Howdy

I was just wondering who if any of you have lived in the US and thats why you guys are in to third gens or you just got in to them in your respected counties, if so how did you get to be a american car/ third gen enthusiast? I am asking this because I think it is really cool that we have third gen f body owners/ fans overseas!!!

Kevin

 

Hi Kevin,

I personally lived in Singapore for 14 years (from 4 to 18 years old) which as you may know is quite American influenced. My old man flew for Singapore Airlines and used to visit the States a lot and he used to bring back some mags as we were/ are a car mad family. My eldest brother was also into American cars and his favourite was the Trans Am (2nd Gen at that stage). He had a Banshee front 6.6 brown TA with the shaker hood. My middle brother liked the Corvettes the best.

When back in the UK for a Summer holiday I saw my first Camaro (2nd Gen Z28) and fell in love with it. These feelings were further fuelled by Smokey & The Bandit and my brother who had at this stage got himself a Silver Anniversary Vette About this time the 3rd gen came out and it was love all over again. I had to have that car one day. I got my dad to get any literature he could on it on his flights and I reda the article that netted the IROC the best handling car in America (I think it was Road & Track)

The obsession was complete and in 1994 it came true. I looked at a black one first with tinted windows and red interior then the white one which I own now. The moment I first went to look at the black one was the first time I had ever seen my dream car close up and I wasn't dissapointed Unfortunately the head gasket had blown so I had to wait to see the white one before I would get my first drive in one. The guy I bought it off had driven it all the way to Turkey and back in it and owned his own garage. I will never forget that day of driving it home through the commuter traffic around Heathrow Airport (M25) and living the dream....

So I have my dream car. Just need the others now- Countach, F1 etc

Cheers,
Felix

 

Man thats a great story, just to think I thought I was hard to find a decent third gen in Chicago!! I give you and all you overseas friends credit for pursuing your dreams leaving availability and costs behind. You must get all kinds of looks and complements from people that see your car. By the way ZZ42Fast what kinda Camaro do you have and what do you have done to it, if you dont mind me asking.
Thanks

Kevin

 

Thanks for the kind words. Guess it's like when I hear about American's driving TR6's, MGB's and TVR's. You know they have got be dedicated.

My car and all work is in my sig below.

Cheers,
Felix

 

Hi,

No US background (with the exception of a brother in law who lives in Florida and drives a Mustang!).

3rd gens are one of the most affordable US cars in the UK, and probably the most popular in number. Price wise they're probably expensive in US terms, ranging from $1500-2000 for a poor example early 80's, to $8000-9000 for an '89 'vert, and around $6000-7000 for your regular late model average/good condition Iroc/Z28 with medium/high mileage.

ZZ42fast has built his car more around the strip (and damn fine it is too!), mine is more show than go. (Well what do you expect with an LO3....heck I love that thing!)

 

ZZ42Fast That a nice set up where ever you are at!! uk89camaro NICE car looks clean as hell!! I guess the prices are not to outrageous but gas must kill you guys. I am suprised that there are a lot of third gens in the UK over other American cars but that is not a bad thin. What other kinda of American cars are over there that are pretty common or rare?

Thanks
Kevin

 

hey don't mention the gas prices!!! have to admit that I have no US conection at all... saw an article in one of our classic car mags a few years back and that was it... 3 IROCs and a 4th gen firebird later I'm now that proud (if frustrated!) owner of a 3rd gen Z28 running a 383ci and loving the attention it gets... truth be told I guess I've always liked the idea of an f-body or 'vette with 'stangs and mopar runing close behind - too may films and programs like cannonball/gumball rally/dukes of hazzard/gone in 60 secs etc etc

 

again, absolutely no American connection at all here.

When i was a kid, i had a toy thirdgen Camaro, and it had working head / tail lights. as far as my 10 year old eyes could see, it was the best car in the world (I didn't know what it was, or if it even existed) but used to tell everyone it was the car i would have when i grow up.

dreams sometimes do come true.







I shal never sell it, I will be burried in this car.


(don't ask how i managed to get a toy thirdgen, i haven't a clue.)

 

Same for me no american connections. It started with the dukes of hazzard, smokey & the bandit ect all of when I was 8-9 yrs old, ever since been an american muscle car fan. 68-69 charger would be the dream car but I dont have spare £15-20,000 so I'm enjoying my current ride the 82 z28. Its my fourth yank tank, first was a 74 Challenger, 2nd 86 Trans Am TPI, 3rd 79 Z28 (beautiful) & now the 82 zed. The UK /europe has a huge army of american car fans & we are well catered for spares ect. There are shows nearly all year round plus we have several drag strips in the UK, Santa Pod you may of heard of?

As UK89camaro said prices are cheap for 2nd/3rd gens, I paid £950 for mine ($1540) needs a little work but a good soild car & I love burning the petrol!!

damo

 

No american connections here either. I've always loved american cars and I don't think I'll ever own anything else.

 

Howdy

abdul hallenger why did ya get rid of you r other cars?? jw.

Kevin

 

I first got into US cars in 1983. A friend of mine had a 2nd gen firebird. It was such a cool car, compared to my vauxhall viva.

 

I grew up watching Starsky and Hutch , Dukes Of Hazzard and Knightrider, so I had no choice in the matter . After several Ford Capris ( i know .. ) , I finally went out and bought my TransAm - best thing I ever did, though I have it as my 3rd car now.

I've got family in the US , but they all hate cars - they drive things like Geo Trackers and Ford Escorts etc etc

 

Yes, lived in the USA when I was in my early teens , but my passion for them is due to my late Uncle Fred Cleveland who was in the US Navy. RAF Edzell is 35miles north of where I stay, it was used by the American forces until closing a few years ago. You could say I lived,ate & slept all things American. Having my own piece of America keeps me sane....I think !

Hey PHILOLDSMOBILE, where did you get that NICE steering wheel ? And do you need an adaptor ?