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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!
Hmm, deja vu? Or is it just another one that was unconventionally loved? Can't help but look at these unloved cars like a kid that grew up in some weird cult.
"Oh man, that's cool, I'll bet that car is hella fast and does mad burnouts, hanging on by a nail around a sharp bend in the road, yeah?"
"Well, yeah, I mean I guess so, but I just kept it in climate comtrolled storage and lovingly wiped it down whenever it got dusty over twenty years... I never actually went to full throttle... But it's factory 'race' car!"
Hmm, deja vu? Or is it just another one that was unconventionally loved? Can't help but look at these unloved cars like a kid that grew up in some weird cult.
"Oh man, that's cool, I'll bet that car is hella fast and does mad burnouts, hanging on by a nail around a sharp bend in the road, yeah?"
"Well, yeah, I mean I guess so, but I just kept it in climate comtrolled storage and lovingly wiped it down whenever it got dusty over twenty years... I never actually went to full throttle... But it's factory 'race' car!"
The local ex-Pontiac dealer just put a 97 Camaro SS Heritage Edition on the lot a couple weeks ago. I saw it, and while it looked nice, I assumed it was probably astronimically overpriced. I came across it in the classifieds the other night... The car has under 6,000 miles on it. Priced at $25k, it's hard to fathom when LT1 6spd cars litter the classieds for under $3,000 and even still they don't sell. Its hard to resist buying them and parting them out.
The original buyer of that 97 was probably kicking himself as soon as the LS1 became the new hotness, and reality has just been rubbing it in since 1997. Now that 93-97 cars are the bastard of the lineage, can you imagine having bought something like that new, and preserving, just to dump it when the market is at it's lowest point?
The local ex-Pontiac dealer just put a 97 Camaro SS Heritage Edition on the lot a couple weeks ago. I saw it, and while it looked nice, I assumed it was probably astronimically overpriced. I came across it in the classifieds the other night... The car has under 6,000 miles on it. Priced at $25k, it's hard to fathom when LT1 6spd cars litter the classieds for under $3,000 and even still they don't sell. Its hard to resist buying them and parting them out.
The original buyer of that 97 was probably kicking himself as soon as the LS1 became the new hotness, and reality has just been rubbing it in since 1997. Now that 93-97 cars are the bastard of the lineage, can you imagine having bought something like that new, and preserving, just to dump it when the market is at it's lowest point?
I can’t stand the “bubble light” Camaros.. 1996/97 SS is much meaner looking..
When I see the back of an SS at a cruise night I’m always optimistic until I get to the front and see those bubble lights.. The 96/97 SS is way more rare.. and I’m totally down with the LT1.. those cars are fun!
I prefer the look of 93-97 over 98-02, and I really don't much care for the fifth generation and later cars either, but lately I couldn't see myself going out of my way to buy any 4th gen. If I did, it'd be for parts and the body would go to the crusher. They're the current trailer trash pick... It was 2nd gens, then 3rd gens, now it's solidly 4th gens. Another 10-15 years it'll be fifth gens.
I prefer the look of 93-97 over 98-02, and I really don't much care for the fifth generation and later cars either, but lately I couldn't see myself going out of my way to buy any 4th gen. If I did, it'd be for parts and the body would go to the crusher. They're the current trailer trash pick... It was 2nd gens, then 3rd gens, now it's solidly 4th gens. Another 10-15 years it'll be fifth gens.
I still see the 93-97 as an overgrown Geo Storm. I don't mind 4th gens but I'd rather just have the drivetrain. The rest of the car doesn't have the right feel for me. Sorry about the thread hijacking.
I still see the 93-97 as an overgrown Geo Storm. I don't mind 4th gens but I'd rather just have the drivetrain. The rest of the car doesn't have the right feel for me. Sorry about the thread hijacking.
Ha ha! I can see that.. 4th gens don’t do it for me anyways.. I remember going to cruise nights with my 87 IROC and my buddy had a brand new 1996 Camaro SS and he’d get mad when the IROC drew a crowd and guys would tell me the IROC was the last real muscle car.. The SS was fast and fun, but fake and plastic looking..
4th gens looked like bloated plastic IROCs.. the firebirds are better..
The 91/92 Maroon was not a great color.. they stopped doing the flame red for whatever reason.. it almost had a dark pink red look to it or dark coral..
I still see the 93-97 as an overgrown Geo Storm. I don't mind 4th gens but I'd rather just have the drivetrain. The rest of the car doesn't have the right feel for me. Sorry about the thread hijacking.
Oh JMJ!, I just had to hold back what was in my belly seeing this.....
I still see the 93-97 as an overgrown Geo Storm. I don't mind 4th gens but I'd rather just have the drivetrain. The rest of the car doesn't have the right feel for me. Sorry about the thread hijacking.
I worked at a Chevy dealership in high school, and in late 1992, we had a transporter come in with a load of new cars, and I came up to the truck from the front, anxious to see if there was anything cool on the transporter. Another worker was walking up there with me and all of the sudden says, "Look! A new Camaro!" I excitedly looked the transporter over, and low and behold, there sat a new, black Camaro on the bottom row of the hauler, and clear at the back. I started walking faster to see this beast (the 4th gens had JUST came out and I had never seen one in person) and took about 4 steps before I figured out that the front end of the "New Camaro" was actually that of a new Geo Storm lol. TRUE STORY
The man who ordered the car in 1990 was in his late 40s. He passed away earlier this year at 75. No wife or kids. His siblings sold off most of his estate. I bought the 1LE. I have records of everything that was done to the car, only thing not listed is the accell coil pack. Had lakewood lower control arms installed at 1600 miles in 2001 along with a hotchkiss panhard bar. Who knows why but he had them put on. Still has factory tires. Headlight covers were put on when it was new. I have receipts from 1992 for a 2nd set of them that came with the car. I wish I could have talked to the guy, but his family told me he said the car would be worth more with low miles. I have all his paperwork. Order sheet... I dont plan in tracking ur the miles, I'll take it to shows occasionally, but I have other cars to cruise around in if I feel the need.