yesterday i came to an appifiny (i think that's how you spell it)
i dislike all the electronic crap on my car (it's also pretty much all optioned and TPI)
either i keep the thing or sell it and buy a different car.
now, i love third gen's alot.. i'll probably buy one later as a third car someday..
but the insurance as a dailly driver, all the trouble shooting i do on it, the problems with theives (i get very paranoid when it's left alone when i go shopping or something) and the fact that for it to be the way i'd want, i'd have to change pretty much everything on it..
i'm slowlly leaning towards a 2nd gen or a 1st gen..
or... *coughs*.. one of them lovelly turbo supra's..

this if for any of yous who've own previous generation firebirds..
were you happier with the older ones?
more powerfull.. less powerfull.. combersome?
i put this on the engine board because i don't know where else to put it..
and burning different proms and all this computer crap is annoying me.. second or first gen seems to get better and better.

 

I owned a '76 TA 400. By far the most reliable car I ever had. That thing was a tank, nothing could hurt it. That's when cars were built to last. It had been sitting for a couple years when I got it, new battery and fired right up, not sure about the gas though.
The 2nd Gens weigh a ton... and are slow from the factory. I believe stock the 455 of that year ran 17.0 .. But of course some mods and now we're talking.
Myself I would love to own a 1st Gen, but I love my car as well.

Also, I believe the rear gears were worse than 2:73s, plus the car ran great but I got 12mpg.

 

Oh, one more thing, there's nothing wrong with a Turbo Supra, them things are quick and have to be given respect.

 

i might be wrong here,but if you get an early 2nd gen camaro/firebird(1970-1973) those cars were pretty fast for their weight.My uncle bought a brand new formula 400 in 1970-of course it had the muncie 4 speed and ram air III option-but it was factory under-rated at about 365 horsepower,if i remember correctly.He took it to the drag strip on stock everything,and it ran high 13's.My dad owned a 1971 and a 1973 formula,and they both ran mid-high 14's stock(my family really likes pontiacs,mostly firebirds obviously ).Im sure that camaros with big blocke had just about the same performance,since firebirds and camaros have pretty much always been the same.

Oh yeah- i give the toyotas the most respect of all asian imports-they last forever,and twin turbo supras have been known to run high 12's pretty much stock.

 

Find the Third Gen you want. And your gonna be that way leaving it places with any F-Body.

 

Second gen all the way man!! I love mine! finding a 73' and under will be harder to find cheap cuzz of the body style... and if im not mistaken, 2nd gens weigh as much as third gens... i think mines like 3100.

 

oh wait, your right... it weighs in at almost 3700 lbs.... solid baby

 

A 76 400 should have been in the 15's easy. My 76 350 ran 17's, maybe 16's if it was lucky. Mileage sucked, didnt matter how I drove it it was just terrible. It was also heavy, and both the rear seat and trunk are more useless than in a thirdgen IMO. Wouldnt mind owning one though, main reason I sold mine is the tranny was going and I couldnt get replacement interior parts for it at the time, there wasnt anything available and it needed stuff replaced.

 

i have a fairly nice 68ss and if you worry about it getting stolen or damaged wait till you have a 1st gen, no anti theft devices built in and it stands out sitting in wal marts parking lot.

 

Do what I have done. Dunk your engine and computer controlls. I have gone back to basics with a ZZ4, Holley 750dp and no emissions. All the computer does now is control the torque converter lock-up. It is a pleasure to work on and goes like the wind...

Have the best of both Worlds

 

Yup. They aren't that common and are usually show cars, all F-Bodies are gonna be that way but still.

 

As an owner of both a first gen Camaro and a third gen Camaro, I can easily say, stick with third gen unless you want a show car. The first and second gen car prices are rising rapidly and few daily drivers remain. My first gen is my show car and my prize "baby". It receives the utmost attention but I spend a ton of money on a car I don't drive that much. (It looks great though!) Third gen cars are the best performance bargain out there. I picked up my low mileage Z with no rust for only a couple grand. Parts are far easier and cheaper to get. If you find that is hard to believe, try restoring a first gen. I just paid $200 for a 30-year old, unrestored distributor! (Yes it has the correct numbers.)

My third gen is my summer driver and I totally love driving it. I'll admit, when I want horsepower, I pull out my '69 big block but that car is very different. I can't speak for second gens but first and third gens are VERY different driving experiences. How you sit in a first gen is almost the opposite of a third gen. First gens are like riding in a small truck compared to third gens. The first gens have plenty of head room and body room, little seat adjustment, very little seat rake, and a very unsports-car feel. (Just pure STRAIGHT-LINE power.) Don't expect a first gen to handle anywhere near a third gen. (at least without a ton of cash thrown into the suspension.)

Just my three cents.

 

Well I'll jump in on this one. I have 2 third gens, and I've always loved them. These are the cars from my childhood. But I've tossed up getting a 2nd Gen too. This guy in town is selling a MINT '79 T/A, 403, auto, t-tops, bright red, with 75,000 original miles. He wants $8500. I've thought about buying it but have no place to keep it. On a final note, look on the bright side of the computer controlled cars. If there's a problem, the car will "talk" to you. i.e., check engine lights etc, they're more sophisticated in this sense, and have the advantage of being more user friendly, I think. And with the 3rd Gen cars, it won't be but a couple more years and these cars will be true collectors. And here's some food for thought. 1st and 2nd Gens are hot on the market now, and have been for some time. The 3rd Generation cars are next in line...

 

I love a 2nd gen's looks, but man, I drool over that '67 Firebird Convertible... oooh.... (sigh)