alan91z28

looks great... good for you!

ksr

I love 3rd gen convertibles. I think they really do make one of the best looking droptops and they accomplish something pretty rare to my eyes: they actually still look good with the top up.

Ancient thread. I sometimes wonder about how many 3rd gens are still around. I'd think the answer is "a lot" with the activity on this forum and the fact that at any given time, you can find on eBay 25 or more Firebirds for sale and 70 or more Camaros. (Compare that to a car from the same timeframe, a Dodge Daytona. You'll rarely see any of those for sale.) There's quite a number of 3rd gen-dedicated websites and Facebook pages. Camaros and Firebirds were always the sort of cars that enough people tended to pamper and collect that a lot would still be around.

But, I really couldn't tell you the last time I saw a 3rd gen Firebirds on the road. It's been years. I haven't even seen one at a couple of recent car cruises (and no Camaros either). I've seen a few 3rd gen Camaros on the road, but that is literally "a few" over the past five years. I'd assume they're out there, somewhere. But most are just garage queens.

Aaron R.

Lots left, just rotting away in back yards everywhere.

rhyno91

When I was looking for one to buy as a project, almost none. After I bought one, there were a bunch for sale. When I'm looking for specific parts, again almost none. When I'm not looking for anything in particular, a bunch.

KITT87

Stumbled across this thread a while ago, and it’s a good (if not really hard to answer) question. I’ve seen a total of 8 different 3rd gens across the last 3 years at meets, parked, on the road, anywhere. Only one of those was a factory stock, well kept car. It was a maroon trans am, post 85. Didn’t catch the engine but it had the 700r4. Most of the time, I’m the only 80s car at any car meet I go to, almost 100% of the time if you don’t count the fox body Mustang. All that to say, they’re a rare sight around here. I’ve seen more ford probes than third gens this year.

8t2 z-chev

I still see a few in my area :besides my '82 still on the beat,I see:
-~ '87 Firebird v8
- 86 Firebird v6
- ~84 z28
- '88 Iroc hardtop-saw this one all over from about 1990-2015,I think it is getting tired and not seen as often
-~'91 RS convert
these last 4 i think are the same owner because i see the same cowboy hat in the cars
also there is an '88 with a rorty big block, a primer gray ~'91 RS, and an '86 TA with a rorty unidentified SBC

ksr

It surprises me how few 3rd gens I see on the road. Which is almost none. Even the last car show I went to, there were none. I know they're out there. They always were the sort of car that people collect and there's always a reasonable number for sale online.

But on the other hand, mine is an '88. 36 years old. Back in 1988, I didn't see a lot of 1952 cars rolling by. Most people who have 36-year old cars baby them and don't drive them around that much.

Funny how your perspective changes with age. In 1988, I'd have thought that a car from the '50s was ancient. I've owned 3rd gens since 1990 and I don't look at them that way. Since I've been around them so long, I look at my car like any other car, not some museum piece. I wonder what people in their 20s who maybe aren't really into cars think when they see mine drive by. "Great car!" Or, "What's that old thing?"

ughmas

On the road and fully functional? not that many... in garages, driveways, and yards in a state of half-completion? Lots! (myself included lol)

92BLKL98

Oh yeah mine has been under the LS surgery for 10 years. Wife's health issues money and time, now money is no issue but getting back into it is a big deal.