*mods, not sure where to post this, not really tech, but from what I though was an interesting topic not really discussed!

Ever since I began to find interest in cars, I was around V8's and GM car, as it was what my family enjoyed and it was what grew on me. When it became time to get a car for myself, I remembered all those times standing on my tiptoes to catch a glimpse of the 396 bbc that sat between the fenders of my dad's 70 el camino ss, hearing the loud lopey sound of the exhaust roar to life, the frame of it twisting with the revs of the cylinders. Feeling myself pushed back into my cushions of my brother's 89 gta, a modified 355 that shook the dash and gave your back a smooth vibration through the seats sitting at the stoplight during a summer night's cruise, getting thumbs up and waves from other pontiac owners. Standing near the burnout box at the raceway feeling my insides shaking with the deep tone of the muscle car's exhuast as it warmed up its tires for a quick run down the 1/4. Remembering these times, and all the fun and curiousity that led me to circling an ad for an 85 Camaro Z28 one night, a summit performance catalog strung across the top of the newspaper. Not long after, the 85 Camaro that was once only an ad in a newspaper was sitting in my driveway, unasure of it's future, being boggled around in ownerships like a dog being picked up from a pound. As I took my first drive around town in my new car, I couldn't help but keep a smile on my face, knowing I had my own piece of american history, though a small one at that, but it was still something. I finally had my own V8 sitting in my favorite car, nothing could be better. Though no matter how nice is may be to ingore the reality of these times, there was no hiding the truth of the condition of my car. It was labeled. Labeled as a slow, polluting, outdated, old ratted out piece of forgotten history. I had soon come to realize how hard my thirdgen had it. Facing every new day with the knowledge that it had been abused, driven hard, dented, forgotten, unwanted, and now alone in this world so hell bent on technology, it was obsolete. Looked down upon by the fast and furious newer mustangs among others, the smogger v8 lay silent under the hood with a plethera of smog parts, a restrictive intake, and a wide variety of worn out parts, waiting for a chance to show it's decency to still provide adequate transportation. Driving on a deserted road on a friday night, the Z28 cruised between the lines of the single lane road, searching ever more forward for it's destiny in the dark, lit only by the incandescent bulbs that were slightly dimmed after time. Even though the speedo read a little off, and the tach had a few sticky spots, the thirdgen was still on the road, doing what it could, trying to be a good car, and trying to prove it's existence in this world. Pushing on past a few dips in the road, the 20 year old plastic panels and pieces held in place, remained where they resided just as if it was still on the showroom floor in 1985. The truth of the matter was, the Z28 was still very much alive in this world, and was on it's way to better days. Finding my thirdgen gave me a goal to restore and improve what was once a car being displayed in a showroom, the shiny paint reflecting off the onlookers figure in a consice matter. I wanted to make my car what it always wanted to be, not just another rolling chassis sitting stagnant in a backyard gathering rust, but a respectable and more than adequate street car that had something to back up the Camaro Z28 name, and that's all that it needed. Let there be thousands of identical mustangs lined up across the horizon with bbk throttle bodies, bbk headers, flowmaster exhausts, and GT emblems, that's just one more reason to love my thirdgen, the car with so much potential, yet such an unfortunate past.

-Cali Z

How do you feel about your thirdgen, and what it means to you?

 

dam* you did alot of typing!

 

If you ever seen the movie christine...........thats how I feel about my car

 

I really enjoy my Formula, I think its as sexy as a Ferrari, even though a new V6 Rustang will keep pace with it in the 1/4. Where there is speed in the new cars the styling will never compete. As far as being out dated, thats the joy of owning an older car. In a few more years it will start going up in value...

John

 

John, I agree

To me styling and ergonomics are pretty much the most IMPORTANT aspect of a car, if it's underpinnings provide the safety, comfort, performance, then those are the right ingredients to compliment a perfect package. That being said, the 3rd gens are performance at an affordable price that rightly echo the muscle car creedo while instilling the technology needed for a modern car. This is what I liked about 80s cars, though rounded cars like the Taurus stole alot of thunder in the 80s, the sharplines remained in alot of GM cars.

You need a balance of these lines in the right places. The cars are not short on fun and performance either, at least at the time. With all of these makes, aftermarket companies are the best thing to have ever happened to the car industry as they [makers] were unable to revamp old packages, people with means and the heart stepped up.

I, myself, love switching to my Cadillac for a whole different feel in driving, I appreciate just as much, the contrast. I also loved my 84 Eldo and 82 Cutlass Broughams that I started with. All great 1980s cars. I'm sure I'd love a 60s Charger too though, If I had the cash.

I've always wanted a luxury or performance car, and it's sure fun to have both I tell ya

Bill

 

that was truely awesome...

that said... the first time i laid eyes on my 87' was around 1991, it was in my uncles garage, covered with a car cover, yearning for the road. the years rolled by to 1994, when my dad sold his 83' sport coupe for my uncles 87' sport coupe, this one came with many more options, t tops, power windows, locks and the LG4. i remeber when he got it with a scant 22,000 on it. it was then daily transportation, but still had a garage, however erie winters haven't been the easiest on it, then the begining of the end started to come, a 1994 eldorado stole its place as daily driver material and it's garage spot, it was kicked to the street, but still driven often, my father and i conneced abit more in the past year over this sport coupe, fixing small things and cleaning it up nice, then the final death blow was its total replacement... a 1991 RS. i had mentioned that i would love this car, and right before christmas i got a postcard with a picture of the camaro from a better time, and a small note saying she was mine now.. i was floored. now she is my daily transportation. i put it on the lift at the shop and was saddened how this car i saw practically brand new had deteriorated. and its 155,xxx is catching up to her. however whenever the car looks daunting and i get discusted i will take a drive, and i will forget all her problems, and just realise what a wonderful car it still is, and eager to please me. sure the LG4 isan't a powerhouse.. sure newer mustangs could take it any day of the week, but that dosen't matter to me, its still great transportation, and her day is fast approaching that i can give it the attention it much deserves and make better then when i first laid eyes on it back in 1990...

 

Sorry guys, this isn't tech related. Most of love our cars, but this isn't the forum to discuss it.