Sorry for the typos, I meant to say in title I will probably be selling.I have a 92 formula 5.0 5 speed. I have owned it for over 8 years, I think its time for it to go on. I work 2nd shift and have 0 time for it. It is a running project car. Engine runs great, shifts fine, engine at high rpm burns a lot of oil. 99% stock,it has hooker shorty headers and the muffler is flowmaster 40 series. Body is quite bad, needs floors passenger and driver side, quarter panel is rotting, rear wheel wells have holes on both sides, Fenders rusting. The hood was repainted in 2007, doors are rust free painted and installed in 2012. So when I looked up the numbers there was 1,017 formulas made in 92 mine is t top 4 wheel disc brakes, black exterior, black interior, given the options it does make it kind of rare, but there in lies the issue, its condition. I would honestly like to see the car go to someone who will restore it. Since I purchased brand new $600 tires on the rims and given I don't think I will get much I will probably end up keeping the black crosslace rims, I have a set of iroc-z rims I will throw on it. So more or less my question is what do you like its value is in its condition, I don't even honestly know what to ask for it. I will post pics as soon as I figure out how. But the pics were taken yesterday afternoon. That's its current shape. So if anyone has any clue on its value or perhaps is interested or has questions let me know.

 

More pictures. The floor is gone on the drivers side, passenger side on its way.

 

Sounds like a parts car. I doubt I would pay much more than $800 for it.

 

Thank you for responding, I figured nobody wants to restore it. Sadly that's probably what its demise will be. I have watched her go from gorgeous in 2006 to this. Never had a good enough job to get anything done, except doors and hood. I unfortunately wasn't blessed with the bodywork skill. Now I got a very good job and don't see it worth doing anything to. Full restoration with me knowing the owner was 12k and he begged me not do it, because its not worth it.

 

With the car not being worth much due to the rust, this is one that I'd simply hold on to for the moment if you or someone you know has the space to store it.

It's not worth anything now, but it should be worth something a few years from now due to its rare and desirable color combination and the fact that it's a 5 speed. Once the value of these cars climbs a bit, the rust won't be as big of an issue as long as parts are still available.

 

I don't know about that. First gens in this condition are worth some coin, but I don't see a third gen like this being worth anything for at least 20 years, and by then this car will have rusted back into the earth.

It's pretty much game over for this car. Floors and quarters are a HUGE amount of work, not to mention he says the fenders are gone too. I wouldn't be surprised if the cowl drains have rotted out too, and once you get rust in the firewall, there's really no turning back.

You'll make some money if you part it out. Let the good parts go to the cars that can be saved, and let this one go.

 

I agree with the above. That being said if you love it, it is always worth it. Of course I am a painter and can weld so that saves some $.

Kind of reminds me of my 69 when I was 17. People who knew said it was not worth fixing, back then you get a nice first gen for 4 or 5 grand. I put floor pans, trunk floor and quarters on that car. Still have it today. It is a stick car too, runs mid 12's @ 110.

For me I would absolutely do it again, I had it towed from apt to apt until I bought a house and built a garage for it. For me it actually pushed me to learn new skills that I make my living with today.


My 2 cents. I will never sell that car. Of course of all my high school friends I am the only one that still has his car. They all wish they had kept their's now.....

 

If you have 12 grand to spend on a restoration, you'd be better off just buying a different f-body. I do understand the sentimental value factor, but when you can buy a really fantastic looking 3rd gen for around 6 grand its pretty hard to justify.

 

Wow guys thanks for responding keep it coming. Well the sentimental value is more or less faded, I still like it because to me its beautiful but has the mean wore out rustic look lol. The only way it will get restored is if I win the lottery of which I don't play,so I don't know if my odds are better playing or not playing lol. But the reason it must go is because my father is really getting on my case about it and yes I still live with my parents. But They are looking to move out of state by next year or as they say" As soon as we find a house" so it really could be anytime and I cannot go with them because of my job, which means I must save for "The House" And I have 3 vehicles, The daily driver, The truck, The old daily driver aka formula. So at this point in my life I don't need it and its condition will only get worse as time goes on. I do agree I do see the values of these 3rd gens going up I say give it 8-12 years the iroc-z and formulas will be 10-15k. But even if I did want to keep it and slowly restore of which I could I know how to weld and everything, but it would end up looking like a car from mad max after its done lol. But I work 8-12 hours a day and literally have no time for the car. So the next part I hate to ask what do you guys see it being worth with the rims on it and without the rims on iroc-z rims and tires. I'm hoping to find someone interested enough to actually want to buy it even if its for a parts car. If anyone is interested in it just let me know, whatever tips or offers anyone gives me is not going to offend me. I forgot to say earlier it does have a Clean Title, not that it means anything in its rusted condition. So yea keep all the info coming It really does mean a lot to me.

Thanks guys

Greg

 

I seriously respect everything you just said about the story of your 69 Camaro, a lot of my friends who had muscle cars/sport cars in high school still have them. A lot of my friends are selling them most recently and one got scrapped it was a foxbody so no harm no foul there's a million more lol.

The one thing I do want to say and I don't mean any offense to anyone is you have 3 kinds of people at carshows from what I've analyzed. 1. Those who have put their time,blood,sweat,tears into the car and show it off standing proud next to it. 2. Those who bought it at Barret Jackson auction or Ebay fully restored for 50k and up and show it off like they did all the work of which its very easy to tell because when you start asking them questions they either say it wrong or don't know. And I mean no offense to anyone about that I understand if your not able to work on or restore a car do it and you want a pristine one by all means show it off its a pleasure to see It regardless. 3 the people who admire the beautiful cars.

I took my firebird to a carshow with all my friends and their entered their cars. I got 2 people who looked at mine I stood next to it so proud because I have worked on everything on it myself and fixed everything on it myself, except the rust that is. I even have a pictures I will upload. But yes I respect the fact you kept it all those years and did all the work yourself, that is a ton of work, all those TV shows make it look so easy and simple and fast, but the fact you kept your Camaro all those years, especially since that Camaro didn't peak in value till 1999, 30 years later, is truly amazing and one hell of a story to tell the kids/grandkids right. See I don't think I will regret it selling it. But you don't know or appreciate what you have until its gone right. Thank you very much for your reply

Greg

 

Wow, that's too bad. The mileage is not really all that high. Mine has 155k and barely any rust on the whole car. Must have been driven is salt/rain a lot? The vinyl on your console looks nice and straight, wish I had that. Lol

 

I agree with stealth, somewhere in the $800 range as a parts car. Maybe a little more if its usable as a driver for awhile longer, but I don't know if thats the case... certainly not very safe anyways.

 

Great story!

 

So everyone would pretty much agree its value is around $800 bucks. I called up a local junkyard today just to see what they offer, he said $400 if I drive it in. The weird thing is im not really all that sad about it, I see it as I got a ton of use out of it I bought it with 99k miles in march of 2006, my goal was to reach 200k miles with the 305. Obviously looks like it can make it, but the body cant lol. Yes when I daily drove it in the winter in 2006-2009 I got it washed 3 times a week with underbody wash, even in negative temps, where ur brakes froze and doors froze shut after washing it. Doesn't mean a thing in the Midwest. lol I will keep you guys posted with what I end up doing with it.

 

If you decide to crush it at least take some parts out of it. A complete WC T5 swap is worth some coin (probably more than the junkyard will give you for the entire car), as is a black interior.

 

just buy a rust free shell and swap everything over. hell, its not that hard ,and you can do it when time allows. if you love it. keep it. or think of it this way, how will you feel if you buy a nice Honda, Hyundai, ford, ect to replace it with?????

 

I would agree my uncle scraped (10) 1967-68 and 69 camaro body's back in 1985 for if I remember right around $95 per car he is kicking himself in the a$$

 

I know its not hard to do, I don't have the time to, plus the next toy car I will purchase will be a 86-87 Buick Grand National but that's down the road quite a ways, unless a good deal I cant pass up shows itself lol. Now the grand nat is my dream car. The formula was just a car I picked up that was badass I grew attached to.But I do need to focus on saving for a house. It wont get replaced with anything modern. lol

 

Most junkyards don't part cars, they just crush them and sell the scrap.
If you aren't in a hurry I'm sure someone will give you $800 or more as a parts car.
Put it on craigslist AS A PARTS CAR! Don't try to sell it as a project car or a fixer upper, it's toast. If it's listed as such, someone like me in your area will come get it soon enough.

 

what you have in your possession is a GOLD MINE!! someone on here, or in your area is desperately looking for the parts that you have.if you have the room for it. you could advertise it and part it out. and since its true that these cars ARE sought after. you could make bank. WAY more than $800. its a shame it had to die ,but others may live because of it. kinda like being a organ donor!

 

I'd say you better part-it-out , you will make more cash that way. But that's just me.. some will disagree.

 

Yeah, it is rare - about 1k built, and a 5 speed car (probably only a few hundred with that option, possibly closer to only 100). It's a shame that car wasn't babied. Unfortunately, it's too expensive to fix. You could have had a future collector car on your hands.

 

Engine and tranny will be desperately sought after, the interior looks respectable. DON'T SCRAP IT. Sell it as parts car. If you scrap it , you'll be as big of a fool as the guy who turned in a 350 Formula under cash for clunkers (search youtube for the death of the car).

 

I agree. Anyone who would sell this for $800 would be making a mistake. Mine is a 92 with t top and 350, only about 200 made. Well documented too, window sticker, build sheet, etc. I would really hate to see the OP car get junked and crushed. Just a 92 itself is rare, let alone a t top with unusual options. Organ donation = LIFE (and cash).

 

I currently am speaking with someone who is looking to purchase the car who is local. You have to understand I price things to sell. Always have im asking $800 bucks with iroc-z rims on it with crappy tires and $1400 with the rims that are on it now. The rims cost so damn much if you buy them separate plus I want them. The tires are pretty much brand new. So that's my asking price its not too much and its not too little its priced fair. I will keep you all posted with the outcome.

 

well SOMEONE is getting a hell of a deal. props to you for having good guy pricing.

 

[QUOTE=rusty vango;5803660]well SOMEONE is getting a hell of a deal. props to you for having good guy pricing.[/QUOT


LOL rusty vango you make me laugh lol

 

[QUOTE=Randomtask2;5803668]quite alright, sometimes I make ME laugh too.

 

5 years back I tried to sell a running and driving parts car in better shape than this for $1100. I didn't get a single call on it. I know prices on these cars have gone up some since then but based on my experiences $800 is realistic. I ended up parting out some of it then scrapping it and I made over $800. If I had the storage space I could have easily pulled another $600 or so in parts. If thats an option for you then by all means do it. The extra money could help with the house

 

$1,400 is a little more reasonable. $800 would leave me drooling the drool of regret.

 

No one is going to give you $1400 for the car. Yes, the parts are worth more if you sell them seperately, but that takes time and effort.
There are two kinds of people who will buy that car:
Someone who parts it out for money, or someone who wants parts for a 91-92 cheaper than buying them seperately. Either way, $1400 makes it too expensive for those goals. When I was buying lots of parts cars, the most I paid was $1100 for an 87 GTA manual tranny with all the options except digital dash. The wheels were a big reason I paid that much, so you might be able to get to $1000 or so, but not much more than that.

 

That's what I meant. I'd have a hard time letting a car go for $800 when I know it would part out for $1,400. I might begrudgedly take the $1,100 offer he said he had.

 

So far i have my coworker coming tomorrow to check it out. And if he doesn't buy it, another guy is coming on Saturday to check it out as well.I want to sell it for $800 with the iroc-z rims, It wont look that bad with them on it lol. I think 1400 is a fair price with the black crosslace rims. People ask 100-125 a piece per rim with no tires on them, and you buy a set of 245/50/16s in decent shape 150-250 bucks unless you find a deal. I really don't want to sell them. My dad is begging me to put them on his 4th gen Z28, I don't even know if they will fit. lol. The way I can put it is when anyone buys anything including myself,you try to get the best deal possible so I try to offer a reasonable deal when selling of which I myself would be like oooh. Except this is to a limited market. And people think its negotiable when it already is at damn near the bottom dollar price therefore they think there not getting a deal because there paying my asking price lol. I have had people low ball me in the past, a thousand off the price and I said do you want me to give u the title for free because thats what your trying to get it for lol. But anyways would third gen rims fit on a 4th gen that's a very good question. Im kind of curious now lol

 

i just paid 1k for my 92 formula 350 rust free with 101k miles. Needed some engine work but now it runs butter smooth.

 

Holy **** that looks nice, is that what they look like with no rust lol. Congrats, you trying to make me feel like im asking too much lol. The only concern I have with yours is that gap between ur door and fender is quite big you sure it wasn't smashed or has a salvage title because it should line up perfectly. There is usually a reason things are priced cheap, especially in that condition. Not trying offend you, just putting it out there just in case you didn't notice. But good deals do come up. Around here if that gap wasn't there in that shape seriously would sell for 6k easy if not more. Congrats on your purchase welcome to the third gen club.

 

They will bolt on, but since the offset on the thirdgen GTA rims is only 0 mm on the front and +16 mm on the rear, (notice there's a slight difference in the shape of the aluminum outer rim between front and rear!) they will "stick out" awkwardly on a 4th gen. 4th gen rims work on third gens if you use spacers, but spacers compensate for the 40-50 mm offset of a 4th gen rim to move it OUT to it's stock position to clear the suspension on a third gen and be able to work. But, going the other way you have the opposite problem! Since thirdgen offset is so small, the rim will be moved out away from the fenders of a 4th gen. Plus, a 4th gen rear axle is 3-4" wider, moving the rims out even more. It also might put extra stress on your axle housing and flanges too, I'm not sure how much--but I also think it wouldn't be my first choice. I'd hate to warp something. Theres no way that I know of to move a rim IN unless you want to chop off part of the axle. LOL So technically it will work, but IMO it won't look right. But feel free to try it, some guys like that look.

 

Dude, you have a clone of my car! I started a thread yesterday looking for 92's with t top/350 combo. Do you know that there are only 200 of them and we both have one? But there is an issue with that door gap. Mine does that too, but not quite as bad. Eventually I'm going to put it on a frame rack to make sure it's straight. Might want to do that, it'd be a couple hundred bucks at your typical body shop. But on mine the gap is a little too wide, but it's consistently the same distance from the door, and the fender can be moved back a little to fix it. On this it looks like it's wide at the bottom and almost touching at the top. That would worry me, but for 1k you can afford to have it worked on, so not a huge deal--just get it on a frame rack ASAP. Meanwhile, take a tape measure and measure all the door gaps in several different locations on on both sides, compare them, and maybe write them down with a note of where you measured. Measure the opening for each t top in 2-3 spots and do the same thing, and measure the distance between the front and back bumper seams on both sides. Check the under body and pinch welds for dents. Check under the hood to see if you have date stamps on your fenders (next to the hood, if they are original, there would be some odd numbers and a 91 or 92 with it) and see if the job number plate is still there on the nose (between the hood latch and radiator). Those will give you at least a general idea if you might have replacement parts, though it's not always a hard and fast rule. Getting a 4 wheel alignment check will also reveal if something might be out of square, that's usually $75-$100 or so, but worth it in this case. Looks like the door molding is missing too, could be another sign of an incident. I also notice that you don't have the WS6 center caps? Could be the originals were lost or broken and someone replaced them with these, but check underneath to make sure you have the WS6 fat sway bars and etc. Is there a "performance suspension" badge on the lower dash, passenger side? Make sure it's genuine, and not a Formula clone! But it's a good find. Even if it's been wrecked, 1k is still probably a good deal for a car like this with only 101k miles. Body shops straighten unibody frames every day. Welcome to the thirdgen world!

 

im interested in the car PM me..where in Illinois are you?

 

RF fender has the rust bubble, The LF fender is starting and theres a bubble starting on the T Bar roof

 

Here you go BigBad....

 

......engine bay

 

hey examiner that's a sexy *** car just giving you info you already know lol wanna trade mine for yours and ill throw in a 30 case of rolling rock cans guaranteed for a good night lol jk of course lol

 

LOL BTW, I totally get your love of the mid 80's Grand National. One of the best looking cars of the era. Classy, but with great lines. I like the Cutlass a lot too, I've always wanted one of them.

 

Looks real nice! I'd look for the correct black center caps with silver WS6 lettering on them.
The weird fender gap is generally caused by someone putting a jack or lift under the lower fender bolt/pinch weld area. That causes the damage seen and is the wrong place to jack the car up.

 

You can pick up the WS6 caps on eBay for $50 or $60. BTW, this is the Cutlass I'd like to have. I wouldn't change a thing about it other than the wheels. Kind of nerdy, yet somehow classy and cool. I love 'em.

 

Hell yea G bodys are my ****, My dad promised me his 87 cutlass brougham when I was 16 I guess its fair to say he sold it when I turned 15 he said he didn't want to see me destroy it lol, im a regal kind of guy I had a 84 regal for a couple years best car I have ever owned. I bought it for 600 bucks with no passenger rear floor so cut out all the rust and patched the floor, treated it and used rubberized undercoating back to normal. It was barely running with a 75 olds rocket 350, I advanced the timing before spark knock and it had a holley 650 double pumper wayyyy tooo big for that so my friends dad tuned the carb for me since I had no clue how because I wasn't taught that because it was called "Outdated information". Now I am familiar with them. But after that she ran supreme the best mpg I got out of it was 8 mpg, 1st car wash the bumper fillers all broke, it had straight pipe no muffler it was quite loud lol the regal was my car to keep my formula from seeing salt. Which as you can see didn't mean anything. But with the pics im posting as you can see it was parked in the spot the firebird is now lol Moral of the story G bodys are awesome. In 2009 one of the best deals I have ever ever ever ever come across was a 1986 Buick Grand national for sale guy had 3 kids and was extremely desperate to sell it but it had no rust, 60k original miles, T tops, had minor mods, the biggest turn off was it had a spool in the rear end and would chew the rear tires to hell so 9k still is a awesome price. I test drove it, when the turbo spooled that sound was like music to my ears. He told me to stop being a bitch and punch it. We were on a 30mph street it did 70 in no time flat fastest 80s car I have ever driven. The turbo noises during that were omg lol. I got out of the car and damn near fainted that I got to finnaly drive my dream car and It was reasonably priced. So went to the bank they said a 1986 buick regal is not worth a 9k loan, I said its a grand national its a special package its not a regular regal they didn't understand but they kept telling me its not an antique, keep in mind it was 2009, said its not a specialty car, its not rare we did research they not worth 9k. I said please before u decline me at least go on ebay and look this car up and see what people are bidding for them. They said we don't go on that we go on kbb and it doesn't show up as available because its too old. So they said they will call in a hour after more research and let me know if I qualify. Got the call and they said declined not worth 9k. I damn near called up the guy crying (not literally) lol said I got declined may the next person get it and appreciate it and good luck and take care of those kids. Im sorry for telling you guys my life story, that car is like important to me you know. lol

 

Did you not have any collateral or another vehcile you could put a lien on? They would have done that to me on this Formula I bought because I wanted to borrow more than the asking price to have work done. I used my 07 Mustang (which is paid for) as collateral and got the loan.

 

I had nothing of real value except the firebird but the kbb on that in 2009 would of been not much,its a shame they don't go off street value. Its just a sad story. But that grand national is like very very special its comfortable, nice riding, nice looking, everything on it is perfect. So if you are ever given the chance to drive one/ DO IT! lol they really are a work of art, that got no respect from buick owners during their launch because the typical buick owner at that time was typically middle aged and wanted luxury luxury luxury and they didn't like the grand nat because it didn't have chrome or woodgrain and was very fast, the true car guys realized it was special during production.

 

I buy/sell/part more banshee birds than anyone in the region. That car in that condition is $500 to me. Yeah, parts are worth more but tearing it down takes time and time is money

If you really like the car, find a cheap V6 or roller down south that not clapped out and move all the parts over. Fixing that car would be marrying a money pit. Hate to say it because 91-92 formulas are my favorite

 

There is no fixing it, and I don't have time to swap everything over. I think $800 is fair im about to post it on the classifieds here I need this gone by the end of augest which is coming sooner then later.