or maybe resto-mod?

I recently purchased a 87 GTA. I know its a first year car for the 350 and also for the GTA. I cant narrow down the production numbers anymore than there were 2300 made with the 19D rpo code black cloth interior.

To me "rare" cars are ones with production runs of say.... 1000 or less.

The car has its faults....all of which are fixable and there is no rust to speak of on the car (original FL car, im the 4th owner) and it only has ~80k on the odometer

Im running different scenarios in my head and I cant decide wether or not to repair the car back to factory specs and sell it or just keep it and mod the hell out of it.

 

Do what you want with it. It isn't rare enough that it will be worth any real premium down the road. Yes, because it is a 350 and a GTA it will be worth a little more, but not like it is going to pull down 1mil at a Barrett Jackson auction.

 

What would be your purpose of restoration? Would it be to try and get a big $ for it once its done or is your plan to build a nice daily driver or show car? Or is it your plan to restore it to its former glory? Thats what I am trying to do with my car(former glory) knowing full well when I am done I will havemore $ in it than what its worth or probably ever will be. I feel I am sort of saving it from going to the scrap yard to be forever forgotten. With no rust you have a great start. Parts for these are still a dime a dozen and that makes life easier. Have fun and do what you want.

Kevin

 

i dont think any of our cars will pull pull 1 mil anywhere.....TTA's and FireHawks still dont even break the 100K mark yet. I think in time (a loooooooong time) they will appreciate in value.

I talk to all sorts of people on an almost daily occasion that when they were my age had cars that they /thought/ at the time didnt mean anything....and now here they are 40 or 50 years later wishing they could have kept it.

 

The car sat for 8 years before i got it. I know it books around 7k and I've only got 2500 in it....including a parts car that i purchased as well. Main purpose would be to restore it to the best of my ability and then flip it for as close to book as i can.

 

You'll never get $7k out of it. There just isn't that kind of interest in these cars. If it were all original (not restored, but original/preserved) it might be worth that. But short of a very expensive professional restoration, it'll be hard to break $5k.

 

Unfortunately I agree ^. At the current time in this era, and economy, I think it would hard to get that out of it. Not trying to disappoint you or anything but thats my honest opinion. I think Drew would be considered an expert looking at his history with these cars.

 

Totally agree with Drew and kev, no way you will get 7k out of it. You'd be lucky to break even, imho.

 

if you want to keep it and enjoy it, do what you want to it, but if you are looking for pure resale, dont change alot, i personally would be happier buying an unmolested car, vs a modded one.. are you still in Fl?? where if so?? pics of the girl.. i had an 87 350 car, ran great even at over 200k on it

 

Panhandle......ft.walton beach/destin area.

Only gripe i have is that it eats P.S. belts like once a month.

 

well, maybe one of the pulleys is out of line, or is wobbling bad, with it running, watch that belt, it may have a wobble to it, or it may not be straight in line.. I cant remember if the smog pump is on the same belt, if so watch that, mine is bad and shakes and wobbles, but im tearing the car apart so it doesnt matter. you can delete the pump if you want, not hard and go with a shorter belt. i have to check my pc for which # belt or find another used pump and put it on.. hope this helps

 

Air pump has a dedicated belt and it has been removed. there is quite a bit of play in the P.S. pulley. I've got another pump/pulley laying around, just have to find the time to replace it.

 

You can always do what I do. Restore the car to it's original appearance, but put something meaner under the hood.

 

I agree that is the perfect thing to do with 3rd gens I think these are among the best looking cars ever made and improving on engine performance and other quality issues is the greatest thing to do to these cars

 

Expand your search to the west coast. They are more plentiful here so also cheaper. We have NO rust. No road salt. My 86 Trans Am has ZERO rust. Literally NONE. Even sat in a field for 11 years. Original Oregon car. Inspections can be performed by independent shops and shipping is about $1500. You can find a nice car with absolutely no chance of cancer.

GD