http://knoxville.craigslist.org/cto/1895115470.html

Just thought I'd give it some exposure to the right people; I don't know the seller, I just thought I'd share what I found.

 

It makes me mad when I see people hold on to a rare car by leaving it sit in their yard. Then they wait until it is pretty much way to far gone for it to be restored and then they sell it.

 

That's at least the 20th 82 Indy Z I've seen that was completely trashed. But it's not alone, I've seen a few trashed 83 Daytona 500 Trans Ams, and 84 Indy Fieros, that were trashed beyond repair too. I think it's the idea that "It's a rare car, I can't throw it away, even though it's junk and worthless". I've yet to see a trashed 89 TTA, but I'm sure there are a few out there. The difference is probably the $$$ difference, the lesser pace cars were obtainable by people who didn't have the resources to keep them nice.

 

True, but for $400, it may be worth something; I mean, even parting it out could net something. Badges, misc interior and the hood have got to be worth something, right?

 

If it's worth anything it's worth $400. But the expense of restoring a basket case like that is probably 3 or 4 times what it'd cost to just buy a nice one to begin with. I've seen some that were pretty decent for less then the price of a nice paint job.

 

Looks like a good drag project to me. Time to cut.....

 

I saw a completely trashed Turbo Trans Am on the road in the early-mid 90's. I don't remember the exact year but the car couldn't have been more than four or five years old at the time. To date, I believe it may still be the worst shape thirdgen I have ever seen on the road.

The fact that somebody was able to beat up on such a rare car so fast still amazes me. I was in a hurry that day otherwise I would have followed the driver and tried to buy it. (It was some girl in her early 20's driving it.) It was only one town away so I figured I would see it again but never did.

Remember, the car was no more than five years old when I saw it and I'll bet it was, at best, a $1500 car. At the time, it was BY FAR the worst thirdgen I had ever seen on the road.

 

I've always wondered how people could let their cars deteriorate like this. It seems like if your buying a new car in 1982, you'd keep the thing up. It wouldn't be almost 30 years later and it's sitting out in the backyard with no drive train to speak of and enough rust to send it to the scrap yard. It's sad to see any sports car or muscle car in bad shape, because the more cars people let go to hell, the less cars there is to buy.

 

Doesn't look too bad to me. I've brought some camaro's back to life that looked way worse than than.

 

being its an 82 there is no RPO sticker so one would hope the orig seats are still there along with the build sheet. if the build sheet was still there id be all over that car as that would be the one reliable documentation on that car.

from the pocs the body looks very stright and from the little piece of interior shot it may not be in bad shape at all. IMO just getting a correct trans and correct spec motor would be the hard part. yeah it would be some work but as long as the foundation is solid and electrical isnt hacked or too hacked it would be a good resto.