Agent13

iTrader: (6)

For those interested:

1983 Trans Am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omrbwBv1oLI

1987 Pontiac lineup

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCkfEpO-mvM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8klGqdaVug0

1988 Pontiac

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sT0IIoYkJaM&NR=1

JulieGTA

Awesome. They are all pretty funny!

I remember the song from the 88 commercial. It looks like miami vice!

The 83 commericial looks like blade runner!

injdinjn

It's obvious why so few Grand Prix's were sold.

BretD 88GTA

Wow, you can definitely tell what was going on at the time each of those spots were made.

1982 — the year TRON came out in theatres.

1987 — was that dude in a Members Only jacket? All he needed was the tacky gold chain around his neck. What were they thinking? (anyone else notice in the second 1987 spot that the TA has the European mirrors on it?)

1988 — Gee, according to that spot we should all have scantily clad, hot blonde groupees hanging all over us because of our cars. All it needed was Crocket, Tubbs and a cigarette boat.

And they wonder why they had trouble selling these cars.
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Yeah, 'cuz they didn't go with the gold chain, La Coste shirt, leather Members Only jacket, designer jeans and Italian boots like the TA did.

Kevin91Z

iTrader: (1)

What do you mean they had trouble selling these cars? Thirdgens were some of the best selling f-bodies of all the generations. It was the 4th gens they had trouble selling, because they were so ugly. I think the worst thirdgen year was still better than the best 4th gen year, in units sold. But the 77-79 f-bodies still hold the title as best selling, with over 200,000 units each year.

injdinjn

Advertising, or rather the lack of, is what killed the F body.
In the late 70's firebirds were everywhere, Rockford Files, Smokey and the Bandit, Kitt, etc
4th gens got very little press. Around 2000 I went looking for a Firehawk. 2 dealers never heard of it, and their F body stock consisted of one TA each. I gave up, as I am sure lots of other buyers did too.
When I bought the 86 GP I actually wanted a 442. The local Olds dealer said the Olds G body was discontinued and tried to sell me some FWD POS.

Agent13

iTrader: (6)

1986 T/A

Skip to 3:30

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ECII6hAE1k

BretD 88GTA

Tom, you should have come out to the Valley. My local Pontiac/Buick/GMC dealer (where I bought my GTA and my truck) had Firehawks all the time. There were always at least two on the lot each year of Firehawk production.

BretD 88GTA

I was talking more generally, not 3rd gen. specific, but with ads like those I'm a little surprised there was even a 4th gen.

Clearly, the ad agency and Pontiac for that matter, thought their customer base was the Don Johnson/Jon Bon Jovie wannabe.
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I rest my case. Let's see, to drive a TA you need a fake leather jacket and cheesy boots But hey, you'll score a date with a girl that looks like Vanity or Appelonia.

injdinjn

Tom, you should have come out to the Valley. My local Pontiac/Buick/GMC dealer (where I bought my GTA and my truck) had Firehawks all the time. There were always at least two on the lot each year of Firehawk production


Now you tell me.


BTW the quote/url etc icons do not work for me.

JulieGTA

Thanks alot Alex for your crazy 80's commercials! I noticed they brought back wayfarers so I got some...

I feel so old.

injdinjn

Yep, once you pass 40 nostolgia(sp) suks.