Is it just me, or have other people noticed that 2nd gen's had much more graphics than 3rd gens did/do? For example lets just look at the difference between the 81 and 82 trans ams... In 1981 the trans am had the bird on the hood, if it was a turbo it had turbo 301 written on the buldge, ELABORATE pinstriping around the entire car. Trans Am (or Turbo Trans Am) written on the spoiler, Trans Am written on the sides, and bird logos behind the side windows. In 1982 the Trans Am's were just 2-tone, had trans am emblems on the sides, and small bird decals behind the side windows and 1 on the hood.

1981 Z's also had some (IMO) gorgeous graphic schemes. Large Multicolor stripes running along the lower parts of the doors, colorful pinstriping around the hood scoop thing, etc. 1982 Z28's were slightly more elaborate than their 3rd gen pontiac counterpart (TA), but still didnt have as much graphics as 2nd gens.








I'm not saying that 3rd Gen's need(ed) more or more elaborate graphics, because I'm not nessacarily sure more graphics would look good on third gens...I'm just looking to interpret why GM didn't continue the trend of elaborate graphic schemes (which IMO were unique and looked great on 2nd gens) on the f-bodies.

 

stuff just goes out of style i guess. why dont men wear bell bottoms anymore? i think the 2nd gen graphics are a little excessive though. we need someone who was in their 20's during the 70's to answer this question.

look at the new mustang, ever since 2005 there are so many little add ons, stripes, and body kits u see on the new mustangs. a few years from now that will probably be out of style and people will ask the same question.

 

WOW, those cars are SCREAMING for attention, the body style of the 3rd gens require no graphics to make a presence

 

I'm 42 and when I show pics of myself as a kid to my kids it's pretty humorous! Just a simple matter of different times. The only thing constant IS change. The last 10 years it's been a "less is more" era, but the tide is changing now with the new "retro" cars and the decals that are on them.

My brother had a late 70's Trans Am and that car was drop dead gorgeous with all the decals on it. The problem was, back then the decals would get hard and brittle and start to fade after a few years which led to people having to remove them and repaint or trade the car in. That was probably the biggest reason for the demise of all the decals.

With the technology of vinyl graphics today though, the same "bird" decal can easily last 7-10 years.

Personally. I love decals on cars if tastefully done, but then I'm biased as I own a sign shop!

 

i dont know about you guys but i love my second gen and its graphics. But in complete agreement that nothing like that belongs on a 3rd gen. Hell i took both the decals off my 3rd gens they look so slick and clean.

 

3rdgens look so much better without graphics.

2ndgens however almost need them to fill the "void".

 

And that pretty wells sums it up - the graphics were gone because the '70s were gone. I graduated high school in 1977 and car companies were still trying to come to grips with ever tightening emissions regulations, rising gas prices following the Arab Oil Embargo of the early 70's, and rising insurance costs. All of these conspired together to kill the muscle car and what we were left with was screaming graphics instead of screaming engines. It wasn't just the 2nd gen Camaro/Firebird sporting this nonsense; plenty of "sporty" cars from that era had them.

But basically, everything runs its course. Elton John stopped wearing sequined jackets and enormous, wildly colored sunglasses, disco finally died (thank heaven for small favors!!!) and with it Jordache jeans, platform shoes (for the guys no less - and not just gay guys) and crazy graphics on cars. I lived through it, but I really don't miss it.

 

did you like the 90's?

 

Every era is different- and everything goes out of fashion before nostalgia brings it back... "Elton John stopped wearing sequined jackets and enormous, wildly colored sunglasses[and his music has suffered ever since], disco finally died (thank heaven for small favors!!!) [Don't know about you, but EVERYONE ELSE got laid during the disco era] and with it Jordache jeans[didn't Brook Shields model those- WOW!], platform shoes (for the guys no less - and not just gay guys)[OK- I will give you that] and crazy graphics on cars. I lived through it, but I really don't miss it.
Well, I miss it- the most important music, cars and girls to you when you get older are those of your last year of high school, so don't rock everyone's boat... someone is going to look back with longing at the Chevy Cobalt; the music of K-Fed and the sexiness of Paris Hilton- YIKES!!!

 

I think you answered your own question... "I'm not nessacarily sure more graphics would look good on third gens." Plus some did have quite a few graphics. For instance, my 25th Ann. Daytona 500 pace car edition has the power bulge graphic, stripes that go all the way around the car separating the white/graphite, the sail panel birds, and 25th Anniversary Daytona 500 emblems above the "Trans Am" decals, and Pontiac decals on the front and rear windows.

 

As for the endless miles of decals on 2nd gens.....if it doesn't have any "go", at least give it some "show".

 

check out my car in vb garage for some graphics

 

I suppose one might look back someday and find some redeeming qualities in the Cobalt, and Paris isn't the worst looking woman on the planet, but you are really stretching it with the K-Fed bit!!!!!!!

 

The 1985-1987 Trans Am's did have a Bird decal on the hood, though not as large as a 2nd gens. I guess it is a matter of taste, but I personally like them and at one time actually thought of adding a gold one to my Bird.

 

I'm actually thinking of deleting all my factory emblems on my babe.

 

I think I just messed my pants ... this thing is BEAUTIFUL ... I like all the graphics, but I like my thirdgen nice and clean.

 

its all about change, reinvention, modernization, aerodynamics and so forth, the second gens are too heavy and bulky lookign inho, and the third gens were lightened up and redesigned ot be sleeker and more aerodynamic/modern

change/improvements occur, mankind strives for such things, evne if they may not be popular or explainable in the future, or present, whichever

they had the right idea on the 82 redesign but crapped out on the drivetrain department unfortunately

theres always sometihng lacking, never a perfect vehicle produced

 

GM started to enforce drug polices (making employes take drug tests).. people started to sober up and lo and behold car designs became cleaner also

 

not true...1990-1995 ZR-1 Corvette

 

Wish I missed the 90's...........bad cars, bad clothes, bad dancing, bad music.......give me the 80's anytime. Only exception is 90-92 Camaro's.

 

dude the 90's were the sh*t, you have NO clue what you are talking about.

 

Well you got PART of it correct. Just take out the word; the. Then substitute "no for "a big". Lastly replace the word dude with SIR and add SIR again at the end of the sentence.

Let me guess, you are say around 20 years old and went through puberty in the 90's. Whereas I am middle age with KIDS the same age as you.

If I didn't have my Camaro to drive around in occasionally, I would be out in my mini van from the suburbs waiting to go postal with a Starbucks latte in my hand.

Remember, it's not the inner city gangs you need to worry about. It's the middle age men from the burbs in the minivan sitting in traffic waiting to snap. I've got a wife ($$), kids ($$), a dog ($$), cat ($$), guns and a Camaro. Luckily I prefer the Camaro ($$$$$$$$).

Oh, yea and a VERY dry sense of humor. Have a nice day. PEACE!

 

I love the graphics on a second gen TA.... infact my firebird is being painted this next week. I will have the screaming chicken on my hood after 30 days. I couldn't careless what people think about it, they do not work on my car and the chicken does not define it.

My car is a firebird... every firebird from the factory had a decal of a firebird. Mine will just be.... 30 times bigger

 

blah blah blah...the 90's were the best. accept defeat apparently after the 80's you were TOO OLD to enjoy anything...

 

Yeah please refrain from using the $$ sign brings back bad memories, i.e. REALITY, married, underpaid working for Uncle Sam, result is, my babe i.e. my car suffers due to that.