chevyracingrox

I'd just like you're opinion on this. I thnk most people look down on the 3rd gen compared to the other generations of f-bodies. It's just something i've noticed over the years. why do you think that is?

Carlos773

iTrader: (3)

Compared to 4th gens, 3rd gens look alot better. 4th gens to me have no appeal besides their powerplant. 3rd gens do have their hatred in this world and to me mainly its due to its stereotype but with anything, it will eventually go away.

I love 3rd gens, and it takes alot for others to do so as well.

SiCkRs

iTrader: (6)

I think the thirdgens look the best because the 4th gens look just fugly. As for the 1st and 2nd gen heir is some that look nice and others that don't look that good. That's just my opinion.

ROCFATHER

The ugliest? 3rd gens have a beautiful timeless design..period. I think they were just overlooked cause they came along after the whole muscle car era. It was just bad timing. Yeah, we were fast, but not as fast as we could've been. Also...the fuel injection stuff was not liked buy the old school guys who lived and died by the "carb".

Gumby

Someones mother drank n smoked while carrying them causing severe brain damage

3rd gen's are the best looking for both Camaro's and Birds

4th gen fish lip with a bad botox job Camaro's are gross.

4th gen Birds/TAs are tough muscle

BG84FBIRD

Underpowered....yes... ugly....no.. My opinion about the 4 generations of the F-body's is, you gotta love the 1st gen, I can respect the 2nd gen but not my fav, Grew up with the 3rd gen(first modles ive seen), and the later (97+) 4th gen WS6 T/A are sweet.. other people out there do look at the third gens and think of ****** nation... and yes the lack of power.. One of the instructors at school has said that the 80's were the worst years for all car design.. I don't know, make your own opinion..

Scorpner

iTrader: (4)

I also think that its lack of power where it may have obtained a less than stellar reputation. I think too that you don't see many First Gens in rough shape driving around anymore. They didn't look that great 20 years after production if you ask me. Rust, sagging suspension and peeling paint can make any car look like crap. Some of the Second Gens with the big front bumpers were a big turn off for many. Never heard that said about a Third Gen -ever.

Looks were never an issue. It was one of the first computer designed body's and is one of the most aerodynamic muscle cars ever produced. Maybe it's just me but I see a lot of styling cues of the mixture of flat and curved shapes analogous to the fighter jets of the time, it looks like a square car, but there's not many panels that are actually flat/square. The early Z28 hoods even used similar intake shapes found on jet fighters.

thegooseman

Most people I talk too always tell me they love the look of the thirdgen camaro's. I havnt heard to many good things about the firebirds. Anyway I think their are a couple reasons thirdgens get crap.

First off here in socal, its rare to see a nice thirdgen. Most look like they have been beaten with a bat. I dont know why its just that way. Next for todays standards they are underpowered in stock form. 350 TPI's may be able to hold their own but most thirdgens people see out here are 305s and most are 305 TBI's.

For me I get more compliments than complaints. Last week I had some random people pull up next to me at the light and start asking questions about the car then told me it was cool. I love my car but thier are time Ive thought about getting an LS1 car. Our cars just look so cool so thats enough for me to keep it. lol

85 ZXX

iTrader: (1)

When Knight Rider hit the scene in 82, it was very hard to find a bird for sale due to the high demand. I finally got one in 84. IMO, the Birds looked the best as they did in the 70's (you old timers know what I mean) Remember the Bandit (Breaker, Breaker one nine). LOL, as for the Camaro, it has more of a aggressive mean street look that says...I WANNA STOMP SOME A**... Back in the 80's you got to remember that you either had a car that looked like a box (Chrysler-Dodge K Series) or a wedge (F-body, Celica, etc). The 3rd Gens have their own place in time and they were very desirable and in high demand. In the mid to late 80's the Camaro was the most stolen car in America...Thats gotta count for something.

JimmyDavidson

It's because there aren't that many nice ones out there. Most of the ones seen are beaters, that are in need of some tlc.

I actually think 3rd gen is the best gen. It got best of both worlds. Easy to work on(unlike 4th gens -_-) and it has most of the modern comforts(good suspension, decent interior, etc)

I have to give the award for ugliest f-body to the 74-77 camaros. That aluminum bumper just looks baaad. I like the rest of the gens though.

Dante93GTZ

iTrader: (5)

I kind of see it split. The 3rdgen "ground effected" Camaros are by far the best looking IMHO. The 3rd looks WAY better than the 4th. As for the birds.... I still want a GTA one day, but I really don't care for the wide/flat rear on the 3rdgen birds.

As for the 4ths, the birds always looked better; the 98-02 4ths make me drool.

ternandes

iTrader: (7)

I grew up with the firstgens. I still remember the thrill I experienced when the '67 Camaro was introduced.

My all-time favorite F-body is the '69 Camaro. I wish I still had mine. I don't think there was ever a prettier muscle car. Just my opinion.

I was not at all enamored of the second gens, and was re-energized when the thirdgens emerged. I remember reviews touting "the nicest looking sheetmetal to come out of Detroit in a long time". However, my thirdgen preference is for the Firebird. The Camaro does not appeal to me nearly as much.

I think 4th gens are butt-ugly (no offense, just my opinion). I agree with those who say the ideal combination is a thirdgen with 4thgen power.

If I had my druthers, I'd be restoring a 69 Camaro... but reality has me owning 3 thirdgen birds for far less than one first gen 'maro.

JeenYuss

i grew up with 3rd and 4th gens driving around, never liked the 4th, but i dislike the 2nd gen body style even more then the 4th

if i had the money i'd definitely have a really nice 1st gen AND 5th gen convertible lol

Carlos773

iTrader: (3)

1st gens are good, but I could never decide over 1st or 3rd gens, for one of course 1st gens are instant classics and amazing but I also grew up with 3rd gens and my family has owned a few 3rd gens. My father likes 5th gens, but I do not. Just don't. 2nd gens I go towards pontiacs line as well as 4th.

DeathMetalTony

Every camaro has theris look. Like a memeber said on top the only good thing abouth 4th gens is there powerplant. Also from 1974-1981 to me those we some horrible years just my 2 cents on this.

Tony.

Ozz1967

iTrader: (4)

The first Gens are beautiful and awsome, and wayyyy overpriced these days. You Just can't find one to work on anymore for less than a year's tuition at college. Second gens, aside from the 77-79 Trans Am's are just flat out ugly. Fourth Gens are...blobs on wheels, except for the 98-02 WS6 T/A's which are hard-core awsome. They just look tough. For me, the Third Gens are sexy...I really can't describe it better than that. They are what I grew up with so they hold that nostalgia but the lines are sweet and unfettered. The long hood, short rear deck, longer wheel base and rear-wheel drive. Everything a "pony car" should have. Sure, in stock form they're underpowered but with some work they look awsome and can match the 4th gens in power...easily.

Roc THIS

Ugly really is a bad word . These cars are not ugly at all . I do think they are starting to appeal to the mainstream car world too. It seems like they are getting harder to find in good shape . I get alot more comments and compliments at cruise nights and such these days from guys with much nicer cars then me . And as far as the power plant goes, I can hang with 4th gens with my TPI 350 . Might not be able to beat them yet but my car is bone stock and it does very well for what it is .

For some people its either you love it or you dont. That is with any car though . Personally I was hooked before I could remember when my mom bought me the "blown Camaro" hotwheel. Been in love with thirdgens since .

Mark A Shields

As said, most 3rd Gens are not well taken care of, yet are good enough to drive.

where as the 1st, 2nd Gens on the rode are usually in damn near perfect condition these days.

IMO it goes like this

For Camaros IMO it goes:

3rd, 1st, 2nd, 4th

Firebirds, a bit tougher but:

4th, 2nd, 3rd and 1st a close last

BigBadGTA

I know what most people think about thirdgens because before I got my car I thought it too. I thought thirdgens were cheap, plasticy and slow. Then I found my GTA and my mindset totally changed. I am not a fan of early thirdgens with the 305s. The only thirdgens I would like to have are really GTAs and Irocs with 350s. I personally think that the 87-90 GTA is the best looking Fbody of any year. I stayed neck and neck with a non ram air LS1 Trans Am, and Ive done 120+ with the A/C on so Its not a slouch either. I don't really like 4th or 5th gens. later thirdgens and 2nd gens are my favs.

88 5.7 Iroc-Z

[quote=Roc THIS .

For some people its either you love it or you dont. That is with any car though . Personally I was hooked before I could remember when my mom bought me the "blown Camaro" hotwheel. Been in love with thirdgens since .[/quote]

Wow, I thought I was the only one influenced by that hot wheel, believe it or not I still have it, I told my dad fate meant for me to own a third gen, lol

Zepher

iTrader: (1)

I've owned 2 4th gens, 96 Trans Am and 96 Camaro and a bunch of 3rd gens.
I prefer the looks of the 3rd gens.

The best things with the 4th gens are the drivetrain and interiors.

I went out yesterday to take some pictures of a 71 Trans Am 455 HO 4 speed that will be on sale soon, $59K if anyone is interested, and we drove down the road in it and heads were turning left and right.

I get quite a few compliments while driving my 88 Formula, probably since it is very good condition and is a very very bright red.

CharcoalBird

iTrader: (4)

As said before, it all depends on what shape the car is in. I get a compliment EVERYWHERE I go. Whether it be at work, I have people tell me the car looks b/a and nice...to pumping gas...to stopping at the supermarket...wherever. Before I had it put together and painted, I never got that. Same goes with all other year cars. A beat up 4th gen gets no recognition, just as a beat up 3rd gen doesn't. I do get asked what motor I have in the car and it does disappoint, but when I tell them what will be going in there hopefully soon, it doesn't matter that I have a v6 anymore.

slowmaro87

wait a sec here your on TGO and calling them ugly
you may leave now lol jk
for me its not just about the AMAZING looks of a thirdgen but you guys keep knockin the power you have to think about what was roaming the streets in the 80's thirdgens were not at all slouches to me i think of them as the last muscle car 4th gens are the poor mans vette sry guys and hell the thirdgens even with an underpowered small block would walk all over the sorry excuse for a BB in late 70's t/a's
1 thing to remember here guys is do NOT compare them to modern muscle
and do not compare them to 60's muscle ....modern has more sophisticated computer equipment than the astronots had in the 80's and 60's muscle didnt have anywhere close to the emissions standards our poor cars had to go through


my opinion your comparing a flathead to an lsx

87WS6

iTrader: (1)

Personally I like the looks of the third and fourth gens the best. Second generation cars are OK depending on the year, and I have favorites out of that generation but overall I rate them under third and fourth generation cars. The first generation cars are OK too but I prefer a lot of the late 60's and early 70's Mopar vehicles of the era over them. So for me the first gens rank last for all F-Bodies. I'm not wowed by the 5th generation Camaros either. They look too much like first generation cars and actually, I think they look worse. Maybe its the down syndrome C4 looking tail lights or something but I can't stand them.

I've owned one fourth gen and now four third generation cars. So I guess its easy to figure out what I like.

Tomcat65

i have a 71 camaro in pieces (dont ask lol) and a 86 iroc. these are the 2 body styles i like the most. wouldnt cry if i was given a 5 th gen though.

el_muerte

IMO thirdgen f-bodies were the ONLY domestic vehicle (and one of few worldwide) that came out of the 80's not looking like a box. I'd put them second only to first-gens with second-gen close behind and fourth a distant loser. Personally, I think the fourth-gens look like stretched out + flattened down Grand Ams.

The_Wraith

IMO the uglyest Fbody is 74-77 camaros and 79-81 birds

shortyskater

I think the 1st and 3rd gen are the best looking bodys out of them all. Later 4th gens werent to bad but the earlier 4th gens were ugly IMO. To pointly and just not appealing. 3rd gens have been in my family for a long time so they have always been my favorite. I think most look down upon them because of the POS they see riding around. Done up right, they are the sexiest cars out there.

87WS6

iTrader: (1)

The Corvette, Camaro, and Firebird were probably the only non-boxy cars of the 1980's. At least among cars people could actually afford. The exotics of the day were mostly wedge shaped. Even those cars often had sharp angles to their back ends and sides. As for fourth generation cars looking like Grand Ams, not hardly. They share no body lines or proportions. In fact I'd argue that nothing out there looks like any fourth generation Firebird or Trans Am. The Camaro on the other hand clearly looks like a catfish.

The_Wraith

Daytona's and thunderbirds weren't any less boxy then thirgens.

camaronewbie

I personally love the 3rd gen design. In my mind, it's one of the few Nascar-looking cars. My wife has a 1997 Z28, neither she nor I are as fond of it. Yeah, it's got an LT1 that kicks butt, but it just looks weenie - even ours which is black on black. 98 - 02 Camaros are worse in my opinion, the rounded headlights just make it look weenie, although they have great powerplants.

My fav is 1st gen - 1968. I like the split bumper 2nds, and I always loved the Bandit T/A. Not as fond of the Fast Times Camaros. 3rd gen Camaro spins my wheels for sure, and although I like to see the 3rd gen Birds, they are not for me. I agree that the 4th gen Birds look much better than the 4th gen Camaros. It's taken me quite some time, but I'm coming around to the 5th gens.

Maybe it's location too. Here in NC, everyone and his brother had a 3rd gen - I always get folks saying "I remember having one, wish I still had it". A local car club member has a 68 Camaro, a 69 Camaro, and several other $60k+ trailer queens that he takes to shows. He also has a mint 1989 IROC - he says he likes it best, drives it alot, but he drags the trailer queens out for the shows. He's in his early 70's!

I think the 3rd gens are classic, and will remain so. They appeal to teens, they appeal to older folks. There's an abundant supply but it's dwindling, values are slowly increasing but introduction costs are low. They are easy to work on, a challenge to get some parts for since no one is making much in the reproduction sector, and are very versatile cars.

Think about it - even today, let alone 10 years from now - what car from the 1980's that is not exotic (like DeLorean) will be remembered? Vette's are Vette's - the 1980's vettes are still just vettes. With the exception of the 1st gen Mustang, and maybe the Charlie's Angels model, they aren't recognizable - did Ford make anything rememberable in the 80's? Everyone rants about the mileage capable on an import - but where are the 1985 Celica GT's, the Nissan Pulsar's, or any other with nice lines (the Z's will remain classic, but not many nice ones left either). With the exception of the Starion/Conquest, Mopar was busy with K cars just trying to stay afloat. There are few cars to be 'remembered' from that decade except the 3rd gens - maybe Grand Nats, Regals, Cutlass, and the other GM box cars - but the fad is to donk those rides - they are becoming extinct as the body's are being set on 4x4 chassis so that 97in rims will fit underneath.

Regardless of good or bad memories, the 3rd gen IS remembered, and will be for a long time. "Call me anything you like, just call me!"

Dmans85

This is not an original theory of my own but it's worth repeating as it makes a lot of sense.
Think about who is most of the community or what age bracket of those that we may not be garnering as much support from. They were around at the peak of the muscle car era. This large group and I mean large as this is when baby-boomers are starting to reach home/car buying time. What generation will they like best? Easy answer. What type of engine will they associate best with? It's not FI.
Now, what was the first generation to stray from the orig f-body design. Answer: our third. I think of course the design is a sculpted piece of art, but it is a radically different from the original design and that may be a large part of why.
Emissions choking equip and old technology fuel injection would be enough to turn me off if I grew up in this era. Put these all together and you get a prety good answer.

92droptopws6

iTrader: (10)

I personally think the 3rd gen is the sexiest body styles ever made!
love them all though i have owned every generation aswell.

My stable would have:
Hard top 91-92z28
T-top 91-92z28
Conv. 91-92z28

Hard top 80-81z28
Hard top 70-73 split bumper

67-69 hard and or conv.
2002 SS T-top

My current
95&96 z28s

one92rs

iTrader: (5)

there not the ugliest. there are several blind people in this world that will never see there true colors.

//<86TA>\\

iTrader: (14)

idk, 4th gen camaros and some mid-late 2nd gens are pretty damn ugly IMHO

problem with these cars, they are not old enough, or new enough for people to respect. give it time, it will come. there was a time when you couldnt give a 1st gen away.

85 ZXX

iTrader: (1)

Wow, I am amazed with all of the opinions on this thread so far... Keep the great comments and stories comming...

InfernalVortex

iTrader: (4)

To me 1st and 3rd gen camaros are tied. I love them both for different reasons.

Thirdgens have very aggressive, clean lines. The designers weren't afraid to be radical with it and it shows. As far as the stealth fighter analogies... I dont think that really applies since no one even knew about those yet. LOL. No one even knew about the F-117 until 88 or so. So you'd have to compare it to the F-15/F-16/F-18 fighters for something more period correct. It's an interesting comment though as it does bear some resemblance in some ways.

Camaros I rank as follow 1st/3rd tied, then 2nd, then fourth.

The best looking fourth gens are the LT1 models, but they have to be set up pretty much perfectly to look anything other than plain and weak. The 2nd gen Camaros are ugly, but they're ugly in that badass 70s way. I'd gladly rock the **** out of one.





Gorgeous... Dated, but in a cool way. I think our thirdgens are dated but in a cool way, especially in the interior. I dont miss the lack of cupholders or glove box. It's got that cool 80s futuristic airplane-inspired bionic robocar attitude going on.

Fourth gens are just fugly if you ask me. Some of the LT1 cars look okay as they actually have some sharp angles on them. The LS1 cars just look like 2 door Chrysler Sebrings.

Now where I differ from most people I think is that I think Firebirds got uglier and uglier every generation. The first gen firebirds are simply stunning, and from there they just got more and more ridiculous looking. You can tell they designed the Camaro first, and then let Pontiac do their thing with it, because they always look like a camaro with arbitrary changes done to it, generally a bunch of scoops and other tasteless ***** trash. Even the LS1 TA's look pretty ridiculous. Dont even get me started on the third gen GTA's with their snowplow front ends. What a waste of frontal area to just use a giant barn door on the front of the car... just shove a few parking lights on the outside corners and call it done. it just looks silly. The lack of headlights further highlight the lack of features that 3rd and fouth gen TA's have.

To me the Camaros just look a lot more balanced in terms of sleek where tehy need to be, but with exciting lines where they need to be too.



It's a gorgeous car especially for a 85-90 GTA, but why oh why does it have that stupid barn door bumper cover?

But it certainly doesnt help that Pontiac consistently has created the ugliest wheels on earth too.








Really? WTF?


Also, to be more specific, I always loved myself a nice thirdgen Formula Firebird... I guess I should say most of my firebird hate goes to those ground effected GTAs.

slowmaro87

lmfao i dont agree but love the analogy

mattkc

iTrader: (1)

I love all gens of camaro, but the 5th gen is the worst. Something about the body I do not like, but if I had the cash I would buy one because it is a camaro. My favorite is the third gen and always has been and maybe it is since I was born in 82'. I think people look at them as way under powered, trashy people drive them and they never see a nice one driving down the road, and the fact that the third gen started in 1982 some people just hate the 80's all together. Hair bands, some bad lame music, box shaped cars, long hair, and holes in your clothes. I can see why people do not like them, but they need to see all the nice third gens out there. All I know is I love my 1991 Camaro.

Convoy25

iTrader: (3)

1st gens. they're nice, but overplayed imo. at a car show its not uncommon to see about 3 or 4. to me they lost their dazzle.

while many choose the 69, i choose the 70. i love the early 2nd gens. then as everyone has mentioned, 74 and up they just looked terrible.

one reason why people dont like 3rd gens is because of the powerplants. i've always preferred 3rd gens over 4th, and camaros over firebirds. with one exception. the LS1 WS6 firebirds are sick, intimidating, and just badass.

4th gens, (like 3rd gens) have grown on me. i love the SS Hood on it. plus the interior is obviously much nicer.

5th gens are nice, but too big/bulky. i came across a concept pre 2008 thats freakin sick. if they went with that i'd be drooling over them.

gooseward_r6

I love every gen of the camaro. All of them are gorgeous in their own way.

86IrocLewie

When I was in high school in the early-mid 90s, a lot of people thought 2nd gens were trash. The reason was the 3rd gens were still in good shape. The 4th gens had just come out. And anyone who shelled out the cash for a 1st gen had their car looking like a show car. That's changed now, because nearly all beater 2nd gens are off the road. The only ones you see are usually nice. You could get a second gen back then in decent/easily fixable shape for a few hundred bucks. There wasn't much demand.

3rd gens are just coming out of that weird period right now. Parts are getting more expensive, and people are collecting these cars seriously now. I've had my 1986 since 1993 and never plan on getting rid of it. The cost of a nice 3rd gen has risen significantly lately.

Some people think 3rd gens are trash b/c they've only seen beaters. For a long time you could get a crappy 3rd gen for a few hundred bucks. It was one of the cheapest cars you could get to race with. A lot of people who picked these up did stupid mods to them--many of them were junk. They weren't restored, new-looking cars like many of the ones on the board here. Ever see a 3rd gen jacked up with truck tires, rust sports, and a crappy idle? I actually saw a few in the late 90s early 00s, and things like that are the cause for the negative opinion. There are also a lot of piecemeal IROC knockoffs that look like crap. I saw a poor guy who bought an '84 that he thought was an IROC (impossible I know) with no ground effects, the wrong front cap, wrong wheels, and a slew of other inconsistencies. The bad paint job and rough idle didn't help either.

Early 4th gens will suffer from the same thing soon enough. How often do you see one of those in good shape on the road anymore? Besides the hot rodders who usually don't use their cars as daily drivers, many of the 4th gens are turning into beaters. Demand for LT1s are way down with everyone wanting an LSx. Prices will continue to drop. We may even see some badly running 4th gen 6cyls with SS badges and hood soon enough.

My favorite model Camaro is a 3rd Gen. There's a weird thing with cars: people usually like what was out when they were a kid. Most people's favorite model Vette is from when they were a child. I was 9 in 1986, and the IROC is my fav model. My fav body style for a Vette is the 81, which is the slowest Vette ever with Crossfire. My fav model Ferrari is a blazin'-red Magnum P.I. complete with door slits. So it holds true for me.

87firebird305V8

I grew up listining to my dad talk about his 79 camaro. and watching it sit in out barn since i was born, he bought it as a senior in highschool. i love the look of his car and think its a bunch better than my firebird. but i still like the looks of my car, so my general list goes
Camaros:
second, third, fourth, first, fifth. very close would love to have any year
firebirds:
fourth, second, third, first
O and were in the process of restoring both

chevyracingrox

I agree with both these statements. I can't count the number of times I thought i spotted a 4th gen and it turned out to be a sebring convertable. pontiac has a bad habbit of making ugly rims that just look rediculous. I do like the 98-02 T/A and I don't hate the look of any generation of camaro, but most newer cars are starting to all look alike.

my big problem with cars older than about 2004: rims. not the style, but the size, the camaro ss comes with 20" rims, that's 3" too much for my tastes. keep in mind the 5th gen is styled off the 1st gen and it's supposed to look big and muscular.

Convoy25

iTrader: (3)

this is the concept i like. though i would do something about the taillights.

86IrocLewie

It looks cool, but the lines on the front remind me of a 90s Stang and from the back/side it looks a lot like a Jag.

slowmaro87

i like the headlights and i like the stripe other than that ...its too much like a bathtub 4thgen

thegooseman

The Wraith you have a awesome looking firebird.

Transmetal

I'm a Pontiac guy 100% so I'm biased, I can't stand the look of too many Camaros 3rd gen included, there are many exceptions on this site though. I like the 1st gen but that's about it. The rear end of many Camaros look like **** and the 3rd gen Camaro interior looks terrible (imo). I own a gta but I always liked the 91-92 Formula which most people don't. As for the various generations I'm a child of the 80's, grew up watching Knight Rider so that's probably why I'm the way I am. My top 5 would be:

1.) 91-92 Formula
2.) LT1 TA or Formula ws6 (TIED) 98-02 ws6
3.) 85-90 gta
4.) 1st gen Camaro
5.) late 3rd gen Camaro

CanuckBird

I don't think third gens are ugly at all. I have been fortunate enough to have owned 3 Camaros,my first car a used '67 RS/SS,a '79 and an '81 Z28 i bought new.I would say the first gen camaros were nicest,with my favorite being the '69 Z28 302,followed by third gens.Second and forth gens just don't turn my crank.Firebirds are a different story,i really loved those second gen 455 '70-'72 Trans Ams and the fourth gen Trans Ams like the ws6.