86WS6

iTrader: (1)

I did exactly the same thing that you are talking about, only I had two Shelby GT-350's. One was a 1969 factory drag car with radio/ac/backseat delete, and the other was a 1970 with factory air and all of the goodies. Both cars were rare and very limited production. When the value of the cars exceded to value of my house, I sold them to two collectors who had a lot more money to play with than I did. 69 & 70 Shelby's were a real POS and way more overrated than 69 Camaros. That was in 1980. I paid off a whole bunch of bills and bought my first Trans AM, one year old prisitne 79 with 10K miles on it. It was a Smoky and the Bandit complete with factory air, all power, all electric, WS6, T-tops, a 400 PMD engine and a Muncie 4 speed. A local lawyer had bought it for his 16 year-old son. After the kid got multiple speeding tickets, his dad sold the car to me. The kid drove the car hard, but did not tear it up. In fact it was spotless. The poor kid got a 4 cylinder import in place of that beautiful TA. That's the car that I wish I had kept...

Torchred87T/A

I'm not sure if I should be on this forum because of me only being 15 but when I was 11 My dad and I bought an 87 T/A with a 305 5 speed for $300 minus the transmission. Well over time its been torn apart and so far its the only vehicle I've been interested in and since then a 71 and 72 chevelle as well as a 68 charger has went by but, I will soon be driving it and I know that this is one car I will never part with, especially with a 377 CI SBC with a glide, probably getting changed to my TH350 I have, but this forum has gotten me more than enough info on just 3rd gens than most people know about cars. So I honestly wouldn't care if value dropped because my third gen in my baby.

86WS6

iTrader: (1)

Hi Torchred 87 T/A,

Welcome to Thirdgen.org

Being 15 years old is no reason not to be on this site. Post away! It is too cool that you are 15 and like these 20 to 30 year old cars. New Thirdgen fans like yourself are going to have to enter the hobby for these cars to survive into the future. It sounds like you have saved another 3rd gen from the crusher.

Post some pics of your car and your progress restoring it. Many members on this site will provide tons of useful information. Everyone here will enjoy seeing your progress.

Maybe someone like yourself will be the next owner of Amanda (the 86WS6) when I am done with her.

Charles

PS: This is Amanda. She is original and has 29K on the clock. This picture was taken on the Tail of the Dragon, US HY 129, Deal's Gap Tenn. And yes the Mini Cooper was faster, but Amanda is way cooler.

Torchred87T/A

I finally got a picture up of my Trans Am up cant wait to get my motor in it so I can drive it or just turn the key and hear the sound of those 8 cylinders coming to life, the lopey idle from a thumpr cam, its been my dream since May 25, 2007

84TransAmNY

interesting thread... Growing up in a working class family with a bro n 2 sisters, my dad never could afford or justify buying a muscle or sports car. I had always dreamed of owning a one. I am now 25 yrs old and semi-restoring a 84 trans am s/e. I was raised by a ford dad, but always loved third gens when I was little especially Trans Am's. Originally, I planned on buying an 03-04 mustang.. roush or gt, but I had my T/a fall into my lap for 800 bucks. I bought it and immediately wanted to bring it back to glory.
These cars are becoming rare at least in my area and the ones that are in relatively good shape are head turners for sure. My brother is 17 and he loves these cars, some of my buddies that are younger then me really love these cars. The bad thing is most kids get what they can afford with high gas/insurance plus they want some speed. I bought an 89 firebird off my friend for a few parts was going to sell it to my brother for a few hundred but hes opting for a toyota mr-2. But a 22 yr old chick is buying the car off me. So the appeal of the car is there that's for sure. Will ppl be able to cash in like the muscle car gen. probably only the ppl that have the rare higher hp cars.
All in all the economy is in the dumps and not much sign of that 16 trillion dollar debt going away. People in my generation don't have the disposable income that previous generations did. Not to mention all the kids that have been brainwashed into saving the planet with hybrids.

As for me some day I would like to get that 78-79 Smokey and the bandit t/a, 03-04 roush mustang and a 86-92 GTA.

58mark

iTrader: (3)

I don't get it... the 79 firebird looks exactly like the 80-81...

also, the 76 was a decent looking car. light years ahead of the camaros of the same year, and very similar to the 77-78 models, that you called "good looking"

Linson

yes, i believe you are right about the 79s and 80-81 models. for some reason i thought that they still had the 77-78 grills in 79 and just had the oversized bumpers. now that i have compared some google images, it looks like you are correct.

and while they look very similar to the 77-78, they really uglied up the front end for 79-81. that is sort of an ugly bumper compared to the 77-78.

as for the 74-76s, i just really dont like the front ends on those - especially the ones with the big-*** turn signals in the grill. was never real keen on honeycomb wheels either, to be honest.

i mean, the 74-76s are also very similar to the 77-78s, but the front facia does a lot for a car's overall look.

58mark

iTrader: (3)

I can't stand the front bumper on the 79-81 firebird, but I kind of dig the 76 nose. At least I think it's light years ahead of the camaros of the same era.

Starbug

^^ This is a decent front end, I don't mind the '76 style at all. Although '77 is my favorite front end by far; I think it looks the most aggressive and is the best looking style. It looks especially fantastic as a black car with black '89 GTA wheels. But I detest the '79 "shovel nose" style. Although I like both, I think I prefer the snowflake wheels over the honeycomb, as far as original second gen wheel styles go.

NCGuy68

The 3rdgen cars I see on the street around here are pretty much ragged out, hacked- up flappers drive by questional people. Its fairly rare to see a well maintained stock or tastefully modded F-body on the road.

Occasionally, I'll see a very nice one at a car show and the owner is obviously proud of it. Until owners realize that peserving/restoring original cars will bring the most $$ and respect in the future, most 3rdgens will be coffee cans in 10 years or less.

KyleP

I pretty much disagree with everything you said. There's no shortage of people who have a strong attachment to these cars, and I think the popularity of this website is proof of that. Many of the guys who grew up lusting after these cars now have good jobs and have the opportunity to start building that "dream car". Likewise, as we get even older, have more disposable income, and start getting past those "family" years, there will be even more who want to relive their youth. Like I said before, these cars won't ever have the mass appeal that a 69 Camaro has, but I really don't think it's beyond possible for IROCs and GTAs to have a popularity similar to what early 2nd Gen Camaros and 77-78 Trans Ams are seeing now. These cars will always represent a good platform for modification too.

The lack of performance is also a bit of a misnomer too. Sure, a stock IROC can get beat by a stock Accord now, but people seem to forget that the same Accord can knock off big block 1st gens and K-code Mustangs just as easily. Bone stock to Bone stock, an L98 IROC will take down most muscle cars. The "good old days" weren't really as good as everybody remembers. In bone stock trim, there aren't many classic muscle cars that will run 13s.[/QUOTE]



My dad and I have talked alot about this and I think you are exactly right. He can remember when a 40 ford would bring alot more money than they do now but for the most part the sixties cars are popular right now. Every generation goes crazy over what they grew up with. I think the old big blocks were awesome in their day but now they arent close to what we have. if performance determined what was popular why do 57 chevys bring big money because in stock trim they are slow compared to even our third gens.

58mark

iTrader: (3)

when my father first got into collecting parts for his 58 impala, parts were plentiful and you could get cars cheap, because in 1977 everyone still wanted the 57 chevy.

Now, the 57 value is dropping because so many people reproduce the cars from bumper to bumper that seeing a nice one just isn't that special anymore. Similar story with the mid 65 mustangs. They just are not a in demand collectible any more. They still have value, but nothing like they used to

The 58's however are selling for huge money because so many of them were neglected or crushed, that the cars are actually pretty rare.

Now i know I'm comparing a one year model to a third gen that was made for 11 years, but so many of these cars are being trashed by neglect or parting them out, the really nice ones will no doubt bring high money as the best examples of the era.

ZROCz28

im never selling my car, saved up since i was 13, spent everylast dime i had on it, it will be my first, last, and favorite car.

Brock Lee

The factory 350's will lead the pack. Clean, stock versions will likely meet up with middle grade 2nd gens. Clean 305's next in line with a wide range of values depending on model, options, etc. All sub 8 cylinder cars will likely be worth less than half. They will end up as donor cars and platforms to build "tributes" of the higher performance cars.

KBcobra

Only Thirdgen I can think of that can come "remotely" close in value to a 1st or 2nd gen is a Trans Am turbo.

Coupe Guy

It's all generational, simply put. Third gens will have their day!