67tothefuture

I am looking at two cars.
One is a 1992 Z28 convertible. Not in bad shape. Runs fine. 305 TPI/Auto. Basically it is all original. Original Z wheels. Good rubber. No aftermarket inside or out. It needs a new top, which I think will run around $1000 to have installed. Paint is okay. A few rust bubbles in the rear wheel well. Original leather interior. The driver seat is torn, otherwise descent leather. Original radio, no dash cracks. Mileage is questionable. Spedometer/Odometer is not working. Last mileage in 70,000. Overall, in descent shap. I can get this vehicle for $4000 or less.

Second car is a 1991 Z28 vert. 37,000 original miles documented. 2nd owner had since 1993. Been in storage the last 8 years. No rust. Paint is great. Leather interior is immaculate. 305 Auto. All original except new flowmaster exhaust. Gus is asking $5000 for it which seems to be a good price. Not sure if I can get it as another individual is offering less money and can apparently get to the car sooner. I am offering more but cannot see it until this weekend. I really want this car, but due to work cannot get there, so we will see what happens.

Anyway, is there a big difference in value between the 1991 and 1992? I know the 92 was the 25th anniversary, it has the badge inside the car. There were only around 1200 Zverts made as compared to around 3,400 in 1991.

I really want the 91 because of the low miles, but if I cannot get it do you think the 92 zvert is a good price given the brief description. I don't want to buy it just because I cannot get the other, but it seems these cars are getting harder to find for decent money. Any thoughts would be great! Thanks!

67tothefuture

Also, no salvage titles on either car.

88GTAvert

Having not seen pics of either car, I would go for the one with low mileage. It seems very tough to find nice parts when you're looking to replace something, and I would bet the 91, with such low miles, is in great shape and would need little replaced to be perfect.

mister_hudson

iTrader: (3)

As far as I know there really isn't much difference between the two years..

The lower miles of the '91 is appealing - however the rareness of the '92 can't be ignored either... If I were in the market again I would be a little nervous of the rust on the '92 - if there is some "surfacing" then there is bound to be more that you can't see and could end up being a costly repair sooner or later...

See if you can get your hands on the '91 - if not knock a grand or so off of the '92 for the work you are going to need to do to her... Either one could be a GREAT ride with a little work...

Good luck and keep us posted on what you end up doing!

jliroc

iTrader: (1)

The two years, as posted above are not much different at all. The 25th anniversary car would be more rare for sure, although rust is a issue for sure.

The one thing I do know is, I searched for my 1990 vert for 3 years before finding it, but never settled for less. If it doesn't feel right, don't do it - there is always another car out there. Keep your eyes open because you are right, ones in good shape are just going up in price and are becoming harder to find.
Don't be impulsive, but if it feels right do it!

The 1991 sounds like a better condition vert to me and they are right, the less parts needed to replace the better cause vert parts are not easy to find, and if you do find them they are $$$!!! Don't get me wrong, I love these cars! Good luck man!

67tothefuture

I will let you guys know. I am going to go look at one of them this weekend. The owner of the 91 vert is going to get back to me to let me know if I can come see it or not. He seems rather eager to get rid of it. I would sell it to whoever is offering more money, but I told him I cannot commit to it sight unseen as the other person has. I don't want a basket case. Picture wise, they both look nice. But, I was looking at a 88 iroc vert last year and the pictures were nice, once I saw it in person it was a mess and drove horribly, so you never know. I am really wanting one and I feel the longer I wait the more difficult and more costly it will be. If I don't get a shot at the 91 and the 92 is a decent car for a good price I might take the dive. The feeling of driving a camaro vert with the top down in the summer is priceless. I just hope one of these works out!.

RobSS1113

Geez , you found 2 Z convertibles, ones a 91 and ones a 92 , what are the odds !!!!

My luck is the 91's cause thats all I basically find ...if you were mechanically skilled the 92 would seem like a GREAT deal if you could get him to go lower. My top is messed up too but who cares .. These cars look GREAT topless !!

as far as the 91. Its up to you.. Im fond of the 91's .. I've gotten use to the yellow gauges comapred to the ORange ones the 92's have. But 20 years from now the 1,200 or so 92z will probably be less than half left and the 3,203 91Z's will be around 1,500 or so ... Cars get wrecked totaled , stripped , junk etc etc.

the 92 will be a rare one thats for sure !!

IROCZ28KevinZ

iTrader: (2)

I would personally try and get the 91 if he still has it. If I had the 91, I would be willing to hold onto it for a few more days if you are COMMITTED to at least LOOKING at it, and keep the other guy's number on hand with his offer so if you don't take it, I could call him and honor the original deal. If the 92, however, is a Heritage Edition (RPO code Z03 I think), that would be the one to grab. If it isn't, it's still a good deal, but you have to pay real close attention to the rust around the wheel wells. If that's the only rust, and it isn't rot, stripping that spot out with a wire wheel and repainting just that quarter is not a huge deal. If it does need replacing, the rear quarters were the same on coupes and verts, in fact I don't think you could ever get a NOS quarter for a vert. A body shop would have to cut the top of it off for it to fit a vert.

Hopefully he can wait a few days until you can look at the 91. One of the big things to try and remember is NOT to buy the car for its rarity. If you do, the 92 is a no-brainer, period. Buy it because you love the verts and want one, and a Z28 would be a very good car to have. I can't tell you how many people give me props when my car is out and about, and how many ricers have looked at the rockers, seen Z28, and didn't even so much as look at me or rev at me. It carries A LOT of impact with that one letter and two numbers lol.

BlueZee28

iTrader: (30)

I think if he knows you're offering him more money for the '91, he will probably be willing to at least let you see the car before he sells it to someone else.

My opinion would be to get the '91 if possible. Who cares if there were 2,000 more made in '91 than in '92? It's not like it's going to allow you to sell it for way more money than a '92 if you decide to sell it. And you ought to be looking for a car you will have fun driving that will suite your needs, which the '91 sounds like the better deal considering it's in better shape with such low mileage. Once rust sets in, the only way to fix it is to strip the entire area, primer, and paint, which can be costly.

And just so you know, if someone is charging you $1,000 to install a convertible top, tell them to screw off. You can go purchase a top from topsonline.com for under $400 depending on what you want, and if you don't want to tackle the job yourself, you should be able to find a shop to do it for a couple hundred dollars. A local upholstery shop installed mine for $250....making the total cost $650.

67tothefuture

Thanks for the info guys. I will let you know what happens. If you have any other advice or what I should be at when I see this car, feel free to let me know!

MYZ28NH

I thought all Z28's had the TPI and the RS had the TBI but I may be wrong. I would go with the 91. I paid 150 for my canvass top and 360 to have it installed . Get that $1000 dollar figure out of your head as it's crazy. But you can tell the seller that as your frowning and picking at it. Good luck. I'm snowmobiling now but looking forward to cruising in my Z vert this summer as I have never owned a vert before. Assuming I don't sell it before summer hits.

67tothefuture

If the inner paint around the head lamps are the same color as the car does this mean it has been repainted? I had read that the area around the lights in the Z28's were painted black. Were they all, or were any the same color as the body? I know the car is a z28 as I have carfaxed it.

topless87

Well I'm bias'd as I have an Anniversary car. Point out the flaws on the 92 and get it for the best price you can, considering the top. I've replaced mine twice and they were "Robins" tops and fit perfect. You will have to buy new seals for the top also so dont forget about that.

topless87

Out of my 3 Z's two have the blacked out head light recessed area, but one has been repainted and IT HAS BODY COLOR ON IT. Thats all I can tell ya until I have time to look in to it. :-)

BlueZee28

iTrader: (30)

There's no such thing as a Z28 or IROC-Z with body colored headlight buckets, unless it's a black car or a repaint.

topless87

Yeh, thats the point I was tryin to get across, and even black cars (like one of mine) don't have body color there, they are semi-flat or flat black, which ever you want to call it. I've had plenty of 'em. Alot of times if the car went to a body shop for front end refinish, they don't know not to spray the whole thing with color.

67tothefuture

Hey guys I got the 91 Z28 Vert today. Drove it back from St. Louis to Iowa. Almost 400 miles. She ran great. Feels real tight. Only 37,000 original miles and you can really tell. No rust, body looks good. Paint is pretty solid, though it had a bra on the front end in the past and has discolored some. Leather interior is nice, no major rips, a few stains here and there, The tope is in great shape and works well. The top release behind on the drivers back passanger side is there and works. I will get some pics up in the next few days. This is my first Vert. Real excited for some warmer weather. I love this forum and look forward to learning more about the car with everyones help!

IROCZ28KevinZ

iTrader: (2)

you drove it from st. louie to iowa in THIS weather? lol, I don't even wanna imagine how my trans am would do in this crap lol

67tothefuture

There was no snow on the ground at all. It was smooth sailing, just cold.

mister_hudson

iTrader: (3)

CONGRATS!! Glad to see that you are happy with her! I promise you that when it's 75+ degrees out and you've got the top down you'll feel like you're on top of the world... Enjoy and take good care of her!

Mr. IROC-Z

iTrader: (1)

Sounds like you got a kick **** deal! Post those pictures!
I remeber I bought my car for $12k in 1996!

BlueZee28

iTrader: (30)

I'm interested in pictures and info on where you found out about the car. I live in the suburbs of St Louis