That sums it up perfect John! Andy

 

There is an additional factor which has not been discussed - How many of us Gen X'ers like the 55 Chev or the 69 Camaro? I certainly do. My point is that I wasn't even born yet when the 55 came out and I was still crapping in my pants in 69 but I still love those cars. People who do not remember the 3rd gens when they were new will love them some day.

When I was a teenager in the early 80's, most 1st gens driving around were pieces of crap with bondo fender flares and the cool cars to drive were the Trans Ams and the Z/28 (Remember Fast Times at Ridgemont High?).

I remember when the 82 Z/28 came out. I was blown away with the styling. It was just plane cool looking. When the IROC came out, it made the 82 look dated but now I do enjoy seeing a nice 82-84 like 2Black's.

 

Hylton,
THats why the Earlier cars (55 Chevies, 67 Camraos etc) will be more desiarable. Its funny though, you look back and there are not alot of people our age interested in Pre WWII cars.

John

 

Do you think one of the reasons our cars wouldnt be worth as much as 1st gens because HP and performance ratings? Lot ppl now say "hey look at that 1969 Camaro Z28 with a 327 making 350hp!" For a 3rd gen its like "Hey look at that 305.. Makes 170hp" Maybe the Performance ratings will hurt our values on our beloved 3rd gens?

 

The HP ratings up to '70 were in "gross hp" which meant the motor alone with no accessorys.And the companies fudged on those ratings on many a car.The change to "net hp" combined with lower compression ratios(and other factors)made things seem much weaker.The best example that comes to mind,of our cars,is the '89 TT/A.Here's a T/A with a V6,probably the nastiest one to come out of,instead of a V8 that's the fastest stock T/A ever built.Once the computor/emission controls were sorted out 3rd Gens just kept getting better.Name 1 regular(leaving out the high hp low production) muscle or pony car from the '60s that will outhandle or really outrun our cars with A/C and stereo while still capable of getting 20mpg on the hwy.They will get there just take time.

 

I agree with you 100percent. You know the L98 would be rated 300hp back in the 60s... But still. PPL think of these big block Carbs that advertise 400hp. 20MPG on the highway for a 3rdgen! Is somthing wrong with yours? Mine can get 25mpg on the highway. Vette can do 27 with its mighty 2.59 gears!

 

I was just generalizing,I know mpg on our cars can be in the mid 20's easily steady cruise even at 70mph.My's '70 Monte Carlo SS454 had 2.56 rear gear and it could manage 17 to 18 on the hwy.With 3rd gens I think we're looking at a phenomenom similar to the '55 to '57 Chevy's or '64-1/2 to '66 Mustangs in the next 8 to 10 years(sooner on the more desirable examples).

 

I hope your right. I would love to see ppl start to respect a third generation Fbody.

 

Since we've mentioned "the cars we loved while growing up"......

My first knowledge of a Z28 was in 1980. I was 11 and at a friends house when someone came to the house in a black 1980 Z28. He just bought it and wanted to show it off. It had the red graphics against the black paint!!!! Since that time, I have always wanted a 1980 or 1981 Z28. I still have not gotten one, but I will soon enough. The IROC-Z was announced when I was a sophomore in HS. I wanted one but could not afford it while earning $3.35/hr.

This is where the buyers are. I can afford to buy the 1980 car if I want to now, but it wasn't practical years ago. Again, I mentioned this before. Only 3 of us in HS had newer Camaros and everybody loved them. I had the 82 Z28 in 1986 and I had 2 friends with IROC-Zs that daddy bought them. Everybody wanted our cars and I used to get compliments just driving down the road. The 3rd gen was the best styled car of teh 80s and as people can afford it, they'll start buying them up creating a demand.

 

I will still maintain that brand loyalty and true "car guys" are in an overall decline. Most people who have a car because of checkbook only dont fit into a true "car guy" definition. They would fit under speculator, which is now in the collector car market as bad as(I believe worse) than in the early-mid 90's bubble.

It took a real hard hit than. Than people got stuck with cars worth less than they paid. It happening again. Do u truly believe the current housing boom will go on forever or the economy will continue to grow without issues when basics such as food and fuel constantly go up in price. Its all the same ilk. Speculators in, any true hobbyist out(save the fortunate few who have the means).

Our thirdgens will never be worth what quite a few other musclecars will be. Say compared to a 86-87 turbo buicks. They are overpriced piles as well in my opinion. I dare u if u think I'm talking out my rear, go seriously shop for one. I'm willing to lay money down on the table that you will laugh at the prices and conditions u see. This is different than saying that they wont be worth some amount of money, but I'm talking about stupid amounts here. Its always the same old "classic one owner low mile car". Well duh, thats cause theres literally thousands of low mile one-two owner cars to be had if your willing to pay for it. There are tons of parked turbo buicks from back than. Now mind u, we have them beat in priduction numbers by many many multiples.

lol How many of you have seen low mile, one owner thirdgens, whether its in person or for sale. They are out there all over the place. Some cost more than others, but by sheer numbers, compared to an equal 80's car. The numbers and logic just aint there for any high dollar thirdgnes in our future , other than the already mentioned examples, like TTA's or true Hawks.

Sides, I think its pathetic we're having these arguements. We should be bashing thirdgens at every turn we get to keep them valueless and cheap. Won't bother me any, my collection axiom is what I like, I buy and 95% of the time never sell again. We arent doing ourselves any favors here debating the aesthetics of the situation in that regard :-)

So all new future posts should against thirdgens and making fun of them to keep or costs down as we expand our own fleets.

Rule #1, I can tell u what my car is worth and u might laugh at me and it never sells, is it worth what I'm asking for it?.

Rule #2, If your idea of sound investment is a vehicle, your an idiot.

later
Jeremy

 

My 1992 Camaro RS Z03 edition is one of 8,107. I think of it as it being very rare. Z03 came with the RS, RS convert., Z28, and Z28 convert. And being red with black stripes and red accented 16' wheels makes it one of a kind.

 

has anyone looked up NADA for prices. My 85 was over $8000 for a high prices, but that probably because its 20 yrs old now

 

lol

I'm amazed at people espousing NADA or Kelly's as a book to judge a car price on.

The fact of the matter is, they only go for what u see them selling for and people buying them at that price. It doesnt matter what a book says or fools who bid stupid money for a car(ebay for example) only to lock it away.

Besides, anyone on this website that participates has a car worth exactly zero dollars.

Do u want the super secret batman decoder answer as to why?



















If its not for sale, it cant have a price to be bought(leaving stupid money out of the equation).

Its all talk and speculation unless u actually plan on selling it.

later
Jeremy

 

I prefer to think my car is worth a $20,000 rather than Zero. Although I know better, I could not sell if for that, but if someone handed me $20K cash... I would sell it.

For $25,000 I would sell all 5 of my cars, including my Formula 350, The Formula LB9/M5, with T-tops and my 2 parts cars.

I am firm on the prices.

Not a really bad deal considering you would get a car thats in a book...

John

 

Who cares what they are worth now? They are all awesome!

 

So, if my car isn't worth anything, it's PRICELESS, at least to me.

 

Great I have a 87 Iroc vert. With 43k, and I just decided to pull the engine and tranny to do some major mods. Maybe I should put everything back for some sweet cash? What was I thinking.

 

You guys have to Remember something, we have a whole group of youngsters coming of driving age & they cant afford the cars they want (LS1 vettes & Camaros) so their parents are buying them the cheaper ealier 4th gens & the even cheaper 3rd gens.

If you watch the market at all you can also see the Chevelle type bodies are starting to hit new market highs. When I bought my 72 Buick Skylark back in Aug the Middle price range for the car was right about 8k now its at about 10k the high price was about12k now its 15,900.

This new group of drivers are the kids that are getting tired of seeing riced out hondas & what have you & are looking for American Muscle Big V8 cars. They are the Generation that is getting the 2nd age of Muscle cars underway. These guys are going to drive the Market of what is going to be produced & what is not being produced for the next 10yrs or so.

Us adults may have been yelling Bring back the camaro which they did in a Concept car, But its going to be these kids that they will produce it for.

Remember thats what started the First muscle car aera the young 18-25yr old wanting a souped up fast car.

 

THats true, unfortunately most 18-24 year olds could hardly afford a 2002 camaro back in 2002. They were priced right out of production.

I think the new kids car might be the Solstace and Sky, because there obtainable.

John

 

hi folks, I could say that you have intresting discussions going on around here. I don't think the third gens will be as popular as the 6+ liter secondgens that have started to make their own myth now.

On the other hand, the 3rd gens' low prices are opening up an opportunity for guys like me to actually own a Firebird myself. I own it for a whole week now (a rusty '85 t-top T/A), has too many miles on it and I paid 3500 for it. Still hope we can be friends one day, Jeremy

regards from the rainy Netherlands

 

Actually I priced out various Camaro's(didnt want the crap they forced u to buy with a TA raising the sticker price)

I refused to even look at the Firebird, cause they packed crap into the price just cause it was a TA(standard loaded) etc and so forth. Base Formula price was also higher than a base Z.

1LE Z28, which I had to show them how to find the price on :-)

Came in right at 23k(crack over) on the sticker.(this was late 00 early 01)

I beat them down to 21k before I left.

Price wise they werent actually as bad as everyone thinks. Biggest issue was all the ones on the lots were dealer ordered loaded with all the "Accesory packages" that added like aminimum $1500 on up. *** forbid u wanted t-tops lol. It doesnt mean you have to purchase it that way if u want to order it and wait u could. Course GM's VMIT(vomit) system was about guarranteed to mess up your order.

1LE cut thru all the crap here were my option choices lol:

color
radio
rear defogger
transmission


later
Jeremy

 

See a 1LE on the BJ auction, 1991, 78 miles on it, perfectly preserved, stickered at $17K and change, sold for $40K at the auction. Premium dollar for that car as I've seen others as nice for under $30K, but this auction seems to bring out the deeper pockets.

 

I saw a 1989 Iroc Z l98 with 17,000 oringal miles on ebay going up. The guy has it for 14 grand on a buy it now. Thing is clean. I agree with John. Our cars are going up in value slowly. Wait another 5 yrs-10 yrs. You'll see good improvement

 

I know this doesn't exactly fit in the "low" mileage of others mention here but she is sweet.Wish I had the money for her.
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...ist=300#vdptop
Just looking thru the "Autotrader" there are a lot of nice 3rd gen Camaros,haven't done a search for F'Birds,up for sale within a few hours of where i live.And these are only the ones people have advertised.

 

The 80's are starting to come back and so are the cars. I saw an black 89 5.7 IROC vert going for 25,000 canadian. It has 40,000 original kilometers

 

Looking thru Ebay I came across this '82 Pace Car with only 3934 miles.She's a beauty but it's interesting to note the A/C lines are routed different on the '82s(I've noticed this in pics of other '82s - just another oddity for the first year 3rd gens).
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=4608332800
And talk about another low mileage beauty.pictures of these cars serve to show how everything looked from the factory.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...5489%26fvi%3D1
Here's another and i guess he's selling the T-top so as not to crowd the 'Vert.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...9963%26fvi%3D1
And last but not least a Z28/Z03 convertible.maybe i'll win the lottery someday.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...3882%26fvi%3D1

 

I sold my 89' IROC with 60,000 miles for $6200 last year up here in Canada.