you're definitely on to something here. definitely some truth there. for example, i entered my 89 Formula 350 and my 89 5.0 Mustang into a car show the other day. not saying that i should have won (dont care), just making an somewhat bitter observation - here is the car that won in my "class:"



a 2008 Mustang Cobra Super Snake - a totally frikin awesome car. i love it. i dont know if my 23 year old 3rd Gen & Fox Body should be judged in the same class as a 4 year old quazi-semi-exotic. i could be wrong.

There are various "award classes" and then there are awards by decade like 1940-49, 1950-59, 1960-69, 1970-79, and then 1980 to PRESENT. that kinda sucks.

and it really is the "Greybeards" who run, facilitate, and judge these shows. just goes to show that in their minds there are cars from the [...the 60's], the 70's (alot of the late seventies stuff gets in by virtue of being part of the same decade as the early seventies), so yeah, you got the 70's, and then "all the crap since..."

mine was the only third gen, and one of three firebirds. there were about four other Fox Mustangs. here are my 89's at the car show:

 

[quote=sofakingdom;5264359]

this is right on the money.

in my mind (or in my perfect world), third gens, foxes, fourth gens, SN's, ect, have their place right alongside muscle cars of the 60's and 70's - direct descendants, just a more modern, usually sleeker, better handling alternative. not superior nor inferior. i've seen 3rds, 4ths, classics, and everything in between that make my dick hard, and there are classics, 4ths, and 3rds even on this forum that do absolutely nothing for me.

 

the answer is simple

when I was growing up in the 70s and 80s you could get A superbird or a z28 or a gto pretty cheap. you would see them all over. jacked up and rattle caned with cheap mags. they were loved in th same way as ours. there were perfect versions at car shows. they were nice but affordable. then in the 90s when the guys who grew up in the 60s started to get cash they went up a bit. when the 2000s started they were retiring. then they had money and time. prices went crazy. 2nd gens have started to go up this decade as those 70s kids want their smoky and bandit cars. they are more expensive now and will continue to climb. now we are at the same phase where guys who have some money are picking up third gens for the price of a nice used car. and we are holding on to them. in 10 to 20 they will be like the 2nd gens are now and going to be. after those who were kids in the 80s are empty nesters they will be ready to buy and even fix up those that are ragged out and bring them back to stock as prices climb. you have more ss/rs 69s running around than produced. we have seen knock off irocs and gta s already. it will come. just be patient. my son will get mine when I kick off. and I think he will be quite a happy man then with something special not many people have. a low mileage 3rd gen

 

I'm not Puma but this post caught my attention...Is it a bad thing to drive your thirdgen? Shouldn't daily drive? What?!

I bought my 1991 B4C LB9 T5 in October of 2010. It had 12k miles and smelled new inside. It still smells new inside today and looks the same on the outside, but it now has 19k miles. I bought my car to enjoy and drive; I wasn't able to buy one new in the 80's/90's, so getting a survivor and driving it is the closest I can come to that short of time travel. It doesn't see the rain if I can help it, but it does see the open road. To me, old cars are most enjoyable when they are maintained, preserved, and driven!

 

This must have been at a ford dealership. I entered my 92 at a Chevy dealership, and a modern 5th gen camaro got 1st place over some very prestine muscle cars. hmmmm

 

The local car show i sometimes take my z28 and porsche
to also has had 1980-present catagory since it started
in 1987,hasn't changed in 25yrs-kinda out of date now
another "classic car"show started up admitting cars
25yrs and older,1981 at the time,then switced to '72
earlier the next year.

 

Yea you gotta be careful of those wireless phones pulling up net to you.

Although most thirdgens really should be careful when a vtec pulls up next to them.

 

one day it will be a classic....classic.. Drag Car
with less then 55k on the OD & Paint. on it's 3rd eng now

even my floor mats smell New!
how many of you guys still have the window stickers. seat plastic. and floor mats...lol
(floor mats it came with from GM)

 

I have the original floor mats....

 

Personally I think they are.I dont see many of them on the road anymore and I get compliments on mine all the time.

I think the third gen cars beat the hell out of the fourth gen cars in the looks dept and I think the new Camaros look like Tonka Toys,they are too high off the ground and chunky looking.The car itself is very high and they've simply raised the door up higher to make the side windows appear smaller.Chrysler does the same thing with those ugly wagons.I personally dont care for the whole fake retro look anyway. I think they should leave classics be and create something original.

Its a real testament to the designers that these third Generatation Firebirds and Camaros still look much more sleek and sporty than the cars of today.

I had to laugh when they remade KITT as a mustang...thats the car of the future?! Sorry,no sale.