Hi, I have a 87' regular z28. I want to know if it is worth restoring. It is blue/silver. has some rust in the usual places. Quarter size hole on lower passenger fender. Some rust on the quarter lips and on the front of the pass. quarter. Also, it needs drivers side floorboard. It has the highest option package available for that year so it is loaded. It also has that auto dim rear view mirror if that means anything, but the following options are gone or not working. Air conditioning, power windows, power locks, overhead console is gone. But amazingly my hatch pull down motor still works. Needs carpet, entire headliner, and door panels. I know everyone is probably going to say junk it, but it kind of means something to me beacuse it is an 87'
But anyway what do you guys think you are the experts. Should I restore to it's former glory or sell it off for a drag/parts car???
Any help is greatly appreciated!!!

 

I'd say so... it is a 20th Anniversary car after all
Maybe not officially, but it is (1967-87).

There isn't much of a market for a restored '87 right now, like there is for a restored '67 or '70 or something, so if you are doing it for a profit, then no, It would be a waste of time.

But the way I see it, right now, the parts for these cars are dirt cheap, plentiful, and lots of original parts can still be bought from GM, so it isn't gonna cost a fortune to do, like a '69 Z28 or something, and you'd end up with just as cool of a car, and you won't have to spend $90,000 to do it right

 

For most of these older cars, paint is almost a given now. Especially with the quality paint GM used in these years.

Rust is easily taken care of, and it sounds like all the interior and options can be repaired or recovered without to much of an issue. The floorboards are pretty much the easiest replaced weld in body panel.

I say go for it

Even if it won't be show condition for a while, it can be a strong driver.

 

There's nothing particularly special about an 87 Z28. (although it is 20 years of Camaro's) Going through all that work would be worth it if it means something to you though. If it was an L98 IROC-Z I'd say restore it without question, and it would probably turn you a profit years from now. TunedPort355 did alot of restoring to his 87 Z28 on the B/I Board, might wanna check it out: https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...ht=restoration It's always cooler to restore one of these cars than to just get rid of it, if you can afford it. Could always make it a Pro-Street/Touring project too.

 

I am not worried about making money I would restore the car for me. I just don't want to be upside down in it.

 

When my dad handed the keys over to me(after I handed everyone else thousands of dollars to get her running) I was presented with the same question...

Do I keep her stock and have the "cool" factor of having a high-optioned 87 Z28 along with being the original owner

or

Do I take her apart, builder her stronger then GM ever thought they could, have her do things that modern cars can, and still enjoy the idea that I am the only owner of a great car from a great line of cars.

I am sure you can see which one I picked.
I think its more of a tribute to the Camaro name to build her up and make her strong. If I had a 1988 Iroc Z 1LE...then I might just want to hold on to her and keep her stock.

I am keeping all my old parts just incase the market for high optioned 87 Z28's sky rockets

 

This is a common excuse I hear from people for not wanting to restore a car. If you are doing it for yourself though, does it really matter? So what if you put a bit more into it than someone else is going to value it at. You can get collector insurance for a certain stated value that you agree upon with the ins. company. If you are happy with the restoration, and can afford to do it then who really cares what some other joker thinks your car is worth.

 

No this is not an excuse to not restore the car. I want to restore the car, but I don't want to be stupid and put 10k into a car that is only worth 4k or 5k Do you understand what I am saying. I don't plan on selling the car anytime soon but if something ever came up and I had to I wouldn't want to lose TOO much money. But anyway after really thinking about it I don't want to see another third gen parted out and thrown into the junk pile at a yard, I would rather restore it to its original glory so that's what I am going to do.

 

yeah why didnt they make the 1987 Camaro Z28 a official logo 20th anniversary on it? just like the 25th anniv... thats weird

 

They did, but only on the 87 Camaro Convertible.

 

They did, but only on the 87 Camaro Convertible.

ohh thats it, with the convt, that sucks should atleast add em with the l98 350 t tops or hard

 

It doesn't matter how much the car is worth it's all up to how much you like the car.You could have bought the car for $500 and put 10K into it and that would be ok.As long as the car isn't complete crap it's restorable/worth it.It's just how much the car means to you.

 

thats funny 91zman, I actually bought the car for $100 bucks. so you were pretty close to what I bought it for. Since I bought it so cheap it will take a while for me to become"upside down" in it. I am going to restore the car. Everybody who has responded to my post is absolutely correct to hell with what other people think I'm restoring it. Thanks for all the help everybody.

 

I must be partially psychic anyway good luck and enjoy the Z.There will be frustrating times during the resto so don't give up,(restoring it) doesn't happen overnight.It may take a few years giving your time/money availability or your situation.