How to identify Camaros and Firebirds by year.... - FAQ Board - Third Generation F-Body Message Boards

imstress · 08-13-2003, 06:35 AM

assuming all emblems and decals are off, what are the easy ways of identifying the year of third gen camaros and firebirds. maybe quick ways of narrowing it down like 86 and up had third eyes.

speedingpenguin · 08-13-2003, 07:18 AM

Well, if they have stock tail lights, go around and look on the tail lights and it should say something like D.O.T. 87 and then some other stuff....the 87 would mean 1987.
My friends dad (former cop) also showed me on a newer camaro that i was wondering what year it was (looked absoloutly sick!) that on the vin plate.....
like the middle number between two letters is the last digit of the year or something like that but i have looked at other cars and either the number hasnt been there or its been a few years off from what i know it is....

1986redbird · 08-13-2003, 07:33 AM

the only year that stands out on it's own is the 86, it is the only year that came with the third brake light mounted on the outside of the glass up high near the roof, also the 86 is the first year that had the third brake light, so anything that doesn't have one is before that.

UNLESS SOMEONE HAS MODDED IT, which we all know doesn't happen to these cars

3.1EyeCandy · 08-13-2003, 07:42 AM

91-92 Camaro specific GFX
91-92 Firebird specific GFX
91-92 T/A specific Tails
1988 Mini-highrise camaro wing
1984 only Trans Am GFX
1982-1984 firebird specific Tails
1982-1984 Trans Am/ SE specific tails

I'm sure there are many many more. Guess your best bet would be to look under the hood at the emissions sticker. Should give you a good indication.

400Z28Racer · 08-13-2003, 08:04 AM

You can tell from the VIN. The tenth digit of the VIN is the model year. here is an example 1G1AP87HXDN123456
now D means 1983

Model Year
D 1983
E 1984
F 1985
G 1986
H 1987
J 1988
K 1989
L 1990
M 1991
N 1992

imstress · 08-13-2003, 11:25 AM

The vin id is nice to have, but I was hoping for more "on the move identify" like the 86 third brake light. how about paint? were some colors only around for some of the years?

87WS6 · 08-13-2003, 12:32 PM

If you can look under the hood there are some giveaways. Serpentine belt 87 and up. TPI 85 and up. MAP instead of MAF 90 and up.

Spoilers are somewhat a giveaway. Flat TA spoiler any year firebird. Aerowing 85-90. Aerowing with brake light 87-90. Aerowing no brake light 85 and 86.

There are ways if you really no your F-body options.

83crossfireZ28 · 08-13-2003, 01:52 PM

82-84 camaro has different fornt bumper cover and has slots in the front ground effect...

on the camaros you can look at the hoods too... if it has 2 scoop things in it that have no louvers and a more curved shape, its an 82-84 z28

if it has a more squared shape scoop things with louvers, its 85-90 iroc (i think 90) if it has blisters/scoops that stick on top of the hood and are solid its a 91-92 z28...

also the spoilers on camaros... if it has the high rise one, 91-92 z28

then the GFX... 82-84 are more squared on the bottom and not as tall,.... 85-90 are taller, and rouded on the bottom more... 91-92 have little scoops buy the back bottom of the door, and also in front of the front wheel....

fog lights = 85+ camaro

if its a convertible its 87 and up

wheels are another way to identify it, but youd have to get pictures...82-87 z28, then the RS's used the same with body color paint i think... 85-87 iroc had the same wheels 5 spoke with one groove down the center... then 88-90 iroc had the same wheels... 5 sppoke with 2 small grooves (lugnuts visible) and then 91 and 92 z28 had 2 grooves with the lug nuts covered by a little plate thing... i think those were also used on some of the rs's....

thats most of what i can tell you from what i know and have observed... all that is for camaros... i dont know my firebirds very good...

camarogirl18 · 08-13-2003, 08:24 PM

also just by glancing at the brake units....

i agree with speedingpenguin,but mine says D.O.T 89 not 87...so its not always a good way to tell

Willie · 08-13-2003, 08:29 PM

Well, if they have stock tail lights, go around and look on the tail lights and it should say something like D.O.T. 87 and then some other stuff....the 87 would mean 1987.

This is true. However, if a subsequent year's tail lights are identical to the previous year, that yearly "number" remains the same. Example. My '87 Z28 convertible's third tail light displays "86". It turns out that this lamp was used on pre-production 1986 Camaro convertibles!

Krazzycowgirl · 08-13-2003, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 3.1EyeCandy

91-92 Firebird specific GFX

The Only two years in the 3rd gens with the Bansee nose (the only thing that crossed over from 3rd to 4th gen that I know of)

okfoz · 08-14-2003, 07:26 AM

I can walk around a Firebird and tell you what year it is (with hood closed)

85 - (base) same tailights as an 82-84 no high mount brake light.
85 - (T/A) wing spoiler standard optional black aero spoiler new tailights

86 - (base) new tailights - High mount third brake light.
86 - (t/a) aero spoiler standard black only high mount brake light

87 - brake light in the spoiler introduced - 3 spoke steering wheel, will also be the only year (other than 86) with a 85 Mph Speedo.

88 - (base) 4 spoke steering wheel introduced
88 - (GTA) steering wheel radio controls

89 - rear seat seaatbelt shoulder harness' introduced
90 - airbag, but looked like an 89
91 & 92, new facias but I can't tell the two years apart

John

okfoz · 08-14-2003, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by speedingpenguin
Well, if they have stock tail lights, go around and look on the tail lights and it should say something like D.O.T. 87 and then some other stuff....the 87 would mean 1987.
My friends dad (former cop) also showed me on a newer camaro that i was wondering what year it was (looked absoloutly sick!) that on the vin plate.....
like the middle number between two letters is the last digit of the year or something like that but i have looked at other cars and either the number hasnt been there or its been a few years off from what i know it is....

Usually with the tailights and other lights the year ie the 87 indicates the first model year that the lights were produced.

John

Drew · 08-15-2003, 09:06 AM

Memorize the tech database. That'll get you going in the right direction. There are some flaws but they're pretty minor. Anything can be changed, but when you know in general what to look for you can tell a clone from the real deal.

Knowing what was available what years can help quite a bit in spotting a fake... ie 86 & earlier 350's, etc.

rjmcgee · 08-15-2003, 05:20 PM

An IROC with no third brake light would have to be an 85.

prOject-IrOc · 08-15-2003, 05:27 PM

i think 88 - 92 had the different taillights....i think the older style taillights look stoopid. the gridded ones look waaay better.

3rdgenstm · 08-22-2003, 05:28 AM

I assume you mean visually as they are driving past. these are some visual cues that you can quickly use.

82-84 Z- no real visual differences. Angular sharp lines on front end, Ground effects, silver or gold.

82-84 Coupe- no real visual differences, angular, sharp lines on front end. No ground effects. Had the 3 nostrils between the headlights.

85-87 Z/ IROC- "grid" taillights, the softer. more rounded nose. 85 no 3rd light, 86 3rd light was on the back glass, 87 3rd light was in the spoiler. Z's had the silver or gold ground effects.

85-87 Coupe- same as the Z, but no ground effects. Front nose still had those 3 nostrils between the headlights.

88 Coupe- some had the rear midrise spoiler (early models, switched to the 3 piece late model). All had Silver ground effects with "camaro" emblem.

88 Z/ IROC- grid taillights, 3rd light in spoiler. Z's had silver ground effects (i think).

89-90 Coupe- Body color ground effects, 3rd light in spoiler. (90 interior changed)

89-90 IROC- Grid taillights, IROC emblem on ground effects, bumper. 3rd light in spoiler (90 interior changed)

91-92 Coupe- Grid taillights, the air scoops in the ground effects

91-92 Z28- Grid taillights, high rise spoiler, hood blisters, air scoops in ground effects.

cdartz · 08-22-2003, 06:31 PM

A lot of what I would have said is already posted, albeit I did notice some errors I'm too lazy to address.

One thing that was ommited that most people don't realize I'd like to point out. 1987 Sport Coupes that didn't come with the rear spoiler used the same 3rd brake light as the 1986 models. I've had people argue with me that they didn't, but think about it. If the car didn't have a spoiler then where was the light. There was a federal law that said it had to be on the car. Also I have seen it with my own eyes on a verified 87 model, so I know it to be true. The car was a 1987 LT (this model only offered in 1987 besides second gens which were Type LTs). It had no spoiler as it was a 1SA car, and the third brake light was clearly on the glass up top on the outside just like an 86. So don't assume a Sport Coupe with the outside third brake light is an 86 unless it also has a spoiler. It just might be an 87, which you can identify by the seat material if you know your seat fabric years.

Anyway after that long winded comment you can see why I'm too lazy to point out any other errors, lol. Oh and I'm not trying to sound cocky, just trying to help.

Drakar · 08-23-2003, 01:25 PM

85 Z - 85-90 gfx but no 3rd brake light

400Z28Racer · 08-23-2003, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 3rdgenstm
82-84 Z- no real visual differences. Angular sharp lines on front end, Ground effects, silver or gold.

Or black

Bill Speed · 08-24-2003, 02:45 AM

There's a red Z28 locally for sale with the factory sales sticker in the window...however it is a 305 stick and not too fancy. Not my cup of tea.
It is a 1983 though....

Bill

Mikes86SC · 09-11-2003, 07:04 AM

If you see an RS with 85-90 gfx, it is most likely an 89 through process of elimination. 87 and 88 RS's were only available in certain locations, and 90 was a half year production.

scottmoyer · 09-11-2003, 09:57 PM

As was already mentioned, there are a number of ways to tell. With the number of models available and the differences on each model, the combination of changes is too many for one post.

cdartz, long time no see or hear. Welcome back

Vader · 09-13-2003, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by okfoz
I can walk around a Firebird and tell you what year it is (with hood closed)...

87 - brake light in the spoiler introduced - 3 spoke steering wheel, will also be the only year (other than 86) with 85 Mph Speedo...

You'd be really confused by my '86 TA, then. It has a factory 140 MPH speedo.

Quote:

Originally posted by 83crossfireZ28
if its a convertible its 87 and up

I had the priviledge of working on a 1986 IROC convertible (ASCD conversion) purchased from the dealership that way.

My86TransAm · 09-15-2003, 12:07 AM

Yeah, my 86 T/A has a factory 140 MPH Speedo as well.

AJ_92RS · 10-24-2003, 01:56 AM

If it's a purple Camaro, it's a 1992

Nightcruzer · 01-27-2004, 07:41 PM

from the side...