GTP Cool Wall: 1982-1992 Pontiac Firebird

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1982-1992 Pontiac Firebird

  • Total voters
    128
  • Poll closed .
GranTurismo916

GranTurismo916

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Nii916
1982-1992 Pontiac Firebird nominated by @SVT Cobra GT
102035_Front_3-4_Web.jpg


Engines: 151 ci (2.5L) I4 (GM Iron Duke), 173 ci (2.8L) V6 (GM 60°), 191 ci (3.1L) V6 (GM 60°), 231 ci (3.8L) Turbo V6 (Buick LD5), 305 ci (5.0L) V8 (Chevrolet 305), 350 ci (5.7L) V8 (Chevrolet 350)
Power: 151: 88-94 hp; 173: 105-135 hp; 191/231: Unknown; 305: 145-205 hp; 350: 210 hp
Torque: 151: 132-135 lb-ft.; 173: 142-165 lb-ft.; 191/231: Unknown; 305: 235-275 lb-ft.; 350: 315 lb-ft.
Weight: ~1440 kg
Transmission: 4-speed manual, 5-speed manual, 6-speed manual, 3-speed automatic, 4-speed automatic
Drivetrain: Front engine, rear wheel drive
Body Styles: 2-door coupe, 2-door convertible
Additional Info: "Famous for being KITT and KARR in Knight Rider."​
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Cool for being in Knight Rider, but these aren't really my favorite generation of F-bodies.
 
Famous for being KITT and KARR in Knight Rider.
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This is both a blessing and a curse for this Firebird. A blessing because of legendary TV status, and a curse because it reminds you of David Hasselhoff drunk and eating from the ground. And you might find many middle-aged men driving this around, pretending that they're still cool and hip. It's a tricky one to rate because of all of this.

And of course, it's a muscle car from the infamous "strangled engines" era, which doesn't help. I like the Firebird, but I'm afraid I might have to rate this an Uncool.
 
I love these things. I nearly bought one at the beginning of last year.

I'd possibly go as far as saying that these are the best looking cars to come out of the US in the '80s. (Perhaps the C4 Corvette would take that crown with others).

Yes you probably would tire of people asking if it's a KITT replica if you own a black one but at least you'll have kids recognising it and possibly admiring it.

Oh and it has pop up headlights.

SZ.
 
I'm always fine with a bird on my hood.
 
Would have been cool for being KITT on it's own, but it was driven by The Hoff, which drags it down to Uncool.
 
The cooler alternative to the 3rd gen Camaro. This generation of Trans Am also had a pretty cohesive design which looked even better in GTA trim. You... you did alright, GM.

Low Cool.



KITT was okay, I guess.
 
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Hasselhoff... 3,000€ worth of rust and automatic V6s... Hasselhoff imitators... Stickers on the bonnet... People who still think that Hasselhoff is cool...

Seriously uncool.

Well kept one would still be an interesting car, though. I'd happily have a Buick turbo one, if I had enough money.
 
Not my favorite gen Firebird, and thought the 3rd gen Camaros looked better.

Cool though.
 
In Black and good condition: Cool
anything else: Seriously Uncool
 
Nope. I LOOOOOOOOOOOVE these, I'd have one in a hearbeat, and then I'd come every dude in my lifetime talk me about Kitt, Karr and "pursuit mode". Seriously uncool because that. Sadly.

The same stigma that plagues the (way more sadly) 69 Charger applies here as well. Screw TV.
 
This was about as close as GM of the 1980s got to making a legitimately good, competitive and stylish car. The Corvette was junk. The Camaro was never given the same attention to detail the Firebird got (and even when it was new it carried stereotypes somewhat similar to the ones it has now). The Grand National couldn't hide its outdated platform no matter how hard it tried.



And this one:
Turbo_TA_20th_1.jpg

Perfection.​
 
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Member's Only jackets, parachute pants and mullets. Seriously uncool.
 
I'd vote Sub-Zero if it were a specific Firebird model, such as the Trans-Am, but we have to consider ALL of the variants made in that period.

Cool.
 
It's an 80s Camaro with the T-tops and low hp/liter ratings you love, but without the stereotypes about rednecks or Italians.

Uncool because Knight Rider.


I never got the Italian thing. All I know is that it has something to do with New Jersey, which is also uncool.
 
I like these, I take photos of them for DYSAGT, I don't care about the Knight Rider association, but they're still uncool. @ccaranna nailed it on the head. Even worse, 90% of these on the road today are cheap beaters. Just sad, because I really do like these.
 
Custom878
I never got the Italian thing. All I know is that it has something to do with New Jersey, which is also uncool.
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It was widespread enough of a stereotype in the late 80's that Eddie Murphy worked it into Raw as a side joke and the entire audience got it. Like proto-Guidos or something.
 
I like the '78 model more, because it's "The Firebird". However I'm not saying that this car is bad. Cool
 
My best friend's dad had one of these when we were growing up. Such a fun car to ride around in. His mom owned a white Fox Body 5.0. Amazingly, they never divorced.

Cool because it never seemed to fall into perceived categories of its platform mate. And Firebird is a great car name.
 
Solid cool. I much prefer these to this gen Camaro. Quick too.
 
Mullet-tastic.
 
Mullets, rednecks, beaters. Seriously uncool.
 
"Cool because it was in Knight Rider". Have you seen the program? It's the worst piece of T V ever!
 
TheCracker
"Cool because it was in Knight Rider". Have you seen the program? It's the worst piece of T V ever!
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Hey now. It's not even the worst show Hasslehoff starred in with "Night" in the title.
 
Knight Rider was awesome.

Don't Hassel the Hoff.
 
Tornado
Hey now. It's not even the worst show Hasslehoff starred in with "Night" in the title.
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Well, that is indeed true 👍

Doesn't make my statement any less valid.
 
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