I know how controversial this "fastest 3rd gen" debate has been, but I was watching Car & Driver on TV this morning, and they were talking about Firebirds. They said that the Turbo Trans Am was the fastest 3rd gen, running the 1/4 in low 13's. They also said it was underrated at 250hp. Any thoughts on that?

 

the quickest and fastest third gen was the turbo 3.8 trans am, that is correct. i don't believe the stock low 13's, but high 13's, yes. they were very traction limited under boost at low rpm, but other than that it's the only third gen that could really run 13's and run over 160. the fastest v8 model was the L98 equipped 92 1LE car.

 

Well, the Firehawk actually was a 13.2 car while the TTA was a mid-high 13 or so. But... The Firehawk wasn't production like the TTA.

 

Is everyone forgetting the TT '91 Formula V-8, at 301+ MPH? I know it wasn't production, but the question didn't specify "production".

There are a lot of non-production ThirdGens that utterly crush the TTA's. The V-6 never stood a change to make 8 seconds in the heavy body. However, it was a very impressive car compared to anything else in the production line, especially considering it was a V-6.

Controversial? Naw...

 

I figured I would mention the Firehawk before someone else did, and throw that point out the window.

Couldn't the TTA go 8's easy, only with juice though maybe, one guy on these boards, is hopin for 10s this year after some head work. Forget his name though.

 

High 9's is about the limit for the stock block, and thats girdled, caps all the good stuff. To go 8's you need a stage.

 

Turbo Trans Am = 13.3 1/4 mile

2002 LS1 Trans Am/Camaro SS = 13.6 1/4 mile

 

LS1's have been known to go 12.9 stock in good conditions

 

i guess alot of people saw that car and driver show.

anyway firehawk number one and turbo trans am right behind.

they said it was the fastest thirdgen trans am i think.

either way i could not even afford and/or get one.

anyway either one is well into the 13's and i am certainly not..

 

and excellent driver.

 

anyone going 13.6 with an LS1 needs a driving lesson. anyone going 13.3 with a stock tta isn't running a stock one. stock applies to tires and the entire car. i've heard a report of one going 13.5 at englishtown before, but that's about as good as it gets and i'd like to see how much of it was original. i didn't list the firehawk since they didn't come from gm that way, but that would be the fastest from the dealership for third gen's.

 

 

i believe that same car set the record for fastest small block ever recorded.. again do not quote me on that, i just think i remember seeing it somewhere

 

I was only quoting what I've seen/read on Car and Driver. They seem have to been doing this for a while.

 

Exactly why you should only list first hand information. I've seen stock LS1s go 13.6 at the track, but I've also seen them go 13.0. I'll tell you for sure that I know a stock automatic LS1 can hit 13.2. And 13.6 in an SS is just horrible.