Firebird TA inflation

[5th T/A]

When Roadking77 (Kerry) started talking about the huge price increase from a 1981 to a 1982, I started thinking about what I paid for my first TA in 1973. Through the years I have kept the window stickers of every new car I purchased. I thought some might find interest on what came standard through the years and how the prices crept higher.

I purchased my 73 TA in January of 73 shortly after turning 19 years of age. I was on top of the world. It stickered for $5097.75 and I think the dealer knocked off about $500.00.

img20240421_11243035 by Lawrence Alexander, on Flickr

Next is my 1975, I don't recall the exact date, but it was cold outside when I ordered it and warmer when I took delivery, maybe 6 weeks later. Sticker was $6115.60. I ordered just about every option available. Shortly after purchase I started dating my wife, so that's why I was happy to find my 1980 TA with white exterior, blue trim and blue interior.

img20240421_11271315 by Lawrence Alexander, on Flickr

It was summer of 1978 when I ordered a 78 TA with the WS6 package. Then I found out they were running low on the TA 6.6 400's and it would jusy have the base 400. So I found a dealer with the TA 6.6 in stock. Sticker was $7244.00

img20240421_11291471 by Lawrence Alexander, on Flickr

In February 2020, after many years of being out of the car hobby I purchased this 1980 TA, very clean, always stored indoors and with only 6600 miles. The only downside was its 301 CI NA engine, I have since upgraded to a stroked Pontiac 400. Sticker price $8771.52, its harder to read the sticker because someone has plastic coated it and the plastic has wrinkled.

img20240421_11311661 by Lawrence Alexander, on Flickr

I think it was June of 1982 we purchased this 1982 TA, it was really my wife's car and she loved it. She actually wanted a Mazda RX7, but the leg room was unacceptable for my 6' 1" body. When we walked into the Pontiac dealer, I was blown away by the modern looks of the Gen III Firebird and loved the retractable headlamps.
Sticker price was $13375.71. The sticker page is slightly wider than my scanner bed, so I had to do two scans of the first page in order to get both sides of the page.

img20240421_12005109 by Lawrence Alexander, on Flickr

img20240421_11334167 by Lawrence Alexander, on Flickr

img20240421_11353312 by Lawrence Alexander, on Flickr

[nas t eh]

Cool, thanks for posting

[roadking77]

2020-06-06_11-09-41 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr

Thanks for posting those. Such a great part of the history of these cars and a good insight to when they were new. A lot of us (not me, Im old) may not have had the chance to buy a second gen brand new at this point.

Here is a pic of my 82 firebird (again, hate to dilute/hijack). I never kept anything with cars I bought. Wish I had now. Like I mentioned in another post I bought it new and it was a bit over $9000. The very top of my budget. I wanted a trans am in the worst way but the price was just too high. I said I thought they around 16k but that may have been for a recarro model as I remember they had a black and gold one in the showroom as well as a '83 Daytona pace car trans am. I am thinking that one was close to 20k! Still one of my dream cars if I ever get the chance I will have one

I have no idea what the base price was on my firebird but it was loaded. Other than the v6 motor it had just about every option that your T/A  had. Power windows and locks, deluxe stereo, lockable back floor cargo cover, vinyl pull out cargo cover. It was a hardtop which is what I wanted and the seats were deluxe vinyl.

[FormTA]

Really cool post!

[firebirdparts]

That's a shocking amount from 80 to 82.  I was only 16 in 82 but I remember going to church with a guy who bought an 82 Camaro and financed it for maybe 18%.  It stayed at the dealer for half of that first year.  He survived though.  Just have to keep collecting those paychecks.

[b_hill_86]

The window stickers are cool. Especially to look back on after all of these years. I never kept anything like that but I do have a piece from every car I’ve owned except one maybe. Now the question is, where are the pieces I kept. Lol

[nUcLeArEnVoY]

I thought this post was going to cover the contemporary inflation of these cars, especially that 2021-2022 spike. Lol

[roadking77]

That's a shocking amount from 80 to 82.  I was only 16 in 82 but I remember going to church with a guy who bought an 82 Camaro and financed it for maybe 18%.  It stayed at the dealer for half of that first year.  He survived though.  Just have to keep collecting those paychecks.

That is a great point that no one mentions or thinks about now. I cannot remember exactly what my interest rate was but it was def. double digits.

[5th T/A]

We purchased our first home in 1982. The interest rate was 18%, but the builder paid 5% for the first five years. A year and a half latter we refinanced for 11.5% on a 15 year mortgage. In those days, too much of your money was going to interest.

As I got older I got wiser, fortunately my money borrowing days are long gone. Of course I’m old now too!