Better question: How much does the owner want for it?

 

well we settled on $6500? What do you think?

 

Auto or 5sp?

 

idk but if im payin 6 freakin grand for a 3rdgen it better be a l98 with a 1le posi 700r4 and better have been sittin up on jacks the minute it left the freakin factory

 

Were they still using protect-o-plates in '85? I thought GM stopped using those in the late 1970s...

 

Pics?

 

Auto only with TPI motor in 85.

 

Its a LB9 305TPI the biggest motor that came in the camaro for that year, it was only offered with the auto

What is a protect-o-plate? this is the first time i have ever heard of that.

The L98 wasnt an option till 1986, the standard rear was 3.23 posi, the g92 option is the 3.42 posi. how can i tell if it does infact have the G92 option.

So any more think this is a good deal?

 

Look inside center console box. Will be a rpo sticker. Shows all options on car. http://www.camarosource.ca/php/camar...year=1985&tm=1 Scroll down for rpo decoder.

 

http://www.holisticpage.com/camaro/parts/protect.htm

 

Better question is what you think. If you believe you got a deal, then you did.

JamesC

 

There will be no protecto-plate for an 85. Also, there were no 350s in 86. They debuted in 87. If you think the car is worth it based on condition, then it's worth it. Without seeing the repaint and knowing that it was done correctly, we can't give a valid estimate. A crappy repaint will require thousands to redo and then the price isn't worth it. The interior has normal wear. Does that mean the carpet is stained and worn since the car is almost 25 years old? Only you will know if the car is a good deal...or the local appraiser that you hire to look at it.

 

Hey Its actually not a bad price. here In Houston, I bought a 1986 iroc-z with 41k miles,original owner, paperwork etc in 2006 for 7500$. I still think its a really good price also.

 

Thanks for the reply, I think its a good deal as well. I even may be able to get him to drop the price a little lower, since it has been at the dealership for a while. Question for you, how reliable are the cars that have this few # miles on them. I figured out that it was driven about 1800 miles a year from the orig. owner. I think dealer has had it on the lot for about 1 year now, and i'm not sure how many times it has been started/driven in the past year. Do you think i'm gonna run into problems with the car with worn out parts from not being driven much?

 

Black T-top Iroc in original excellent condition, be worth a few dollars more than most. Still a bit steep though. Third gens are not really high dollar cars - yet. Yes, with an older car you'll run into repairs due to the age of the car. Probably not the best car for someone who doesn't wrench on cars much.

 

This is what im trying to figue out. What is the range of "most" of the third gens. I know that most people are saying that if i think its a deal, then it is. What I was really looking for is a average dollar amount for a good condition DD that may need a little freshing up.

And yes I have already looked at the classified, and the NADA, and KBB. i want to hear what the people who own these cars think they are worth

 

i thought 1986 was the first year for the clear coat paint. gm used enamel in 1985!

 

No help maybe, but a friend of mine just bought an 88 IROC, L98 auto, black, T-top car. Newer paint, nice interior, new tires, showing 88,000 miles. Decent car but I suspect it's been through the mill and redone to sell. Paid $4000 for it after some haggling.

 

Currently for sale on Autotrader.com.
V8 cars ONLY mind you.
CAMARO
Highest Price:$41,980
Lowest Price:$800
Average Price:$7,600

FIREBIRD/FORMULA/Trans Am/GTA
Highest Price: $39,995
Lowest Price: $850
Average Price: $7,323


I think you did really well, from what I have been seeing people are asking for them. ESPECIALLY with 41.5K miles... AND paperwork?

 

It comes down to the condition of the vehicle and how YOU feel about the car...
If the owner has taken good care of the car, performed the regular and required maintenance overall i would say its a fair price. Not a bargin by any means......
I paid more than that for my 88 IROC but she had 28k, purchased from the origional owner with everything on her stock along with paperwork.

But, as i have written before how many nice,clean,origional 3rd gens do you see today? Not many... When i have mine out i have had people look at the car, give me thumbs up and comment on how they use to have one when they were younger and are sorry they let theirs go...

 

Thanks for the replys. I know i'm not getting a steal, but i'm glad i'm not getting hosed either. I'm a little dissappointed its not a stick, but my DD is a stick so who cares. I think finally my 10 year search for a camaro is over.
I prob will never sell it, but atleast this is better than investing in the stock market, if kept in the same condition the value will just rise.
Thanks for the help guys.

 

I don't know how to say this without sounding like a jerk, but we can't tell you it's value. Unless someone else here has seen the car and went over it, we don't know. My grandfather is 92 years old and has a Jeep Cherokee that is 9 years old with 15k miles. You'd think it would be in great shape because of the mileage and the age of the owner, however, I spent hours on it this weekend trying to clean the paint and get it waxed. The front caliper appears to be seizing and the headliner was falling. The interior is in ok condition. There are a few dings that are fixable, but nonetheless... What caused the car to be like this with only 15k miles you ask? It's parked outside, never gets driven and is in Miami! The sun destroys alot down here. Just like salt can eat thru a new car up north. only you can make the determination on the value of the car based on it's condition.

 

I agree with what Scott said, but I'll try to read between the lines a little for ya:

First year, TPI, good condition, low mileage, 1 owner, paperwork.....I'd say $6500 is a good deal. Now of course, it could be SPOTTLESS and worth $15000, or junk, and worth $500. ....but I'd say it's probably a good deal. Not great. Not bad. As stated, there's really no way to tell based on what we know.

I paid $6800 for my 89Iroc L98 with 65k miles back in 1998. I'd say given the miles it was in better than most condition. Scott, you've seen the paint! ...of course, it's only gotten better since then....but that's a different story

 

Just keep the door dings and dents off the finish and it'll always look great!!

 

Just for reference I bought my 87 GTA last july from the original owner with 40k miles all paperwork and 100% stock including tires (getting new ones this spring) cap,rotor,wires etc. It was parked inside its entire life with no fading of paint or interior at all. Even the brake and fuel lines are still shiny and not rusted whatsoever. I paid $7000 for it. I know it was a little on the high side but it also is aLOT nicer condition than you will see if you looked for years. I am glad I bought it and don.t regret the purchase at all, but I also know that I got the car to enjoy not to resell for a profit. Bottom line is its your money and its gonna be your car so if its the car YOU want and you can afford it BUY IT.

 

The owner just got back from FL and he sent me a ton of pics. In his email he said that he took it out and the left front brake was "hanging up" due to sitting all winter.
I as you can see the body and underside has no rust, with the exception of the exhaust and the suspension looks kinda rusty.

What do you think, im checking it out on sat.

 

More

 

more

 

more....last one

 

I also noticed on the 3rd to last pic, that the passenger side door seems to be sagging due to the worn out part on the plastic entry sill thing.

I think its still worth like 5500 tough.

 

That's not worn out. Directly above that spot on the door is a drain hole. It looks like rusty water has drained out the hole which tells me that the lower portion of the door might be rusting from the inside out. It could also be dirt that ran down the window and inside the door and came out when the car was washed. I would ask the seller if it was dirt and see how he responds.

 

If it is being sold by a dealer and its been there for a year or more, get $4500 CASH and take it by there. MONEY TALKS!!!!But you have to show them you have CASH and are serious about the buy!

 

It is being sold by a small muscle car dealer, i called the guy out on the date on the pics, he assured me that the car has only been there for a few months. therefore i'm going to go there with like 5500 and hope he goes for it.

 

Looks like a solid car. Here in Quebec, the same car would sell for 10k.

 

thanks for all the responses. im finally going to see the car tomorrow morning, i really hope this is the one, and then i can finally be part of the 3rd gen family.

 

also a general question, and i know that this is not the forum for it, but on the black car im going to see, the 3rd brake light is behind the glass on the top of the hatch, on an 86 iroc that i saw the 3rd brake light was on the outside. can someone tell me the years and models that had the brake light on the outside?
thanks

 

That's definitely a nice car! Looks really clean from the pictures you posted.

About your question, if that is an '85 Iroc it shouldn't have a third brake light at all. Unless a previous owner put one on themselves. 1986 was the first year of the third brake light.

 

And in 88 the spoiler third-brake light was introduced. One year except in verts?

JamesC

 

Actually it was 1987 that had the spoiler 3rd brake lights. The only years the light was on the glass was in 1986 for all models, 1987 for models without a rear spoiler and 91/92 on the inside of the glass at the top.

 

I was using The Story of Camaro by Gunnell & Heasley as my source, though books have certainly been incorrect before.

JamesC

 

Yeah, my '87 SC had a spoiler brake light.

 

Looks nice. What kind of tires are on that bad boy?
the tread kinda kinda sorta looks like the old gatorbacks.. would like to know!

 

I have no idea, ill check when i look at the car.

 

did you run a carfax report to see that it was not registered for a long period of time i think that it is hard to believe that the car has only 44,000 miles maybe 144,000 interior looks to have a good bit of wear for only 44,000 the body looks great.nice car but i would expect to have to put more money in it.like belts, hoses ,maybe tires if they sat for a long time.have you took the car for a ride to see how it drives.

 

Yep its only 42K miles not 142K. i ran an autocheck and also have the orig. owners phone number and will be contacting her before i go to see the car. the appointment to see the car is set up for tomorrow morning. after that i will post my thoughts of the car.

 

Thanks for all the help guys. i saw the car today and im going to purchase it. its getting delivered on monday. we settled on 5500 dollars for a 1985 Iroc, 1 owner, 41,575miles, all paperwork.
Aside from the fact that i got a good deal on this car, my 7 year search for the best camaro is over.

 

Congrats! Hope you enjoy it!

 

Well the bastard called me a few hrs after we made the deal and sold the car from under me. he was offered more, and took it. what a money grubbing SOB.

I guess the search is still on.

 

Man that sucks. That almost happened to me, luckily the seller was cool enough to honor the deal that we had already made. Don't give up the search, you'll find one.