As we all know, the 3rd Gen Firebird line it can easily be broken down into sub generations, Although similar from 1982 thru 1992, there are obvious differences as the cars came of age.

For example, The Firebird can easily be broken down this way by its cosmetics:
Gen 3.0 - 1982 thru 1984
Gen 3.1 - 1985 thru 1990
Gen 3.2 - 1991 & 1992

I am attempting to figure out what is the favorite sub generation within the 3rd Generation model years by us owners. I am looking at STYLING ONLY, and am not interested in performance specifications, if you can seperate that from wether you like a car or not that would help.

Obviously everyone will have a different perspective, and reasons to why they prefer one over the other, I am really not interested in a discussion, and actually I would prefer to keep your opinions to yourself if there not kind words... If it gets out of control, then I will delete the thread and the information useless.

See this thread for the Camaro: https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...hreadid=343632

 

82- 84

 

85-90

 

91-92

 

I love all of them. Its a tough choice. But i like the 85-90 Birds. I love that style. I would love a 88 GTA with a digi dash. So 80s. drools.

 

Although I absolutely love all three styles of the third gen, I am partial to the '82-'84 cars. Something about them being older, having hints of the second gen, and just being more obscure that I love.

 

I liked them all of course

I voted for 85-90.. That's when the cars started getting more power.. I didn't like the interiors of the early third gens as much..

For the 91-92 years, I really like the styling of the Camaro.. (Including the spoiler they added).. But.. I wasn't that fond of the new styling of the Firebirds..

 

I like them all as well.but the 85 -90 ones look mean and hardcore

 

I love the style and power of the car I have, however, I am really leaning towards a '91-'92 Trans Am/GTA for my next car.

George

 

I love all three, but 1985-1990 gets my vote. Clean, classic design from GM.

 

A friend of mine had an '87 Formula 500. Silver 5.7L. The thing that caught my eye the most was the hood with the eletrical light show facing the driver from the hood hump. Anyone else seen that?

 

91-92 Overall

85-90 T/A nose just looks bad IMO

Like all the non gfx versions 82-92

 

Formula 350 Possibly, and there was no hood scoop lights on the 87-92 Formula, the lights you are thinking of were originally on the late 2nd Gen Turbo cars tho...

John

 

my first love has got to be the 82-84 style. My second love is 91-92.

 

I have a Camaro, but I dig the 85-90 look.

 

85-90 for sure. My absolute dream thirdgen is an 87-89 Formula 350, black on black.

 

Thats the one nose I dont like.The one with the bumperette thingys

 

'85-'90 I voted for. One day I would really like to own a low mileage '85-'87 WS6 T/A with those beautiful 16'' wheels!

 

As far as styling goes...If the car has ground effects, i'd want a 85-90, if it doesn't have ground effects i'd want a 91-92 formula. The 85-90 t/a is my favorite trans am. The 91-92 formula is my favorite formula.

82-84. 82-83 has a different front bumper than an 84. Don't like it that they didn't have foglights. The taillights for these years are more retro. They have the power bulge hood which is also seen on the 87-92 formulas.

The 85-90 trans am grid taillights rock, but 87-92 formula taillights with blackouts might look even better, dont know for sure yet at nite though. The 85-90 trans am has sweet side fender vents but 82-84 has similar vents also. The 85-90 trans am has the only front bumper that has foglights in the ground effects. I dislike where they put the third brake light on most of the 86's. In my opinion, best ground effects package these years.

The 91-92 trans am gta has probably the best stock spoiler. The 91-92 formula front bumper is sweet, as is the formula rear bumper. A lot of people like the 2 piece 91-92 trans am taillights, i dont because it lacks the firebird symbol/emblem.

 

Looks wise, my favorites are:

1st 82-83 T/A
2nd 91-92 Formula
3rd 87-90 Formula

I guess I'm a sucker for the power bulge.

The 82-83 takes it though because the bumpers line up better with the sheetmetal than the rounder bumbers they put on the newer models.

 

82-84 for me. I like the no GFX look, makes it more clean looking. They also have more design cues from the previous models, but in an "updated" sort of way. The classics of the third gens

 

i likecertain models of each gen.
the 82-83 T/As with their mini ferrings, being they arent ground F/X an not quite F/X-less to say it really make a statement.
the beefy wheels on the formula make it for me and i totally like the look if the 91-92 formulas

 

I like the 85-90 style, they look aggressive, but second fav would be the 91-92 but i dont like them all that much because i dont really like the front bumper with the huge slots in em... i like my parking light location better that those too, and i also like the "moustache" that is acutally the black bumper guards found on the 85-90 cars

 

Its very interesting, to hear your opinions, and that most people prefer the 85-90 styling...

Personally I thought the 91-92 would have been preferred because that was the most updated...

Keep it coming, THanks for keeping it cleen.

John

 

I agree. I think we've talked about this in depth a little too.

Banshee noses rock.

 

89

 

92

 

82-84

 

1987 first year for a 350 in a bird. i like 85-90

 

I went 91-92 again.

It to me is still the first hardcore swoopy aero car that looked good. Before the days of everything is aero blob lol

Again early experiences with g92 dropt top cars killed me here, I'm still drooling over the birdie convertie.

I've even debated making the TTA into the 91-92 style, just to do something different yet factory.

And again, I love the look of any TA/GTA with ground effects of all years.

later
Jeremy

 

This was hard for me to pick...

I'm torn between 82-84 and 85-90

I think 82-84 would be higher up in the ranks if the birds from that era were still running. Majority have bit the dust long ago.

But the hood of the GTAs, looks so agressive...

I have never cared about the 91/92 nose.

Between the two, it's like choosing favourite children. I voted 82-84

 

same here. i voted 85-90

 

85-90 definatly, though I may be a little biased . Though for the Camaro I like the 91-92 the best, just a little better than the 85-90.

I never really liked the 82-84s, they didn't look complete or something. Also, I hated the black bits on the front bumper.

Something about the 85-90 just look "cleaner" esp the GTAs, plus they had the really cool gold lace wheels

While the nose of the 91-92 definatly provides a link to the LT1 cars, it never really fit right to me. And they had to deal with having airbags, my steering wheel radio controls are too cool to give up for some air bag!!

 

To tell the truth, I have been into 3rd gen F bodies since I was a kid. Just something about them fascinated me. Yet, all the times I saw them, I had never seen a 91-92 "banshee" Firebird until a couple months ago when I bought mine. So it may just be that It's a new twist on an old favorite (well, at least to me it is) or that it somehow took the new Aerodynamic look which proved popular in the 90's and somehow made it work with a car that was tried and true 80's muscle.......... but It gets my vote. Anyway that's my .02 for the day.