I saw "aco2451"'s post from a few days ago and the helpful responses. I am in a similar situation and looking for some advice. I have an opportunity to buy an '89 Iroc Convertible roller but there are some things that I'm not sure/concerned about. Here goes:

- It has an Oklahoma "salvage" title from 2004 (the last "clean" title was from Missouri in 2001 according to the Carfax I ran on it). I'm in the process of investigating if that will transfer to a NY "salvage rebuild" title (which costs $200 to get AFTER all the work has been done). Anyone have experience working with the NY DMV on something like this?

- Both rear floor pans are shot. I know that convertibles use additional floor pan bracing but will the replacement ones that are used in the coupes work if the braces are reinstalled? I have good rear pans to cut out of my "donor" '85 IROC that was totaled 3 weeks ago (thanks to the 19 yr old genius who ran the red light and t-boned me while looking for his Ipod......)

- the rest of the body is pretty straight although whoever painted it last did little more that a rattle can job on it.

- The interior of the car is pretty much shot as are all the mouldings. The top is ok but it is missing the headliner and I have no idea if the vert motors work.

- The car was set up as a TPI (which my donor car also was) so the driveline swap "should" be fairly straightforward. I did plan to investigate a newer style harness though so I don't have to deal with the '85's slower computer and burnoff module.

- So......The asking price?..... $650.00 This is in upstate NY and we don't see many verts which is why I am interested. I'd really appreciate any help with this. I'm not afraid of the work but want to know that the investment of time (and money) is worth it. Thanks!

 

Pics? And what is your Aprox restoration budget?

 

going by your description i would shoot an offer of about 300 and part out the convertible specific parts and make your money back..but thats just me. i d love to save all the verts out there but some are too far gone(again going off your description) and can be used to lengthen the life of another one.

salvage title cars suck to find decent insurance rates based on my expierences or should i say lack there of (ended up parting out a couple of cars )

 

Well I bought my '88 vert with a rebuilt title for $500 as a roller. It was rust free though, but it did need a top, carpet, seats, etc......

I've had no issues getting registration or insurance on my car though

cars with rebuilt titles are tough to sell.... lol

 

Not sure what it's like elsewhere, but here in Alberta Canada salvaged cars that are going to be deemed road worthy need to pass a strict inspection process. Ironically, these cars are often then in better shape than their counterparts that are simple sold as "used" and only undergo a light 10 years+ inspection.

 

Update: I contacted the seller yesterday and told him I couldn't give him what he wanted because of the title issue and he told me that, based on me being the third person to turn the car down because of the title issue, he went the day after I looked at the car and applied for a NY state title. I asked him if he got a "legit" title or just transferred to a NY salvage title. He told me that his local DMV office let him process it as legit title. So....he is going to contact me once he gets the title in hand and we will resume negotiations from there. In the meantime, I am still a bit skeptical about replacing the floor pans and will continue looking for a vert body. If anyone has one they want to get rid of (and you live within a reasonable distance from Syracuse, NY), give me a shout.

 

i coated the floor of my 89 while changing the carpet.imo the only bracing is at the outside edges at the rockers and none under the rear seat.it all looked factory to me.my car had no headliner,i think thats only on later camaros.there are no top motors,manual top.

 

Still waiting on the title....gotta love the NYS DMV.

 

The seller is still waiting to for the title. Here's some pics that he sent to me:

 

are you sure its an Iroc? Those aren't Iroc Rims.

Are you sure its even an "official" convertible? Maybe its just the picture without the wing, and the lack of an engine, but something looks off on that car.... More than what you describe.

 

I ran the V.I.N. and it came back as an 1989 IROC Z convertible. I saw the non IROC rims too and questioned that myself. The V.I.N. also stated it was originally a 305 tpi car. I know there are some things that look suspect on the car but I think it a legit IROC based on the V.I.N. check.

 

DUMAS...............My body tech bud got a late model audi from NC thru a wholesaler bud and it had a NC salvage title. NY wouldn't issue any NY title or let him register the car unless he had RECIEPTS for parts and/or labor that it had been repaired and a NY inspection was done !

The car has sat for a year while hes been trying to get a NY title and registered. Not too mention the parts were BIG $$$$ !
It was only bopped in the nose/left corner and both bags were
popped and it still drove.

I suggested he register it in NC then transfer/change it here in NY................tHEY DO THINGS DIFFERENT DOWN THERE!
Time and effort just got in the way so he sold it to A&P in Cicero for $2000!

He paid $800 for it................

USE CAUTION AND GET A TITLE THAT YOU CAN REGISTER !!!!!!!!!

 

Thanks for the input.....and advice. I'm starting to get pretty skeptical that it's going to work out. The search continues......

 

Update: So after pretty much giving up on this car, the seller finally contacted me over the weekend to tell me that NYSDMV finally contacted him. He told me they would issue him a salvage title for the vehicle if he paid a $155 salvage inspection fee to determine that the car was roadworthy and also not stolen (even though he provided them with a notarized Oklahoma salvage title - apparently NY will not reciprocate salvage titles from other states...or at least Oklahoma). In addition, the car cannot be brought to the inspection as a "roller" (or "glider" as NYSDMV calls it). He needs to have the car off his property by the end of the week or get a fine from his town for too many untagged vehicles so he's now willing to sell it to me for $400 (firm). Anything I have looked at locally (verts and t-tops) have been more expensive and in just as bad or worse shape rust-wise (please see original post for rust issues). It sounds like if I put my drivetrain in the car and make sure would pass a standard safety inspection then I should be able make this work. Am I oversimplifying things? Would a salvage title really lower the overall value of the car that much (not that I'd plan on selling it in the near future)? To add to the mix, I have an offer to buy a 92RS vert roller for $800 but the body is in worse shape than this one. It does, however, have a "clean" NYS title. Maybe I should think about buying both and making one car or are there too many differences in the convertible components (I see that the actual tops are different models on the various retail websites)?

 

YUP......................Thats why my bud gave up on that Audi and sold it to the salvage yard ! NY makes it HARD to register a salvage title!

Or why not pull the vin# plate from one car and put on the other?

 

I don't know if the thread is dead or not. If you're out East and can't find a good Thirdgen project, search all the places out west. Get one that has no rust, runs, and is driveable. Fly out drive it back. You'll be a much happier person without rust, not to mention the road trip.

 

thats was the best advicei have heard cheaper to buy a complete car then thring to resore one and there not that bad in price bought 2 1990 and 92 irocz and z-29 for uder 2500 and are both rust free and are in decent shape