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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!
As I did almost six years ago when I introduced my 1982-1992 Firebird book, I would like to thank the forum members who ask honest questions and who respectfully discuss the answers to questions. The knowledge-base of this site never ceases to amaze me. I’d like to send a special thanks to the guys who took the time to answer my PMs: John Zofko, Mark Strembicke, and Scott Moyer.
Over the past few years, some of you have asked when I would publish a 3rd Gen Camaro companion book to my 3rd Gen Firebird book. I hesitated to say that I was working on it, because, as we know, there are no primary source Camaro documents to be found for 1982-1989. At least I am not aware of any. Fortunately, VIN-based 1990-1992 Camaro production totals are known (but must be specially retrieved to get full production totals).
I was not sure that I would be able to write a 3rd Gen Camaro book that would provide anything more than what was already out there. I eventually found a way to expand on the existing 1982-1989 Camaro production data: through Canadian-delivery production records (RPO Z49). If we know what was happening with Canadian production, we can learn what may have been happening with domestic production (there were some differences).
So, my 1982-1992 Camaro book is now published. Link:
Those of you who have my Firebird book (or any of my 25 auto reference books) will recognize that the format for presenting data in this new Camaro book is the same as the other books. The tables are easy to use and information can be quickly found. Like all my books, there are no color photos, but some black and white photos of identification labels. This Camaro book has more RPOs and production totals than any other available 3rd Gen Camaro book. Website data is usually copied from outdated books, errors and all, but I have tried to correct or properly explain certain production data.
I think the biggest surprise will be this: For 30 years, a very incorrect total for the 1991 RPO B4C Special Service cars was published. The real production total is over 100 cars different. What was the actual production total for 1991 B4C cars? Page 198.
Other books and websites tell you that you have an RPO MM4, MM5, MX0, or MX1 transmission. Those RPOs are not transmission RPOs! What is your actual transmission RPO and what are its internal gears?
Special Edition Camaros are discussed, including: B4C, 1LE, Player’s race cars, the 1982 Indy, the 1984 Winter Olympics Edition, the 1985 California IROC, the 1987-88 California RS, 20th Anniversary convertibles, and the 25th Anniversary Heritage Edition.
There is a complete model/body-style/engine/transmission/color breakout for the 1992 RPO Z03 25th Anniversary Heritage Edition cars. What was the special RPO that was added to some of these cars late in the year, and why was it added? How many Heritage cars were 1LE and how many had the L98 engine? Pages 202-203.
For 1991-1992 Camaros delivered to Japan, the RS coupe powertrain had a sportier rear axle than any other 3rd Gen Camaro. What was it? What important mechanical system did Japan’s 1992 Z28 convertible have that no other ’92 convertible had? How many Heritage Edition cars were delivered to Japan and what color were they? Page 183.
This book will certainly add to our 3rd Gen Camaro knowledge.
In my post above, I forgot to include a special thanks to Forum member Yo Soy El Warg (Charley Grove) for helping to fine-tune some of the info in my book. Thanks Charley!
'89 1LE Camaros came with VR tires, not ZR (at least they did at the end if January '89).
I believe '86 was the only year with single side dump exhaust and series sponsor decals and roll cages were installed prior to delivery to the dealers.
Thanks for assembling all this info in one concise reference manual.
Thank you for seeing the ZR tire data on page 201 of my book. I think that you have made a discovery about the 1989 1LE.
All 74 units of 1989 1LE Camaros built as Player's cars (RPO R7U) did have RPO QDZ tires (VR rated). I indicate this on page 91 of my book. I wonder if the other two Canadian delivery 1LEs had QDZ? (UPDATE: The two 1989 non-R7U Canadian 1LE Camaros also had the VR rated tires)
However, it seems very possible that the 35 units of domestic delivery (U.S.) 1989 1LE Camaros were built with RPO QLC tires (ZR rated). See 1989 SPID label attached (the car is US delivery). The window sticker for that car also indicates ZR tires.
Without verification, I typically do not rely on the Camaro White Book, but that secondary source also indicates ZR tires for 1989 1LE Camaros.
I will edit my page 201 to indicate ZR tires for 1989 1LE as US only. (UPDATE: My edit on page 201 will go live on Amazon tomorrow, May 7, 2024)
I'm really enjoying the book. I bought one for myself and one for my best friend. We are both 3rd gen nuts owning 9 between the two of us, including 3 1992 B4Cs.
Is there any hope of ever getting US IROC color breakdowns like you have for the Canadian cars?
You have a challenging request. For the 1985-89 IROCs, domestic color breakout has never been published.
However, I have the 1990 IROC COUPE domestic color breakout. This data is NOT in my book -- you're the first to know:
I had always heard they never broke them down that far. I've had a yellow 87 L98 IROC since 2000 and I was always curious how many they actually made. That's awesome news they broke down the 90 IROCs tho. We appreciate all the work you've done!
You know, it's pretty sad that GM couldn't database all of the info this many years later. They have all of the invoices so a data entry intern could enter all the details for each year, then GM would have the breakdowns.
I've thought about asking GM for all of the VIN 3 (verts) 1987 invoices just to see what they would charge me for all of it. With that, we would be able to document every single 87 convertible down to every option and color.
Scott, you and I would do something like you suggested!
My own personal quest? Sit down in the National Corvette Museums' Archive Room, and go through ALL of the 1981 Corvette build sheets. Yeah, I know, almost 9,000 build sheets! And, they do have them - in fact, they are all scanned. Not optically scanned, unfortunately. But, I have handled the originals, as well.
Keep in mind that in 1981, the Corvette was also built in St. Louis, so, once you know the Bowling Green totals, then you would know the St. Louis totals too.
It would be nice to know the RPO M18 4-speed manual transmission breakout for BG. Then subtract that amount from the reported 1981 total of 5,757. You would then have the ST. Louis manual amount.
It would also be nice to know the exact breakout of the two-tone cars. My 1976-82 Corvette book gives a pretty darn good estimate (I do explain the math that I used).
If you're ever at NCM, go to the Archives Room, and say hello to Betty Hardison. Tell her Robert Casey sent you. She is a wonderful resource.
Scott, you and I would do something like you suggested!
My own personal quest? Sit down in the National Corvette Museums' Archive Room, and go through ALL of the 1981 Corvette build sheets. Yeah, I know, almost 9,000 build sheets! And, they do have them - in fact, they are all scanned. Not optically scanned, unfortunately. But, I have handled the originals, as well.
Keep in mind that in 1981, the Corvette was also built in St. Louis, so, once you know the Bowling Green totals, then you would know the St. Louis totals too.
It would be nice to know the RPO M18 4-speed manual transmission breakout for BG. Then subtract that amount from the reported 1981 total of 5,757. You would then have the ST. Louis manual amount.
It would also be nice to know the exact breakout of the two-tone cars. My 1976-82 Corvette book gives a pretty darn good estimate (I do explain the math that I used).
If you're ever at NCM, go to the Archives Room, and say hello to Betty Hardison. Tell her Robert Casey sent you. She is a wonderful resource.
If it was possible to get my hands on all the 87 build sheets, I would absolutely sit down and take the time to break down the 87 cars. Just for my own curiosity. I wish I knew how to get in contact with someone at GM to see if that was possible. Or if those documents even exist to do so.
It's definitely possible. GM has all of the invoices on microfiche. If they just charged us for the paper used, all of them could be printed, but they want like $50 a piece today. I don't know if they'll allow an external agent to sit in their offices gathering this data.
It's definitely possible. GM has all of the invoices on microfiche. If they just charged us for the paper used, all of them could be printed, but they want like $50 a piece today. I don't know if they'll allow an external agent to sit in their offices gathering this data.
Yea since they are getting that kind of money out of them its unlikely they would let some random guy in there to sift through them all.
02-23-2024, 01:23 PM
