View Poll Results: Do you prefer black or chrome exterior door handles?
chrome



4
11.11%
black



32
88.89%
Voters: 36. You may not vote on this poll
door handles: chrome or black
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 270
Likes: 0
From: florida
Car: 1984 Pontiac Firebird
Engine: modded 5.0
Transmission: modded 700r4
door handles: chrome or black
Well my 84 came factory with chrome door handles which seems to be a rarity but I don't really like them. I'm thinking of putting on black ones for more of an updated "formula" look. What do you guys think?
never seen or heard of chrome handles from the factory...i personally like black though. i've been toying with the idea of body color on my own just to see what it would look like but black is my bet.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 270
Likes: 0
From: florida
Car: 1984 Pontiac Firebird
Engine: modded 5.0
Transmission: modded 700r4
Kandied- I've always liked the body color idea, you can always try it and if you don't like it, door handles are cheap......
For those who haven't seen chrome door handles heres a pic of mine:
For those who haven't seen chrome door handles heres a pic of mine:
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 7,386
Likes: 1
From: In a mint Third Gen!
Car: Red 87 IROC-Z28 T-Top
Engine: 5.7 Tuned Port Injection
Transmission: 700R4 Auto
Axle/Gears: BW 9-Bolt 3.27
Black is the ultimate when it comes to trim or offsetting any color. Keep them black like they were stock IMO.
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,537
Likes: 49
From: Naperville, IL
Car: 89 Iroc Hardtop
Engine: LB9 w/G92 Pkg
Transmission: T5 5-Speed
Axle/Gears: 9-Bolt, 3.45
Originally posted by IROCZTWENTYGR8
...Keep them black like they were stock IMO.
...Keep them black like they were stock IMO.
Ummm, but his came stock with chrome...
My '83 came with chrome handles as well. I think it makes the car look newer to swap them to black. You can get a set of brand new black handles really cheap on eBay.
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keep the chrome , its def something different. i bet gm was trying to get ride of all the extra chrome door handles from the second gens, my dads 77 ta has chrome and it looks good, black would look out of place.
Supreme Member

Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,227
Likes: 46
From: North East GA
Car: 1989 Firebird
Engine: 5.7 LS1
Transmission: T56
Humm I would say black, Don't do body color, I have seen several and it just don't look right IMO. I painted mine black with dupli color 4 years ago and they still are good, I also painted the t-top edges and the ring around the hatch glass, its still all in real good shape, I didn't expect the spray paint to last that long..
Supreme Member
iTrader: (45)
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 3,970
Likes: 1
From: Northern, VA
Car: Pair of 92 Z28s
Originally posted by IROCZTWENTYGR8
Black is the ultimate when it comes to trim or offsetting any color. Keep them black like they were stock IMO.
Black is the ultimate when it comes to trim or offsetting any color. Keep them black like they were stock IMO.
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 7,386
Likes: 1
From: In a mint Third Gen!
Car: Red 87 IROC-Z28 T-Top
Engine: 5.7 Tuned Port Injection
Transmission: 700R4 Auto
Axle/Gears: BW 9-Bolt 3.27
Originally posted by Firebird 383
Ummm, but his came stock with chrome...
My '83 came with chrome handles as well. I think it makes the car look newer to swap them to black. You can get a set of brand new black handles really cheap on eBay.
Ummm, but his came stock with chrome...
My '83 came with chrome handles as well. I think it makes the car look newer to swap them to black. You can get a set of brand new black handles really cheap on eBay.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 270
Likes: 0
From: florida
Car: 1984 Pontiac Firebird
Engine: modded 5.0
Transmission: modded 700r4
Originally posted by NEEDforSPEED
you might get sued, if some one burns there hand
you might get sued, if some one burns there hand
well thanks for the replies guys, I'm definitely getting black ones.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 583
Likes: 0
From: United States
Car: 1991 Z28
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Personally, were I to change the doorhandles, it would be nice to obtain some steel ones painted to match the car.
But I imagine that would be quite a bit of trouble.
But I imagine that would be quite a bit of trouble.
Member
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 368
Likes: 0
From: Finland
Car: 1991 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 350 TPI (L98)
Transmission: TH-700r4
Hmm, I was thinking of making my locks(not the handles) chromed, the black paint is in really bad shape, heck my whole cars exterior needs a good touchup and I am thinking I should send it to a professional.
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iTrader: (2)
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 13,579
Likes: 9
From: Readsboro, VT
Car: 85 IROC-Z / 88 GTA
Engine: 403 LSx (Pending) / 355 Tuned Port
Transmission: T56 Magnum (Pending) / T5
Axle/Gears: 3.42 / ?
Has anybody actually seen a brand new thirdgen with chrome door handles, or are we all just assuming that they were stock? I'm more inclined to believe that the couple out there with chrome handles had them swapped in by previous owners. I find it odd that some of these older cars, which didn't even have chrome window trim, would have chrome door handles. Anybody have an RPO code?
I'm not trying to start a fight or anything, but I'm genuinely curious as to whether this was indeed a factory option or not.
I'm not trying to start a fight or anything, but I'm genuinely curious as to whether this was indeed a factory option or not.
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 638
Likes: 0
From: Toronto,Ontario
Car: 1989 IROC-Z
Engine: 346 LS6
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: Hybrid 8.8 3.73
Hi
Chrome handles dont balance the car, it just doesnt work. You got to paint the handle and the key lock black.
Speedmachine
Chrome handles dont balance the car, it just doesnt work. You got to paint the handle and the key lock black.
Speedmachine
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
From: Wayne, Nj
Car: 83 Black T- top Firebird
Engine: Carbed 350
Transmission: 5 speed
My 83 Firebird that my Dad bought brand new had chrome handles stock. They became pitted though so I replaced them with cheap black ones.
By the way it was a v-6 if that helps you find the option and I couldn't find the RPO codes to tell you.
By the way it was a v-6 if that helps you find the option and I couldn't find the RPO codes to tell you.
Last edited by ejm; Aug 14, 2005 at 08:30 PM.
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