We must be in the same age group, Z. I also believe the last worthwhile Trans Ams died in 1980 when the T/A 6.6 & 403 cars died, and in 1981 when Pontiac lost Trans Am's magic completely. No offense to the Firehawk & WS6 guys, but compared to the 2nd gen TAs, outside of performance, these cars aren't quite the same.

To put into context what Trans Am was in the 70s, take the new GTO (the Firebird's body had been around for 6-7+ years already, so it wasn't a traffic stopping body...like the new GTO's). GTO's eye catching interior today is what Trans Am interiors were in the 70s. If the new GTO had a shaker hood scoop and an large-ish engine capable of keeping up with a Z06 Corvette (say the 6.0 truck engine with a mild cam) and keep it about the same price it's at now, put one on every 4th or 5th block, give Chevy a version with a smaller weaker engine & no interior brightwork called Z28, and you have exactly what the Trans Am was in it's heyday.

 

Are you people crazy?? Camaro = 2 Doors.

 

I was born in the 3rd gen era (1982), and grew up with them and 4th gens, so that's pretty much the only firebird memories i have. I do agree with you on the firebirds not being the same as they were prior to 81.

That actually sounds good. But I'm sure an uproar would be heard over in the camaro camp over it getting a smaller weaker engine.

The GTO is an excellent car. A sleaker more aggressive body, and a hatch would make it a good 5th T/A. That same car without the fancy interior, and with a more docile engine/suspension package and a cheaper price would make it a good formula. But i'm sure GM is intent on keeping it under the GTO name.

 

Doesn't sound good at all.

 

I knew you'd have objections.

 

And back then...it wasn't Camaro vs Mustang, either. No sir. It was Z/28 vs Trans Am. There wasn't an awful lot of cross over by enthusiasts. You fell into the Z camp or the T/A camp....and that was pretty much it.

Believe it or not...whether you were a T/A guy or a Z/28 guy....sort of defined you....or rather stereotyped you. T/A had a definite "disco" connotation.

By '79 however...the T/A 6.6...was the undisputed, performance king of the street....only an L82, 4 speed, Vette could run with it. But, luckily, the Z/28 guys were still running the incredibly moddable, smallblock Chevy. A couple of hundred bucks and weekend of wrenching, (new intake, headers)......and they were ready to go T/A "hunting".