Jason E

I figured I would post this in here in the event those of us that are true purists don't peruse the for sale sections (I know I don't). If I'm violating the terms of this section, I'm sure Scott or JT or IROC will let me know

I'm trying to cut back on the mass quantities of extra crap I have around the house. One item I'm thinking of selling, depending on what I can get for them, is my pristine set of 13k mile original 245/50/16 Gatorbacks. They are not dry rotted. They look like brand new. I know they have 13k on them because when I bought my IROC in 2010 with 21k on it, the original wheels and tires had been off the car and stored since 93, when the second owner bought the car with 13k on it.

They hold air, look perfect, and can be driven on...although I do not recommend it. I took them off after about 300 miles of use in 2010 because they were rather loud...they're just sorta hard from age. If anyone is interested, post it here or PM me. I do not have a price in mind...curious to see what someone would give me for them.

I will post pics shortly.

Jason E

If anyone wants original 4th gen tires, I also have 2 beautiful sets of 245/50/16 Eagle GSCs as well...one set was on the IROC when I bought it.

scottmoyer

Now you're out of line with the 4th gen stuff!

I'll let these stay because Charlie might want the tires for his collection.

Stuart S

Tempting... lol

PM sent.

Jason E

And yet Charlie is about the one person I expected to that hasn't contacted me yet, besides you

Thanks for letting it stay, Scott...much appreciated. I'm also selling the original GM Accessories window louver that I got with the car if anyone is interested...I've never had it on the car.

scottmoyer

Post a pic of the louvers. Are all parts there?

chazman

iTrader: (4)

Ha! I still have mine too. My original, 10k mile, Gatorbacks are all bagged up and sitting in my attic for no particular reason. I mean I'll never drive on them again.

zya5point0

iTrader: (4)

Wow, there's still some around??? Just out of curiosity, what kind of $ are you guys talking about?? Other than the Flowmaster exhaust, my car looks all original. I'd love a set to put on for car shows

Lonnie P

For the purists, you may also want to post the date codes on the tires....
I would be interested in a spare or 2 if they were the correct year.

Mark_ZZ3

I have two VR rated still with the decals on them! :-) Never looked at the date code on them.

I had hoped that 4 mile iroc owner would buy them ... but I only have two.

Mark.

Lonnie P

post the codes already.... I'm only interested in the correct years that I need.

two-if-by-sea

iTrader: (22)

Yeah, the rest of us are shaking our heads too, wondering why this thread is still in the history/resto section, when there is a classifieds section...

Jason E

Lonnie,
I appreciate your interest but I'm not interested in selling 1 or 2 of them. What in the world would I ever do with the other 2 or 3 left..you know?

two-if-by-sea,

1) Most of the classifieds here are for people looking for $50 carbs, used headers and wheels of questionable value.
2) This forum is for History/Originality, right? What's more original than ORIGINAL third gen tires in good shape?
3) Are you interested in them? If so, PM me...otherwise? Relax...Scott already said it was ok to post these here, primarily because of what they are. I don't know who "the rest of you shaking your heads" are, as I've received zero negative commentary on posting them here.

I saw t_towner has a set of 255s on eBay right now...good luck to him with selling his set. I've had a few interested parties so far...will post pics tomorrow when I have a chance. They're in better shape than I remembered! Been sitting in tire bags since 2010...

Jason E

Scott,

Just saw this...will post a pic of that tomorrow. I don't know what there is for brackets for it...I have the louver carefully stored in the garage. No idea if the brackets that hold it to the car are attached to the louver? I've never used/installed one...

Jason E

Resurrecting this thread from the dead. I finally got these tires out of storage, and now the race is on to sell them because I'm moving to FL in 5 more weeks and I can't take all this stuff with me!

The good news is I'm moving to FL finally to a condo with a 2 car garage so no more paying for storage for 3 cars!! So instead of consolidating Camaros, I'm going to be able to keep all 3 and just pay to store one...got more than a few concerned PMs from long-term members asking me if I'd lost my marbles for offering the IROC for sale in the classifieds

Attached are the pics of what I believe are date codes?

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

Dang, VRs and not ZRs

Jason E

Yeah I believe ZRs started in 89 and these are off an 88...

86blackiroc

iTrader: (12)

Wow, no takers yet? Do you still have the GS-C's too?

mantaguy

iTrader: (5)

Very TemptingIf I'm reading the code right, they were made 34th week of 1988,so about August 88

Jason E

More photos....







The GSCs were just sold today along with the American Racing wheels they were on. The louver is also gone, too...I sacrificed it for $90 because it had a few scratches and was missing a few clamps that will be hard to find.

I cannot believe how fast these parts have been going...the louver was on CL for only 3 hours before it was sold. I should probably be asking more for this stuff, but I'm moving in less than 5 weeks.

Feel free to PM me with Gatorback offers...I'm not giving them away but I'd prefer to sell them than keep them.

daferris

iTrader: (8)

If your looking for ZR's I have a OEM set on OEM GTA wheels that have never been dismounted... Pm me
Dave

PurelyPMD

iTrader: (3)

I swapped e-mails with you a while ago - still interested in the Gatorbacks but never got a price. I'm close, could drive up there & get them so you wouldn't have to worry about shipping but.....

As you can tell, I don't mind driving on old tires. In the last picture the Wide Oval's are repops, but the Mickey Thompson Indy Profiles on the GT-37 are real.

e-mail me with what you want for them at thebosspontiac@hotmail.com

chazman

iTrader: (4)

Correct. Mine are ZRs.

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

PM sent

Jason E

Just spoke to PurelyPMD...it appears they'll be in his hands by tomorrow morning

Thanks for the interest everyone...I really wanted these tires to go to someone from this board. As much as I'd love to keep them, the reality is I don't do many car shows and I like to exercise my cars a little. Chances are I'd never have a use for them again.

At least I get to keep all 3 of my Camaros...that makes me happy enough

PurelyPMD

iTrader: (3)

Thanks Jason - they're going to a good home! https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/memb...ine-again.html

See you in the morning.

Jason E

Great story!! Beautiful car. Love your Pontiacs too BTW...and when I get settled in FL and buy a house, I hope to have a garage as cool as the one in your pics above

I'd love an LB9 M5 t-top IROC to go with mine...I think I'll need a Pontiac first, though!

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

Glad to see them go to a good home!!

Ozz1967

iTrader: (4)

If they're that old, they aren't safe to drive and should only be used for show purposes.

Jason E

Tires are gone to PurelyPMD...great guy I was able to talk third gens with, and unload a couple other new third gen parts I had lying around.

Thanks to Scott Moyer for allowing this thread to live...I'm extremely grateful for that, and that the tires ended up in the proper hands. These are third gen relics that deserved a good home. Scott, it was great talking with you last week, and I look forward to meeting you next month!

82tarecaro

iTrader: (4)

I can't see anyone actually using them. That would be extremely unsafe.

Linson

Dammit! I woulda been interested in those GSCs for sure. Unfortunately, the shipping cost on four tires woulda probably made it a non-starter. I'm about as far from you as one can get in the continental United States.

Jason E

Linson,

Indeed, I was trying to deal with people that were local. I sacrificed the GSCs, too, as they were worth more than I got for them...getting rid of 2 sets of tires (one with wheels) frees up quite a bit of space in a moving truck

Linson

I have like new GSCs on my TTA and wish i had some on my Formula. They are the perfect tire on a Third Gen.

Jason E

The only problem is while they still corner well as they age, as you probably know they just don't launch when they get old. When my Z28 was wearing 10 yr old GSCs I foolishly went to the track with it. My 60 foots were all over because I just couldn't launch. I spun them around town all the time.

I upgraded to 275 Continental ExtremeContacts (best $600 I've spent in my life) on ZR1s, and now even 3 years later it takes some work to spin them. GSCs were a phenomenal tire in their day with great treadwear and highway characteristics. I love the way they look too...

But they are just too damn old at this point...they get hard like any tire does, and just don't grip. I still have those GSCs, less than half worn, on my stock Z28 wheels in the basement. I'll probably keep them...but when the Eagle F1s on my SS get replaced this year (15 years old is enough for me, and they don't grip either), I'll probably sell those too...

chazman

iTrader: (4)

My original Gatorbacks were about 20 years old when I replaced them. Old! I agree that they didn't seem to lose much laterally, (cornering or steering), but were nearly worthless on acceleration and braking at that age. Anything more than half throttle would spin the tires mercilessly in the lower gears. You'd actually hear them spinning - but no screeching at all.

When I got the new F1s it felt like I also added Brembos.

Can't wait for the repro Gatorbacks. I wish they'd hurry up with that.

82tarecaro

iTrader: (4)

I have them on my TTA as well. They have almost full tread left. But they are getting up there in age and don't grip for ****. I will be swapping them out for a new set of tires this spring. It is impossible to enjoy the car the way it is now. I will probably get a set of the Firestone Indy 500 tires. Not much of a selection in this tire size, and I can't hold out anymore for repro Gatorbacks.

Jason E

I'd rather see you get BFG G Force Sports. I have those on my IROC and like them better than the Indy 500s I had on my 88 TA. I owned both cars and both tires at the same time. My TA was a WS6 car so the cars were evenly matched...G Forces were quieter, hunted less on the highway and had a little stiffer sidewall for better cornering feel.

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

To add to the problem, most tread patterns don't really fit the look of the car like the gatorbacks/ GSCs do.

PurelyPMD

iTrader: (3)

Thanks for the tires Jason & the other parts too!

Have no fear folks, these tires won't see many miles as I have an extra set of wheels they will get mounted on - but just like the girls say, the shoes make the outfit!

I too am looking forward to the repop Gatorbacks - those can't come soon enough!

82tarecaro

iTrader: (4)

Be careful with them. You will have no traction.

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

Pretty sure everyone already knows by now these tires are not going on a road racer, drag race car or a DD.

82tarecaro

iTrader: (4)

I know what you are saying. But he did just say he was going to put a few miles on them.
But I will stop beating the dead horse

Jason E

I've considered putting repro Gatorbacks on my IROC when they eventually become available...but I have to say I've been impressed with the G Force Sports that are on it currently. I wonder, going forward, how many performance tire options will be available in a 245/50/16 though.

I wish Hawks made a 17" IROC replica like they just started with the GTA wheels. I would be all over an '88-90 17" IROC replica wheel...especially if they allowed for a 275/40 size...

Jason E

You're quite welcome...and it was great to meet you! I had a feeling the tires were going to a good home...it made selling them easier.

I thought I'd be more bummed to sell them, but frankly the stuff I've been selling has to go...and at this point, I feel lucky just to be keeping the cars.

82tarecaro

iTrader: (4)

Jason - You retiring to Florida or you still a working stiff? I plan on heading that way in about ten years when I retire. I am tired of the northeast and this latest cold spell convinced me I need to move when it is time.

Jason E

I wish I was retiring I'm only 34. Yes, this winter killed any remaining desire I had to stay in New England. I originally planned to move to FL last summer...planned to stay for one more year and leave this summer...then that got cut short...

4 more weeks and I'll be an FL resident. Can't wait! I'm done with sand and salt and snow!

82tarecaro

iTrader: (4)

Good luck. I am sure you will make a better life for yourself there.