I am not sure what I want to do with my car in the near future. Leave it original or modify it. Its a 91 GTA,173000 miles L98, cloth interior, rear disk, G80 diff, this is just a few of the main options. It need drivers floorpan but body is perfect. Runs and drives perfect but it is ready for a full restore before rust takes over. I did have a cheap paintjob done recently just to make it look nice again. When I start restoring I am torn between original or upgrading motor, trans, susp, brakes. I wont be starting the restore for awhile but I want to start buying parts now. WHat would you do?

 

Well, to each their own, so do what you like best, it is your car. Having said that I'll give my opinion; What I'm doing to my 1986 T/A is restoring it to factory appearance and upgrading it with only parts that were availible within the year range of the vehicle, so I'm going with parts from around 85'-89'. The car will appear stock but I'll add small odds and ends. My car already has American Racing wheels from 1987, which were on it when I got the car. I'm probably going to get a cam better than the stock cam, subframe connectors, etc, but I'm going for a show car/sunday driver. Theres a lot to be said for going totally stock too, and of course you can build it up under the hood and have some real fun, up to you, but I'd go for stock appearance.

 

usually the only cars that have any collector value are really low mile survivor cars, 173k is not it. mod the thing!

 

With having 173k on it, its not ever going to get very valuable. Thank you for your opinions I just didnt want to mod a car that would be valuable or keep it original, not be happy with performance and never we worth anything. So keeping the original look with a few surprises under the cover is the way to go.

 

Somewhat wrong. When you see a restored '69 Camaros, if it had 175k on it...you're going to tell me it has no collector value????



At the same time, I see your point...hence why the condition and mileage of my IROC and TA are going to stay as original/low as possible. Because its a 91 GTA, I say restore to near-stock. Add SFCs, mild cam maybe...but that's a desireable car. Don't wreck the original flavor of it.

 

If your torn between the two, then why not a mix of both. You could have the heads worked over, a decent cam, even drop in a 383. From the outside, no one would know. Then just get emmisions legal shorty headers and a decent exhaust. Would look almost stock then. Get good gears in the back and have a fairly quick car that looks almost stock.

I tend to agree with //<86TA>\\ A restored first gen is way different than a restored third gen. People just want first gens more.

 

I was told buy a guy that my car is fairly rare with the options it has I cant find any literature about how many GTA's were made with a 5.7, rear disk, and cloth seats. I know not many rear disk cars, and not many 350 cars for that year but what about having a GTA with those options compaired to GTA's with drum and a 305 this is why I cant decide where to go with this car

 

If I did mod it it wouldnt be too crazy I do like the seamless engine compartments definitly do susp and brake upgrades and would love to have seats redone in leather

 

there is nothing wrong with a "resto mod", I dont think it would hurt the value.

 

apples and oranges, but still no, a 175k mile restored 69 camaro would have no where near the value/collector value of a 175 mile original 69 camaro

 

1) Did I reference a 175 mile car? Anywhere??

built91,
In the mid '80s, my father's '69 Camaro was nothing more than a used car. Why does everyone think that because these cars don't have strong value NOW, that the value won't build LATER...???

 

When I do restore my car it will be practically new but odo will have high mileage so mileage wont matter like if you bought a fully restored 69 Camaro miles dont really matter

 

There was approximately 2,035 1991 GTAs (not including exports). Over half of those (1,321) had the L98/350TPI. Over half of the 2,035 1991 GTAs (1,144) had the J65 front/rear disc brakes. So having a 1991 GTA with the LB9/305 or drum brakes would be actually less common. This information comes from our friends at GTASourcepage

From 1990 on, the GTAs are considered somewhat "rare" as the production of them dropped of significantly when compared to previous years.

 

really???
your missing my point, so i'll stop

 

No, I really got your point...loud and clear. I don't agree with it...so sorry

 

I like the thought of keeping the car's appearance looking like a stock GTA, but make all the changes you'd like to the chassis and under the hood to make it better. I'm sure it's been an excellent car throughout its 173,000, and it probably still is excellent. But thirdgens were on the wrong side of the cusp of technological change, being designed a little too soon. So for its next 173,000 miles, give it a powertrain that wasn't available when it was a new car.

 

I do like the Idea of keep it looking original and doing better susp and mild engine upgrades