The 3rd Gen 1982 Pontiac Firebird, S/E, and Trans Am Represented the Best and Worst of the 1980s
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 19 ส.ค. 2022
- Learn more about the third-generation Firebird, including the base, S/E, and Trans Am models. This video discusses their design, engineering, and what it's like to own one.
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Parents bought a friend one of these new in high school. She had the baddest ride in the senior parking lot. Nobody who rode with her noticed or cared about the mediocre power or crappy build quality. We were all driving Chevettes, Pintos, and the like 😂
That's true due to the "Euro ferrariash type of styling at that time GM simply wanted to do things on the cheap and produce oodles of copies of both the Camaro and Firebird looks wise but quality wise they simply didn't care.
The bottom line was the main factor what cell is many of these cars as possible we don't care about the lack of performance the lack of Bill quality or anything else just sell them and sell them in large numbers that's all that matters.
Funny you should mention the Chevette... because if GM had elected to mas-produce the Chevette they built, using the Firebird's 2.8L V-6/4-spd. and very-minimal custom parts, they would've had a car that would've out-handled, out-braked and out-ran--in both acceleration and fuel economy--all variations of the Firebird/Trans-Am & Camaro, that would've sold for a 1/3 of their price/cost.😕
@@pancudowny Interesting, have not heard about the hopped up Chevette. However, selling at 1/3 the price, it doesn’t seem like they would make much money on it.
Can you imagine one of these heavy cars powered with a 60 hp engine?
It is like a Geo Metro.
@@pancudowny You are right. The same goes for the VEGA which was actually kind of fun to drive.. when they ran. I had a friend that had a new chevette and it was a miserable garbage can like car experience. When you put your hand on a side window from out side you could push the windows down or up and the crank would just flip around. So bizarre. Why even have a lock? And how could a company put out garbage like this knowing you could do that? Some people were lucky to get even 30,000 out of a chevette before junking it.
GM stylists of the 80s should be proud of this design. While a standout in the realm of iconic 80s looks, I think it's honestly a bit of a timeless look with a great combo of styling elements. One of my favorite memories of the past few years was following one of these down a backroad with 80s music blasting.
man I totally agree. These cars are head turners ,were and still are and I have one in Europe ...that car here is more exotic than Ferrari. Mine is a black 88 Firebird and had it parked to new 2022 BMW 7 series and I found people taking photos with my car not the brand new BMW.
Agree
And the Firebird was *much* better looking than the Camaro.
It a better looking, more aggressive 924/944.
they are still great looking and handling
I had an 84 SE that I purchased new, and in my opinion it was made quite well. Maybe, having two to three years to work out some of the problems, mine had entered the upper echelon for the model. None of the problems mentioned in the 82 version(s) were present with my car, and the power was "adequate" (305 CID) but nothing compared to my 77 Formula (400 CID) which was still somewhat anemic but adequate enough. This car is relegated to "cars I never should have sold" and I think about it often...
Your "Cars I never should have sold" comment is probably something that many of us have in list form.
Driving Pontiac! That car came a long way from 1982 by the time it reached the 1990's. I know you could get digital gauges on this car during this run. The engines got better, the performance got better and there were memorable trims and models: GTA, the Turbo with the Buick 3.8 liter V6 and others. The interior options and seats got better. People see this car they think about KITT from Knight Rider. Smokey and The Bandit III used this car too. Thank you for sharing Adam.
One of the most awesome cars made!
I may be biased but I agree! ❤
I had an 1983 Trans Am and loved the car,it was extremely reliable and fun to drive,simply perfect
That crossfire never failed me had 260,000 miles on it still ran like a champ
A friend bought a new TransAm in' 82. First thing he did was ditch the bowling balls. I rented a red one in San Francisco and drove it to Carmel, where I played racy-racy with a girl in a Z28 on that iconic and beautiful16-mile drive, both of us grinning to beat the band. I felt like the king of the word. Unforgettable.
I was never a fan of 3rd gen Firebirds until I found out they put Buicks legendary LC2 Turbo charged V6 from the Grand National in the 89 Trans Am 20th Anniversary car. Then I had to have one. Mines number 860! 😁
Smart man!
My fifth GM car was a beautiful 1982 Z28, with the crossfire engine. Gun metal grey metallic, stripes, and a silver interior. I received so many compliments on that car. The car was beautifully assembled. However, the components were garbage. From the computer failing to limp-in mode, with under 500 miles on it, to the posi-traction rearend bearings grinding and crunching, while I awaited a new set to arrive with under 1,000 miles on the car. Idler arms had to be replaced, speedometer cable and a speedo nylon gear failure. Oil pressure sending units kept failing. I would suddenly have zero oil pressure indicated. It took 3 or 4 radio units until, the radio, buttons, clock, and cassette modules all worked properly. And on and on. I finally had it. Just over 2 years old, I traded it in. That was the very last GM, and American car I ever owned.
Sad to hear. That's why I left german cars. Just too many things stop working prematurely. Back to good ol' GM.
@@manoman0 Back to "good ol' GM"? Okayyyyy... 🤪
@@yoregano You see, my evidence may be just anecdotal in regards to agreggate data (maybe!) but it's facts for me. My GM cars are reliable, rather low maintenance as well as low running costs. Having said that, I expect more (miles) to come out of them. Again, that's MY experience.
I drove a 91 Firebird in high school from 1998 to 2001. That car was a POS! The ceiling cloth fell off, the headlights stopped popping up and needed to be propped up manually, the trunk stopped latching (I used shoestring to keep it from propping open), the wheel fell off while driving on the freeway, the muffler started to drag on the road (I used shoestring to hold it place until I just ripped it out), among other issues!
I've got a 89 Trans AM GTA and you will not believe how many necks I've broken with it. It will never get old. They will get (VERY) high in value in less than 10 years :-)
I have one in Europe ...if you are in US and get that ,you should see in Europe. Also they dont look "old" because they are designed in such a way they look out of time somehow.
@@Adrian-mq5ld I'm in Spain, and Knight Rider series got pretty popular back then, so imagine it :)
We cherish our 1992 Z-28. The 1982-1992 F body cars are under appreciated. My personal favorite was our 1992 Teal Firebird was the Trans Am exterior decor package.
I had a 91 Firebird, 305, 5 speed, T-tops, black on black with the Trans Am appearance package too. I bought it in 93. I loved that car. I wish I had it back. I'll live with my red on black 82 Trans Am for now though.
I remember seeing a 82 Z28 wasted by some guy in a beat up 69 Oldsmobile 4 door back in 1982. They were not fast but they were cool! The design still looks great 30 years later. No one will be saying in 30 years that the new Elantra made them smile. Thanks for a great video!
A few years back I owned an ‘82 Black & Gold Recaro Edition Trans-Am,and I really LOVED that car,but a friend of mine REALLY REALLY wanted it,so I sold it to him. Now I own a damn near MINT ‘77 Black & Gold Trans-Am and this T/A is absolutely AMAZING! I’m probably gonna hang on to this one for awhile. Love your video and your Trans-Am! 🤠
Adam, your personal sharing about your Trans Am being the vehicle you've owned the longest from your collection was powerful. Thank you, as always, for sharing with us. Loved your ...."that's part of automotive history". We can't change it, we can't get back the vehicles we wish we'd never sold, but we can cherish the memories and share about them. It's amazing how, at least for some of us of a certain age, the cars that were around us as we grew up are an integral part of our lives and who we are today. Your work here helps me to connect to all of that. Keep it up, and thank you.
Thx for the kind words
Thank you Adam for finally reviewing the gen 3 Firebird -one of the most beautiful species of GM cars...IMNSHO.
One of the coolest and most aerodynamic cars during the 1980s.
Indeed, that is the model the KITT is based on.
Adam, that is a beautiful '82 Trans Am you have there. You certainly have saved it from destruction. A friend of mine bought a T/A just like yours, except it was gold paint on the exterior, back in '82. I just got my license back then & my buddy, Rick, used to take me cruising around in that car. Man that was fun back in '82. Keep her nice Adam because you'll never get or find another like this one buddy. Great job on the video !!!!
I bought new in 10/83 a new 1984 recaro trans am. 5 liter high output engine, 4 barrel carburetor, and a 5 speed manual transmission. All Black exterior and camel tan interior, t tops too. Beautiful car, fast for it's time. Fun ended with a little over 3000 miles. Small rattle in the transmission, no big deal, dealer adjustment and done. 100 miles later transmission and driveshaft seperated while driving. The way I was treated by the dealer/GM was so bad, kept me out of their cars from that day to this one. Car was decently made for it's time I guess the dealership screwed up more than anything. I see the cycle being repeated now at dealers the way I see people treated. Companies think they are invincible but no business ever won a legitimate argument with a customer. They just go away until there aren't any more. Pontiac, Oldsmobile, mercury, Plymouth, soon to be more I'm sure.
My favourite brand went bust and I don't like to read stuff like your story. I mean, I just don't like it but I know it's out there. *sigh*
Damn ,that sounds like a nice car.
I bought a 92 Trans Am in 92 which I still have and drive. Dark green gold wheels, ws6 and t-tops. After 30 years, I still get excited when I think about driving it. I also feel it is the most beautiful car I've ever seen. Along with some appearance tweaks, Pontiac greatly tightened up the body structure with industrial adhesives to test for the production of the all new 93s. Your car is stunning - subframe connectors and a strut brace would really tighten things up.
Thank you for an excellent video. 1 thing came to my mind that you didn't mention.The f-body cars were built at 2 plants in 1982, Norwood Ohio and Van Nuys Ca.The Van Nuys builds suffered from paint problems possibly due to the use Of water based paints.A lot of the Van Nuys cars had paint repairs while under warranty.The Norwood Ohio cars used conventional paints and tended to have less paint problems.
Stupid California eco-wacko laws disallowed oil based paint to be used...is my guess.
The red on burgundy (13:12) is peak 1980’s. Fantastic!
For me the design is one of the best too ❣️
I was so in love as young guy, when I looked Knight Rider in the TV, end of the 80's 😅
The only German car what can compare with the Firebird, was the Porsche 928.
No other cars, had this shape, with only two long dors as Coupé with the big hatchback glass door 😊
Sad, that the technical side wasn't nice on the Firebird ❕
Love from Berlin 🇩🇪
Ramsi 🙋🏻♂️
I really admire your eloquent (and often kind) ways of conveying the many sources of "character" perhaps for these vehicles. Overall though I appreciate that you just let the flaws sit in their proper context of period trends and overall aspects of the vehicle on which you are bringing such great history to us. Thanks as always. Even as a non-GMer, it is great to learn about a car that I agree has really admirable design qualities. And you even managed to avoid the all too tempting pop-culture reference for this vehicle--bravo! Keep up the great work with your channel and content!
I was at the gas pump when a young man thought I had a nice Trans Am. I am driving a 1985 Corvette.
I was gifted an 86 firechicken from my grandparents and this video added o whole other layer of love to her. 🙏🏼❤️
The 1982 Trans Am was supposed to have the Pontiac 301 Turbo engine from the start (hence the same hood bulge that the 1981 turbo T/A had). But, the "bean counters" at GM decided to axe all Pontiac engines just before the Firebird was due to go into production. Hence, all real wheel drive Pontiacs had to use Chevrolet V8's.
I know and thats when Pontiac started to go down hill.
@@CJColvin Well, to be fair, the Pontiac 301 was a pretty awful engine itself.
@@ab348 True
@@CJColvin Maybe, depending. That being said, the 301T made much more power than the pathetic 305 mush motor. Remember this video? I'm making this car, with a T5, and 3.42s.
th-cam.com/video/iovohEChv10/w-d-xo.html
@@joequillun7790 Exactly mate
In 1984 I test-drove a new Trans Am with the HO engine and a 5-speed. This was in the early years of any mfr ever offering cruise control with a manual. One of my checks was to see if they’d put a switch on the clutch pedal to automatically release cruise if you shifted gears. They didn’t. Push in the clutch while on cruise, and the RPMs quickly go up. Speaking of RPMs, it was amusing in that ad to see the tach with yellow-line at only 4500.
My mother had an SE that she bought brand new in navy blue with the optional spoiler on the back. It had a V6 engine and an automatic transmission, it was really a great car in its own way. The doors weighed a thousand pounds each, but at the time, it was the coolest car on the road, even rivaling the Corvette.
Good information. IMO the late 1970s, early 80s Trans Am saved the American muscle (Pony) cars. The Mustang (Mustang II) was reduced to little econo box. The Z28 was gone for a few years in the 70s leaving the T/A the only game in town. For me I considered the early Gen 3 F bodies a disappointment mainly because of the lack of meaningful power. For dedicated Pontiac owners the use of the Chevrolet engine was the nails in the coffin.
Me too. I'd still be happier putting aftermarket parts on a 301 in one of those, or being able to swap in any Poncho V8, in order to keep up with the older cars. At least with the Camaro, you could directly swap in any SBC. The '81 F bodies still used body parts which dated back to the days of peak muscle. However, the dawn of the F bodies' darkish days coincided with the dawn of Ford's emergence from malaise, with the '82 Mustang 5.0 HO - which was still on par with the 305, and hampered by the SROD three speed with overdrive 4th. Awesome 2nd gear, terrible direct 3rd. And that '82 GT was the best looking Fox Mustang ever.
Too many of them had a no anemic v6s. It was a bad era for power. These days hp wars have gotten laughable. You can't use much more than 300hp on the street.
@@DanEBoyd agreed...I had a Mustang 82 GT t-top, great car....I ended up selling it because it needed tires and the metric TRX tired were insanely expensive. The things we did when we were young.
Chevy V8 powered Pontiac's were a slap in a face to those used to 455,400,350,326 & 301V8's. But Gestapo Motors had their agenda in March 1981 when Pontiac V8 was phased out & the brand was relegated to producing 2.5 liter 4 cylinder engine.
i bought an 83 TA last year from its original owner. only 7800 dollars. garaged her entire life! 62K original miles. I agree the plastic interior is really cheap. but my car has none of the rattles & squeaks, maybe because its the hardtop not the T Top. I did swap out the crappy LG4 & installed a L69 305HO from an 88 monte. Stayed away from a 350 so i could keep the original 5 spd and 3.73 rear end. I can't be happier with my leisure car & it does get its share of stares and thumbs up from the public. Love it when YT puts a video out on this forgotten gem! new sub!
I'm looking forward to your review. Thanks for all the information, I really learned something. Dad bought one new in 82, it had the leather interior (our first Bull terrier could poke holes in the seats in mom and dad weren't careful.) It had the 305 Crossfire V8 and TH200 automatic. Dad told me the paint (his was red) at the Oshawa plant was contaminated with silicone and wiped off when he was washing it. He bought a Trans Am new in 86, then sold it for a Pontiac 6000 a year later when I was born.
Thanks for this episode.
My first car was a '92 base Firebird and I loved it so much. Had it for seven years and it never caused me any serious problems.
A few years later I bought a '93 Formula with the LT1 which I owned for ten years. Although this one was of course way more exciting with its V8, the torque and the horses it never came close to the 3rd gen in the means of the aesthetics.
I would love to see an episode of a late 3rd gen if you come across one.
I've always liked the sleek styling of this generation Firebird!!! I found the interior seems cheap with so much ill fitting plastic. Thanks for sharing this exciting video!!! 👍👍🙂
man I think the interior still holds ,at least the leather Trans Am interior ,man that interior is better looking than most new cars.
@@Adrian-mq5ld Oh the looks are incredible, but let's be honest, the quality is terrible. On my 84, the Pallex cloth was falling apart, the cardboard backing of the door panels was severly warped, the carpet changed color and lost hair, the hard black plastics either cracked or were broken, the soft colored plastics sundried and looked awful (and they stink when they're dried out), the headliner is some kind of flimsy superlight fiber material that is extremely fragile, the headliner foam always deteriorates (a common 70s to 90s cars issue), and all this on a car that spent most its life in the UK. Probably why the dash top is in perfect condition :D
@@Raptor3388 I have a 88 with the interior still intact. They changed the plastics materials over the years. Also the cloth is better than everything cloth these days. Wait till new cars get to be 40 to see their interiors. Also most people don't know but the chassis got reinforced in 86 or 87 .
Having owned a 1983 Trans Am, I was very interested in this episode. Before that one, I previously owned a '77 Formula, which did seem to be a more substantial quality built car. The '83, however, was magnificent in my opinion. Mine was white with the smaller bird decal over the off center hood scoop. It was an end of the year model, so it had a blue cloth interior (that color was not supposed to be available in the Trans Am) and the crossfire fuel injected V-8. As much as I loved the car (well, maybe not so much all that hard plastic in the interior), the fuel injection was a nightmare. Seemed like it needed adjustment on a weekly basis. I eventually traded it on a 1975 Trans Am. It was beautiful, too, but not as good looking as the '83. It didn't have the front end "moustache" grills. It was, however, a much better quality build. It didn't have the rattles, probably due to more "soft touch" material in the passenger compartment, and the drivetrain was infinitely more reliable. The Firebirds of this generation were, in my opinion, true styling masterpieces.
I had the 83 with a 5-spd, just loved that and the dual resonator exhaust. Hood scoop was functional and really made a difference. By 85 they improved the interior but lost the scoop and dual resonators, they should have kept them!!
I have a 1979 10th anniversary Trans Am in at 83 Pontiac Trans Am. I love my 79 but I still think that’ 3 rd generation was the best one they built.
In 1989, not long after I got my driver's license, my father bought a new Camaro. His insurance company told him that since he had a newly licensed driver in the household, they would only cover it if he bought the least powerful model available. No IROC for us! Now, decades later, I find that hilarious, because the least powerful Camaro you can buy today has _far_ more horsepower than the _most_ powerful one you could get in 1989.
(Double punch line: The V6 Camaro RS might not have had much power, but it still had enough to get into trouble. ;)
Love these / all third Gens, I own a 83 Camaro Z28, great car, super handling and now with LS power, it drives like it SHOULD have. Great stuff Adam, Thanks.
I have owned 3 82-92 Trans Am, Firebird and Formula that spanned 30 years. They were great cars for what they were. They were quirky but super reliable with the 5.0 V8. I grew up in a 3rd Gen Firebird. They were Very special to me and great handling cars and comfortable. Great video!
17 years old and the owner of an '82 S/E, I've got probably one of the most unique cars in the school lot lmao. It's definitely a work in progress, but even through all the oxidized paint and worn side trim, it's still modern and sleek and I love every bit of it, except for the 12 mpg lol
@Rare Classic Cars & Automotive History
Thanks for this interesting video. It made my day when you mentioned that a video of your personal Trans Am is on the way. I've been waiting for this since you mentioned that red T-Top in a previous video.
I own a red '82 T/A as well so I know that feeling too. These cars deserved better quality standards. It's a fun classic sports car to drive and its maintenance isn't always fun. Things stop working with age and wear. It also depends on how often it's used or how well it's maintained. I am in Europe and parts are not that easy to find. I had things fixed and updated to keep it running and performing better. There's always something to do with a classic car.
Thanks for this video. I had nearly the exact same 1982 S/E burgundy Firebird without the spoiler. It had the 5.0L 4bbl, Auto, 15" wheels with the black bowling ball caps. I bought it in 1986 with 34k miles on it. Still one of my favorite cars ever. Drove it for six years, but being a daily driver in the Midwest, salt took it toll, even though I hand washed it regularly and the body/paint looked great, the underside started to suffer from corrosion. There was a strange magical effect it had on people, I never had so many people "out of the blue" offer to buy it from me for more than I paid for it.
My sister had nearly the exact 1982 red Trans AM as yours, but hers was one of the rarest ones which didn't have the offset turbo blister on the hood. I like yours better.
This was an interesting presentation. Thank you,
I have been a full time mechanic working for myself for about 30 years now. One day a customer came to me (in the summer of 2019) and asked if i would go to a local junk/salvage yard and pull a transmission for a vehicle he owned. I said sure no problem. When i arrived, payed the entry fee of 3 dollars, and walked to the yard which was obviously behind the office, i noticed a fork lift picking up vehicles and moving them to the compacter to be crushed. I didn't think much of it at the time as most of the vehicles were already stripped of their respected parts, to be salvaged and repaired. After about 2 hours of being there something told me to take a break for a minute or two, so i did. I swear that just as soon as i stood up i saw the same forklift from earlier roll by, and as i watched it, it went to the end of the corner lot, and disappeared from my view. about a minute later, i saw it returning with a silver colored 80's style Firebird, and it was heading for the compacter. My first thought was it was just being moved, but when i realized that the old Firebird was indeed on its last ride to a death sentence, i flagged the forklift driver down and inquired about the old bird. To make a longer story even shorter, i was able to purchase the old bird for $300.00 u.s dollars. Later that afternoon, the old bird was dropped on my car trailer, & strapped down, i finished pulling said transmission, and headed home. when i arrived at my home i started inspecting the bird more closely and realized it was a complete car, the body had no dents, and the interior was dirty, but no rips or tares. the only thing i could find wrong was a bearing rod knock from the crankshaft. i filed for a title and ordered a new remanufactured engine through advance auto parts, and low and behold a month later, the old bird roared to life on it's second rebirth, and has since went through a few minor changes to the body only, as a knight industries two thousand (K.I.T.T for short) Kitt if you prefer.
1986 Pontiac Firebid Trans-am.
You are a good man for saving that bird!
My father bought an '83 from a close friend when it was two years old. Loaded, with T-tops, a good stereo, and a V8 that felt pretty fast, I was 24 and loved driving it. Wasn't a TransAm, but I think it was called the Formula? Thanks Adam for showcasing this blast from my past!
My dad had an '82, then an '83. As a kid in the Knight Rider era, it was a flex LOL. Fun times.
Been waiting for this video since you mentioned owning a 3rd Gen TA
Excellent story bro! Your dad was obviously a good man! God bless!
I bought a brand new dark shiny brown 1982 (base) Firebird, 8-cylinder, with T-top, no back spoiler, and shiny gold sport wheels. It was the best looking car anywhere, and had many people always admiring its sleek futuristic look at the time. I thought it had enough plenty of power, but my previous car was a 4-cylinder Pinto, so any 8-cylinder car would have seemed powerful to me at the time.
I was such a big fan of the car at first; I never missed an episode of Knight Rider. Unfortunately, I experienced so many frustrating problems with this 1st year version which included: power steering going out out after the 1st 200 miles, the T-top continuously leaking (even after numerous attempts of fixes by the dealer), several annoying rattles everywhere, one of the hidden headlights wouldn't "hide," plus so many other things I can't remember anymore. After about a year and a half, I ended up trading it in for a 1984 Chrysler XE Turbo.
My Laser lasted over 200,000 miles and treated me quite well, but now that I reminisce, I sure do miss the best-looking Firebird style ever made!
OMG, I am looking forward to your review of your 82 T/A ! 💛
My first car was a 1983 Crossfire Z/28. It was loaded lacking only rear window defogger and wiper. The only problem (big problem) was the failure of the 4 speed automatic trans. It started up every time and it was easy to work on, though! I was happy! I'm still happy with it as I still have it some 30+ years later!
It was Knight Rider that introduced me to this car,I love them.Yours is beautiful.
Great review ! I remember these as the Knight Rider series Trans Am which debuted in the early 80s .
This was Nicely Done
...btw the color combination of the T/A is somehow captivating look at, Red on Blk with the wheels to accent both colors while the blk spoiler & T-tops do a great job breaking up the red. Very Nice 3rd gen👍🏽
I was on a trip to London once and as it turned out the London Auto Show was going on about a block from my hotel so I thought It might be interesting to get a chance to sit in and see what all these weird cars I saw driving around were like.
Every brand seemed exotic to me and they had the usual luxury and supercar brands. The Ferraris and Lamborghinis has a scattering of people poking around but one exhibit has a huge crowd so you could not hardly see the car and a long line of people who wanted to sit in it. It was a red Pontiac Firebird and the crowd was treating it like a UFO had landed. As people got out of the drivers seat they had a look of awe on their faces and were delighted.
Most Americans these days think of these cars as old clunkers now but with the Knight Rider TV show stirring up interest it was an amazing sight to see.
Very informative and entertaining video. I learned some things and got a good laugh out of the advertisement at the end. It never ceases to amaze me how long it took GM to start making good cars after leaded gasoline was restricted. People can call it the "malaise era", but it's really the era of unleaded gasoline. The 1982-generation F-bodies were indeed legendary for poor fit and finish issues galore. I'm surprised that sales of the F-cars survived to the late 80s after all the horrible things people said about them. In 1985, Chevrolet unveiled an interesting concept car based on this generation of F-body: the Camaro GTZ. It had a fiberglass tilt-forward clamshell hood, banana-yellow paint with thick black strips, super-aero nose with flush headlights, and a turbocharged 4.3-liter V6 that was said to produce at least 240 horsepower, none of which ever saw the light of day. GM, in typically clueless fashion, once again contradicted their own "downsizing" philosophy by dropping a Corvette 350 V8 (5.7 liter) under the hood in the late 80s. While this undoubtedly improved the F-cars' street stature, it also made the car heavier. If only GM had dropped a fuel-injected 4.3 V6 (which was essentially a 350 V8 with two cylinders chopped off) to replace the 305 V8 (5.0 liter). Toward the end of the decade, Pontiac made a special edition Firebird using Buick Grand National's 3.8-liter twin-turbo & intercooled V6. There were also other grand opportunities missed for GM using this-generation F-car: if Oldsmobile had only introduced their revolutionary 2.3-liter DOHC Quad4 motor a few years earlier, it would've made a much better Camaro and Firebird than the terrible 2.5-liter "Iron Duke" Four. And if GM had any serious ambition for this car at all, they could have easily dropped a turbo Quad4 (supposedly worth 250 horsepower) under the hood, or maybe they could have derived an inline 5-cylinder variant of the regular Quad4. A Quad5 Firebird SE, with better quality control, would have been a winner.
What's funny is that some of the design flaws you noted for early 3rd gens are things that made their way into the 4th gen birds and stayed there until the bitter end. The headlamp motors with plastic gears is a big one. GM just couldn't let it go. 😂
Absolutely love the Firebird/Trans Am and this gen is the one I have the most soft spot for. You've got an excellent example in your possession.
Nice to see this. I was 10 or 11 when my dad brought home a brand new 1982 Firebird in maroon. A week before he showed me a brochure of a Toyata Supra and a new Firebird and asked me which one I liked. Well, I thought the Firebird looked like an exotic car just like from Herbie Goes Banana's I think, whichever one it was where it dated the Lotus. It looked like a Ferrari to me. And then of course it became Nightrider, all the better. I drove over the Grapevine in it when I was 12 with a book under me so I can see over the steering wheel. My dad was very proud of the car too so we liked it so much together.
what you did with it?
Another fantastic video! Thank you! Please do an interview with the designer of this beautiful car.
My friend had a 88 Firebird Formula 350 , it flew 4 people in it we were doing 145mph. WS6 cornering was down right amazing!! By 88' they worked out a lot of bugs and honestly its better than a IROC gauges alone!
without a doubt the interior is better looking. Heck those gauges you could still put in a modern car and they would still look modern.
I have owned an 87 GTA Trans Am for 7 years, but the car by then was already 22 years old with 160k miles. It was a very shaky, rattled a lot, needed every mechanical thing serviced, and the tpi motor sometimes didn’t want to start. But damn did the car look so damn good. I miss it everyday, it was an awesome car to ride in.
i was in High School riding the school bus home when someone called out thats the new trans am. It was waiting at the red light as we rode thru the intersection. GM had made a big marketing program anticipating the new models arrival. it was a big deal and the memory of seeing it for the first time still has a place in my memory.
Any teenager of the 80's (myself included) would have had an obsession with this model Trans Am due to the Knight Rider TV series starring KITT (with David Hasselhoff also appearing in a minor supporting role).
I had a friend in high school who had a black ‘83 Trans Am. It was a bit of a rattle trap and didn’t have much get up and go. But it was a cool car, very beautiful to look at, with a very low and snug interior.
I had a 1982 red One in high school. I wished i still had it
The death of the 200 HP 301 Turbo a year before the 82. It's sad that it didn't continue as a blow through TBi. The whole Pontiac F body line was now mainstreamed underneath to be a carbon copy of the Camaro. The steering and Torque tube axle, and modified strut IFS were great advances. So was the wack-o 18 degree tilted to the driver stick shift manual option. I was lucky to see these in NZ. The 82- 89's are common imports, with a long running love dating back to the non compliant emission Formulas from the late 72 Norwood, Ohio 172 day plant strikes. Rather than scrap all 1100 of them, some of the Pontiacs were exported and Kiwis, Japanese and Britons suddenly lapped the 400 and 455's up in 1973 to 74. That love continued to the 82-89s. Thanks Adam for your sharing. The 1973 Formula 455 was a beginning of deep Southern Pacific appreciation for Pontiac engineering, and it has continued.
Torque tube? Don't you mean Torque arm? The Borg Warner T5's thus motor too had to be tilted to fit in the trans tunnel.
Thanks for the video.
I had two personal favorites during this era. The 1987 GTA was the perfect balance of performance and comfort a lot of fun to drive for sure. I also like the 1989 formula which was quite Peppy but didn't seem to have the comfort of the 87 GTA with a significantly stiffer ride.
I've always liked the look of the 3rd gen Firebird, though I lament the change to corporate Chevrolet engines. Really nice understated video, Kudos.
That commercial over-hyped these early T/As which made the disappointment hit harder when you finally got behind the wheel and experienced the underwhelming performance provided by the lack of a high output V8. Anyone who had driven the previous generation would immediately notice how weak the 1982 T/A was. Pontiac initially planned to put a turbo powered V8 under the hood but sadly that plan got scrapped just before the cars went into production. Had it not been featured as KITT in Knight Rider the 1982 Trans would be a forgotten 1980s relic.
i owned a 1982 T/A in the mid 1980's and everything you said is accurate..i would also add issues with the new aluminum/plastic radiator which was awful in stop and go traffic for overheating...since the amount of air you get from underneath at stop is almost null..also had trouble with the aluminum wiring ..trying to repair the wiring or the radiator (no rebuilt replacements available at the time) was a nightmare..but i loved the styling and loved the car ..years later i traded it in for a 1991 Firebird T/A...
Always loved the 3rd gen f bodies, and still have my 87 Z28 that has been in my family since new and I have had it for almost 26 years now
As the french owner of a 1984 T/A HO 5 speed for 13 years, I can attest to most of what you said. I also owned a 1983 Z28 LG4/TH200C, and I have a 1987 GTA 5.7L digital dash.
They do have a share of issues, mostly due to a choice of "minimum acceptable strength" parts, whether it's the body strutcture, the rear end, the transmissions, the interior materials quality, nothing ages very well or is capable of handling great power. And it feels as the car gets older. But absolutely nothing matches the looks, the exterior styling of the 82-84 models is so 80s and sharp, that the 85-up models look a bit bland in comparison, as they rouded off all the corners.
The L69 engine is a drastic improvement over the LG4, it's very responsive and with the 5 speed it is a lot of fun for small curvy roads. The 5.7L L98 is much stronger and smoother, but as it's stuck with an automatic, it doesn't have that energetic feeling of the L69. The LG4 does its job to move the car comfortably, but it's hard to call it a sports car with this engine. It's just... fine. I also had an 84 Corvette with the Crossfire, and didn't have any issue with it, the power was fine as well, very torquey so it didn't feel slow, the new owner is enjoying it a lot and is showing up at every car show around here.
I also own early 1979 Fox body Mustangs and a Capri, and despite not being all that great in quality and having terrible power outputs, they feel much more refined.
My pulse quickens when a new RCC & AH video pops up in my feed.
I knew a guy who purchased the Camero version of this. So excited the first day "a poor man's vet". I think less than three months later it was gone he said it just fell apart. I looked at it new and thought it was cheap junk that genuinely could have been a great car.
I agree, beautiful design of the 80's and still is & I still have one with 42 000 miles on the clock!!
Great vid, really enjoyed!!!!! 👍👍
Had one just like yours white though same body style 83 trans am crossfire miss that car. I got a 97 30th anniversary camaro z28 love my car. Great video not many f body videos out there like this .
What are all the cars you personally own? Can you do a whole collection video? Great videos, love the detail and how you hit cars, especially ones with big engines that people have forgotten.
I have owned my 87 formula for 22 years and It is still my daily driver
My favorite as well.
My god I was in love with the ‘85 T/A back then, and I’m still in love today
i sold these when they were new.Never saw a crossfire Trans am in stock.
They were even worse than the previous F body platform.Cheesy plastic everywhere.
Dealer markup was huge,though.Made good money selling them.
I knew someone who bought a 82 firebird S/E and within 6 months had some many issues with it (including a blown engine) that he ended up eventually getting a geo sprint and he had better luck with the Geo
2:18 VERY good overview of John Schinella. He's a great guy if you ever have the chance to meet him in person!
I was 16 when these came out, and probably still have some magazines somewhere of them. The looks still hold up. These will probably sky-rocket in price soon.
Had a 215 hp IROC-Z in '86, by then these cars had adequate power to match their handling. Had one of the 145hp V-8's in a p/u, it was a dawg!
I bought a 1982 T/A new. It had the Viscount seats and they were awesome. Too bad they were only on the 82’s. I really liked that car. Mine jade the base V8 and the 4 speed. It really was a lot of fun to drive.
5:48 Damn! This is one of the few cars that looks a little better with the T-tops than without.
6:54 I also have to give GM credit for weathering the snide remarks from critics and putting the catalytic converter bulge behind the passenger's feet instead of just raising the floor the way they did on most of their RWD cars of the late 1970s. The extra legroom was well worth the inelegance.
In the late 80's, my brother bought an 84 Trans Am. While it was a stunning car, the fit and finish and ride were the worse I had ever seen. Every little bump you went over felt like the whole car was going to fall apart. In contest, my sister in law had an 89 Formula and it was a HUGE improvement even by then, Especially when it came to the interior materials and ride. Still my favorite generation out of all of them.
My buddy had a loaded black on tan leather with the deluxe seats in 82. 305 4bbl. Automatic... I drove it. 2 things, It handled really well and it was not a slow car. It had the street machine set up that worked great. Losing 500 pounds made the 305 a good pull up to 60. What more do you want from a street car? It was good on fuel too! Less is more. The early ones like shown looked the cleanest. Plain Jane looks rule in my book. I remember him servicing the headlight mechanism. When done he tried it and one went up and the other down. It was funny to see them do that but anyway I am rambling. He fixed it.
I bought a ‘83 Trans Am brand new back in the spring of 1983. Mine was black (of course) with the gold lower two tone. It had the LG4 305/4 bbl. w/ the 700R4. It was a pretty loaded version I picked right off the lot. It was slow, it did squeak & rattle often. It’s torsional rigidity was as Adam said, weak at best. I referred to it as the “boneless chicken” of t-tops. I owned it for 2 years and traded up to a brand new 1985 Corvette.
I dearly miss my ‘83 Trans Am 5spd with the dual resonator exhaust.
I love the bowling ball wheels!!
I know this video is specifically about the ‘82/‘83 models..but just wanted to point out the impressive improvements in the 3rd genPontiac and Chevy F bodie ..the TPI 5.0 and 5.7 engines were just what the doctor ordered and peaking in ‘92 with the albeit low production SLP Formula 350 Firebird..I totally agree on the fantastic styling on these cars. Their ability to capture the imagination and remain stylistically relevant is a testament to their legitimacy. I personally love all the F bodies and find it difficult to pick a favorite generation. The improvements in suspension, updated style and my perceived upgrade in build quality made the 3rd gen very attractive..it threw off the modern tech/synth/computer vibe but the stylish curves and feel of the 2nd gen are irresistible.
Too bad they are now both so hard to find in good shape and now very expensive..I feel like it’s yesterday when you could get a beautiful example of a ‘79 Trans Am for like..$3500 bucks..lol..the good old days we took for granted.
My first car, a 1979 Lincoln Town Car with 40k miles, I bought off a buddy in 1988 for $800!..still my favorite driving vehicle ever.
By the time of this series of Firebird, I saw no reason to choose a Corvette, with less room and certainly no more practical performance. I always wanted to haul more stuff back then, but I admired the looks. Thanks, Adam!
I believe the hood with the offset scoop was part of the WS6 package too. It was made functional with the 190 horsepower engine in 83.
Beautiful video...
I had 1984 with WS6 package was a beast I miss that car with 305 HO with 5 spd manual was amazing car
I bought a 1984 SE brand new (late in the season), and I was quite happy with the quality of that car, so they must have worked a lot of the problems out of them by then. It had the 305, and it was loaded and luxurious. Like so many cars I've had, I never should have sold it. I didn't even need to sell it...I just had too many cars and was primarily driving my new F-150 back then. What I wouldn't give for a time machine...
I'm happy I got a 91 V6 with a manual. There isn't much that needs to be looked after mechanically. It's pretty reliable. It squeaks though but it was neglected and screws are missing from the dash. I'm happy with this car
Great video, thanks. I’ve had a half dozen 3rd generation F bodies..all Camaros actually..and more 2nd gen..both firebirds and Camaros..the Trans Am always being the pinnacle to me. My current ‘77 T/A is running strong and awaiting new paint.
It’s really something, how stylish cars were years ago. Fender flares, heat extractors, shaker hoods..T tops..they really don’t make them like they used to. A Mark IV is next for me and maybe a 1 ton GMC/Chevy truck..bye bye newer vehicles