MadCelt

It is. Anyone who wants to know what ones are the most valuable (aside from 1LEs and B4Cs) just needs to hit the classic car guides such as NADA's and see what they are auctioning for. The highest standard valuation I have found is actually for the '92 Heritage Editions, a lowly RS 5.0 TBI is valued at $15,400 high retail. By comparison, an '82 Z 28 'Pace Car' is valued at $12,20 high retail.

Glad I own a heritage! :-)

Slater126

iTrader: (1)

Not a lot of love for the 91-92 Zs so this is good to see I have a black 91 and like the menacing look of the car, though I'll be the first to admit that the wing is a wee bit over the top. It also fills up half your rear view, so you never forget it's there, haha. Beyond that, fine looking car. Any of our historians know the story behind the wing on the 91-92 Z?

Linson

and even that sounds ridiculous to me. first off, this conversation needs to be moved away from retail and resale values. i find it sickening that when someone who is interested in entering the world of Third Gens comes to TGO and asks what to look for (not just this thread) 9 out of 10 responses have to do with value, rarity, resale, and collectability - in other words "what can you sell it for?" does anyone else either daydream about or get off on owning and driving a nice 3rd Gen? or does everyone just picture themselves in smoking jackets, cigar in hand, at auctions, raking in low-5 figures for their all original TBI F-Bodies? i swear, the televised Barret Jackson Auctions have ruined this hobby.

secondly, "Glad you own a heritage?" why? because some book (probably written by people who know d i c k about 3rd gens) says its worth a few dollars more? because the way you put it, it sounds like you're happy with your investment. i will say i question the validity of a such a publication, and if that publication is correct, i question the common sense of a world that functions along those lines set forth in said publication - which it doesnt, btw.

Take an '89 LB9 Formula (5.0 TPI/5 spd trans), a '90 L98 IROC-Z (5.7 TPI/A4 trans), and a '92 LO3 Camaro Heritage Edition (5.0 TBI/A4?/ and a f-ing interior embroidery package?) is that what you'd pick for yourself given those choices? is that what you'd tell a layperson to pick for themself? is this where our heads are at now as a community?

sc@hms

iTrader: (1)

I just checked with someone who would know the story on the wing. Here goes:

Chuck Jordan was head of GM Design at the time the '91/'92 refresh was being done (early 1988). He was a huge Ferrari afficianado/collector. He liked the look of the wing on the F40 and wanted to incorporate it into the Z28 Camaro. His company demo, a TPI 5-speed '88 IROC-Z, was taken into the design studio and had a early version of the wing mocked up. The wing was penned by John Cafaro, the man credited for designing the 4th gen. Once the production design was settled, the demo received an even wilder version, that was flared into the quarters. It also received an early version of the 91/92 skirt package and wind fences along the edge of the hood. It also received a tan leather interior and color keyed dash/armrests/console. The entire car was then painted a screaming pearlescent cinnamon color and used a showcar from 1989 through the end of 1992. It also had a set of 17" multi-spoked wheels that didn't make the cut. I'll try to find a picture of it for you.

sc@hms

iTrader: (1)

Here is the wing car.

cIaRmOaCrZo

^ and that guy has good taste in design. (exactly how i would have done it)(and how im going to do mine lol)

Slater126

iTrader: (1)

Neat story, whether you love or hate the Wing. Thanks!

MadCelt

Oh I'm sorry. When I bought the car for $3000 simply because I liked it, I forgot I wasn't supposed to be overjoyed when I found out it's potential value

What a judgmental (insert expletive of choice here) you seem to be. I didn't squash anyone, criticize anyone else's opinion, stoop to name calling, etc. I do believe this offensive diatribe you have written was meant to what, rile me up? Because I posted the simple fact that actual $$ figures aren't always what people think, and gave a factual example? In response to your post, that brought up 'value' in the first place? OMG not FACTS! RUN!!!

Nah. I'll just kick back with a beer, and read your response again and have a good laugh.

Oh and BTW, yup, this TBI RS is EXACTLY what I'd pick. PRISTINE engine bay for a 20 year old car, commutes 90 miles RT a day, 15K miles on it in 4 months, and not a single problem. My wifes Z? Nothing but issues. Had to replace the engine, brakes, etc etc because some previous owner beat the hell out of it. So, um, yeah. That.

MadCelt

But... but... you have to lift your groceries OVER the wing to get them into the back.... Hehe. Seriously, I bowl in league with my wife and kids... I'd be hobbled up for life straining my back getting a 60lb bag of bowling ***** over that sucker!!!

Linson

1) its got nuthin to do with YOU. maybe i should have made that a little clearer so it didnt seem like i was shooting the messenger. but what it is, is the simple fact that...rather than being preoccupied with what cool cars Third Gens can be, every conversation seems to be dominated by [our] apparent preoccupation with the value of our cars. like we buy them with selling them in mind. if you take my "offensive diatribe of a post" and look at it objectively, and not take it entirely personally, you'll see that i'm right. the only thing to debate is MY OPINION that this state of affairs is bad for the community. but my statement that this state of affairs exists is FACTUAL. what you took as a personal swipe at you, was meant to be a swipe at the community (if the shoe fits) using your post as an example.

2)
^this. not sure where youre going with that, but i think you've got the wrong guy. i'm not one to ignore facts, but i may look at them from a different perspective. what i was/am saying is that Phenom 1, appeared to be assigning pedigree in a rather simplistic way. i was not bringing up value. and i am saying that people who, given the choice, will pick a "first year," last year," a "5" or "0" at the end of whatever model year, plus a commemorative head rest over far better performance options on a C A M A R O, are essentially putting their stock into a pedigree that is from a shallow gene pool - does that make sense?

3)
^this. we dont have to be civil. but can we at least be intellectually honest? if you make a good point, i will say "good point." if you corner me on my philosophy, i will say "i guess i never thought of that." what i wont do is stoop to being intellectually dishonest, playing dumb, and giving half-assed dishonest responses. so speaking of being intellectually dishonest, are you going to tell me that it was not clear enough for you, what i meant when i asked what car you would choose? you think an honest, straight-forward answer is to qualify your response by stating that you would choose whatever low-mileage gem that you CURRENTLY HAVE over a well optioned, but run-down basket case?

i love having this discussion, but not if we're going to put our heads in the sand every time the other guy makes a valid point.

lozantius82

iTrader: (1)

LMAO!!! Id take that 89 formula with the t5 cause it is just as fast as that 90 iroc! The 92 RS would be last thing i would pick cause i already own a RS and in stock form it was a slow turd!!! Stickers will not bring value!!! Its all about the most desirable engine/drivetrain combos that do!!! I agree with Linson!!! But to each there own, TBI is reliable though...
If a RS floats your boat than thats all good man!!!!

MadCelt

So what you guys are apparently trying to tell me, is that someone would be better off, if after looking for months for a third gen, buying a 'fast' car that was beat and falling apart than buying an all original gem for the exact same amount of money?

I don't know if anyone has noticed, but if you look around you will see high mileage, modded (and not well modded mind you) "fast" cars going for anywhere from $2-3.5K. Most have dings, some have a bit of rust here and there, maybe they "just need a mastercylinder" or another tidbit. I paid the same money for my RS as I did my Z. Not suprisingly, the Z looked great, even under the hood, until it went a few miles. "fast" cars that are "cheap" tend to get driven like "fast" cars. Often, as a buyer, this is not a good thing.

At the same time, there are relatively low mileage RS's out there and other 'slow turds' that will start and run when you turn the key, well maintained, with no damage, for the same price.

Seems to me a reliable car is WAY "faster" in the long run. Sure, If I was still 18 and single and worried about who beat who off the light, I'd probably steer away from an RS. But, when you are looking for a second third gen to use as a driver for the simple joy of loving the **** out of these cars, the sheer pleasure of driving one every day and knowing it's more reliable than you neighbors 2006 Saturn that always seems to be in the shop (lol). There are more inportant things than 'fast' to some of us. Which is ironic given the 'ruining this hobby' comment above, BTW.

I won't even get into the fact that if your main focus is speed, there are way better choices than a third gen anyway, for the same price. Seriously. The third gens were never the 'fastest' car, not by a longshot. Around a road course, sure. 1/4 or 1/8th? Um no.

Some day, and at the rate these things are hitting the scrapyards, you won't care WHAT badge is on the car, if you want one. My RS will still be pristine and bone stock, and regardless of 'turdiness' will be a survivor. Personally, I'm proud of that. Going to local shows and being the only one there with a shiny 'new' third gen factory down to the radio (if I choose to pop it back in) is kind of cool.

Of course, since I have an RS AND a "fast" Z-28 w/ a 5.7 (HSR, EBL, blah blah blah) , well, it doesn't really matter anyway does it?

Slater126

iTrader: (1)

High values means more will be preserved. It also means that we won't have to engage in a treasure hunt whenever we need a valve or switch because GM and the aftermarket will start making replacement parts. As of right now, with 10,000 mile cars going for about 10 grand or so, there's no incentive whatsoever to restore these vehicles on any large scale. Higher values would change that.

yaj15

iTrader: (3)

Ha ha calm down. Of course there are cars that are faster than thirdgens now. Many people (including myself) love these cars too - that's one of the reasons that we are on this website!

You can always modify a thirdgen to raise the level of performance that will meet or exceed what is available from auto manufactures today.

I think this thread is mostly dealing with cars that will attract the most attention or garner the most praise. There is nothing wrong with an RS camaro. And as you stated the stock L03 305 TBI is no 9 second quarter mile motor. It is a set up that is reliable (and if taken care of) will last for many thousands of miles without any major mechanical issues. There are many people on this website that can back that up.

Keep in mind though that as reliable as the L03 is, it is still a machine. All machines will require some maintenance or work during the course of their service life. I would much rather select a car that has had proper service over its life over a car that has had little to no maintenance and has been run hard and put away wet.

The cars for the thirdgen production years that are going to get the most attention are the Z28's, IROC's, Trans-Am's, GTA's, Formulas, 1LE, B4C, etc. These were the cars that were oriented towards performance from the factory. The RS was just lower on the pecking order. Thats not good or bad - its just the way it is.

If your RS car makes you happy then by all means drive it and enjoy it! There are folks on here who prefer the RS camaro's. Some people like Firebirds more. Its a matter of personal choice.

Its just for this kind of thread more people are going to jump on the cars that had more factory performance from the start. I agree with you a car that is clapped out (even a higher performance model) will be worth less than a lower mileage RS camaro that is in better shape.

Keep in mind that if we are strictly speaking from a money stand point - dollar for dollar - a Z28 will always be worth more than an RS. If we had 2 cars to pick from on the car lot and both had the same mileage, mechanically checked out, and were in good shaped all the way around, all things being equal between the two cars - the Z28 could possibly get away with having a higher asking price and in the long run would be worth more.

MadCelt

Thank you, well written and polite. You are right on all counts. No worries, I maintain my RS with **** detail, LOL. All maintaenance is done by myself and at shorter than needed intervals. My Z, not so much YET, because I am still busy getting her 'right'. Had the door panels out over the weekend to bond the panels themselves back to the caps. LOTS of work to do still on that one, both mechanically and cosmetically.

The Z is more fun on the throttle, but I like the way the RS looks, it gets better MPG, and the RS seems to hold the road better... BUT I suspect it's getting time to replace the stock springs on the Z, what with 260,000+ miles on them, LOL, not really a fair comparison there I suppose... the RS has a stock suspension, but nowhere near as worn. Anyway, I enjoy them both, for different reasons.

Heck when it comes right down to it, I really have no preference in years I guess. I just like third gens. Period. Someday I might even grab a 'bird just to have one. :shrug:

Linson

[quote=MadCelt;5336088]

No. what i'm saying is all things being equal, one should go for the better optioned, faster car, rather than investing in an 'Anniversary Edition' which is usually nothing more than a sticker and stripe package. basically, what i'm saying is muscle cars shouldnt be viewed as investments and we as owners shoulndnt be preoccupied with the sale.

yes. we can all agree that a good condition Z, TA, or Formula commands more money than a good condition RS, SC, or BMF (Base Model Firebird). to get an IROC in the same condition as your RS, you would have definitely had to pay more money. if you paid 3 grand for a 15,000 mile car, then i would say you got a really good deal. and its a "Heritage Edition" for whatever thats worth, is icing on the cake. at 3 grand, i say, "well bought, sir." would i have bought it? probably not, only because RS's dont really do anything for me.

i just want to point out that not all IROCS, TAs, and Formulas are high mileage, modded, ratted out, basket cases that were ridden hard and put away wet. having said that, i will agree that generally, stock for stock even, TBI is more reliable than TPI. the onset of problems is much sooner on a TPI car. but the fact remains that a TBI car is not as sexy or as cool as a TPI car. you pop the hood on a Camaro and you see that old school air cleaner assembly and its like MWAW-MWAW...because that means 170hp or less, and most likely an open diff and 2.70-something gears. they were slow. and Camaros and Firebirds are supposed to be fast.

bone stock, or rebuilt to stock specifications, is more reliable than a hotrod. not as fun, but more reliable. you bought a second 3rd Gen, or even a first 3rd Gen, and even though it doesnt have much performance, you decide not to modify it because you just want worry-free driving, dont want to deal with shops or have a bunch of down time - thats fine. where i disagree is with people who say "ooh, you got that 40,000 mile RS! you better hold on to that! put it in the garage and dont change a thing on it because its going to be worth a pretty penny in a few years!"

that is an excellent point. so true. for example, 4th Gens ARE faster than 3rds, but they're ugly as **** by comparison. i had one for 12 years, and once i bought my current 3rd Gen, i just realized that i was sick of the bulbous, plastic body. this is why i have a modified 3rd Gen. its still TPI, and it still looks completely stock inside and out - its just got different heads, cam, larger intake runners and manifold, ect. mine has just over 30K on it but the engine was ruined from lack of use. so i had to make a choice: keep my 89 Mustang and my 89 Formula and put money into 'em, or go out and buy a 2011 Mustang GT. you see a hundred 05 and newer Mustangs a day. you just dont see 3rd Gens where i'm from. so, yeah, i wanted to be different. but i've still got to be fast. thats just me. if you dont want to go fast, i dont understand how one gets into Camaros in the first place.

fine. i dont know if i agree with that (since if you're willing to spend the money, you can buy a '69 SS this, or Hemi that) but i do know that for me, for the forseeable future, when it comes to Third Gens, i'd be looking for TPI, 4-wheel disc brakes, and Formula, Trans Am, or IROC-Z Badging.

no. i guess not.

MadCelt

Exact-a-frickin'-lickily. Good grief try to find a new defrost or fog light switch.

I'd love to see the price go up... why? Not because I'd sell mine... well, unless I need the $$ to put my kids through college or something... but because, well, go to Walmart every night for a week and count the beat thirdgens sitting in the parking lot. easily 90% of the cars I see on the road are falling apart. Heck I even trophied at a car show with my RS simply because the judge, who was from NYC, said he never sees them in good shape (not so true down here, but still, more crappy ones than nice ones by far).

The only way to stop the steady flow of these cars into the crushers is for them to be worth more to fix up than as scrap metal. Simple fact. If the price goes up, more enthusiasts will jump on board. Seriously, not many people are willing to dump thousands of dollars into a car that if they sell or wreck it, they'll only see a fraction of their money back. We that do are either special, or nutty. Maybe a little of both, Heck, more often than not I hit a car show, I'll see multiple 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th gens, and have the ONLY 3rd gen. That is sad to me.

MadCelt

[quote=Linson;5336378]Can't disagree with any of that. :-)

It all comes down to priorities when choosing, that's all. My Z is my toy, the wife drives it daily because she commutes like 2 miles, heck I should make her walk but I'm too nice. The RS had to be more practical, better MPG, etc. 90 miles RT a day would be a LOT of gas $$ in a beast, LOL.

It's funny. I've owned a LOT of cars... from a '67 Merc to an RX7, '79 Monte, Celica GTS, etc etc to an '06 charger and '06 ram. Most nice. But NONE as much fun, or with as much soul, IMHO, as my 3rds. Heck, I even ALMOST bought a 6Cyl. ALMOST. Only thing that stopped me, was the PIA quotient when it comes to dropping in a bigger motor, just in case I ever wanted to.

Linson

okay, so here is my theory. those who want demand to go up for 3rd Gens, and prices to go up, and the aftermarket to respond, and 3rd Gens to be respected and addored by the public are putting the cart WAY before the horse. we HAVE to hotrod these f-ing things FIRST.

for John Q. Public to say, "wow, those things are awesome! i want one." they have to be killers. factory good looks alone wont get us there. as cool as muscle cars from the 60's and 70's were, they werent really cool until people started hotrodding them. THEN came the aftermarket. and the aftermarket for original parts came well after the aftermarket for hotrod parts. if people didnt hotrod 67 Camaros, they wouldnt be in demand today. if the 'First Gen Community' as it were got together and said, "our cars need to be preserved in their factory original glory," we wouldnt see or hear about them today - and the original ones wouldnt be worth nearly as much money as they are.

so by wanting to 'preserve' 3rd gens, and wanting to command the same desire from the marketplace, what people are factoring out of the equation is the long period of hotrodding through which these become Supercars and are viewed as such by the public. just not seeing 'em on the road anymore isnt going to get us their either.

MadCelt

Spoken like a true hotrodder (not a bad thing!). You make a point, but it's not the only factor.

You'd probably be very suprised to hear, that when I have taken my modded Z AND my stock RS to the same venues, my RS has always gotten more attention from the judges and the lookie-loos. Most car show cars are modded in one way or the other... stock can be quite rare. Just sayin'. We need both. Besides, the mere fact that it's a Camaro.... Look at what Gen 2s are going for now. Back 15 years ago you could have picked up a decent one for $1500. Now? Heck a rusty beat up runner will command more than that, and I see them selling for $10K plus in just 'fair' condition. Most are still stock, or near stock. Point is, with a 'special interest' car like the Camaro, it's a factor of simple time and scarcity as much as anything else.

Linson

Televised Auctions Ruining the Hobby:

Absolutley. Mecum, not so bad, but Barret Jackson. right about then, prices skyrotted on 60's muscle cars. the muscle car hobby shifted from who had the slickest set-up to who had the biggest checkbook. rather than being symbols of rebellion, individuality, or even optimism, they became yuppy status symbols. and it continues to infect the mindsets of owners today. and it IMO keeps alot of Third Genners from allowing our cars to make the natural transition to true respectability and desireability because they want them preserved for a high sale price NOW, instead of making them wicked to make an impression in the mind of the public, and desireability later. basically, the hobby went from being about this:



to this:

yes. apparently, a time capsule is worth more than a hotrod, but it will never be as cool.

Slater126

iTrader: (1)

In a weird way, hot rodding will be served by value increases, because more will be preserved. My car was near-mint 66k mile example, and was a PIA enough to bring back right, what with a bad fuel tank valve and HVAC control switch. The former made the car smell like gasoline and the latter meant the air ducts didn't work and the car had a vacuum leak, which hurt performance and idle. Neither part is available anymore. I had to scrounge for good used parts with no guarantee they'd work. Thank god I found them.

I've experienced people who understand this trying to gouge me on prices. The rear bumper mounting panel, which commonly rusts (mine did) sells (er sold) for $136 new. Of course, it's discontinued. I had a body shop try to charge me $350 for a used one. Needless to say, I told them to go (censored) off and got one from an enthusiast for 45 bucks. But still, as these cars get rarer and rarer, things like this will become more common, and of course that will just serve to accelerate the demise of these cars. The only thing that will stop that is if values increase. I see Linson's points and respect them but it's a complicated issue. If values of later model muscle cars (F-bodies, Fox Mustangs, etc.) continue to stay low, that will just shoot the entire hobby in the foot in the long run.

Blowtorch79

Most desirable......Depends on what you like. Most collectible....I'd say it has to be the 89 TTA.

Linson

okay, i want to word this without being too provocative...

i appreciate that you acknowledged my point, but then to continue on with your theory, you literally have to sweep my point under the rug, which you did - no offense taken.

here's what i mean: all the things that you, and everyone else says they want, first requires a market. just like 1st Gens, these cars have to be hotrodded to get a part of that hotrod market (everyone who drives and works on a car for the sheer fun of it). we missed the boat on hotrodding these when they were prevelant. thats why its hard to get parts today. i bet (well, actually i know) it isnt hard to get new OE and aftermarket parts for Fox Body Mustangs. w h a t ' s _ t h e _ d i f f e r e n c e ?

the only issue thats "more complicated" is the fact that, as others have noted, through no fault of their own, these cars were born into an age in which the culture was, by and large, over hotrodding. my position is that we ourselves have to draw the connection to hotrodding for others to see. semantics aside, a 60's Muscle Car is a 60's hotrod.

our cars have to capture more peoples' imaginations in ways other than "the best that the crappy decade i grew up in had to offer..."

Vega

From a pure collectability standpoint put me down for 1990. You had the one-year combo of Iroc-Z with 90s interior and it was only about a half year run or less as far as production goes. Now thats not me saying "i personally love 1990's asthetics best, so those are the best ones" its just me pointing out obvious factors that would play into a collector's desires. Also '90 was the last year you could get a 9-bolt and those also had the best rear discs, so i would say the 1990 350 cars with G92 and all the good stuff will be the most valuable when the time comes (aside from obvious specialty models like the 82 Indy Pace Car or the 89 Turbo T/A which dont count in my opinion. I see this as more of a "what non-super-specialty 3rd gen will be valuable" cause we all know Turbo T/As have already skyrocketed in value so of course that would be an obvious answer for everyone). My vote is for 1990

But to each their own, me personally i like the 88s and 89s the best as far as Iroc styling goes and the 91s and 92s as far as Z28 styling goes. Are they rare? Nah, not really, lots were built, even with all the goodies. I have an 88 B2L car with FE2 and t-tops and all the good stuff. I bought it cause it was a cheap, black, 350 iroc. Having t-tops with the 350 really pushed me into it also cause thats a rather rare combo. Mainly i just always wanted a black 350 Iroc though. The 91s and 92s are really close to my heart too, even though they kinda suck having only 10-bolts and no t-tops in the 350 cars, but they look damn mean, especially in black. They have a really clean look to them and make AMAZING looking modern pro-touring cars. However in my opinion the 3rd gens only get more and more valuable/collectible as they get newer up until peaking in 1990. The early ones (in my opinion anyway) arent styled very well, dogs on performance, unreliable cross-fire injection or a carb, 4-speed trans, theres just too many cons for me to get into them. Besides, theyre lacking all of the fun perks that come with owning a 3rd gen, like having old school styling, feel, and sound, in a car that has reliable and fuel-efficient fuel injection, overdrive, and all of the rest of the modern stuff that comes with the later versions

84TransAmNY

89 TTA will be one of the most desirable cars in the future. I want one some day. There was a nice write up on them in Hemmings or Classic car mag recently. They described how the car was one of the only car that didn't have to be altered to pace the INDY 500. I love the looks of the car and it's got to be fun with the turbo.
Personally, if I had to go out and buy a thirdgen today it would be an L98 GTA hardtop black or marron. Don't know off hand if they came with 5pds but I would put one in it for sure.
Like said above the desirable cars will be the least produced, rarest optioned and highest performance of the bunch. I think the modded cars will do real good eventually as well. That being said I love my 84 besides the cheap plastic interior. I have resto-modded my car and created my car to look and perform better then what the factory put out in 84 IMO. Nothing screams style like rubber stripping on doors. I hope to buy an 86 t/a some day and rebuild it up since I was born in 86. Anyone got a hard top in the yard looking for a new home haha.

mmorley1024

I like the 89 iroc z also, but i also like my 85 iroc z l69 with the 5 speed gotta love it.

02 camaro

So i'll get back on topic. My first Camaro/car was a 1984 SC with the 2.5 Iron Duke I was 14 I didn't care it had a 4 cylinder all i knew at the time was I owned a Camaro. My Second Third gen was a 1987 Firebird Formula 5 speed, Loved it! Around that Time 15-16 Years old is when I really started to Notice the 1992 Z28 Black/Red Heritage Edition with T-tops. Since that day I have been looking in local and surrounding states for one in my price range. One day I was roaming around Craigslist and a guy posted an Estate Sale, bout half way down the list of 50+ Item it said "-1992 Camaro 5.0 T-tops" Thats all i needed to make a call. SO i did, he told me it was a black heritage and before he could even finish his sentence i was already in my car. Showed up and the poor thing had been sitting on the side of a barn for 8 years and had only been started a handful of times. It was a present to him from his sister years ago and he knew the first owner(He was the second owner of it) Needless to say I have all the Maintenance records for it since 1994 she only has 74k DOCUMENTED original miles. Runs like a top, I love it and finnaly got my dream car after 7 years of looking.

Partspuller

Most of the third gens I've owned through the years were Frankensteined junkyard builds due to my budget, but the 1988 Formula Firebird I owned for a short time is my favorite purist style. It had the power bulge hood, red with silver decals, and directional wheels.
Although I sold it before having the opportunity to paint it, I once owned an '82 Berlinetta that I'd converted with 91-'92 nose, rear bumper, and side skirts and early third gen Z-28 wheels. I had a '78 Z-28 hood scoop I'd blended in and full interior (minus dash and console) from a '91 Firebird that was black. I'd added a Grant wheel and B&M Megashifter. It was a Pull-A-Part queen, but nice all the same.

1983LU5TA

My top pick would have to be an 82-83 LU5 Trans Am with N89 wheels. Nothing beats the sleek no-gfx looks. No nonsense, just class. Doesn't have to win races, they're just beautiful cars that are a blast to drive. I've owned over a dozen thirdgen Birds/TAs, and the newer they got, they looked more and more like a bloated pig every year

philoldsmobile

90 - new GFX old dash. I'm unbiased as I have never owned a 90 and sold my thirdgen a few years ago.

scottmoyer

The 1990 model was the same ground effects as the 1985 models. The dash was new in 1990.

articwhiteZ

iTrader: (56)

the 1992 Z28 was the only Camaro that grabbed me with the looks. was looking for a few years back in the late 80s.. but after, seeing them.in 91.i wanted one..so after getting it from my GM dealer,in 92. i had to send it off to Lingenfelter. to pep things up a bit.

the 91/92 year stands out to me..
after 20 years, i still love the looks..even better, Now.

Linson

KnightWarrior

The Irocs and Z-28's in 1985 and 1986 were pretty cool. I think the airdams looked much better than the boxey '82-84 nose and the louvered hood was cool too. A TPI car is probably pretty valuable too, as they had more power and better fuel economy. For mods, the carb-cars work well too. NCGUY is right...a low mileage, original non-hacked up will always be the most "collectable."
Most of us don't care about resale, though...We build 'em to our own tastes and enjoy driving them.

me420

i own a 87 norwood iroc and the clear coat is known for peeling. doesnt lessen it whatso ever but my vote is 87

nychevyguy

1987,88,89 liked dash,gauges,,and steering wheel. for my taste not into larger steering wheel with airbag but everyone has there own taste i just got a 1988 iroc all factory with 50.000 miles (red) is going to be a great christmas

87IROC-DAN61

Hello All !!

The most desirable year(s) has to be 1985 -1989 Z-28 or IROC-Z, with no doubt, the TPI motor !!

Of course I'm biased to the ones that I own !!

P.S. I didn't buy them for resale value either !!

Anthony Orman

I have an 88 G92 5sp with the 3.45

Anthony Orman

I have an 88 G92 5sp with the 3.45

yaj15

iTrader: (3)

You could get the LB9/T-5/3.45 geared 9bolt rear from 1987-1989 in the IROC Camaros.

I'm not sure if the same holds true on the Firebirds though.

Rob's 92 gta

I like the 92 because of the nose,hood and interior

Guest

I love the 91-92 style. I like the spoiler, love the hood power blisters, love the 4 wheels discs, love the interior, and love my tail lights. Yes, some of these options were available on other years, I love them all in conjunction though. Plus, the L98 and LB9 were at their peak. So I can leave her stock and still have enough power to put a huge smile on my face!

Buuuuuuttttt....I can't get over the 1984 style! The hood scoops, the GFX, the L69, a 5 speed and 3.73 gears! Those cars are just nasty (all relative). They run much faster than they should on paper and look sexy. My vote goes to 1984.

carlos64030

iTrader: (1)

As far as the Trans Am GTA goes, I personally think the 1988 model is the best year because it had the most options and EVERYTHING could be had.

Digital dash
Overhead console
Split rear seat backs
Performance sound sub-woofer system
L98 with t-tops
Rear disk brakes

The '91 and '92 GTAs are the best looking, but they were almost kinda stripped down to a point. I personally think it was a huge disgrace that Pontiac put rear drum brakes on the top of the line Firebird model, no matter what excuse they used. The sound system was also pretty mediocre.

kentuckyKITT

iTrader: (4)

The most desirable "unicorn" thirdgen for me would have to be the 1990 Gunmetal Metallic GTA Trans Am. I will own one someday. 2nd in line is ANY 1982 Trans Am. I own an '82 LG4 black and gold car (which is currently a KITT replica) and an '89 Firebird. I bought the '89 for a "nice day" daily driver because I hate driving my boring Cavalier unless I have to. The '89 needs a lot of TLC, but thankfully I got it out of the hands of the incapable owner who was about to destroy it. He did little to no maintenance and just "let things go." I'm bringing it back one step at a time and having fun doing it. For an '89 plain ol' Firebird 305 TBI, it's actually quite powerful and a blast to drive. I've owned 3 '84 Trans Ams and a '91 Camaro RS, but the '82 Trans Am has to be my favorite out of what I've owned and driven. I really want a fully optioned 1990 Gunmetal GTA though, but they are hard to find.

carlos64030

iTrader: (1)

The 1990 models certainly are pretty scarce. I never see them on eBay, and I searched for one earlier this morning on AutoTrader and Cars.com. I never really noticed how rare that model year is. It makes sense though, considering that the '90 models only ran for half of a production run and ended sometime in December of 1989.

85-87IROC-LB9s

iTrader: (1)

Having both a 1985 IROC and 1987 IROC, I would have to go for the 1987 Model year. 1987 was the first year for the revised cooling system which also meant some insulation foam inside the evaporator housing unlike pre 1987 models. First year for primered fuel tanks too rather than the older galvanized fuel tanks. First for the washer nozzles mounted on the wipers instead of the cowl. Also not to mention the first and last year for the redesigned deluxe interior that we would never see again (which means parts are hard to come by!), including the Automatic dimming mirror. First year for option packages, and the Bose sound sytem and the last year where you can have the 145 MPH speedo with an automatic LB9. Last year to also see the standard 16"s on the low optioned irocs. Don't forget it was also the first year of the GTA too. I think 1987 to me was the best looking for both the high end IROC and GTA cars out there, and the end of the first generation IROC's as compared to the later second generation IROC's up until 1990. Not to mention the last year to see a beautiful and sexy looking yellow IROC-Z!

IROCZTWENTYGR8

iTrader: (1)

Overall I'd say 1987. Although there were other good years, it was when things really started coming together big time for the Third Gen.

plum92_camaro

I'm gonna throw my 2cents in by saying I, me, myself desires most the 92 RS LO3 T5 T-top I have because I love the styling of the 92 (and 91), the 25th anniversary, and my exterior/interior colors (purple/black). I'm not concerned with the inferior performance it rolled of the production line with because I can buy and have bought parts to level the playing field with the irocs, or any other car on the road.

My point being the 92 body is MY ideal shell for a drivetrain and suspension that will ruin a new GT500 owners day!

BTW, I'm surprised nobody has mentioned this but did the 91-92 camaros get the wonderbar or was it only IROC's? From my past experience that is a really invaluable part for those who carve corners.

AmorgetRS

iTrader: (6)

The general consensus is that the wonderbar was a IROC only piece and didn't come on the 91/92 Z28s.