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First was a white/grey 89 2.8 5 speed. Handed down by my brother, was also his first firebird.
Second was my green/tan 92 tbi auto. Used but was mint.
Then I went fourth gen for a while after high school.
Aiming for my third thirdgen to be one day on par with that. It's going to be difficult to get this one there.
I tried to get one when I was in high school shortly before I got my license (around 1996). My Dad didn't want me to get it, becuase of how much the insurance would have cost me at the time and the condition the Camaro was in didn't help my case. It belonged to my Dad's friends son and it was an 83 Z I believe (darker blue with silver ground effects). Pretty much all of the paint had come off so it was all surface rust and the rest of the car wasn't much better off, but I wanted the car anyway. Always been a fan of third gens. Not sure what ever happened to the car. I'm sure it went to the junkyard years ago.
Had a black 1982 Z28 4-speed, T-Tops. I was somehow convinced it was fast. Nostalgia has led to my purchase of another one last week. Basically the same, but dark blue.
Had a black 1982 Z28 4-speed, T-Tops. I was somehow convinced it was fast. Nostalgia has led to my purchase of another one last week. Basically the same, but dark blue.
and do you still think of it as fast? I assume not. I had a carbed 5.0 in my 86 TA and thought it was fast back then but I had an Omni GLH smoke me. and he has his wife and kids with him while he did it!
I looked better though
I also raced one of these and gave him a run (out-drove him) Merkur XR4Ti
anyone remember them? I saw one on the road last year...
Funny thing about hp/torque... I took my GTA that while not super fast is a strong runner... to a Hyundai lot and drove a Genesis coupe back to back with the GTA and while the Genesis will smoke my GTA the GTA felt faster, sounded faster and made me smile just as much or more.
Last edited by IMissMy86TA; Jan 11, 2016 at 06:45 AM.
and do you still think of it as fast? I assume not. I had a carbed 5.0 in my 86 TA and thought it was fast back then but I had an Omni GLH smoke me. and he has his wife and kids with him while he did it!
I looked better though
I also raced one of these and gave him a run (out-drove him) Merkur XR4Ti
anyone remember them? I saw one on the road last year...
Funny thing about hp/torque... I took my GTA that while not super fast is a strong runner... to a Hyundai lot and drove a Genesis coupe back to back with the GTA and while the Genesis will smoke my GTA the GTA felt faster, sounded faster and made me smile just as much or more.
Your car is beautiful!
Sadly no, it doesn't feel fast. But, it does feel awesome! I've just had it less than a week, but so far very few issues and they are minor. My daughters and wife think it's lame, but that's no surprise.
If I want to go a bit faster, I can drive my SS (which they also don't like!). I'm looking forward to spring when I can sit in the garage and try to decide which one to drive to the local cruise-ins!
Did not have a thirdgen in high school. But this was the cover of Hot Rod my freshman year, before a license. Was hooked. Got my first one in 2003 ('87 IROC, sold in 2008), and current '84 L69 T5 keeper in 2015. Not a thirdgen high school ownership story, but high school is when it started.
I can say when the car was released it looked incredibly futuristic compared to the 2nd gen. The 2nd gen had been around forever. The thirdgen had amazingly clean lines, and in the Hot Rod images appeared super light weight (in a light on its feet way) and unclutterd.
The motor of the day did not detract, nor did it even register as an issue. Appearance trumped all. HP to weight ratio was no worse than 1981. At that time all cars from the preceding two years were low HP. 1982 Z28 did not stand out as a horsepower flop in any way.
There were zero Thirdgens in my high school through '84. Certainly not in my small town. Then, muscle cars were the used IROCs of later times.
Last edited by Saxondale; May 30, 2016 at 09:36 PM.
I had an '84 Berlinetta my grandma bought new. She bought a new Firebird formula in January of '97 and gave me the Camaro. I spun and wrecked it the first day I drove it to school so I had the strips painted on when I the shop fixed the damage. I drove it from '97 to '03 when I got a truck. It had a stock 305 and 700r4 but I put an edelbrock intake and carb on it with a vacume advance HEI and it ran a full second faster in the quarter ( I have the time slips to prove it in Pueblo, CO). It went from 18 sec to 17sec so it was still dog slow but a fun and good looking car. I actually just bought my buddies '84 Z28 that he drove in High School and that I used to bum around in with him. I'm stoked to get it back to my shop and bring her back to her former glory. This one is a L69 T5 car with every option EXCEPT power windows.
Here's the Z28 where she's been sitting for the last 15 years.
Me and my Berlinetta circa '99
Last edited by gloriavoxdei; Dec 22, 2016 at 07:55 PM.
In my Junior year of High School I bought, with money I earned, an 18 month old, 40,000 mile, 1970 Mustang Mach 1. It was an "M Code" 300 HP, 351 Cleveland 4V/AT loaded &ussy Wagon!
Dark Ivy Green Metallic, with parchment/black interior.
I had an '84 Berlinetta my grandma bought new. She bought a new Firebird formula in January of '97 and gave me the Camaro. I spun and wrecked it the first day I drove it to school
wonder why you would have spun it..? hmmm? not showing off first day with it in HS?
My 87 Sport Coupe I spotted it outside of a oil pipeline companies fence with flat tires, covered in dirt and mud, One day I drove by and it was gone I went in to the Quonset shop and it was there with a guy feeding a stethoscope running into where the camshaft goes for whatever reason I didn't ask, but I did ask if its forsale and after negotiating a little bit I got it for $500 in grade 10 with a blown trans and a ripped apart 2.8. Got a friend to pull me home while I was steering it and began tearing it apart the next week. Graduated last summer and now it has a freshly rebuilt 350Ci and a "couple" mods with a 700r4 behind it. The mechanic shops videos and endless notes never taught me nearly as much as this car did. Couldn't do it without my dad though.
I drove it to my graduation with a mu11et wig and was happier than hell to get out and go drive it for the rest of the day.
the word between "A _______ Wig" is censored if you type it normally. LOL
(68 Soul refers to the block being from a 68 Camaro)
Last edited by 1987CMaro; Jan 7, 2017 at 06:54 PM.
I wish I had a 3rd gen in HS! My mom knew it was a target car for bad boys and street racers so she never would allow me to purchase one. After learning what I learned about having a beautiful car, some horse power, and a hard head I would say it was better for a city slicker like myself to not have had my Camaro in HS
I still have my 89 RS black with carmine red interior 305 with 5 speed from HS. It has 362,458 miles when I parked her in my garage 2007. Have rust above drivers door on roof need to fix just haven't had time. My dad bought it for me my Sr. year in 1990 with 28,000 miles.
I still have my 89 RS black with carmine red interior 305 with 5 speed from HS. It has 362,458 miles when I parked her in my garage 2007. Have rust above drivers door on roof need to fix just haven't had time. My dad bought it for me my Sr. year in 1990 with 28,000 miles.
Great story! Are you planning to start working on it soon?
I'd love to. I parked it in 07 figuring it'd take more time than a weekend to fix and haven't got to it yet. I picked up an original GM roof assembly in 07 that I have in shop ready to use just need to dedicate time. It's a complete piece that has inner structure windshield post and goes across cowl. I guess based on calendar I've had sitting here waiting for 10 years now. Time flies by with kid and family.
I'd love to. I parked it in 07 figuring it'd take more time than a weekend to fix and haven't got to it yet. I picked up an original GM roof assembly in 07 that I have in shop ready to use just need to dedicate time. It's a complete piece that has inner structure windshield post and goes across cowl. I guess based on calendar I've had sitting here waiting for 10 years now. Time flies by with kid and family.
I understand mine has set for at least 13 years, I just started working on it again with family we will see how long that lasts!
I totally understand that. I have 3 antique cars (non-GM) that I hope to restore before I die. But until then, I bought the T/A as something to enjoy NOW.
If you feel like tinkering, but not cutting the roof off, you can always do those little things that keep it a running, moving vehicle. That way you don't have to do them all at once. If you can get it running again, taking it for a spin might motivate you to do the other work. But neat that you've hung on to it none the less.
I totally understand that. I have 3 antique cars (non-GM) that I hope to restore before I die. But until then, I bought the T/A as something to enjoy NOW.
If you feel like tinkering, but not cutting the roof off, you can always do those little things that keep it a running, moving vehicle. That way you don't have to do them all at once. If you can get it running again, taking it for a spin might motivate you to do the other work. But neat that you've hung on to it none the less.
good story as well. I hope you get the time. I moved to CA and sold my baby but know now I would not have the time for it. Maybe in a few years I may move to another state and get one again for fun and may have more time.
I got my 1988 Formula 350 Firebird, black on black before I had my learners permit in 1996. I've had 8 more firebirds since and just bought a 1982 Trans Am Black/Gold near mint condition...
Got my 92 Camaro rs 2.8 the summer before my senior year, had to drive it back here (Texas) from Iowa. still get it and love this car, even tho it dont got that much power but it gets me around lookin good doin it.
I assume not. I had a carbed 5.0 in my 86 TA and thought it was fast back then but I had an Omni GLH smoke me. 
and he has his wife and kids with him while he did it!
