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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!
My favorites are the '87 IROC-Zs. I like that the '87s have the new updates V8s with center bolt valve covers and roller rockers. I like that the third brake light was moved to the spoiler from the the hatch glass. The 16" rim design that came with the '85-'87 IROCs are the most iconic in my opinion. I am a fan of it still being a Z28 with the IROC-Z decal located to the front of the doors opposed to the rear of the doors when they discontinued the Z28 in later years. These are the main differences I can think of that make the 87's IROCs my favorite.
If were just talking 3rd gen, I like them all. My favorite would be 87 because of the same reasons you mentioned above & I guess I am partial because I have owned a few 87's. I think that happens to all of us...... But I do really like the 88's about the same. Didn't care much for the 89 having so many with 15" wheels. I was not a huge fan of the instrumentation change & air bag added in 1990, But that doesn't really bother me today.
A loaded 1985 with an HO & a 5 speed, might surpass my ranking of the 87 though.
69 would be my overall favorite.
88/89 woulda be my second. -Wheels, minus the 90 dash and steering wheel.
Split bumper second gens would be a close third.
Originally I only meant thirdgens but I like the conversation of including all generations. I will admit that I am a thirdgen snob. I have always felt that the IROCs (exterior as the interiors are very dated) have stood the test of time better than most other cars out there. What I mean by that is that they still fit in with the new cars on the road. They have a modern enough look and don't look like "classics" yet. Obviously 1st and 2nd gen Camaros stood the test of time as classics.
I have always been amazed with the stark night and day difference between the base model and IROC-Z's extra trim level on the Camaro. In highschool we always called the old beat up ground effect lacking non Z28s Skagmaros. Not sure where the name came from.
Originally I only meant thirdgens but I like the conversation of including all generations. I will admit that I am a thirdgen snob. I have always felt that the IROCs (exterior as the interiors are very dated) have stood the test of time better than most other cars out there. What I mean by that is that they still fit in with the new cars on the road. They have a modern enough look and don't look like "classics" yet. Obviously 1st and 2nd gen Camaros stood the test of time as classics.
I have always been amazed with the stark night and day difference between the base model and IROC-Z's extra trim level on the Camaro. In highschool we always called the old beat up ground effect lacking non Z28s Skagmaros. Not sure where the name came from.
Third gen Firebirds and Camaros are my favorite cars, and maybe neither of us look at them with an unbiased eye. But I totally agree that they don't look like classics. The design has aged really well and they still look like they belong with newer cars. I like the 1st and 2nd gens, but to me, they do look like old cars, but not the 3rd gens.
With me, maybe it's a function of age. I was 18 when the 3rd gens came out and they really made an impression on me. My brother-in-law's '82 Trans Am was the first fun car that I ever drove; prior to that it was all just my Dad's second cars, low-end Chevys and Pontiacs. Even back then the older Camaros and Firebirds were starting to look old to me. They weren't, but the 3rd gens really struck me as a breakthrough in design and modernization of the f-bodies.
Maybe teenagers now look at 3rd gens as old cars, like I would have looked at a 30-year old car when I was 18 in 1981.
My favorite Camaro would be a '92 Z-28 (except for the ugly airbag steering wheel). I liked the bigger spoiler (which is actually a bit out of character for me) and the 245 HP from the 5.7. A Z-28 convertible would be even better.
Third gen Firebirds and Camaros are my favorite cars, and maybe neither of us look at them with an unbiased eye. But I totally agree that they don't look like classics. The design has aged really well and they still look like they belong with newer cars. I like the 1st and 2nd gens, but to me, they do look like old cars, but not the 3rd gens.
With me, maybe it's a function of age. I was 18 when the 3rd gens came out and they really made an impression on me. My brother-in-law's '82 Trans Am was the first fun car that I ever drove; prior to that it was all just my Dad's second cars, low-end Chevys and Pontiacs. Even back then the older Camaros and Firebirds were starting to look old to me. They weren't, but the 3rd gens really struck me as a breakthrough in design and modernization of the f-bodies.
Maybe teenagers now look at 3rd gens as old cars, like I would have looked at a 30-year old car when I was 18 in 1981.
I think most would at least agree that the Mustangs of that time look very dated now. I remember thinking that they even looked dated back in the mid 90's.
I think most would at least agree that the Mustangs of that time look very dated now. I remember thinking that they even looked dated back in the mid 90's.
I never thought much of the Fox body Mustangs. Especially the early ones, which to me still carried a fair amount of the Ford Fairmont look. After that, they looked like something a teenage kid would have done to an Escort rather than a Civic. Not saying that they weren't fast or fun cars, but I never thought they were worth looking at.
There haven't been a lot of Mustangs that I've liked. And the ones that I do, like the early '70s fastbacks, don't seem to be favorites of a lot of the Mustang community.
I could write a small novel, but the short version is that Camaros really never were a favorite. I was interested in older classic cars, and was firmly sold on the 5.0 Mustang being the better late model (peer exposure). Ended up in a Camaro because they were as common as rotting fruit under a fruit tree. Even then it was mostly a matter of taking what I could get. Always felt the Trans Am and GTA were much more impressive cars. Ended up in an 87 Iroc because I wanted the bigger engine, and it was cheap. Went from that to my 91 Formula because the Formula was actually as fun to drive as I expected the 87 5.7L to be. Still not really all that into Camaros.
There's an 87 Iroc in the garage, and a really nice 91 RS convertible, but truthfully, I'd take a big block Chevelle SS over either or both of them. Would sooner drive a Firebird than a Camaro, with the slightest exception for 82-84 Camaro Sport Coupes. Irocs are cool, whatever, but they're overblown and extra extra cheesy. While I can appreciate a clean Iroc, they're anything but subtle, or refined.
If I had to choose a Camaro, it'd probably be a thirdgen out of nostalgia and familiarity... And it'd probably be an 89-92 because the later years are more refined mechanically. An argument could be made that an 89 was the best MAF TPI, last of the classic thirdgen dash. Or that the 90 was the last Iroc and shortest production year, the only Iroc with the backlit gauges, most refined Iroc. Or that 92 was the Last American Z28 with the best of everything. Not too sure I could pick one out as an ultimate favorite.
I think most would at least agree that the Mustangs of that time look very dated now. I remember thinking that they even looked dated back in the mid 90's.
Even though I'm a GM guy all the way and Thirdgens are my favorites , the Fox body Mustangs were cool in the 90s as well as they are today. Just look at the following they have, Did you see what the Cobra-R went for at Barrett Jackson?
Even though I'm a GM guy all the way, the Fox body Mustangs were cool in the 90s as well as they are today Just look at the following they have, Did you see what the Cobra-R went for at Barrett Jackson?
No doubt they're popular. I don't think popularity necessarily equals good.
I get what you're saying and they certainly have legions of fans. The popularity of Fox Mustangs is just one of those things I don't get. I didn't get it in 1979 and I don't get it today. Back in the '80s when someone told me they bought a sports car and showed up in their Mustang, I was like, "Really? This?" But there's a lot of popular things I don't get. Jimmy Fallon. Stephen Colbert. Kanye West. Star Wars. The list goes on. I'm just a cranky sort-of-old man. And I suppose I was a cranky young teenager.
For me i like the 91 or 92. B4c camaro as being my favorite because of it being a rs with the tpi motor and the rear disc brakes but i am a fan of all thirdgens
I am a fan of it still being a Z28 with the IROC-Z decal located to the front of the doors opposed to the rear of the doors when they discontinued the Z28 in later years.
Just need to clarify one thing here. Chevrolet did not discontinue the Z28 in the later IROC-Z years. They actually discontinued the IROC-Z RPO code. All IROC-Zs from 1985-1990 had the Z28 RPO code designating what it was. From 1988-1990, all Z28s had the IROC-Z appearance package.
With regard to the Fox body, I think both the Fox and (our) thirdgens defined the generation. I was a kid when they came out and got my license towards the end of their run. To this day I love them both. I feel that in premium trim, both look downright awesome. -and I prefer the early four eye! .....I totally understand them not being your thing, but I don't think they're any different than any other muscle/sports/performance car. Ya dig some, you don't like others. All that being said, obviously I favor the Iroc!
I like the 85 because it was the first year.. My 85 Z28 had that weird analog “Camaro” clock in the dash and the TPI 305 actually had some power. It’s sort of nice not having the third brake light too.
The 87 is one of my favorites.. The spoiler brake light, the simpler wheel design. The power was improved over the 86 year and there were a decent amount of G92 5-speeds that were really fun. The convertible made its debut as well.
88-89 I used to think were a little gawdy looking when I had my 87 but now it’s probably my favorite look. I like the IROC Z on the back of the door, the newer stripes, the emblems. I think the wheels look more modern and substantial and really like the silver brushed center caps on the wheels. I also like how they still have the 80s style interior without the “airbag” steering wheel. It seems they got a little better performance-wise throughout the years since 86.
90 I think is really cool that it’s the last year and a low production year for IROCs, but the interior just doesn’t feel like the IROCs I grew up with. I see the 85-89 interior as classic and the 90 interior as dated.. I would probably buy a really nice 1990 if I found one, but most of my searches are 87-89.
The 91-92 Z28s never really did it for me. My friend got one in high school dark red with a 5.7 and gray leather interior.. I thought the wing and the ground effects were cool.. I thought the leather seats were really nice.. I noticed they changed the dark red paint and it was no longer “flame” and more “coral-maroon”.. People still called them “IROCs” and we’d correct them.. It felt like something got taken away from the car.. It looks like an IROC but it’s not.. I also was not a huge fan of the wheels. I felt the IROC wheels were always so popular and strong in design that this was a step back. At least maybe you’d be less likely to get your wheels stolen.. If I found a mint, black 91-92 Z28 5-speed I’d think about it..
My ranking:
1989
1988
1987
1990
1985
1992
1991
1986
Some would flip back and forth depending on options, colors, etc..
I never understood the Fox Mustangs either.. my friends that were into them didn’t care what they looked like though..It was all about track times.. and even if they got beat by a ThirdGen they could brag that they spend $4000 less on their Mustang and only lost by half a car. Cheap and fast!
The interior of the Fox’s was not a sports car interior. The car didn’t look or have the stance of a sports car. I thought the pony rims were cool, but the headlights, taillights, bumpers, side moldings, etc.. horrible.. It was like a brick with rims.
I never heard a Fox that sounded good to me either.. The exhaust always had a variation of a “woooo woooo” sound. It didn’t really growl like a Chevy V8.
I started out unbiased and tried out a Mustang for my first car and when I sat in an 87 Z28 it made the Mustang look pathetic.
I like the 85 because it was the first year.. My 85 Z28 had that weird analog “Camaro” clock in the dash and the TPI 305 actually had some power. It’s sort of nice not having the third brake light too.
The 87 is one of my favorites.. The spoiler brake light, the simpler wheel design. The power was improved over the 86 year and there were a decent amount of G92 5-speeds that were really fun. The convertible made its debut as well.
88-89 I used to think were a little gawdy looking when I had my 87 but now it’s probably my favorite look. I like the IROC Z on the back of the door, the newer stripes, the emblems. I think the wheels look more modern and substantial and really like the silver brushed center caps on the wheels. I also like how they still have the 80s style interior without the “airbag” steering wheel. It seems they got a little better performance-wise throughout the years since 86.
90 I think is really cool that it’s the last year and a low production year for IROCs, but the interior just doesn’t feel like the IROCs I grew up with. I see the 85-89 interior as classic and the 90 interior as dated.. I would probably buy a really nice 1990 if I found one, but most of my searches are 87-89.
The 91-92 Z28s never really did it for me. My friend got one in high school dark red with a 5.7 and gray leather interior.. I thought the wing and the ground effects were cool.. I thought the leather seats were really nice.. I noticed they changed the dark red paint and it was no longer “flame” and more “coral-maroon”.. People still called them “IROCs” and we’d correct them.. It felt like something got taken away from the car.. It looks like an IROC but it’s not.. I also was not a huge fan of the wheels. I felt the IROC wheels were always so popular and strong in design that this was a step back. At least maybe you’d be less likely to get your wheels stolen.. If I found a mint, black 91-92 Z28 5-speed I’d think about it..
My ranking:
1989
1988
1987
1990
1985
1992
1991
1986
Some would flip back and forth depending on options, colors, etc..
I’m confused? You like 85 because it was the first year of what??
I’m confused? You like 85 because it was the first year of what??
First year of IROC Z.. sorry for lack of clarity.. I like that it’s the first year of the IROC Z, that the TPI 305 actually had a good power rating, there’s no third brake light and it had weird interior accessories like an analog “Camaro” clock in the console.. You could still get those “Camaro” seats too
The guy that painted my car said IROCs **** him off to this day because he went out and bought the most expensive, loaded 1984 Z28 brand new and he was king of the neighborhood.. Then his neighbor bought a brand new IROC Z in 1985 and everyone went crazy for it. He said it pissed him off he missed the IROC by a year..
First year of IROC Z.. sorry for lack of clarity.. I like that it’s the first year of the IROC Z, that the TPI 305 actually had a good power rating, there’s no third brake light and it had weird interior accessories like an analog “Camaro” clock in the console.. You could still get those “Camaro” seats too
The guy that painted my car said IROCs **** him off to this day because he went out and bought the most expensive, loaded 1984 Z28 brand new and he was king of the neighborhood.. Then his neighbor bought a brand new IROC Z in 1985 and everyone went crazy for it. He said it pissed him off he missed the IROC by a year..
05-08-2019, 11:38 PM
