I was looking at some production #'s and from 1967-1969 some 60,000 convertibles were made. When Camaro production resumed between 1987-1992 it appears there were somewhere around 30,000 convertibles made during the 3rd generation. And it appears during the 4th generation there were 40-50,000 convertibles made. Numbers appear to show that the 3rd generation had the fewest number of verts?

 

No. TTAs, 1LEs, and Firehawks will prolly be the most desirable.

And second gen's had none aside from some aftermarket conversions... :barf:

 

There were probably less of the Firebird/Trans Ams made, but I have rarely see a Firebird or TA take in more $ than a Z28 or SS.

 

Also, I was really only discussing the convertibles and the generation in comparison to 1st or 4th gens.

 

One thing to complicate matters here in terms of rarity/value, is the 83-86 aftermarket verts. Some were made by the same company that officially made the verts for GM and some were made in far lower quantities by other companies. While not "official" verts by GM, they likely should be part of the conversation when considering 3rd gens, since they were such a big part of this group of Camaros.

 

It is my personal opinion, but I view them as a aftermarket product. They are a convertible, but not a GM sanctioned convertible. I personally find no value or intrest in them, but others may. I have not researched them much, so I am not sure what there value is. I have seen them on ebay and they seem to go for less than the 87-1992. I would think a nice 1987 IROC w/its limited numbers will be very valuable.

 

Ouch! My pride!

Personally, I really like the earliest style Camaros so its neat to have one of those in vert trim. While I know my Camaro isn't worth all that much right now, its also neat to have one of only a few hundred made like it.

I tend to see them less as an aftermarket product, both because it was so widespread, and because customers could walk into a dealership and aquire one. All that said, I do agree that IROC's are in a different league.

 

Well then I should be glad I got a '88 IROC vert, huh?

 

Until I find it and take it!


Seriously though, when I was a kid I wanted a medium blue IROC with dark blue badging (just like a certain car I saw daily). I will have my IROC one day, when I'm not poor, lol

 

It comes with a Death Certificate

 

Lol. I'm envious of IROCs, what can I say?

My vert is really awesome IMO, but to me, its more of a harder to find piece of 3rd gen history. Its not the same as having the original performance Camaro.

 

Please don't think I am trying to say anthing bad about your pre 87 convertible. I truly am not. I am just saying that the factory option for the convertible was not until 1987. I am a very factory original type of guy so I like the "purity" aspect of the 87-92. It is just what trips my trigger. I don't like drivetrain swaps and aftermarket wheels, etc... I like originality. But to each own because that is what makes the world go round.

 

I definitely get what your saying and its all in good fun. And honestly I'd be much more true to factory form if my vert was an IROC or a Z28. But at the same time, I still do see the early verts as something different than a car with aftermarket parts or wheels. I see them as sort of paving the way for the 3rd gen verts, a piece of 3rd gen evolution if you will. And with that, I think they have their place in Camaro/Firebird history, albeit not the same tree as an IROC, but an important vehicle that impacted the future of these cars.

So while I know that its not an IROC and will never hold the same place in the performance or value area that an IROC does, I do think they are much more significant than looking at a car that has aftermarket wheels and seats.

 

I understand. I am the same way.

 

I see what you are both saying. The base pre 87 verts paved the way for the factory authorized verts that came later in the ten year run of thirdgens. Therefore you feel they have a place in the evolution up to the IROC verts. Good point!