Third-Gen Chevrolet Camaro vs Pontiac Firebird: 3 Reasons Why the Chevy Was the Better Car
I quite like the fact that when GM designed the third-generation Camaro, it looked absolutely nothing like the previous model. Of course, the same can be said about the Pontiac Firebird, since the two are joined at the hip. But which of them is the better car? I’m not sure the answer is simple, but at least on paper, I’m siding with the Camaro.
Let’s get something out of the way first. There are a lot of Firebird fans, me included, who immediately think back to KITT (the Knight Industries Two Thousand car from the TV series Knight Rider) whenever we hear the name ‘Firebird’. It would be best to ignore KITT’s influence all together, because that design was bespoke, and the end-result looked nothing like a stock Firebird.
Now, both the third-gen Camaro and the Firebird were introduced in late 1981 for the 1982 model year, with a man called Jerry Palmer responsible for their designs. Palmer, who would later be inducted into the Corvette Hall of Fame, also worked on the updated C3 Corvette, and its successor, the C4 Corvette.
For the uninitiated, as Bane would put it, there probably isn’t all that much between the Camaro and the Firebird in terms of design. Some might say they look nearly identical, except for the front-end styling and taillight panel. In reality, the design language is clearly different. All it takes is a closer look.
The Firebird features way more rounded corners than the Camaro, which has a more angular aesthetic. Their fenders are also different, as are the quarter panels. Anyway, let’s dive into our three main reasons why the Camaro can objectively be viewed as the superior product compared to its sibling.
#1. Styling appeal
This isn’t about what’s different or what’s the same, but rather which of the two has broader appeal. I believe the answer is the Camaro. Its sharper lines and simpler design (again, this is me being objective), gives it a timeless aesthetic compared to the Firebird’s more, let’s say, exuberant styling.
It’s why you might hear some people say that the 3rd-gen Camaro’s design aged better than that of the Firebird, which should continue to be the case as the two vehicles morph into genuine American classics.
Again, we need to ignore the fact that the Firebird was immortalized as possibly the most popular automotive TV character of all time. KITT was a heavily customized Trans Am spec model, with a bespoke nose, blacked out tail panel, black wheels, and a futuristic interior by 80s standards. Come to think of it, one could even argue that as nice as KITT looks, a clean, black IROC-Z looks almost as good today.
#2. Affordability
This one is rather simple. Generally speaking, the Camaro was a more affordable product than the Firebird, which meant that it “spoke” to a wider audience. It’s part of the reason why people bought more Camaros than they did Firebirds.
Of course, the price difference wasn’t necessarily a big one (we’re talking a few hundred bucks with regards to starting MSRP, for instance), but in the end it did all add up.
#3. Racing heritage
The Camaro's IROC-Z specification gained significant attention when it was first introduced in 1985. It was named after the International Race of Champions, and it was offered as an option package on the Z28, featuring upgraded suspension, a lowered ride height, new shocks, larger sway bars, and an optional Tuned Port Injection system borrowed from the Corvette.
By comparison, the third-gen Firebird sort of lacked any direct racing ties, although Pontiac did introduce plenty of desirable specs and packages throughout this car’s life cycle.
I’m not going to dive deep into performance, even though Camaro fans will point to certain variants and say that generally, they delivered better acceleration when compared to equivalent Firebird trims. The thing about performance is, neither car really had anything worth writing home about. At least not when compared to their muscle car predecessors.
Wait, so the Firebird flat out loses?
No, it’s not a blowout, because Pontiac certainly did an amazing job with the 3rd-gen Firebird. In later years, the Trans Am GTA spec, fitted with the 5.7-liter TPI V8 unit, offered performance on par with, if not better than, the Camaro’s very best variants.
eanwhile, the Firebird was also often praised for its more upscale interior, featuring slightly better fit and finish – particularly in higher trims. I think the difference was rather negligible, but it’s still worth mentioning.
There’s also a sense of exclusivity with the Firebird, because of its distinctive design with the pop-up headlights, optional decals, digital dashboards (on later Trans Am GTA models), and so on. Maybe exclusivity is the wrong word, but to some, these cars felt a little less mainstream with the right spec.
So, how about you guys? Are you Team Camaro or Team Firebird? We’d love to hear from anyone who’s ever owned either of the two (as third-gen models), so if that’s you, just drop us a line below and tell us your story.
Let’s get something out of the way first. There are a lot of Firebird fans, me included, who immediately think back to KITT (the Knight Industries Two Thousand car from the TV series Knight Rider) whenever we hear the name ‘Firebird’. It would be best to ignore KITT’s influence all together, because that design was bespoke, and the end-result looked nothing like a stock Firebird.
Now, both the third-gen Camaro and the Firebird were introduced in late 1981 for the 1982 model year, with a man called Jerry Palmer responsible for their designs. Palmer, who would later be inducted into the Corvette Hall of Fame, also worked on the updated C3 Corvette, and its successor, the C4 Corvette.
For the uninitiated, as Bane would put it, there probably isn’t all that much between the Camaro and the Firebird in terms of design. Some might say they look nearly identical, except for the front-end styling and taillight panel. In reality, the design language is clearly different. All it takes is a closer look.
The Firebird features way more rounded corners than the Camaro, which has a more angular aesthetic. Their fenders are also different, as are the quarter panels. Anyway, let’s dive into our three main reasons why the Camaro can objectively be viewed as the superior product compared to its sibling.
#1. Styling appeal
This isn’t about what’s different or what’s the same, but rather which of the two has broader appeal. I believe the answer is the Camaro. Its sharper lines and simpler design (again, this is me being objective), gives it a timeless aesthetic compared to the Firebird’s more, let’s say, exuberant styling.
It’s why you might hear some people say that the 3rd-gen Camaro’s design aged better than that of the Firebird, which should continue to be the case as the two vehicles morph into genuine American classics.
Again, we need to ignore the fact that the Firebird was immortalized as possibly the most popular automotive TV character of all time. KITT was a heavily customized Trans Am spec model, with a bespoke nose, blacked out tail panel, black wheels, and a futuristic interior by 80s standards. Come to think of it, one could even argue that as nice as KITT looks, a clean, black IROC-Z looks almost as good today.
#2. Affordability
This one is rather simple. Generally speaking, the Camaro was a more affordable product than the Firebird, which meant that it “spoke” to a wider audience. It’s part of the reason why people bought more Camaros than they did Firebirds.
Of course, the price difference wasn’t necessarily a big one (we’re talking a few hundred bucks with regards to starting MSRP, for instance), but in the end it did all add up.
#3. Racing heritage
The Camaro's IROC-Z specification gained significant attention when it was first introduced in 1985. It was named after the International Race of Champions, and it was offered as an option package on the Z28, featuring upgraded suspension, a lowered ride height, new shocks, larger sway bars, and an optional Tuned Port Injection system borrowed from the Corvette.
By comparison, the third-gen Firebird sort of lacked any direct racing ties, although Pontiac did introduce plenty of desirable specs and packages throughout this car’s life cycle.
I’m not going to dive deep into performance, even though Camaro fans will point to certain variants and say that generally, they delivered better acceleration when compared to equivalent Firebird trims. The thing about performance is, neither car really had anything worth writing home about. At least not when compared to their muscle car predecessors.
Wait, so the Firebird flat out loses?
No, it’s not a blowout, because Pontiac certainly did an amazing job with the 3rd-gen Firebird. In later years, the Trans Am GTA spec, fitted with the 5.7-liter TPI V8 unit, offered performance on par with, if not better than, the Camaro’s very best variants.
eanwhile, the Firebird was also often praised for its more upscale interior, featuring slightly better fit and finish – particularly in higher trims. I think the difference was rather negligible, but it’s still worth mentioning.
There’s also a sense of exclusivity with the Firebird, because of its distinctive design with the pop-up headlights, optional decals, digital dashboards (on later Trans Am GTA models), and so on. Maybe exclusivity is the wrong word, but to some, these cars felt a little less mainstream with the right spec.
So, how about you guys? Are you Team Camaro or Team Firebird? We’d love to hear from anyone who’s ever owned either of the two (as third-gen models), so if that’s you, just drop us a line below and tell us your story.
