I just bought a RED 90 TA 305 5sp. I was told they built more GTA than regular TA. He said there were only around 1000 of these made, True or un true.P.s glad to have another TA didn't realize how much I missed it.

 

yes, it's true there were only 1000 TAs made in 1990 and around 1400 GTAs made... but this does not really make your bird rare.... it's still much like the 87-89 TAs and there are lots of them... hope he didn't make you pay more because it's "rare"

 

Rare does not always equal valuable...remember that.

 

"Rare" doesn't really apply to thirdgens at all. None of them are rare, or extra-ordinarily valuable.

 

Not trying to start an argument but I do not agree that no thirdgens are rare. If only 1000 were made probably only half are still on the road. I cannot tell you the last time I have seen a nice thirdgen Trans Am or Firebird on the road. However, I do agree that jsut because some are rare that is it is not proportionate to value.

 

I was just curious if the guy was pulling my leg. He didn't tell me that til after I handed him the cash. Wonder how many red 5sp are left out of that 1000. Maybe in 20 years it'll be worth something extra. The funny thing is it has 90k miles and so does my 2003 Supercrew.

 

There were a total 1050 Trans Ams and 1442 GTA's made in 1990...

THere were 1900 L98 cars and 2560 LB9 cars produced in 1990.

There were a total of 1087 Manual transmissions made for 1990 as well...

Drew, you seem to have a very narrow mind insofar as rare and collectible. Fine we understand that there were millions of 3rd gens made, and even if its a low production does not make it desirable. I believe considering that he has a Trans Am and it has a 305/M5 combo it indeed will be sought after. Also cinsidering that there were less Trans Am's made than GTA's in 1990 may help his car...

The 305/M5 to some people is better than a the 350 because some people do not want an Automatic for a sporty car...

We seem to forget that the 3rd gen is not old enough to get into collector status by many people... In the three years that the 1st gens were made they sold about half of the total number of 3rd gens made in 11 years of production... Fine there were twice the number of 3rd gens made, but there were more 2nd gens made and they are appreciating as we argue that a 3rd gen will never amount to anything.

My 89 Convertible I paid $8000 for, there were about 42 Formula 350 Convertibles made total, fine its not a "Factory" Convertible, But lest we forget that the Firehawks and ALL 3rd gen Convertibles were technically not made at the factory either, but that does not hurt the values of these cars. This is possibly the first car that I truely bought as an investment, I probably overpaid, But it has all the right stuff to be worth a lot in the future... Likewise the Trans am in question WILL appreciate, especially if care is taken and the car is in good shape, Condition is as important as options, and milage, get all of them together into one package then you have something thats valuable.

 

Who knows how are beloved thirgens will do in the collector car hobby in the future, they may bring seriouse cash or may not we'll find out as time goes by.

 

Considering that the 3rd gen F-body was the last GM produced performance coupe/pony car...

The Monte Carlo, Regal, Cutlass & Grand prix all died as any potential for performance in 1987, 1988 was beginning era of FWD and they could not apply any significant power to the transaxel at the time, it would not take it.

THe Corvette is not for everyone, having only 2 seats. The Mustang is absolutely homely, there is not a lot of character there insofar as style, even the magazines called them homely, and could never understand why it outsold the Camaro & Firebird. The Duster, Charger & Turisimo of the day were joke unless you got the Turbo model, and they were cheeply made to boot.

REally when it comes down to it, there is very little insofar as choices if you want something from the 80's. Back in the late 60's & early 70's the horsepower race was on and the big three understood that winning on sunday means selling on monday. They (the big 3) had factory race cars (much like the 1LE), that if you knew how to order one or you knew the right people you could get one... sound familiar?

I think the 1LE, TTA, and the Firehawk are beginning to take off, its only a matter of time... keep in mind that a loaded 1LE will not sell as well as a stripped 1LE, it has to do with the raw performance aspect that collecters seem to seek...

I have said it before, the cars to look for and have the most potential are: (in no order)
89 TTA
91-92 Firehawk
1LE Camaro
1LE Firebirds
'92 Camaro Heritage Edition.
87-92 V8 (TPI) Convertibles
T-top 350 cars

As for other performace cars of the era:
Buick GN
Buick GNX
Dodge GLH & GLHS series
Corvette
Mustang 5.0

JOhn

 

I have a special edtion 1989 bandit II firebird #131 of 500. It has a special ground effect package and interoir pieces that give a very cool look.

 

THe Bandit Edition cars were made by Choo Choo Customs out of TN, they converted about 500 to 600 cars each year, from my understanding they included ground effects, a shaker style hood buldge, and some wood grain interior trim pieces... I have seen one at the T/A nats...

Unfortunately Choo Choo Customs did not do any engine upgrades to my knowledge, they kept the original engine configuration, probably to keep from doing special emissions and economy testing.

JOhn

 

Nothing has yet surfaced on the collector cars market. However 2nd gens are getting silly in price now. I expect 3rd gens will too one day.

... and perhaps my 1 of 20 factory built road race cars will fetch more than I paid for it. But then again, perhaps my stock in Nortel will be worth something too! And who cares if it will be worth anything ... I just hope to be able to slide it around a track in a Vintage race series in the near future (only 2 more years and it will be eligible!!!)

Mark.

 

 

I think the article is indeed interesting, however it was written in 1992 and in heinsight I must admit that its not accurate for its "10 year" prediction.

Problems I see ( I dont own a camaro so looking from the outside in...)

1) Croyco Camaro - if someone can tell me what it is I will acknowledge it, there was probably less than 25 made because no one has one on the boards but there are several members that have Firehawks or know the wherabouts of them.

2) SLP option being worth more than the R7U, 1LE, or B4C cars??? I doubt it, to (recent) date the highest price I have seen from any 3rd gen was a 1LE that was $40,000 at Barret-Jackson. I am unaware of any of hte SLP equiped cars going for near that amount, likewise I am unaware of any B4C or R7U cars going for more than $15K or $20K.

3) The Pace cars, one that I can think of for the Camaro, I am unaware of any high dollar ones to date that have gone for much more than $10,000...

4) If you set 2 cars side by side, and one was a 305 5 speed convertible and the other was a 350 with the SLP options, both identical condition, miles and year, price them both at $10,000 and the vert would sell hands down first...

5) I will agree with the Z28 or IROC statement... and I would agree with the order for the last two, but I would think an 89 IROC 350 would sell before an 82 Pace car with CFI, sitting next to each other, add T-tops to the Pace car and it would be a tight race...

6) Interestingly the author (who remains nameless) states that the more options the better... In the case of the 1LE the oppoiste is probably true, If you get the 1LE and then tack on options then you have essentially taken what the 1LE is suposed to be and made it oboslete.

Its interesting that they added Yellow as a desirable color at the end, not that I would argue.

Here is what the 2002 Edition of Cars and Parts Ultimate Collector Price guide has to say: (these are all Exceptional condition and low miles)
82 Z28 (Indy pace car): $8250
89 IROC w/ 350: $13910
89 IROC Convertible: $17400
91 Z28 w/350: $14200
91 Z28 Convertible: $18900

John

 

Just thought I'd chime in... Been some time since I saw Croyco mentioned, when I was getting ready to order my 92 I read the articles about his proposed car... Seems like after they made the one for testing, Ed Hambuger and SLP picked up the ball and started their partnership with GM. The Cryoco parts sure looked very similar to SLP's package. I had the complete SLP package dealer installed upon arrival. I have the dealer invoice showing the package and all warrentees were kept in place..

 

SLP headers and intake runners...

 

I did a search with Dogpile Web Search Home Page and there was only 2 instances of Croyco Camaro made, both of which were here on TGO, one was this post, the other is this post: https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/hist...ens-35-yr.html .

I can't imagine these car even existing, I think it must be a pipe dream or something. I have been wrong before but this is up there with the legendary 1986 350 Camaros, or a 350 with a 5 speed... there is nothing to support the car ever existed except for this one article, which has no author.

I suspect that the Croyco Camaro may have been in development but never released, there is just no information to support its existance.

JOhn

 

I don't mean to hijack this thread but I have a 1985 Trans Am with the RPO code "ZR6" on my RPO list. I've never been able to find verifiable information on this RPO code, but I was told it was some sort of designation for Pontiac showcars. Anyone have any information on this ZR6 code, and does it improve the rarity or value of my car?

 

I'm pretty sure the only one built was the one for the article, but I was always amazed how similar the package was in both looks and performance to the SLP package. I remember trying to find out more about Croyco at the time and got no-where but then heard of the package that would be offered over the counter at Chevy.

 

GM Made many test mules ... of which most were later destroyed. Very few if any exist within GM. Sort of a shame, but that is what they were for ... testing and marketing.

I have a picture of a 1986 Race with a Trans Am Vert pacing the race. It was a GM test mule. Neat picture as Verts were not out yet.

The old 1986 350 mystery is most likely the case of a 350 swap in a 305 car. So no VIN numbers. I would guess a few GM exec's had 350 powered 1986 cars to ... test ...

Too bad a retired GM employee was not on the board. Perhaps a lot of insight to share.

Mark.