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History / OriginalityGot a question about 1982-1992 Camaro or Firebird history? Have a question about original parts, options, RPO codes, when something was available, or how to document your car? Those questions, answers, and much more!
I didn't get the chicken either........I was too broke when I got to that option!
LOL! I just couldnt justify the cost. I did go for the UT4 stereo and the subs.. it was amazing back then. my altima can blow its stereo out of the water. I upgraded the speakers on my GTA to more modern ones but still moderate improvement. cant go very loud and not much base at all but no subs in the GTA sigh..i hear I should be glad since the subs are not replaceable.
From: Doghouse ······································ Car: 1989 Formula 350 Vert Engine: 350 L98 Transmission: 700R4 Axle/Gears: B&W 3.27
Car: 87 Formula T-Top, 87 Formula HT
Engine: 5.1L TPI, 5.0L TPI
Transmission: 700R4, M5
Axle/Gears: Sag 3.73, B&W 3.45
Re: Flashback to When they were Fresh
The last year for DX1 was 1987.. So technically you might have been able to get the DX1 with a 350, which would be a rare combo... To my recollection, I do not recall ever seeing an 87 with the DX1... Even more cool would be a DX1, LB9, MM5, (or L98) WS6, U52, Y83, With the performance axle...
The last year for DX1 was 1987.. So technically you might have been able to get the DX1 with a 350, which would be a rare combo... To my recollection, I do not recall ever seeing an 87 with the DX1... Even more cool would be a DX1, LB9, MM5, (or L98) WS6, U52, Y83, With the performance axle...
They don't get much "fresher" than this. I haven't even driven it yet! This is the day I picked it up from the dealer in June, 1989. I waited forever for it. The EPA put a hold on it at Van Nuys, until the N10s could get final emissions certification.
Note the front plate bracket. I left EXPLICIT instructions to NOT DRILL the grill filler for it. I had the dealer order a new one, minutes before this photo. I was already a problem customer.
That's my wife's (GF at the time), '89 Probe behind me. It replaced her '84 Firebird after it was stolen and totaled in a police chase.
We need to find Doc Brown, Marty McFly, and that damn Delorean!
What is the 1st rule of time travel club.....You don't talk about time travel club!
Originally Posted by okfoz
If I could save time in a bottle...
The first thing that I would like to do...
Is go back in time and order my car the way...
that I wannnnted to...
This is a recurring fantasy of mine although I'm not sure I would have done much different with my car, except add the rear defroster the salesman thought came stock!
This is a recurring fantasy of mine although I'm not sure I would have done much different with my car, except add the rear defroster the salesman thought came stock!
I was already into old cars and were aware of things that people wish they had ordered but in 85 there was nothing super special except the rear wing and the UT4 stereo/subs... now if it was 89 and my dad would let me get whatever engine I wanted.. 5.7 and t-top GTA
From: Doghouse ······································ Car: 1989 Formula 350 Vert Engine: 350 L98 Transmission: 700R4 Axle/Gears: B&W 3.27
Car: 87 Formula T-Top, 87 Formula HT
Engine: 5.1L TPI, 5.0L TPI
Transmission: 700R4, M5
Axle/Gears: Sag 3.73, B&W 3.45
Re: Flashback to When they were Fresh
Originally Posted by chazman
They don't get much "fresher" than this. I haven't even driven it yet! This is the day I picked it up from the dealer in June, 1989. I waited forever for it. The EPA put a hold on it at Van Nuys, until the N10s could get final emissions certification.
Note the front plate bracket. I left EXPLICIT instructions to NOT DRILL the grill filler for it. I had the dealer order a new one, minutes before this photo. I was already a problem customer.
That's my wife's (GF at the time), '89 Probe behind me. It replaced her '84 Firebird after it was stolen and totaled in a police chase.
Well Chazman, you just CROSSED THE LINE with that picture!!!
Mine was not an ordered car, but was in dealer stock. I had been "brochure" shopping, and had all the order information on all the options. Could not decide between Arctic White or Teal, but pretty much had in my head what I wanted.
When I found mine on the dealer lot, it really was pretty much what I would have ordered anyway. White RS, PEG 1, plus L03, $515 credit for a 5-speed, 16" wheels/tires, and a rear window defogger. Good looks, fun to drive, darned few frills.
You know, I bought a CarFax subscription back when I purchased my T/A. I should have run my Camaros VIN at that time to see what I could see.
Love these threads. Some pics of old pics, not really fresh as the car was 9 years old by this point (first year I had it), but that was almost 16 years ago now so a lot fresher than today.
Very first day I had it - needed a good cleaning:
Front plate, blackwall tires, mudflaps and all. Terrible stock stance too:
Haven't been on here in a bit since I sold the VHO.
I found the below pic that I thought I'd share. It was taken in May of 1986 just prior to my buddy Kevin's graduation.
My car is the Black 86 IROC-Z, 305TPI, maybe 6 months old, with rear window louvers LOL.
My buddy's car is the Burgundy 85 Trans Am with carb 305, a little over a year old. He still has this car today although it needs further restoration.
Anyway, hope you enjoy a blast from the past and a picture of how they looked then.
I really do miss seeing thirdgen's on the road anymore like they use too I remember when the ruled the road seems like yesterday.
Last edited by 87350gtanj; Apr 7, 2015 at 12:42 PM.
I never lost to a Mustang either. In fact, it wasn't even close. The look on their faces when a "17 second" Camaro blew their doors off was priceless.
I ran against a 5.0 on a straight country rd ... I was flooring it and he was behind me as thats how it started and then I hear him peeling out...at 90 and fly by me like I was standing still... never seen a car that quick....had to be running NOs and more.. I could beat a GN at top end though and that was satisfying.. out drove a few vettes and one 911.
Last edited by IMissMy86TA; Apr 8, 2015 at 07:53 AM.
Motor trend said the GN's topped out at 125 but my experience places it closer to 115 as I would race one particular 87 GN almost every evening back in the day on the MA Turnpike. He'd get out in front of me leaving the tolls but in less than a mile I'd be catching up to him & walking past - as fast as I dared to that is.
So just how fast was the 1987 Grand National? It consistently obtained 14 second 1/4 mile times in auto magazine tests back in the day, beating its competition with ease. Motor Trend magazine (August 1987 issue), did speed and performance tests of the seven fastest new American cars. The test included the 1987 Chevrolet Corvette, 1987 Ford Mustang GT, 1987 Chevrolet Camaro Iroc-Z, 1987 Pontiac Trans Am GTA, 1987 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe, 1987 Dodge Daytona Z, and 1987 Buick Grand National. The end result was the GN beat its 6 rivals with ease in the acceleration tests. The GN went 0-60 mph in 6.07 seconds and completed the 1/4 mile in 14.73 seconds @ 95.1 mph. The closest competitor to the GN was the Mustang GT (0-60 mph in 6.54 seconds and the 1/4 mile in 15.13 seconds @ 94.1 mph). The braking (60-0 mph in 149 ft) and the skidpad (0.79 g) numbers in the Motor Trend test for the GN were pretty good, but not enough to beat its competition. Part of the problem was the GN's P215/65VR15 tires were the narrowest in the seven car test. And the rear drum brakes were no match for the five cars in the test that had rear disc brakes. Where the GN fell far behind its competitors was with its dismal 122.72 mph top speed Motor Trend obtained. Motor Trend asked the question - "how can the strongest-engined best-in-acceleration vehicle be the slowest top-speed car?" Motor Trend figured since the 1987 GN had new VR speed rated tires, the speed-limiting chip from the 1986 GN should no longer be needed. Motor Trend after a little research discovered - "the [Buick] engineers were concerned with front-end lift at high speeds, and determined that 125 mph was a good limit to maintain the stability they felt necessary, so the chip stayed for this year." The GN was using a 10 year old Regal body style which had been only slightly updated since its 1978 model year debut, so the problem with front end lift at speeds over 125 mph was no surprise. Motor Trend mentioned - "the Grand National has the power to go faster-how much faster is a question we can't answer unless we find someone who'll give us a trick prom for the computer." Motor Trend did get their chance to test the top speed of the LC2 with no speed-limiting chip, but it was not in a GN but rather the 1989 20th Anniversary Trans Am. The end result was a top speed well over 160 mph.
All that being said - I was driving a 14.XX second car too.
bore x stroke: 3.800 in. x 3.400 in.
valves: 1.710 in. intake, 1.490 in. exhaust
crankshaft: nodular iron with 4 cross-drilled
main bearings and 6 counterweights
rods: cast Armasteel, 151mm long
pistons: special design, 8.0:1 cr,
46.4mm compression height
maximum boost: 16.5 psi
recommended fuel: pump octane of 91 or greater
trans: 200-4R 4 speed automatic with lockup torque converter
Great thread! Here's a picture I unearthed yesterday. It's from May 1992 in the Great salt lake desert - my first car, a 1982 Trans Am. Loved it.
I still believe that no cars that were ever built are more beautiful than third gens!
Great thread! Here's a picture I unearthed yesterday. It's from May 1992 in the Great salt lake desert - my first car, a 1982 Trans Am. Loved it.
I still believe that no cars that were ever built are more beautiful than third gens!
love the rear wiper!!! what happened to the bowling bowl center's?
Great thread! Here's a picture I unearthed yesterday. It's from May 1992 in the Great salt lake desert - my first car, a 1982 Trans Am. Loved it.
I still believe that no cars that were ever built are more beautiful than third gens!
Man it's weird. I'm not as old as some of you guys but I remember back in high school when third gens and G-bodies were so common... you saw them everywhere and could buy them for the same price as a used Ford Tempo! Didn't think they'd ever get... collectible. Or in the 5 digit prices!
I just found this picture - at some point in time they both left me - the car is back, she's not.
I know your car did not leave you, you left it and sold it.. ouch.. how does it feel about you now?
Originally Posted by aaron7
Man it's weird. I'm not as old as some of you guys but I remember back in high school when third gens and G-bodies were so common... you saw them everywhere and could buy them for the same price as a used Ford Tempo! Didn't think they'd ever get... collectible. Or in the 5 digit prices!
Now I'm happy to see one ever :/
yeah but back in the day only the rich kids and only child of families got them at that age. Most in the HS lot were old novas, chevelles, station wagons, pintos etc and other crap like that
I was an only child so I was lucky. I was at a rather large rural HS and I think there were 2-3 mustangs (one SVO baby) and 3 3rd gens.
yeah but back in the day only the rich kids and only child of families got them at that age. Most in the HS lot were old novas, chevelles, station wagons, pintos etc and other crap like that
That wasn't the case here. I started working at 13 and saving so I could have a nice car. I had a good job at 16 and kept that job for a few years. Every chance I had to be at work, I was there. When it came time to buy the car, I didn't have enough so I took out a loan at 10% interest for the remainder. By the time I was 18, I had a credit card, already had two fairly new Camaros and a decent job. So, not only rich kids got these cars back in the day. Some of us worked for them!!! There were a few rich kids in my school that had their parents buy them new IROC-Zs, but I was satisfied with my purchase of a Z28 since that's what I could afford.
performance tests of the seven fastest new American cars. The test included the 1987 Chevrolet Corvette, 1987 Ford Mustang GT, 1987 Chevrolet Camaro Iroc-Z, 1987 Pontiac Trans Am GTA, 1987 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe, 1987 Dodge Daytona Z, and 1987 Buick Grand National. The end result was the GN beat its 6 rivals with ease in the acceleration tests. The GN went 0-60 mph in 6.07 seconds and completed the 1/4 mile in 14.73 seconds @ 95.1 mph. The closest competitor to the GN was the Mustang GT (0-60 mph in 6.54 seconds and the 1/4 mile in 15.13 seconds @ 94.1 mph). The braking (60-0 mph in 149 ft) and the skidpad (0.79 g) numbers in the Motor Trend test for the GN were pretty good, but not enough to beat its competition. Part of the problem was the GN's P215/65VR15 tires were the narrowest in the seven car test. And the rear drum brakes were no match for the five cars in the test that had rear disc brakes. Where the GN fell far behind its competitors was with its dismal 122.72 mph top speed Motor Trend obtained. Motor Trend asked the question - "how can the strongest-engined best-in-acceleration vehicle be the slowest top-speed car?" Motor Trend figured since the 1987 GN had new VR speed rated tires, the speed-limiting chip from the 1986 GN should no longer be needed. Motor Trend after a little research discovered - "the [Buick] engineers were concerned with front-end lift at high speeds, and determined that 125 mph was a good limit to maintain the stability they felt necessary, so the chip stayed for this year." The GN was using a 10 year old Regal body style which had been only slightly updated since its 1978 model year debut, so the problem with front end lift at speeds over 125 mph was no surprise. Motor Trend mentioned - "the Grand National has the power to go faster-how much faster is a question we can't answer unless we find someone who'll give us a trick prom for the computer." Motor Trend did get their chance to test the top speed of the LC2 with no speed-limiting chip, but it was not in a GN but rather the 1989 20th Anniversary Trans Am. The end result was a top speed well over 160 mph.
