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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!
In 1999 I was 15 and looking for a Foxbody GT. Mom had a friend with a bodyshop, and I remember going down there once for some reason. The entrance to the shop was around back, and you had to drive close to a quarter mile down a dirt road to pull around back there.
Upon pulling around back, there was a bright red on black '91-'92 RS backed in along the tree line outside the shop. Was in for some chin spoiler touchup but otherwise was perfect, 30k or so miles. It was so much sleeker than a Fox, and had T-tops to boot, which were way cooler than any 5.0 fender callouts on a Fox.
I decided right then and there I wanted a thirdgen. Around that time, I signed up for this site (had to re-register again in 2010, though don't recall why - but I've been here since 1999).
Some weeks later, I picked up yet another Autotrader newsprint from the gas station, and found my car, and I knew it right away.
I picked up the phone and gave the number a call. I asked some questions, and set up a time to meet. My mom and I went down to meet, and a few minutes later, the seller pulled in and I saw it for the first time. We drove it, it drove nice, and the seller was nice and seemed honest. Original owner. My mom and I went back to our car to talk about it for a minute, and I put up all the money I had from lawnmowing to put towards it ($300); mom covered the rest. We paid what they asked because it was so nice. My first car.
I had my permit that year, so didn't drive much but was learning a lot about cars from a family friend/mentor who helped me tune it up and freshen things up. When I was 16, I bummed rides from friends in the winter so I could store it. When I was 17, I bought a truck to daily, and for the next twenty years, I always had two cars. I went to college in '02, but kept the car at my mom's in the garage until she died in '06, at which point the car went into a storage unit but I still made time to drive it and keep it turnkey, it was just such that it lived at a storage unit and I had to go there to get it when I wanted to drive it. I moved to Japan in 2008, came home for a month in 2010, and dailied it for those four weeks. Went back to Japan, came home in 2011, new wife in tow, and kept storing it (but driving it) for the next four years while we lived in apartments. In 2015 we bought our house, and the car finally came out of the storage unit for good after almost a decade and into my own garage.
Had a lot of good memories in the car, showed it at Car Craft Summer Nationals in 2001 and 2012, and the faded stickers are still in the windshield to prove it. Turned a lot of heads over the years, and left me stranded several times over the years, whether it was a dead alternator or a locked caliper glowing amber. Sometimes these cars can be very hard to love. Everything got replaced at some point over those 22 years - no matter what though, I always kept it clean, kept it detailed, kept it garaged, and kept it turnkey and on the road - always kept the fluids moving. Many, many cruise nights with the T-tops out. A few nights fogging up the windows. Many good times. Never hacked it up either. In 22 years all I did was lower it 2", do an intake, and add a tasteful OE+ style exhaust, along with an Alpine iPod head unit.
Over time though, I came to acknowledge its time in the sun with me had passed. Taking it out became an obligation (gotta keep it turnkey!) rather than for enjoyment, the low seating position made it a chore to get in and out of, and I was spending more time maintaining it and detailing it than I was enjoying it, and it was taking up space in the garage while brand new daily drivers sat outside. I feel guilty saying it, but it had worn out its welcome and I was ready to move on. I made that decision probably 5 years ago, but had just finally gotten a garage for it after spending a decade on storage fees. I had no real pressing reason to sell, and it didn't really cost much to keep, so I kept holding, but driving less and less. I bought it at 116k miles, and in 2012 it had 151k. Today, 157k. I put maybe 500 miles on it each of the last two years.
I finally decided this past winter it was time; I was ready to move on. Though I felt guilt, I also felt that I had given this car 22 years - good years - after a good 9 with the original owner. I helped it pass its 31st birthday looking as good as ever, which can only help improve the chances that owner #3 works hard to keep it on the road for 30 more. So I gave it one final wash in preparation of listing it. But before I listed it, I did what I hadn't for 22 years. I picked up the phone and called the number in the Autotrader ad just as I had 22 years prior. When we bought it, the seller was about the age I am now and said they had a young son. Their plan was to store the car for him until he was 16, but it didn't make sense to do so. I still remembered that, so I figured I'd call the original owner and give them first right of refusal, should the old landline phone number still work. Alas, it did not, but at least I tried. And so, I listed it on the open market.
I signed over the title yesterday and took a final look as I drove away, just as I had taken a first look when it pulled in on that dusty road 22 years prior. It outlasted my childhood dog, my mom, my dad, and even the family friend/mentor who helped teach me, but now it's time to let someone else be excited about it and inject a fresh sense of enjoyment and enthusiasm towards cruise nights. I had 22 good years with it, and I'm at peace with my decision 1000%. No regrets.
Thanks for reading. I'll still poke in here from time to time.
Oh, and I did eventually get the 5.0 I always wanted:
Last edited by puma1552; Apr 13, 2021 at 11:51 PM.
That note about "outlasting your Dad and Mom" struck a chord. Back in 2004, I bought a CTS sedan, the only four-door car I've ever owned. They passed away in 2007 and 2013 respectively. I sold the car in 2014 with 150,000 miles on it and it was time. But it was a bit of a tough decision because I bought that car mainly because they were older and Dad didn't like to drive too much anymore. I needed my first four-door so that it would be easier to take them places, and it was painful to see it go, a reminder that I'd lost both of them.
Car often can be markers in time. When I think of past eras in my life, different cities where I've lived, the cars I drove at that time come quickly to mind.
Nice tribute! Cars do become a part of us and as KSR said, they mark moments of time in our lives. Non-car people don't understand, but parting with them can be as hard as saying good-bye to the pet we have had for years.... Hoping the new owners give it the same care you have over the past 22 years!
Solid story, heartfelt post, OP. And a good-looking Camaro.
To those of us who consider ourselves 'car guys' (and girls), sentimentality over such an a "inanimate" object as a beloved car is entirely understandable. Owners of 3rd gens, as well as owners of all other older specialty vehicles---Mustangs, tri-five Chevvies, Corvettes, Road Runners, 'Cudas, GTOs, 442s, AMXs, Chevelles, etc.---have an unbreakable bond with their cars, a bond that remains even when the car is sold or otherwise passed to someone else.
Those cars will always remain special in their own way, totally unlike the vast masses of shapeless, all-look-alike SUVs crowding the streets and highways these days. And while such cars serve a purpose, performing their duty as daily-drivers, their passing into the jaws of the crusher at the end of their useful lives will draw not one single tear.
Great post. Thank you. ....for what it's worth, I took a hard look at your car, but knew whatever I bought would likely be heavily modded. Just didn't feel right. Always loved your car. Best of luck with whatever life brings you!
Thanks guys, FYI - I just made a bunch of threads in exterior parts for sale and another thread in interior parts for sale to list a ton of NOS parts I had been collecting over the years - grilles, weatherstripping, IROC tail lenses, etc.
Your car was one of my favorites on this site. I hope the new owner loves it as much as you did. I hope you don't have severe remorse 6 mo down the road also man. I had to sell my built 87 T/A due to a heart surgery @ 28yrs old and Ive regretted it every since but needed the $ at the time children were more important. Cars can always be replaced.
Puma Outstanding write up and tribute! Definitely understand your reasoning.
My 91 RS is still the favorite of our six vehicles to drive. Restoration & Resto-Mod ended 25 years of being the worry free daily driver. Keeping the car nice, classic car insurance restrictions, minor issues and bad knees take some of the fun of driving away.
Last edited by Arctic White 91 RS; Nov 9, 2021 at 09:54 AM.
This is so awesome!! It hits home too. My story is similar but I didnt get the same car back.
My first car at 15 was an 84 TA that when me and my dad were looking for a car really loved it and it was in perfect shape with 70k miles on it. When I was in college my dad took it to a local gas station repair shop for regular maintaince and on his way home the car caught on fire and the engine and everything under the hood etc were toast. I will go to my grave that they did something and that was why it happened. We had the car for few more years and I planned to rebuild it with my buddies. I found a pristine roller the next state over that was the same exact color and car. So I had 2 of them for a few years but away at college there wasnt a chance to do anything with them and it couldnt live at my parents driveway anymore so I let them both go for free to get them out of the way. Ever since then I have searched for the specific color 84 Trans AM. After 22 years of searching and finding 5 of them throughout those years, I finally bought it last fall. The last 2 that I found they sold it before I could get there to buy it. My dad passed away 6 years ago and I wish that I couldve found it and shown him before.
