If you like it, buy it is the best advice really for anyone.

I haven’t seen a thirdgen for sale that I would have bought over this Vert. I look everyday because I do want another one at some point. (There is a very nice flame GTA at a great price for sale!). I’d love to have a colllection.

Some people say they’d only want a 5.7, only a Formula, only an IROC, or only want this or that.. but you should do what you want and not what other people would do. If you find a super mint car loaded in the color you want at a great price but it’s a “305 auto”.. You have to ask yourself, am I passing on this car because I care if other people see that “5.7” badge?

I just find it funny because people sometimes say, “why didn’t you get a 5.7?” Then I have to explain verts didn’t have 5.7 option.

I played around with a black 5.7 on a highway after a cruise night and he couldn’t pull away from me. It was a 190k car maybe with a tired motor. He was VIN 8 but didn’t have the SPID in the console so we couldn’t see what gears it had. He should have been able to pull on me.

Then my buddy in a stock 2018 SS that runs 11 sec 1/4 mile blew our doors off.

I think it just gets parroted that the 305 is garbage but it’s so silly when you look at it. Looks the same with TPI and not that dramatically far off power-wise. I agree, don’t waste money building a 305, but if you’re keeping the car stock and just cruising around it isn’t less fun.

Drive a flawless mint 305 car with nice exhaust and watch how much attention it gets, watch people at cruise nights swarm your car telling you it’s their favorite car there. Be surprised how it can actually put you in the seat. Pop the hood and look at how nice the TPI looks. And then try to drive around with a huge frown because you missed out on that 20 horsepower and some numbers on a badge.

Meanwhile the new Camaro 4cyl Turbo makes both the 305 and 350 TPI look silly.

I’d probably get more approval from some if I bought a blue 5.7L car I was looking at, but the Vert was special and much better kept and maintained. This was more about the feeling of what these cars were like new. The feelings I get driving it, looking at it, walking up to it were all more important than a 5.7 or a stick shift which I tried to find. This car gave me the feelings I wanted to have which was the reason I bought it. I put on an 80s playlist and I feel like it’s 1988 and I’m taking my new IROC home and showing my friends the car I just bought. I look over at the passenger seat that looks like no one ever sat in it and look over at the IROC-Z dash emblem and I feel like the prideful first owner. Those feelings are the most important to me.

That’s why “if you like it, buy it” is great advice. You can’t get those feelings trying to impress others.

I get the “oh it’s an auto..?” All the time too.. usually from people that didn’t know how hard it was to find a stick.. even back in the day..

For the cars on EBay, there are only a handful that don’t have little issues you’d have to undo from a previous owner.. it is good to see good examples pop up.. Yours is nicer than what I’ve generally seen on EBay. That other flame GTA for sale on this board is as well..

I’ve checked out RevUp.. they’ve had cars that caught my eye..

The nicest cars on EBay are usually the dealers.. You can wait years to find a good private owner car..

I was talking about if you’re in a hurry, some dealers do get good cars and clean them up, service them and will stand behind them.. I think it’s better if you can find a private owner, but it can take longer to find what you really want. The worst quality Thirdgens are private owner too.. dealers won’t list a car with no paint, no motor, rust, etc.. They don’t want to sell junk and most worth their salt can recognize an unmolested original car.. The junk goes to auction

The dealer will obviously take a nice commission on their “find”..

Well I think you have a car for sale that’s very close to a nominee so that’s maybe relevant? Maybe there’s some tidbits here that could help someone buy a COTM car of their own?

I figure since I was up on the ramps today I’d share some underside shots.. So the car was undercoated when purchased by the original owner per the previous owner. Apparently he was a “check of all the boxes and get the extended warranty” type of guy. I’d rather not have the undercoating, but it’s really clean under there. I haven’t started cleaning underneath yet, but that’ll be a November project. There was a little condensation under there from the humidity that rolled in so I do need to pick up a tarp for the garage floor.. It’s harder than I thought to take pictures with the car on the ramps..





And here are a couple casual POV with my driving mats in.. this was going to get a sticker today..

My original factory floor mats are in really good shape so I’m afraid to drive around with them so I got those from Classic Industries for driving. They are very high quality and have cutouts for the seat feet and a section that covers the foot rest on the drivers side.

Check out ACC they make factory original replica mats (minus the GM emblem). They copied them off of a member on here who had a mint or NOS set from what I heard. It’s the closest you can get to NOS mats.. they also have a ton of different options and embroidery if you want to do something a little different too.. chazman turned me on to this company during a floor mat discussion..

https://www.accmats.com/commerce/198...or%20Mat/9363/


Check out this company.

Thanks ksr! We have similar stories and similar condition cars. I’m not sure how the 88 Vert pulled this off. I was sure your GTA with it’s pristine vintage looks, and desireablility was going to take it home. I was preparing to congratulate you and expected to come in 3rd at one point. I would definitely nominate your car in the future as it is deserving and a car many on here have wanted at some point (myself included).

I’m also shocked that scottmoyer never won. I would have never nominated those cars because I assumed they had obviously won before! Wow!

Ha ha.. Thanks! Hey I think Scott has a flame red car too.. (just sayin’)

I always wondered who’s car this was (love the pic on mobile site header):