When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
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!
1988 Formula LB9/MM5 CUSTOM show car. This is definitely an 80's custom, done in the MTV age. Not sure if I love it, but for the right price I would drive the living **** out of it, smiling from ear to ear.
These cars are period pieces and will almost surely disappear from the landscape if they don't get picked up by the right owners. With a different set of rims, I think the car would be perfect - the chrome ones just don't work in my opinion.
That's, ahh... that's a 90's show car all right! Looks like a surfboard I used to have.
All kidding aside, it's not as bad as 98% of the awful **** in Super Chevy back in the 90's. Back when the trend was painting over all the chrome and bolting on a set of wheelie bars.
Someone with crazy taste and a helluva lot of money really loved on this car
Part of me actually likes it. The other part wonders why...
I agree about the wheels. Im not a fan, but I bet they looked badass in 1988
That's, ahh... that's a 90's show car all right! Looks like a surfboard I used to have.
All kidding aside, it's not as bad as 98% of the awful **** in Super Chevy back in the 90's. Back when the trend was painting over all the chrome and bolting on a set of wheelie bars.
The Wheels look like FWD wheels with spacers, or 4th gen wheels with spacers... They do not look like they were from the 80's. Remember back in the late 80's and early 90's aftermarket 16" wheels were really expensive.
I do agree, the Chrome wheels are just too much, they are so much that it is almost all you look at. I would think a Silver painted rim, or something that does not stand out so much would look good. Although the car is flashy enough it might pull it off in person.
Your right. 16" were expensive and almost unheard of until the vettes started sporting them, followed by the 85 Iroc. Plus the design just doesn't fit 80's or even early 90's rims. I cant say that I don't like chrome wheels, but for some reason the f-body cars just dont look well in them IMHO. Unless we are talking about a set of say, 15"chrome Vette ralley wheels....but I think those just look great on any muscle car. This car wouldnt benefit from even those as the paint on this car is screaming for a set of some aluminum somethings....maybe some polished aluminum ronal firehawks
I have to wonder what was going on in the mind of the guy who painted it. I'm having flurrying visions of some 19 year old kid sitting at the lake with a buddy passing a doobie "Dude, let's paint it orange and purple and green, and put a big checkered flag on it maaan" "eeere pass that man"
Then again, the car COULD be straight outta Compton and just missing its Donk wheels
I don't care for the exterior, but I will acknowledge that they did a good job and keeping the theme throughout the whole car.
The one part that I actually really did like was the part of the dash on the passenger's side. I wonder if that is interior paint or exactly how they did that. Either way, I think it looks really nice and balances out the interior nicely. The bezel around the gauges, however, looks horrendous.
Thru 1988 Firebirds had an option for a painted dash. The GTA and Trans Am I believe were all Black, but the S/E, Formula, and Base Firebird could have a dash the same color as the seats. The Gray is SEM Presideo {sp?} I am not sure what the SEM color is for the dash itself. I want to think it was part of the "Custom" Interior... The Deluxe interior was Black, as it was only available on the GTA and Trans Am. The Base Interior I think was just black as well...
I kind of like the painted dash, and I kind of don't.
As for the orange in the pics, that was custom. It may actually be dipped.
Tho the theme doesn't do much for me I really like how the door jams, door panels, and headrests continue the theme. Door jams are usually so boring...
Tho the theme doesn't do much for me I really like how the door jams, door panels, and headrests continue the theme. Door jams are usually so boring...
I agree. Don't really care for the theme, but they did strike a good balance on bringing the theme to the interior. Not my taste, but I respect the attention to detail they demonstrated. I bet it was hard for them to finally let it go after all that effort.
...the S/E, Formula, and Base Firebird could have a dash the same color as the seats. The Gray is SEM Presideo {sp?} I am not sure what the SEM color is for the dash itself. I want to think it was part of the "Custom" Interior...
Really? I have never seen any different colors like that. I remember seeing an '82-84 in a JY that had a red interior and I think it had matching trim. But I don't think I've ever seen a tan dash or kick panels like that. Nor have I ever seen a tan map pocket either. Would you happen to have any further information or pictures of similar cars? I am very intrigued.
This is from the 1988 Pontiac book. As John states, Trans Am and GTA (for this period) was Black but the base Firebird/Formula could come in a few different colors noted
Interesting. How is it that I have never seen a tan dash or dash map pocket like that? Was it just an uncommon option? Every dash I have ever seen for our cars has always been the same color. I think it looks pretty cool with the tan dash matching the interior. Just did a quick ebay search and there are a few parts listed in that color. Learn something new every day.
That's the kind of stuff that got me into the car scene in the late 80's-early 90's. That thing is screaming for a set of period correct 16" Centerline or Boyds billet wheels. We have a period correct 90's mini-truck and it took me a while to find the right wheels.
That's the kind of stuff that got me into the car scene in the late 80's-early 90's. That thing is screaming for a set of period correct 16" Centerline or Boyds billet wheels. We have a period correct 90's mini-truck and it took me a while to find the right wheels.
Agreed - the right set of wheels would really change the look of this car!
That's the kind of stuff that got me into the car scene in the late 80's-early 90's. That thing is screaming for a set of period correct 16" Centerline or Boyds billet wheels. We have a period correct 90's mini-truck and it took me a while to find the right wheels.
Speaking of period correct 90's truck... and Boyd's wheels... I know it's not a thirdgen but seems appropriate to post here
I am still amazed that I had never seen or heard of a different color dash after all these years. After looking around on the internet, I have found a map pockets and a couple kick panels. However I still have not seen any photos of the dash itself in any other color than the black we all have. The part I am talking about is circled in the photo below. Does anybody else have a dash that color?
I am still amazed that I had never seen or heard of a different color dash after all these years. After looking around on the internet, I have found a map pockets and a couple kick panels. However I still have not seen any photos of the dash itself in any other color than the black we all have. The part I am talking about is circled in the photo below. Does anybody else have a dash that color?
Can't resist........here's a pic of our show truck. Originally built in '94 by a buddy of mine. It was getting pretty shabby when we bought it then gave it the revamping it deserved.
They were really common. You likely didn't notice before because most of us aren't interested in V6 and base 305 powered Firebirds. I don't mean to imply that's the only place you'll see the color matched dashes, but that's where a lot of them ended up.
Now that you know they're out there, I promise you that you'll start to notice them everywhere now.
They were really common. You likely didn't notice before because most of us aren't interested in V6 and base 305 powered Firebirds. I don't mean to imply that's the only place you'll see the color matched dashes, but that's where a lot of them ended up.
Now that you know they're out there, I promise you that you'll start to notice them everywhere now.
I have seen them in Formula birds. The light grey colored dash was common in the Formulas.
04-05-2016, 07:32 AM
