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This ones for you , John! Happy New Year!!
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Thanks Orlen,
There is a lot of interesting data in that book! I think I'll see if I can find that the book on ebay and buy it. I still love the early eighties cars. They are still affordable and are the end of cars with style. Just try to look in your rear view mirror at night these days and try to figure out what kind of car it is.
I agree 100% with you John. Some of the best things about these cars are that so many things hadn't disappeared yet. Things like different colors for interiors other that grey and black or tan ......like today. No airbags ,so it is easy to swap in a different steering wheel if ya want to. The steering column hails back to the 60's & 70's, make out of real metal, not a cheap plastic housing. And if you notice, the glove box door is made out of honest to goodness Detroit steel!! :-) I think our wonderful Federal Government is more to blame for the sad state of affairs when it comes to automotive design nowadays, though. When the automakers have to build cars to certain specs, and pass crash test with space body designs with crush spaces built in, that doesn't leave any room for body appearance considerations. As a result a Toyota resembles a Buick only too closely.
Granted, I'd walk away from a crash in far better shape in a new car than my antiques I drive everyday. I'm far happier with my 1st gens, and that is all that matters, I guess!! My ole' Lady drives an '98 Cavalier,and I had '97 Sunfire for about 5 months, and they just aren't anything like the 1st gens....nothing at all. In fact I let the Sunfire go back to the dealer a month after buying my '84 2000 Sunbird. I have a chance to get a 2nd gen Z24 for $600, but I'm kinda like you are with the Pontiac you was looking at. Incidently , I don't think I'd liked a turbo automatic either. Automatic would sap a lot of the extra go go ,and the lack of a shifter and a clutch takes all the fun out of it.
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