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I've had my Trans Am for about 13 years now and it's come such a far way from being a solid body that didn't run to being a car that looks great at cruise nights and holds its own at the track. But lately I've been thinking about trying something different. I've been eyeing the 6th gen Camaros and after taking a test drive I'm seriously considering going that direction. My Trans Am is about 95% complete, but it's really hard to finish that final 5% with two young kids and a house to work on.
The paint job is top quality, absolutely beautiful mirror finish. The hood bird and fender Trans Am lettering are painted, not vinyl. It has a 1995 LT1, T56, SLP shorty headers, Magnaflow cat back, 1" lowered, 4th gen leather seats, Year One snowflake reproduction wheels (17"x9"), the inner fenders are smoothed, antenna and door locks shaved, and so many more upgrades/additions.
Anyway, here are some pictures of my car and a link to my build thread. What do you guys think I could expect to sell it for?
It's a beautiful car you have bud, really tastefully done.
It's hard to gauge value.... what you have into it and what the market would dictate....
I personally would keep it. You have 13 years and all the time into it. If it owes you nothing now ($), in the grand scheme if you got $10 grand for it (not saying that's what it's worth if I insulted you, just making an example), that's really not a lot of money. You would probably regret selling it down the road, the memories and such. These cars are getting rarer and rarer to find driving around in good shape, you'll be proud you have it in your stable years from now. As your kids get older, this can be their baby too.
Take a drive with it to the Trans Am Nationals this coming summer, the bug will bite you again and you will fall in love with it all over again!!
Thanks for the input. I was thinking that $15,000 was probably a reasonable asking price right now. I'm afraid that having some unfinished details on the car, primarily on the interior, would cause me to get closer to the $10,000 price in its current state, which just doesn't seem like enough considering the incredible show quality paint job alone cost nearly that much. I expected these cars to have increased more in value by now when I started this project in 2003.
I'm no expert, but have been following the pricing trends for about 6 years. The car is beautiful, but as DynoDave said, to get 15k, you would have to find a buyer looking for the same taste in color and build. The only 3rd gen Birds that I have seen bringing 15k and up are extreme low mile originals, the TTA and a few of the other low production models. As unfortunate as it is, you never recoop your money on nice paint and mods.
Very nice car! I love it and I'm sure there is a lot of $ tied up in it. In saying that though if someone were to offer you 10k that would be a good price and you may be lucky to get that. Keep it man you would probably be sad you sold it the day it leaves. Everybody has a 6th gen Camaro but not many people have a clean 3rd gen especially with the nice upgrades yours has. Id love to have your powertrain in mine. Hell id love to have your car.
If it had a LS1 I would say 10-12k but with an LT1 I think you will be more in the 7-10k range. Either way you will have to wait for the right buyer. Most 3rd gens are a loosing proposition when it comes to restoration/restification. They are still years away from possibly starting to see a upturn in value.
I feel like if thirdgens haven't appreciated yet and my car is 32 years old, maybe it's hopeless. The guys that were kids and in high school when these cars came out are now in their mid 30s to late 40s so you'd think they could afford to spend money for good examples. When did 1st gens start getting expensive? Have 2nd gens kept pace with them or even close? I'm just starting to think that the 1st gens are an anomaly and the later generations won't follow their lead.
I have to decide if I want to bail on it for the ease and comfort of a new Camaro or go even deeper and put an LS3, T56 magnum and Dana S60 in it to get the power of a modern car and keep it for my own enjoyment not caring that it's lost money.
I would take a 3rd Gen over a new one. Have not cared for any that I have driven. Don't feel bad, I will never get the money back out of my TTA either. Almost all cars people build are a loosing proposition. Thats why I prefer to build other people cars and let them take the lose.
11-18-2016, 08:09 PM
