the RPO and the VIN it is a true T/A WS6, not a Formula WS6. I agree with you regarding the LS1 vs the LT1, but to my knowledge this may be the most rare of the F-bodies. I guess we will find out in about 20 years-or-so just how rare it really is and what kind of value it holds. I second your opinion on the front ends. The lines on the front end of the LT1 T/As are much more clean and less intrusive.

[Knight]

There were 2051 Trans Am WS6 coupes produced in 1996. The Formula WS6 was not produced until 1997.

More than likely, you have 1 of 32 with the same option packages. I personally have 1 of 2 WS6's made in 1999 with the exact same option combinations. There were a total of 2755 WS6 coupes made in 1999, however.

[Coup de Grace]

There were 2051 Trans Am WS6 coupes produced in 1996. The Formula WS6 was not produced until 1997.

More than likely, you have 1 of 32 with the same option packages. I personally have 1 of 2 WS6's made in 1999 with the exact same option combinations.

When you say "option combinations", are you referring to the hard top as well?

[Knight]

Yes. There were no convertable WS6's until 1997. Is your car auto or manual?

[Coup de Grace]

Yes. There were no convertable WS6's until 1997. Is your car auto or manual?

Auto. Stage 2. As far as I've seen there were more manual transmission hard top WS6s, which would make mine a tad bit more rare in that lot of 32.

[Knight]

There were 934 Trans Am WS6 A4's produced in 1996. 774 of those were t-top cars.

[Knight]

So, you have 1 of 160 A4 hardtop WS6's made in 1996. Run down all the other available options, and that would be where the 1 of 32 comes from.

[goof4080]

Dont do it. If you're really looking for manual or ls1 an auto lt1 may bore you. Also the this n the thats under the hood etc will lower the value of the rare car. And if youve never had a vert or t-tops, you might want to try those out first. I've owned all types to and will never again settle for auto or a hardtop. Just my 2 cents. Never had an lt1 tho, but I read about coils being a pain (although each model has it's own pains). Choose wisely n never look back. And yeah. Smittro came off a bit strong, but has valid points.

Personally I prefer some sort of removable top and definitely manual. But to each his own. Keep looking!

[Knight]

Dont do it. If you're really looking for manual or ls1 an auto lt1 may bore you. Also the this n the thats under the hood etc will lower the value of the rare car. And if youve never had a vert or t-tops, you might want to try those out first. I've owned all types to and will never again settle for auto or a hardtop. Just my 2 cents. Never had an lt1 tho, but I read about coils being a pain (although each model has it's own pains). Choose wisely n never look back. And yeah. Smittro came off a bit strong, but has valid points.

Personally I prefer some sort of removable top and definitely manual. But to each his own. Keep looking!

Don't do what? He already bought the car.

[Coup de Grace]

Dont do it. If you're really looking for manual or ls1 an auto lt1 may bore you. Also the this n the thats under the hood etc will lower the value of the rare car. And if youve never had a vert or t-tops, you might want to try those out first. I've owned all types to and will never again settle for auto or a hardtop. Just my 2 cents. Never had an lt1 tho, but I read about coils being a pain (although each model has it's own pains). Choose wisely n never look back. And yeah. Smittro came off a bit strong, but has valid points.

Personally I prefer some sort of removable top and definitely manual. But to each his own. Keep looking!

Knight is correct- I already purchased the car. Believe me, I got a hell of a deal. I plan on keeping on with doing some mods with the understanding that some day, when the time comes, I will fully restore the car to its original condition. I'm going to have fun with it as long as I can, but when the value of the vehicle exceeds the cost to do a full resto- I will do so and look to sell. Could be 15, 20, 30 years from now. Who knows?