Were 1980s cars really that bad?

[danachevroletfor1967]

Originally Posted by markinnaples

danachevroletfor1967, got any pics of your '78?

I do have some. I purchased the car new in July, 1978. It was probably one of the last '78 Camaros made as it is a 06E car, assembled in Van Nuys. It is pretty much all original, but I did have an IROC style front air dam installed in Jan., 1979.

[Eck]

Nice car. Had a 77 z and stilll have a 85 z, these cars get a bad wrap they were not neck breakers in a standing start but good on the highway and pretty dependable. I have had a lot of 60's on up mostly camaro vette nova and Monte's exception a GTO.
All had there good and bad. Old ones were fast newer ones were quick is what I like say.lol.

[markinnaples]

Nice, love the color of your 1978 Z.

[Lynn]

Originally Posted by novadude

A CCC Q-jet worked very well and required minimal maintenance. The "dancing needle" concept they incorporated was pretty ingenious, given the technology of the time (in development in the late 1970s, released in 1980-1981).

It's easy to bash the 1980s cars looking through a 2017 window, but many of the 60s muscle cars weren't all that great either.

Don't forget that the 325hp 396 was a slug with the little 198 deg @ 0.050 cam and .398 lift, stock, as-delivered 302 Camaros weren't exactly fast, etc. The 1984 HO 305 in the ad above could give either one of these cars a good run. A '79 Z28 responds to typical heads / cam / exhaust bolt-ons just like the 2 examples above.

We may just have to agree to disagree on that. Yes, the dancing needle was ingenious, and it worked well... for about 18 months. The it turned to crap. I owned a small four bay independent shop in the 80's. I rebuilt one or two A DAY for several years. Most shops at the time wouldn't touch them. I don't understand why they didn't just bite the bullet and go to computer controlled fuel injection. The cost difference wasn't that huge. The computer (first c in ccc) was the biggest cost involved. They were just clinging to the old technology

You are absolutley correct about late 70's Z and espcially into the 80's. No doubt, they could keep up with most of the 60's muscle as delivered with bias ply tires.

[NorCam]

I worked at a large GM dealership in 1983 and drove a lot of the new cars that year. Of the Vette's, Camaro's, Monte's and Hurst Olds that came out in 83, the Monte was my second favorite car to drive...right next to the Old's Tornado which was a wicked car.

I drove a few buick's including the GNX and drove the owners Vette quite a lot. I was an 18 year old car jockey at the time.

[flyingn]

not all 80's cars were bad!

[70-SS/RS-L78]

Once the fuel crises hit driving the Radical Big Block Camaro as a daily driver was a bad idea so that was put in the garage and I brought my 77 TA with leaky T-Tops, Then I went through a bunch of different musclecars cause you could buy them all day long for 500-$1000. Then I found a Loaded White 80 T-top Z28 and I enjoyed the hell out of driving it. It wasn't a race car it was just a daily driver and that I enjoyed driving. Then I went out one morning and it was gone.. I found this one about 9 months ago and I had to have it, I dig driving it with the AC on and the T-Tops off. I was thinking about doing a LS swap but the car is so original I feel bad about doing it.. Frank thats a nice GN.. I had a GNX for a while and what a blast that was to drive.
Mark

[The Boss]

That your son's GN Frank? Nice car!

I had a 77 Formula that I bought in the spring of 1984 and promptly blew the motor. That summer the 69 YS out of my neighbor's GTO went into it and it was a proper car then. That got totaled in September of 86 and I ordered my IROC in February. Thanks to a couple of the guys on this board, I have it again!

[L16pilot]

Mark - darned near twins.

I bought this 80Z a little over a year ago. Stupid original with 77k original miles and still wearing most of its' original paint. Th350 w/ 3.42 rear and very low options. I also have two 70 Zs and just wanted a "cushy cruiser. Well, it is very nice and comfy to drive and does handle quite well. Eric did the Rochester which made big difference in drivability and it scoots along well, but fast or quick it ain't. Still, I'm happy with it and is now my go-to local cruise in driver. I had a guy approach me a couple months ago at a local show...wanted to buy it bad. We didn't even talk price, I just told him I was having too much fun with it right now and not interested in selling.

[danachevroletfor1967]

Beautiful car. I still like those late 2nd gen Z28s.