HPP: Do you remember what happened the day the GTA was introduced?
LW: The first production GTAs arrived at Pontiac headquarters during the week of September 1, 1986.I remember racing out to the holding area to see them so I could verify their appearance and content. A few days later, a Flame Red Metallic model was put into service as my company car. On the way home that evening, as I accelerated up to and well past the posted speed limit on I-75, I remember thinking that the GTA was going to be a great performance car, and I was proud of my involvement in its creation. Fondly reminiscing after 20 years, in my opinion there are thousands of current and former owners, as well as enthusiasts like myself who think the GTA indeed was the best all-around performance car Pontiac ever produced.
Stay tuned for more GTA recollections from Lou Wassel in Part II of "It's a Bird! It's a Plane! It's a Bird That Was Inspired By a Plane!" in the next issue.
Special thanks to Frank Rider of GTASourcepage.com. Check out this excellent site to learn more about GTAs.