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.
National F-Body Museum - Why isn't there one? And what would be inside?
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!
National F-Body Museum - Why isn't there one? And what would be inside?
Not sure why, after all these years (over 50 years now), there isn't a National F-Body Museum.
The NCM, or National Corvette Museum opened in 1994, when the Corvette was 41 years old. The concept, or idea for the NCM was hatched 10 years prior, through the vision of folks within the NCRS, or National Corvette Restorer's Society.
Is it because there isn't a National F-Body Restorer's Society?
Anyways, if we had a museum, what would you put inside or be sure was displayed?
Which vehicles, and which artifacts? Which figureheads?
Feel free to keep this specific to 3rd Gen. Curious what everyone would think was important enough, or significant enough to showcase.
Re: National F-Body Museum - Why isn't there one? And what would be inside?
I think it has to do with the fact that the Corvette is GM's baby, its their most iconic car. The F-bodies have a great history too but they just aren't as recognizable to the average joe as a Corvette is.
I feel like for the thirdgens they would have some 1LE's, B4C's, and those weird prototype cars if they even still have them
Re: National F-Body Museum - Why isn't there one? And what would be inside?
Ive been trying to get this off the ground since I had a chapter of the United States Camaro Club. I’ll start the donating off with some Norwood items from the plant. I have larger signs and banners as well as Norwood clothing and items. I would love for this stuff to be on display. Maybe a trailer out back of the Corvette Museum..lol
Re: National F-Body Museum - Why isn't there one? And what would be inside?
As much crap the 3Gen 80's era car gets, they would probably have a display in front of an old run down mobile home with a guy sporting a Mu***t, smoking a joint, and a CD of Def Leppard playing....just sayin!
Re: National F-Body Museum - Why isn't there one? And what would be inside?
Originally Posted by Bob88GTA
As much crap the 3Gen 80's era car gets, they would probably have a display in front of an old run down mobile home with a guy sporting a Mu***t, smoking a joint, and a CD of Def Leppard playing....just sayin!
Def Leppard? I listen to W.A.S.P. in my black t-tops!
Re: National F-Body Museum - Why isn't there one? And what would be inside?
Originally Posted by Big&BadGTA
82 - KNIGHT 2000
1984 Recaro
1985 TA w/ TPI - first year
1987 Formula 350 and/or 5.0/5 spd.
1988 GTA Notchback
1989 ASC GTA Convertible
1992 Firehawk
Display items:
Satin jacket w/ Trans Am down the sleeves
Black Leather Driving Gloves
Moustache comb
High Karate aftershave
+1 on the Knight 2000, gotta have one of those.
I'd also need to see:
1984 Trans Am 15th Anniversary
1982 Trans Am Mecham MSE
1983 Trans Am Black and Gold Mecham MSE
1982 Trans Am Bandit Edition
...a Tojan I guess.
1990 Gunmetal Metallic GTA - hardest car to find in my book!
1982 Firebird all gold iron duke. One was for sale nearby me awhile back, I should have bought it!
Re: National F-Body Museum - Why isn't there one? And what would be inside?
A lot of those cars, the general public would not even have heard or cared about. The collection could only include the notables:
1982 Z28 CFI Pace Car
1982 Knight Rider Trans Am
1983 Z28 HO (maybe)
1983 Daytona 500 Trans Am Pace Car
1984 15th Anniversary Trans Am
1985 IROC-Z
1985 California IROC-Z (maybe)
1987 20th Anniversary Z28 Convertible
1987 GTA (w/paddle mirrors)
1988 GTZ Camaro Concept Car (maybe)
1989 20th Anniversary TTA Pace Car
1991 Firehawk
1992 25th Anniversary Z28 Heritage Edition
And if any can be found, could possibly throw in a Police Car.
Re: National F-Body Museum - Why isn't there one? And what would be inside?
Originally Posted by LAFireboyd
A lot of those cars, the general public would not even have heard or cared about. The collection could only include the notables:
1987 GTA (w/paddle mirrors)
Not sure I agree or understand. Especially if throwing in a GTA with DD9 paddle mirrors counts on your list. It was such a short run (excluding export cars) that I think it goes against your general public knowing about them qualification. If that car is on your list then there's no reason why the GTA Notchback - a failure by Pontiac to set the GTA a part - is any less qualified for the "notables".
Re: National F-Body Museum - Why isn't there one? And what would be inside?
Speaking of 80s music...I went to a cruise-in at a Hooter's and the DJ said he was asked to play a specific song from the 80s since we never hear 80s music at shows. He started the song and asked if anybody knew who the artist was and the name of the song. I won a Hooter's beer coozy when I shouted out, "Britny Fox and Girl's School". The DJ was surprised anyone actually knew that.
Now, I would have to agree with Phil that they would have to have the different engines on display.
Re: National F-Body Museum - Why isn't there one? And what would be inside?
If a person was really going to do it, they should hit the highlights and leave it at that. Examples that show how things were and how they progressed over the years. Historically significant cars.
Some cars could display both design changes and significance, like an 82 Indy Z28 demonstrates the early thirdgen styling, Motor Trend's 1982 car of the year, and a pace car. From there, any 83-84 Z28 would be really redundant. A jump to an 87 Iroc with a 350 would again give several highlights in a single car, first year 350, last year Norwood, Last year early Iroc styling, etc. Likewise an 87 Iroc convertible could mark the return of the convertible for the first time since 1969. A 92 Z28 done up as the prototype Heritage Package would round things out nicely. I don't see any reason to dwell on a great big nothing-burger like 1LE. There's not enough noteworthy about it to be very entertaining. I'd much rather see a R7U or Player's car, an actual race veteran, still in race trim.
On the Firebird side, an 82 T/A would start things off right. A KITT clone might be fun for some people, but I could just as easily see an 82 T/A with bowling ball caps with a poster of sorts showing how it influenced the TV car. An 83 Daytona would show the move to Aero enhancements and developing styling. Pretty much any 85-90 Trans Am would cover the generation. I'm personally tired of TTAs, you see one, you've seen em all. I'd rather see a more attractive Trans Am. Slip a Formula in there, year wouldn't matter much, as long as it's a bit different, maybe a five speed car. A Firehawk.
Probably a few I'm not thinking of. I really can't see going too crazy with aftermarket conversions. MSEs, 1LEs, obscurity, doesn't really mean much. Could cover a ton of that kinda thing in printed materials on display. But that's just my opinion.
Re: National F-Body Museum - Why isn't there one? And what would be inside?
Originally Posted by LAFireboyd
A lot of those cars, the general public would not even have heard or cared about...
This is one of the main reasons I go to a car museum, to see cars I have never heard of or seen before, or maybe never cared about until I saw it in person.
A museum can be as big as you want it. You just have to find enough owners willing to loan their cars out for months at a time.
Re: National F-Body Museum - Why isn't there one? And what would be inside?
Originally Posted by JT
Not sure I agree or understand. Especially if throwing in a GTA with DD9 paddle mirrors counts on your list. It was such a short run (excluding export cars) that I think it goes against your general public knowing about them qualification. If that car is on your list then there's no reason why the GTA Notchback - a failure by Pontiac to set the GTA a part - is any less qualified for the "notables".
The significance of including a GTA wasn't because of the paddle mirrors; it was because the GTA was Pontiac's "IROC," its flagship, and it was introduced in 1987, hence, the inclusion of the 1987 model. It wasn't a one-off, like a TTA or a Firehawk, and for the nearly 50 year existence of the F-Body, it was only offered during the third generation, and then only during the last half of the generation, making the GTA a significant F-Body.
As for the mirrors, I mentioned them simply because that's what the car was originally designed to have. All of the 1987 promotional literature and ads showed and mentioned the paddle mirrors as one of its exclusive features.
But like you said, the mirrors, for whatever reason, didn't catch-on and were only available on the GTA in its introductory model year, 1987. So because they were 1987-exclusive, then if including a 1987 model, it should be one with those mirrors.
The other distinguishable feature that I forget to mention, was its digital dash. While not GTA-exclusive, it was another of the GTA's promotional attributes, like the mirrors.
01-25-2018, 08:11 PM
Maybe the Norwood Camaro giveaway car, too? 
