I've recently purchased a 1989 iroc. I've been looking for a car like this for about 5 years. Its the dark flame red,t-tops 5.7 rear disc etc. The car is in really good shape for its age. However it does have some issues. I have a half dollar sized hole in the passenger floorpan,someone jacked the car up wrong on the passenger side and bent/popped the welds at the rocker. I have bought a bunch of parts to try to "restore" the car to as new as possible. I put a new 3 inch cat back in,chip,air foil. New oem weatherstripping for the tops,t-bar, hotchkiss SFC,hinge repair kits from TDS,new rear metal bumper,new front grill(don't want front license plate and it had the monut screwed into the original.new door panels and tops from hawks,the list goes on and on. Most of the replacement parts I have bought are for cosmetic reasons(bought new PW switches and rear hatch switch because the graphis were worn off but function perfectly) Got a quote from my body guy for around 6-6500 to do minor body work and a fresh paint job. I want the car to look brand new. My question is after I get the cosmetics done,should I go into the motor. I was thinking of a supercharged/juiced 383. The car has 88,000 original miles. Does anyone think these cars may be better off in stock condition. From what I have read around here,these 89's really aren't that rare. What do you guys think?

I would fix the floor, get subframe connectors then get a 400 small block...

Right now it doesn't matter if its modified or stock, it won't be worth all that much. The market is flooded with rediculously cheap cars right now.

To be honest if you ever intend to sell the car to a collector then you had better not do any modifications that can't be reversed easily. An all original drivetrain that's dirty and maybe even not running condition is going to bring more money than an incorrect drivetrain or an engine bay that has been fooled with. When you start modifying the drivetrain clamps will be replaced, bolts will get replaced or applied in locations other then the originals, heads of bolts will get rounded or worn... All of that contributes to a less desirable vehicle to a collector. FWIW.

I think you should consider a few things about that car.

1) The T-tops with a 350 are not particularly rare for 1989, in 1987 & 1988 there much more unusual, but even overall there not the run of the mill car. Most Iroc's/Z28's have the lesser 305 LO3/LG4 or a LB9.

2) The value is kind of a funny thing right now. Were on a bubble, insofar as the prices and the values. Granted the value of a car is what someone is willing to pay, but you have a deisred combination with Factory T-tops and a 350.

The car itelf in todays market, in perfect condition with no flaws, with a national title, and pics in books & calindars, magazines etc with 88,000 miles would probably fetch a MAX of $11,000 to $15,000, relistically around $8,000. But take that same car in nice condition mild show car, something you might not win your class, but you could be proud of, is worth about 6000 - 8000 depending on the buyer.

to put that kind of money in the car do not expect to get a great return for several years, I would think you could not turn the car for what you have into it after the paint & the price of the car... If you want my opinion, with a hole in the floorpan, right now may be the best time, to cover it up, make it look as nice as you can, sell it, then take that money plus the 6,000 you would invest in paint, and buy a super nice low miles car.

-However, if you have the money, like the car, and are willing to sit on it until it gains value, then do it, there is no better or cheeper time than the present to fix up a 3rd gen... As parts become more rare, and as the price of everything from labor to parts goes up you will only spend more later. The Up side to the particular car you have is it has the T-tops and it has the 350, BOTH will be a huge plus in the future, and I would at least hold onto it if you have good storage for a few years.

Keep in mind that 20 years is the breaking point for a classic, when it hits 20, the value increases drastically.

John

Hey REMLTR;

You asked yourself a really good question-

Many of us Hot Rod types who've been around for a few extra years have plenty of stories about the cars we had that we should have kept, or the car that we dropped all kinds of money in and sold to raise extra cash for a baby or new house (Mine was a 1970 Cuda and later a 1985 El Camino that I lovingly detailed every little part I could get my hands on).

What do you see as your long term plan with this Camaro? It sounds like you're definitely thinking that it's a long term keeper and you're worried about future value???

If you are more interested in having something that is a collector item in 10-15 years, the advice you got to sell yours and squeeze the financial limit on a rarer, low mileage unit is the way to go.
It's almost always way-way cheaper to buy a vehicle that's already fixed up than to do it yourself piece by piece.

Also, if you want a collector's car, it probably means that you'll not be driving it much as low miles is hard to do if it's a daily driver and parking space is limited.

I bought my Camaro to drive; to enjoy the performance, and I love to tweak a vehicle to slowly eek out every inch of extra horsepower and handling I can. This means that I'll probably pour more money into it than I'll ever be able to get back out of it.

Where do you see you and your Camaro at in 10 years?
(hope this is a help and not just a bunch of useless hot air) Nitro