I hated these cars, they sucked big-time.. They even cheapened the steering wheel. It doesn't compare to 71 steering wheel that was thicker. The turbo versions had a serious problem where head bolts would distort cylinder and warp. They wouldn't pass 25 hours on a dyno. The normal aspirated were lamer at hp.. I use to laugh at my co workers driving them brand new. Fake hood scoop 😂 I doubt I'd take one even if it was free. These are the products that drove PMD to the trash heap of fame. Thanks to management they wrecked the company my father worked for and put city I live in into receivership.
The bowling ball hubs were so cool in 82!This new body style was ahead of its time.The performance was far from a 455 SD or WS6 but it was a head turner.And the girls loved to hang out the T-tops!
The temperature is dropping, the world is settling down outside. It makes for an amazing drive. Even if you have a land yacht, and you are riding, as you navigate around the streets. Relaxing and beautiful. I felt like a voice being overlaid, only just a little bit louder than the car, sort of like KR. Being lower, with a touch of grit. Being of a different frequency than the car, but still harmonious with the car, and in rhythm as he approaches lights and acceleration and deceleration. But something like a man and his machine, followed by a small poem about how he feels in that moment. Just him driving his car of the night. For the others that have the better choice of lighting, the voice could say something about, how the “technical name” light emitted from the instrument cluster is bathes him in something beautiful. The voice only needs to be less than a minute, sometimes less than thirty seconds. Only, what he feels, the feature/s that is moving him at the moment. The comfort of the seats, the effortless power or how it wafts him down the road like if the wind was pushing him along. Even the steering wheel, as the street lights are shining through. Certainly no loud nor voice that is disturbing, and not long. Great video, as always.
@@Jag-leaper Wrong. Never owned one of these, but rode in several of these Firebirds 'cause they were popular with friends. Took a cross-country road trip in a white one...
Wow very cool video and nice example! Growing up as a kid my parents had a 82 Trans Am in 83. Looking back it was kind of a low option odd ball. It was a base model, hard top, flat hood, silver wheel covers, crank windows, non tilt column, 305 4bbl with the 4spd manual and it was black and gold on the outside with black interior. So many good memories in that car.
His looks really clean. But I bet it's hard as hell to find one without a cracked dash. I see his has one near the steering wheel. Just the one crack, 40 year old foam injected with soft vinyl top layer that's probably now hard and brittle. Even one sitting in a garage for 20+ years never used would still get a brittle dash.
80s styling that does not look outdated inside or out for some reason. They were a great car with t tops and the pop up headlights are gizmo just like the C3 totally cool.
Love this one!!! This totally takes you out of your comfort zone per say... I'm a child of the 80's watching Knight Rider in the day! Love the color! Love the T-Tops even more. I can't wait for your full review on this beauty! Such an iconic vehicle!! Keep up the great videos and channel information and great guests you bring in. Thank you for bringing such pleasure to us car guys and gals!
I can remember the 80's too,it was such a fun time.i was a huge knight rider fan.i wanted one of those trans ams bad, but couldn't afford it.a friend had one, so at least I got to go for cruise's in it.cool vid,it brought back some fond memories.
What a timeless beauty. The engine sounds healthy. It was really relaxing to watch. I absolutely need to upload my drive videos as well. I'm glad your Trans Am is still getting some attention as well as your other classic cars.
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.
I had a black with gold trim 1982 T/A. It had t-tops, Recaro seats, power windows, WS6 suspension, functional air induction with cross fire throttle body injection, 305 Chevy engine. It listed for $16,000 at what was Tabor Pontiac in Atlanta.
My first job right out of college, I went car shopping at the downtown Pontiac dealership and saw my first brand new car. It was a 1985 Trans Am, 305 HO 4 bbl, AT, dark blue with the lower edges of the car painted in silver. It had silver honeycomb wheels and blue cloth seats. I was young and didn't know how to negotiate buying a new car and paid too much for but I enjoyed the car for eleven years. Many smiles per miles. The T-tops were my favorite feature. Thanks for the video. It brought back my memories with my first Trans Am.
One other thing.....EV's are, unfortunately, being driven by the minions in charge today (the Greenies) who have absolutely ZERO appreciation for the automotive enthusiasts' world. They view the automobile as simply a means of getting from 'point A, to point B'. Nothing more. I'm all for preserving and preventing damage to our environmental world, believe me, but the push for ALL electric vehicles is simply unrealistic. It's really stupid, by all accounts. Incredibly ignorant.
There were NO L69 automatics in 1985. The L69 was produced from 1983-1986 in the F-body, and 1984 was the ONLY year the L69 was available with MD8. 1983, 1985, and 1986 were MM5 ONLY. You had an LG4 car if it was carbed with MD8.
@@Joesmusclecargarage It has been awhile since I owned the car, so I am recalling from memory. My car was the LG4. I misspoke calling the engine an HO. Only 165 HP.
Remember seeing one of these in late fall 1981 in gym class, 10th grade. It was red too. There it was parked in the hs parking lot. I cannot convey how radical this styling was when I first saw it. It was such a huge change from the second gen firebird I had at the time. I couldn't stop staring at it. Must have left a mark on me that I still remember it clearly today.
The people that buy these model Trans Am will convert them into a KITT. Not that I have a problem with Knight Rider, but it’s nice to see an original 1982 Trans Am, with decals and a different colour strip on the bottom. Very attractive Car. ❤
Such a quiet and restful video, shot at the perfect time of day. It's amazing how quiet that Firebird is -- I expected some squeaks and rattles. ;-) A tribute to your stewardship, I'm quite sure.
Those flawlwssly working pop up headlights are fantastic! Thanks for sharing the drive. May I humbly suggest you take one of the designers for a ride with you simetime.
Do those pop up headlights use motors or engine vacuum like the 70's cars did with their hideaway lights? My 89' Honda Accord used motors, they never gave me trouble. Too bad safety regulation got rid of pop up headlights. I understand why they did away with them, a pedestrian hitting those can get way more injuries than if they just roll over a smooth hood with no impediments.
I had an ‘86 T/A finished in Yellow Gold w/ T-tops. Though those cars of the era lacked the horsepower, in my opinion GM made up for it in style, and with the T-tops removed, it was a fun car to drive.
So cool. I really have always loved these. They were super cool in their day. Still are. Especially the GTA. But I'd sell one of my Lincoln's & take this one for a weekend driver all day long. Adam is even sporting the 80s computer watch Great video
I wouldnt sell a Lincoln for this junkmobile.. I owned a 69 Lincoln with suicide doors and a clown I worked with got suckered into a $50.oo bet after work with his junk olds powered 402 TA to race me and he lost big-time to a 5,000# lead sled Lincoln packed with Bondo and a 365 hp 460 V8...
@@lissaleggs4136 bro who cares, let people like what they want to without telling them its a trashy car in both looks and performance, you’re in so many comments like this just shitting on it.
The 82’s are special cars because it was the one year you got the PMD open headrest seats,the 15” Turbo Cast aluminum wheels with the aerodynamic covers,the cone shaped auto shifter knob and white gauge needles. Some very early 83’s got the turbo wheels,and some got the 82 style steering wheel.
This car still looks slick even by today's standards so you know back then it was cool with all the boxy designs in the early 80's. I drove an 85 Trans Am and it was a legit muscle car.
My sister bought a brand new 1988 Firebird Formula 350 with TPI. That car was fast for the era. From a stop with wide open throttle, it would lay 2 patches of rubber on 1-2 shift !! Impressive
Adam, the Hoff would be proud, kid! (or should I say Kitt!) You even looked a little like him behind the wheel! Slow/malaise? Yes, but still a damn cool cruiser! Long live 1982 🤘😎🤘
I remember one of these came off the trailer at the Pontiac dealership I worked at...I had to porter it and was a blast driving...Same color too.. GOOD LUCK trying to find those wheels if you need one...rare as hell!
This video makes me miss my 84 Vette. When set up correctly the CFI is a sweet running setup as you can see here. I am too used to seeing Adam in his luxo boats though
Had a 1984 with the 305 and it was one of the best driving cars I ever had. I'm going to see about getting another one when I get back to the states. My gauges were orange at night and those were a really cool feature on these cars and the sound very pleasant, too.
I also have a 1982 pontiac trans am with cross fire fuel injection, And yes he is all decked out to look like kitt from knight rider. Have owned my replica for the past 32 years.
I have never driven or been a passenger in any of the eighties Pontiac T/A, however, your car looked like it was a fun car to take for a drive, I love the retractable headlights. Thank you Adam.
Back in late 1982, I was riding with my cousin in his 1971 Chevy Caprice coupe that had a 402 big block in it. At a stop light we had a guy driving his then brand new '82 Pontiac Trans Am pull up along side us and rev his engine wanting to race us. So my cousin just smiled and revved that big engine in his Caprice (which was bone stock). The light changed, my cousin and the guy in the TA hit the gas and we ended up leaving him in the dust quickly. Never forget the shocked look on that guy's face after he relised that he just got beaten by an 11 year old tank.
Nothing wrong with that great old tank, I used to enjoy walking away from cars also when driving my 73 Caprice coupe. Mine had the choked down 400 small block though, sure wish it had the 402 from 71 in it. Just wish I had that car today, but the northeast winters/salt/rust consumed it many years ago.
I bought a 1982 white/black Trans Am when I got my Army bonus. Man that was cool then. It had the wheel covers like this red one. No crossfire I had the carburetor on a 305.
Those were by far the coolest American cars in the 1980's. By now, they have worn out, rusted out, or mostly gone away. They ere once common. Leave it to Adam to find such a beautiful, pristine example. Fabulous.
I have a 1983 Z/28 Crossfire T-top and I'm impressed at how quiet yours drives! Mine has more rattles than a daycare center! Your exhaust is a LOT quieter than mine!, too.
Didn't they go to that dual muffler setup (side by side) in 1983 on the top motors? That setup sounded MUSCULAR... might explain the difference here. (also, the cats back then were pellet style, so they soaked up more sound than a modern muffler! Is your cat still intact or gutted?)
@@tripletransam87 Yes, it does have duel muffler set up. It sets off car alarms. I've had the car sine 1991 and the powertrain is intact, but the interior was vandalized when it was stolen in the late 90s. I have a replacement interior and NOS OEM glass, Time and money is an issue to complete it. It's still drivable, but not really. The AMT 1983 model kit White/Gold is my car. Thanks!
@@flobp2381 I did a bit of research yesterday, the dual resonator exhaust was on the 82 and 83 TAs (the HO of 83+ used the crossflow setup like all the later cars). So I guess that's what's on the 82 here. Maybe your cat is empty or missing? I did a similar thing on my 78 TA W72 (ie TA-6.6) that has a dual resonator setup albeit not in the back like on these cars... it was clear that the pellet converter muffled a lot more than the high flow modern monolithic converter I switched to. With aftermarket resonators (since the originals were starting to rattle) the car sounds like an older musclecar now... you can really hear the cam lope of that stock 400, those cam profiles resembled the 69-70 Ram Air 3. I wonder how such a dual resonator setup like this would sound like on my 1987 GTA, although I have no desire to hack up the original exhaust on that thing.
@@tripletransam87 Thanks for all the info! My exhaust is/was bone stock.and it had/has a good rumble. I had to replace the original cat when a tire shop used a lift, I don't know what it's called, that lifts the car along the edge of the frame and it crushed the cat. I replaced it with an OEM cat so it still sounds the same. It sounds good, but it's still gutless, "bark worse than it's bite" as the saying goes!
As a teen I’d walk or ride my bike by a red one like yours that was parked near the end of my street. It was only 7 or 8 years old at the time but had a lot of lacquer peel and lost its wheel covers but I still thought it was a cool car.
Oh MAN! I love this video. I had no less than 5 (!) friends as a teenager that had Trans Ams - and one had a 1982 Trans Am. I had a Delta 88 that beat them all (it was modded), but I loved those TA's!
Excellent video. Most of the detractors tend to overlook that driving in a straight line is only a fraction of the driving experience, so they miss out on the big part of what is fun about driving (Cliff Gromer once wrote "you can stick a V8 in a garbage can and go three's (in the 1/4 mile)..." ). Having driven my all original 1987 Trans Am GTA for over 3 decades, there is much to be said about how Pontiac tuned the suspension on what should be a "limited" platform (live rear axle with panhard bar and only lower control arms, modified front macpherson setup that is only truly happy within a limited range of its arc of travel, two twigs sticking out of a unibody as an excuse for a front frame, etc.) to feeling like it's glued to the road and with immediate response and feedback. Throw in a mellow V8 exhaust note and you've got an excellent grand touring car perfect for backroads cruising. Had to ask: what exhaust setup do you have on that car? Original pellet converter still in place?
Interesting thoughts on the chassis design of the Third Gen F-Body. I have owned a 2000 V6 Firebird Automatic with the Torsen and 3.42 in the rear, and I am highly satisfied with the car's solidity, cornering grip, traction, steering precision, and comfort on the road, it is a true sports car and a Grand Tourer. The styling of the 3rd Gen Firebirds, the beautiful GTA in particular, have long prompted me to own one; I wonder though would the inferior chassis compared to the later 4th Gen be too much of a disappointment? What are you thoughts? I Truly feel the loss of Pontiac was a great injury to American Car Art and the potential enjoyment of many who appreciated the legacy of the Firebird. I think GM should give a Sport/GT car another chance and resurrect Pontiac and the F-Body. So many men today are enamored with Pickup Trucks, to which I say, DUH! Or, they allow their wives to choose their cars, Pathetic. An all new rear drive platform, no struts, front mid-engine, with a short (as the F-Car) and a longer wheelbase version as a personal luxury coupe, something like the Maserati Gran Turismo, and produced by Chevrolet, Pontiac, and Buick, and maybe even Cadillac. GM will eventually kill itself if it does not reckon with our need for Beauty and Moving Energy in our cars. No doubt though our decline as a people, degraded by Fornication and Feminist Collaboration, we get what we deserve. Check out some inspiration, my website: ladiesforthegranturismo.wordpress.com/
I totally loved just you basic 1973-75 Camaros…the basic attainable ones…no Z28’s..just a nice RS…or even an Esprit from Pontiac…but instead I wound up with a 73 Chevy Vega GT…but still somehow got to like even that little 5spd beast..
Thank you for the evening drive. Brings back memories for me as I had a car very similar to that in Austin in the early 1980's. My car had the T-Top which was great fun. It was very easy to own and drive, but a minor fender bender could never be color matched properly and I sold it on to a nice school teacher. Bought a beautiful Saab 900 Turbo SPG instead.
Sounds like the Corvette and this one with the crossfire seems like you got it running right some people don't know how to set them up properly at things purring really good
