Gang:

Today (Wednesday August 28), the last of our old nemeses (the F-Body) rolls off the production line in St. Therese, Quebec. Gone forever are the horrible plastic trim, poor trim integrity, vicious wheel hop, abominable leather interiors, miserable exterior fit-and-finish, fading paint, and 330-HP ram-air induced mid/low-13-second quarters straight out of the box. I'll miss them, in a way.

For example, as the years pass, there will be fewer and fewer opportunities to SPANK 6-speed Z28's by a dozen car lengths like I did this past Saturday at Tri-State Dragway. I'm gonna miss that.

The F-Body had its day. Think "Smokey And The Bandit" and "Saturday Night Fever". The perfect transport to the Foghat/Marshall Tucker show, if you ask me. Now, lets not even talk about the early-80's models with the 90 (crank) HP four-bangers.

Seriously, things won't be the same without them around (and there won't be many for long, the way they "age"). The F-Body was THE nemesis for the Lightning. Do a search, and you'll find ENDLESS "Lightning vs F-Body" posts. Recall, without the Joker and Penguin, Batman and Robin would be just two ambiguously gay gentlemen in tights and funny masks.

A moment of silence for our fallen enemy?

 

what will become the new vehicle of choice for mullet heads?

 

Let us pray

I hope they bring 'em back someday...........I'm sure they will.........and hopefully with a vengeance!!!! Wouldn't we all like to see an LS6 stuffed in its replacement.............God only knows what the Vette would have then!!

It is sad to see 'em go......................

JC

 

oh, and big, fat "racin' stripes"........

 

I'll bow my head in reverance...prolly shouldn't do it while driving the lightning though.

 

Before i bought my L i wanted an SS or WS6. I really like these cars and i think they represent a big part of muscle car history. I think they look cool, drive ok, and go like stink. It will be a real shame if these things dissappear forever. Word is over at HOTROD tv is that the camaro will infact return in 05'. The firebird wings will be clipped forever though. The GTO is taking over now. Imagine Ford without the mustang. It wouldn't be right. Oh well!
J-mart

 

Hey! If you're going to make fun of the F-body of the 80's... take a look at the Mustangs of the same era... hah!

 

Guapo:

Indeed, they ALSO sucked so hard that their lips were chapped.

Just curious - you resemble Rich Garces in any way? Is that the source of the handle?

 

I think its a safe bet......they will return!

 

I believe they will only be gone for a year or two and then they will be back with a different body style and a new powertrain. Most likely still using some type of pushrod engine. I read this somewhere I think.


Thanks

 

It is not a good thing that the Camaro is going away. If I remember correctly, wasn't the Ford Probe supposed to be the replacement for the Mustang? At least Ford listened to its customers. My fear is that GM will do the Camaro name the same they have done to the Chevy Nova and Pontiac Lemans.

 

Trust me, GM already has ideas for the car, and its name. They, too, listen.

The GTO will be out for a 2004 model, utilizing the LS1, at 340hp. (vette version). That will be sufficient competition.

Otherwise, maybe GM needed to do a little chassis/suspension redesign. Since they've been using the EXACT same setup since the 70's, it's about time. - The Mustang was the same way.

There will be a new Camaro/Firebird, and they'll still be a dime-a-dozen. I can't go a day without seeing an SS or WS6 in my area, and, frankly, I'm sick of them. No one around me DOES anything to them, aside from a cat-back, so they're all old news.

Honestly, I'm more concerned with what they're doing with the next 'Vette, and whether the interior on the new Silverado SS and the SST will make me feel like crap for buying a $33k truck with a $0.50 interior, like the Ram SRT did.

 

I am kinda waiting on the GTO. As a long time die-hard pontiac guy, be assured I will own one, too bad though, it's still just a corporate GM motor, unlike the days of true pontiac muscle

I have no plans of getting rid of the L.

 

HA HA HA HA.....Sure is good to hear from Silver-Y2K-SVT.....

Just like any nemesis, I am sure they will find a way to return from the dead. The F-bodies will go on some mystical journey through the after-life to find a way back and upon returning be stronger than ever!!!!!

 

How ya doing, Chief? Yup, the'll likely be reincarnated as a 3800 V6 front-driver, like the Malibu, Impala...

And guys, I've seen/driven the HSV Commodore (your next GTO) in New Zealand. A nice-looking, quick, snarling grocery-getter. However, if you think for ONE SECOND that it will run like the now-dead F-body, you're in for a SORRY, SORRY disappointment. Think low-14's, at the best. And remember, when you compare "magazine rumors" with the actual production hardware, the manufacturers ALMOST always dumb it down (like the new Crossfire that was slated for a blown Intrepid mill). The GM gang are going to get an LS1-powered bland-looking four-door that looks NOTHING like the GTO of old (another shameful re-badging) and runs 14.5/96 under typical atmospheric conditions.

If you don't believe me, let's set up a "friendly" drag race as soon as you get your grubby little hands on one of these sedans.