So some people think the 3rd gen Firebirds are ugly?! Let's see if that really holds up by comparing them with the other major US competition contemporary with their production run and then with the other generations of the Firebird.

1982 Pontiac Firebird






How could anyone not like those lines? Designed in the 70's it still had enough of the Firebird heritage to be immediately recognisable as a Firebird. Curving over both front and rear fenders and with a hatchback which managed to disguise the fact it was a hatchback who could not think this was a truely beautiful car? Even more so when you compare it to its 80's rivals.

Engines: 2.5 liter I4 90 bhp. 2.8 liter V6 105 bhp. 5.0 liter V8 145 bhp. 5.0 liter ("Cross-Fire Injection) V8 165 bhp.

1982 Ford Mustang






Well look at it. How could anyone describe it as anything other than a box on wheels? It looks like the dismal mark 3 Ford Escort (see below) we were lumbered with in Europe after the far more exciting (looking) mark 1's and 2's.

Engines: 2.3L 2V 4cyl 88hp 3.3L 1V 6cyl 94hp 4.2L 2V V-8 120hp 5.0L 2V V-8 157hp







1982 Dodge Charger






This is a Dodge Charger? Yee-ha? Aesthetically sharing in the same problems as the mustang it also had a wheezy four cylinder engine.

Engines: 2.2L 4cyl 84hp
1992 Pontiac Firebird






Still looking fantastic (although with a questionable nose) and quite sleek in firebird form without the batwing ground effects of the last two years of production it also benefitted from the 245 horsepower 350 V8 .

Production:
Engines: 3.1 liter V6 140 bhp. 5.0 liter TPI V8 230 bhp. 5.7 liter TPI V8 245 bhp.


1992 Ford Mustang






Same as before.

Production:
Engines: 2.3L EFI 4cyl 105hp 5.0L EFI V-8 225hp (HO)


1992 Dodge Daytona






The "charger" stops pretending and morphs into the Daytona, but is pretty much as before.

Production:
Engines: 2.5L I-4 100 HP 3.0L V-6 141 HP


And now, ugly by its own standards? How do the different generations stack up?
1969 First Generation Firebird






Oh yes, this a one good looking car.



1977 Second Generation Firebird






Different from the first gen but undeniably cool.



1982 Third Generation Firebird






As well as being distinct from the previous two generations it was also cleverly close to the second gens in shape and look. Old and new blended together - the best of both worlds.



2002 Fourth Generation Firebird






Uh-oh. Essentially a dull CAD dominated design with bulbous ugly bits tacked on to add interest. There was an ugly Firebird, but it was not the third gen.