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Auto Detailing and AppearanceShare tips and tricks on how to make your Third Gen shine! Get opinions on products or how something tasteful looks on your Chevrolet Camaro or Pontiac Firebird.
I'd like to thank everyone for their consideration for car of the month.
I am the original owner of my TA. I bought it in October of 87. The car has 40,000 miles, it is mostly all stock except for Flowmaster cat back exhaust. It is a 305 TPI motor, automatic with WS6 suspension. The car still wears it's original Midnight Blue Metallic paint, a rarely seen color.
My wife and I bought it for everyday use originally but having previously had an 83 Camaro we knew better than to drive it in the winter so it has never seen salt. Then came kids and it was no longer practical so it became a weekend vehicle and show car, having won my class at the Trans Am Nationals several times over the years including the last Nationals in 2019.
Thanks again and good luck to all the nominees, all the cars nomoninated deserve to win.
Last edited by TABBOO; Jan 26, 2021 at 10:22 PM.
Reason: attach images
I’d like to thank whoever nominated but was not expecting this as the car is in the middle of a major overhaul.
at the time of this picture, the car still had the original 305 short block. However, everything around it had been upgraded. Paxton blower, miniram, valvetrain, 24x conversion, Terminator X, full UMI suspension, 5th gen ZL1 Brembos etc etc etc. The car is in the process of having a 427 Gen I SBC swapped in and should be a showstopper after that. Upgrading everything else in the process (k member, brake lines, radiator, painted engine bay, powdered engine).
thanks again for the nomination and good luck to everyone.
Gotta say I really like that blue two-tone Trans Am. Very tough competition here from all.
Thanks for the nomination. So here's my 1988 GTA. 3rd gen Firebirds are the cars that just keep bringing me back. I was hooked when I got to drive my brother-in-law's for a week back in 1983 when he was on vacation. Bought my first in 1990, a new Formula. Replaced it with a 4th gen in 1998 which was a rocket of a car, but I never felt was as good looking. Picked up another 1990 Formula in 2003 and drove that for over six years, replacing that with a 5th gen Camaro. Nice car that I might have still had were it not for a deer collision on I-79, but still never thought it could touch a 3rd gen for looks. Kind of thought I was out of the 3rd gen community for good, but when I moved to Hilton Head in 2016, it just seemed like a great place and time (working from home) to have and preserve an older car. So I bought this one in February of 2018 and I'm back behind the wheel of my all-time favorite car.
I'm the second owner. The car was driven 30,000 miles in it's first twenty years. But in the ten years before I bought it, just 2,000 miles. 32,045 when I bought it, now I'm approaching 39,000. I take it out at least once a week. i try to avoid driving it mid-day here in the summer and stick to morning and evening rides since it gets very hot here and those old interior plastics feel like they're on the verge of liquifying when it sits in the sun. In the cooler weather like now, I drive it quite frequently.
I'm pretty much an originalist when it comes to older cars. I appreciate well-done, tasteful modifications, but for myself I like the original factory look and specs. I really can't take much credit for the appearance of my car. The original owner preserved it very well and I've tried to continue that the past (almost) three years now. Pretty common GTA. Flame red, beige cloth interior. Doesn't have the powered subwoofer but otherwise well equipped. Everything works. After two years one of the tailpipes was sagging but the exhaust looked in otherwise good shape. Apparently it was damaged, probably during shipment with that steep angle loading it on or off the flatbed. Rather than having it fixed, I went with a new Flowmaster exhaust last March, which sounds pretty amazing. Other than than and adding an AUX pigtail to the radio and replacing the floormats, it's original outside of brakes and tires (BFGs bought last April).
Interior fabric shows a little wear, but not much.
The legendary '80s-tech digital dash. I like it because it's kind of a cool museum piece. To be honest, I think the standard four gauge pods look better and are more functional. But people who see it love the dash.
The trunk appears never to have held anything.
I guess a need a cloudy day to avoid the reflections. Or try early evening.
I'd like to thank everyone for their consideration for car of the month.
I am the original owner of my TA. I bought it in October of 87. The car has 40,000 miles, it is mostly all stock except for Flowmaster cat back exhaust. It is a 305 TPI motor, automatic with WS6 suspension. The car still wears it's original Midnight Blue Metallic paint, a rarely seen color.
My wife and I bought it for everyday use originally but having previously had an 83 Camaro we knew better than to drive it in the winter so it has never seen salt. Then came kids and it was no longer practical so it became a weekend vehicle and show car, having won my class at the Trans Am Nationals several times over the years including the last Nationals in 2019.
Thanks again and good luck to all the nominees, all the cars nomoninated deserve to win.
Thanks for the nomination. Wish I had some cool story about how I found it at the bottom of the ocean in mint condition while diving the Titanic. But while looking for a Vette I came across this 88' that was well kept and almost all original. Still has all the Vin tags and runs like new. It's got 90k on the odometer but you'd never know it. Some gorgeous cars nominated this time so I won't pick a favorite.
Best all around group in awhile! DANG!!!! Tough choice!!!
So I almost always vote based upon which car I'd most like to take home and park in my garage. ...and Tabboo's blue TA, wow. I know we all throw around the word "rare" but damn. I had NEVER seen a TA that color before his. Good buddy in HS owned a v6 'Bird that color, but had never seen a TA. I had to google it when I first saw his car because I just assumed it wasn't a TA color. -and I love the two tone TA's. I'm a Camaro guy but he gets my vote.
Hats off to the whole group. Beautiful cars all around!
we are getting some great response to this month's COTM nominee's, all great third gens indeed! we will keep the voting open until end of day January 31, ie end of the day Sunday and then call a winner!
Hey I know THAT car, saw it many times at Nationals & Tipp City. It’s a beauty, pictures don’t do it justice, a great clean TA.
I hope there will be a Nationals this year, look forward to seeing it again!
