I am still trying to buy my first thirdgen. I came across this car. I have talked to the owner and he was very straight forward about the shape of the car. Its in good shape for being all original except for the paint which was done 10 years ago. The car has 93,000 miles on it. The headliner is just starting to let loose, and some paint work needs to be done on the nose. After the pole I will post his asking price. 86 IROC TPI 305

6 grand just because its got potential

I would buy a 4thgen ls1 for 6grand,
this car.. 3grand tops.

Where are you finding LS1s at only 6k???


The thirdgen realistically is $4,500-$5,000. Its in great condition and doesn't seem too abused...

*edit* I didn't think they put 350's from the factory until 87? Is it swapped or possible 305?

86 with a 350? Was a 350 swapped into it?

I don't know what the deal is...either TGO members are very thrifty/cheap/economical/frugal (use whatever word you find least insulting, haha)...or my area of the country just has higher values for these cars...but around here I would say that if you could get that car for between $4000-4500 it would be a good deal. I also would expect a car like that to be listed for over $6000 in my area. But due to roadsalt theres not too many left without rust so that will definately jack up prices.

NADA is $4900-8100 (average-excellent). I would say its *probably* better than average, but not excellent so its probably in the middle. If I was you, I would go into the negotiation saying that the book value is approximately $6000 (or whatever book value you determine its worth) and then start deducting things that need to be fixed... $500-700 for a GOOD front bumper repaint, $250 (?) or so to get a new seat cover, $100+ for headliner and anything else you notice about the car that should be fixed.

Also, I just noticed you said its a 350. 350's didnt come in 86 Camaros so either its not the original engine, or your being lied to (or its an 87?). Either way, get that straightened out and if try to get some proof that it really is a 350. Even if it is a 350, deduct more money from the price as you have no clue how many miles are really on the engine and if whoever installed it actually did a good job.

Sorry if my thoughts are scattered. Good luck...

You can find 4th gen LS1 cars all day long for 6k. I just looked at one a few weeks ago. Black 99 Z28 with t-tops, leather and a six speed. It was at a dealer and he was only asking 6k. It did have like 160k miles on it which was why it was cheap.

LS 4th Gens are still going for $8k-$10 around this part of the country...

sorry original 305

He said the owner before him had the car for 19 years and was very meticulous. He has had the car for 2 years and he said he has only put around 700 miles on it and that it hasn't been wet since he owned it. He uses detail spray and a microfiber cloth to clean it. Also he said for insurance purposes he had it appraised at a local dealership for $8000.00.

He said that he is still in touch with the previous owner and that I can have all his info. The guy apparently misses the car really bad.

i paid $3500.00 for my rs 1992. it was in good condition but not perfect.
when i first got her.

this is her now.


so to me you have a lot less work than i did. plus i have modded mine. i would give from $4500.00 to $6000.00 for it. but it better run damn good. it looks to be in great condition as well. hell man if i had the money i would buy it today.

i dunno man 6 seems really pricey to me. I picked my iroc up for 900 but the motor had a knock so its not apples to apples. I'm confident for 6k you could pick up a 100k mile 4th gen. Hell i'm about to sell my 4th gen 3.8 5speed convertible with only 54k for 7500 gots all new brakes and tires.

I am not worried about what the 4th gens are going for. I like these cars not the 4th gens. I like the running gear in the 4th gen better but the look of the 3rd gen.....Hell I found a nice 97 LT1 6 speed t top with 97,000 on it for $4,800.00 but I would still rather have a 3rd gen with a 305 in it and build it the way I want it later.....I have a 400 sbc thats just beginning to be bolted up to a T56 I have lying in my garage floor...4th what?

Anyway this is a 3rd gen site.....I think the prices of these cars are going to start going up beyond the price of the 4th gens anyway. This is a prime example.

I'd say $4500 TOPS and it better look better in person than it does in the pics. It looks like a nice car but it does need some work to be perfect. There are several cars in my area that are WAY nicer going in the $3K-$4K range. Of course the 350 cars bring more.

LS1 4th gens are going for around $5K in my area.


Oh, and we don't have rust issues at all.

I dont think were at that point yet, maybe in another 5 years possibly. Id say that car could be somewhere in the 3500-4500 range. Depends where you are, up north i bought my RS for 3000$ and here in florida its a POS compared to the T/A i just bought for 1500$. From pictures its a nice car, but i can make either of my cars look nice for pictures.

I would give a kidney..

i paid 6300 for my ls1 z28 with 120k miles on it 4 years ago..
and that nice a car around here asking price would be around 4k, I could see someone paying 4500 for it. not me though. I know better.

Am i allowed to change my vote?!? i didnt know it was a 305

$4500 if it were perfect, $4000 as it sits.

3500 max, with zero rust on the underside. You need to check that anyway, rust is a serious issue and if the floors are gone, the car is pretty much worthless.

You guys cant be serious...you are acting like it should be a top notch show car 3500-4000 dollars.

Hardly, were speaking from experience. 3500-4000 is not a top notch show car, look at some cars like JamesC's and scottmoyers. Easily their cars could be rendered as show cars, and both have extremely nice cars that would fetch above 4500$ now compare them to the one your showing us. As it sits i would say its about right. And regardless when buying a car i act like im buying a top notch show car, after a bad run in i check out everything, and still wind up getting screwed, Thirdgens like to have ALOT of LITTLE problems you wont notice initially. Pictures make everything look better, your showing us a car with a clean engine, nice paint, a good interior which translates to about 3500$ in thirdgen terms anything less is obviously a deal. One thing i have learned is that the general consensus of the board is usually the right thing to follow.

For one I Love the car just because I love the black and gold irocs. (except mines white and gold lol but o well) So I would for one be attracted to it. But I wouldnt pay more that 4,500 for it. But it may be worth more.

I just must be cheap cause i just can't see justifiying over 3 grand for a car with a 305 and 100k miles. Don't get me wrong it looks nice but still. Goodluck let us know what you get it for if you decide to pick it up

For $4000 it should be pretty nice. As in 350 & near perfect paint nice.

People seem to forget our cars are old and were made in the hundreds of thousands per year for eleven years.

asking price is 6K

way too much, the interior is not clean, there is damage to the bumpers/paint, and the car has over 100k miles. Not even sure about rust yet ether

off topic, but how can u tell on those 5 digit cars if the odometer has been rolled over?

Carfax.



That car is in the $3500 range. The seller is a little too proud imo.

This car has not rolled over yet. There is no way it has 193,000 miles on it. It would have had to have had a complete restore sometime in its life to look this good.

' i know but im just wondering how u can tell on these cars

You cant, thats why you see a lot of people claiming low mileage on the pre 91-92 cars.

What you would pay really depends on the reason for buying. ie. If an 86 camaro was your first love and its a car you want to fix up and keep a long time you may be willing to pay more. If its just any old 3rd gen that you that looks cool today but may lose interest later...

For me the 86 was a car I fell in love with in highschool and knew some day I would have one. Now I do and its fully modified and I have put so much money into it the only way I will sell it is if its to save someones life But anyway, I would do 35-40.

Your looking in the wrong places then, I have seen numerous LS1 4th gens around Atlanta for 3k+

Nah. My car has almost that many miles and looks 10x better, but has not had a restoration done. Yeah, this one looks a little too good for 200k miles and 10 year old paint, but its possible with proper care.

I wouldn't pay more than 3-4k, 6k is a ripoff.

This guy sounds like this old man I almost bought a rusty old 88 camaro convertible. The floorpans and trunk pan has 6x6" holes in them, it needed an alternator, a battery, a starter, and a full tuneup, and a paintjob. He wanted 1.8K, the thing had 160,000 on it, and he thinks when his camaro will be fixed up it will be worth 10,000.

Long story short, some old motorheads just don't know how much cars are worth nowadays, especially 80's and 90's...

I wouldnt pay more than 4k for it.

I bought my 1987 IROC for 2700.

Interior...perfect, not a tear, stain, or anything.
Miles: 94k
Engine: 350, Auto Trans, Posi rear, 4wheel disc, engine oil cooler. All the good stuff
Paint: Not bad, but could be touched up.


With it being a 305, and the similar problems to mine i wouldnt touch it at all honestly. But thats just me. If hes really asking 6k for it...go get 6k and go buy a REAL GOOD CONDITION IROC.

You can find a car like that for about 2500 in this part of the country and without any rust. That's the good part of living in the southwest.

Not true. A well-maintained, well-cared-for car with 200K-300K miles can easily look that good without having been restored, and it can run as well as new without ever having had its engine rebuilt.

That said, most cars run-up like that are usually not kept so well, so I, too, would be of the belief that this car has not been rolled-over. But it's reaching that mileage point where it's market value takes a big hit, so $6K seems pretty high, especially in such a weak market. $3K-$4K would seem more realistic in a strong market.