All,
I need to locate two cars for a project I'm working on. Both cars need to be from Norwood and need to be original, unrestored "mint condition" cars or they need to be fully restored to factory original specs. If you have these cars, please PM me with the details and I will discuss what I need when I have a few to choose from. The cars can be anything from an iron duke to a 350 IROC-Z/GTA. Thanks

 

What's the project?

 

I can't disclose the details until I find the cars. They need to be Norwood cars which makes the requirement pre '88. The cars should also be from the Midwest as that would make it the most convenient.

 

Is somebody writing a book about thirdgens...?

 

I need to find these cars as soon as I can. If you have an original condition 82-87 Norwood built 3rd gen, please let me know. Thanks

 

Scott,

My 86 is completely original, and after a failed attempt at selling it, I am keeping it and its going to a body shop this week. Yes, its a Norwood car...it will not be photogenic for about 4 weeks though. Feel free to PM me with what you need.

 

PM sent, Jason

 

PM replied...two things I didn't mention in the PMs is that the car will NOT have the proper "speckled" finish on the rear spoiler, as no one can seem to recreate the speckle the black urethane spoiler currently has. Because its junk, I'm getting a Hawks spoiler and having it painted a satin black, much like the original. I was going to add a screaming chicken on the hood, but have been on the fence with that because it isn't original.

I don't need the chicken, but the spoiler has baffled me for months. If ANYONE on here has any idea on how to help me with this, I deeply appreciate it. If you own an 85-86 aero wing car, you know what I'm talking about...

EDIT: Scott, I will be contacting you further this evening.

 

Well, we are 90% confirmed for a Trans Am. Still looking for the Camaro. The car needs to be "like new". Thanks all. Wish I could disclose more about the details of this, but we are bound to secrecy!!!

 

May want to shoot chazman a PM, I know he has a beautiful '83 Z28 (though I'm not sure if it's entirely stock).

 

I would be glad to shoot components on my '83 H.O. Z28. Unfortunately for the project it's in NC, but I will be glad to photograph anything you need. It just turned 5,500 miles. With the exception of the wheels/tires it's still just like GM made it. I have the stock wheels/tires as well that I can throw back on it if that helps.

 

Thanks for the compliment, but both of my cars are from Van Nuys.

 

how do you tell where your car was made?

 

The VIN is the easiest way. The 11th digit, L = Van Nuys, N = Norwood

 

Interesting, I didn't know Van Nuys and Norwood built Camaros concurrently. I always thought all early cars were from Norwood, and when they closed up shop they moved them to Van Nuys.

Learn something every day.

 

Not Thirdgen related, but ever since the 1st gens they made them in Van Nuys and Norwood.

 

I'm really discouraged by the number of early Camaros that aren't in mint condition! Where are the Camaro owners that have 82-87 Norwood built cars that are still in mint, original condition? I've found plenty of cars in low mile original condition from 82-87, but they are all Van Nuys cars. My car, Chet's 2k mile IROC-Z, my fathers 82 Pace Car, and many more, all Van Nuys cars.

C'mon guys. If you have one, please let me know.

 

I wish I could help, but my car is neither mint nor original, it is a norwood car though...
Dare I say, but your car in your profile pic looks pretty dang mint, though I'm guessing it doesn't meet one of the requirements, how stringent are these requirements? The problem I don't think is one of condition or location of manufacture so much as that these days, people generally buy a 3rd gen to build up or sadly often times as a cheap beater to kick around till it dies
I know of a guy on the v6 boards, 58mark, who's car is pretty much stock afaik, although his paint job isn't and hes done some polishing in the engine bay, but I believe it is otherwise stock, and somewhat low mileage. I mean almost any 3rd gen around is going to have at least some level of non stock parts, due to things being replaced, like exhaust for example, or especially paint. At any rate, good luck with the search, I'm curious what the project is...

 

sorry

 

I think there is a misunderstanding on these boards to what a restoration is. A restoration is to return or take back to what it originally was. Webster's Dictionary defines restoration as, "a bringing back to a former position or condition". I have received a few emails and PMs about this from people with cars that have been repainted different colors, cars with LS1 engines, cars that have custom interiors, etc. These are not restored cars.

My car is a good example of what I need, but unfortunately, my car is from Van Nuys. I'm a middleman in this project trying to locate the required cars for the people that have asked me. My problem is that I am aware of at least 1/2 dozen cars that meet the needed criteria, except they are from Van Nuys. Why can't I locate 1/2 dozen cars that meet the criteria from Norwood? That's my issue. I know they have to be out there, but where?

 

Not trying to degrade the importance of it, but I do find it rather odd that it matters which plant they came from, I'm sure they have their reasons though. But it certainly sounds like it would be easier if the plant of manufacture didn't matter, there probably is a logical explanation for why there's more van nuys cars that fit the criteria than norwood.
And not everyone is aware or differentiates. The term for those cars is restomod, which is of course a car being restored to good/operable condition, but not its exact original configuration, my car(work in progress) is a prime example of a restomod, I am bringing it back to life, but I am hardly bringing it back to stock specifications, one glance at the hood assures that :P
You might try posting in the v6 section, a lot of us keep to our own little corner, I did for quite some time, wasn't until relatively recently that I branched out and started keeping an eye on the other boards, but I still spend a lot more time in our v6 corner of things.

 

I wonder if it is because the cars manufactured farther east and north were distributed closer to areas where there are harsher winters and less regulations on what can be done to car. If I was forced to keep all a cars emissions equipment, I probably would be driving an original...

 

The factories distributed cars all over the country, not regionalized. My IROC-Z was shipped to a dealer in Minnesota. I've seen Van Nuys cars shipped new to dealers in NJ and PA. You'd think the Norwood plant would supply cars to those areas, but that wasn't the case.

 

The Van Nuys/Norwood debate and where they were shipped. There does not appear to be a rhyme or reason to where cars were made and where they were shipped. My 87 Formula is a Norwood car and it was shipped to Indianapolis, My wife's 87 was shipped to Detroit and it is a Van Nuys car. my 2nd Yellow Formula was also a Van Nuys car that was sent to Florida (shipped within a day of my Norwood Formula). IIRC My 83 TA was sent to MI from Norwood and my 83 Camaro sent to MO from Van Nuys.

I have heard of Van Nuys cars in OH and Norwood cars in CA.

John

 

Believe me, it matters. Scott isn't blowing smoke here...he needs help, for a very valid reason.

Scott, FWIW, I'm trying to find someone as well...

 

The reason there probably aren't as many early cars in general that are in great shape (regardless of plant of manufacture) is because they are, as a whole, less desirable than the '87-'92 cars. Even back when the cars were new, many a person probably bought an '82-'86 car with plans of keeping it for a long time, but then couldn't resist trading up as the cars got refreshed and got better engines midway through the body style. As time progressed, the later cars shined as the ones to have and the cars that were a better overall package than an early car (bias aside, I'd rather have a later RS than an early Z/28 as an example), so those have been better preserved while the older ones have traded hands numerous times and become beat.

Wish I could help you but my car's neither 100% stock, a Norwood car, nor 100% factory mint.

 

^^^True, but I also think a big thing as well is the fact that 87+ benefitted significantly from better-built engines and transmissions.

Face it...flat tappet cams in pre-87 cars suck. I have to use a special oil in the 86 just to keep it from prematurely wearing out. Plus, 700R4s got more durable in later years. So, not only are the later years more desireable, they simply didn't blow up as easy as earlier ones!

Case in point...the flat tappet cam in my buddy's old '82 Impala was shot by 120k in '99. When my '91 RS was sold this past Spring with the same mileage on it, it was a few years older but the engine performed like brand new. Amazing the difference...

 

The requirements are a bit picky. Those that understand what you're asking for, probably don't consider their car to fit the requirement. That's why you're only getting replies from people with cars that don't fit the requirements. I've got a Norwood Iroc with 60k miles in the garage, but I haven't seen the point in wasting the time replying since it probably wouldn't meet the requirements.

In a way what you're running into is the Thirdgen.org curse. There's a ton of modification threads, plenty of bad tech advice, etc but there isn't much for enthusiasts that would keep a car stock. Your target audience doesn't even frequent this forum.

 

I don't know if I'd necessarily agree with that; I think the requirement is fine, just a bone stock and mint Norwood car.

I think it's more an issue of the fact that the cars are going on 30 years old, and most of the cars are beat or low mileage originals. If they are restored, chances are they are resto-modded since these cars don't particularly have any restoration value, nor were they fast enough to be considered worthy of stock restorations in many cases. That said though, there are quite a few VN cars around that fit the bill, so I don't think it's a "thirdgen.org curse". I think it's simply a case of people valuing the early cars less, and not taking as meticulous care of them as people did the later, more desirable, more powerful, better looking cars.

 

I've been following the thread and wish I could help (I have an 1987 Iroc - 95% stock - Norwood car) but the paint on it has many chips and imperfections disqualifying it from being mint. Also, the 5% I'm calling not stock are the seats; the drivers seat frame was crooked and overall uncomfortable, so I'm installing 4th gen seats as a replacement and also, since the leather wrap on the wheel was so bad, I found it easier to just slap on a Grant wheel.

On a side note Scott, I was looking through back issues of my Camaro Performers magazines today and saw your car/article featured there. Nice!

 

Camaro Performers featured a stock vehicle??

 

If you're speaking of the beige CFI '83 I wonder how far they've gone with her. Their plans at one point was to remove the CFI. Exterior she's a twin of my '83 (except theirs doesn't have T-Tops).

My '83 is about 95% stock with original paint but as many others she's a Van Nuys build. The only exterior change is a set of 16" single stripe gold wheels.

I would imagine there was a production allotment for each plant given available parts. That said is there information on the production ratio of the two plants (if it was indeed even or favors one plant)? And to think Van Nuys had more stringent regulations on thier manufacture process (paint in particular). Also you would have thought Norwood would have handled dealers east of the Mississippi River and Van Nuys west of it but it was whichever received the production order from the central office.

 

I have a 1985 IROC 100% original including gatorback tires. Car has 25,000 miles but is not mint in my view, it has a couple door dings and tear in the drivers seat. If this will work for you let me know. Posted in the other thread as well.

 

Yup, those would be restomods, and good restomods are few and far between for thirdgens...

 

Thanks everyone, we found the Camaro! Keep watching for the details surrounding the need for these cars. It will be awesome. Both cars are from members here on TGO and they will not be able to discuss the details either. We'll all let you know at a later time. Thanks.

 

GLad you were able to find another, interested to see what it was for when the time comes.

 

I am excited to see what comes of this and why it had to be so secret squirrel

 

Most Excellent!

 

Did you get my e-mail? I've got a rod stock 87 IROC. Just changed the original plugs cap and rotor. After 24 years I figured it was time. Only 39000 miles on it. A very nice car, I love it. You've got my curiosity going, can't wait to see what you're up to.

 

I have a 1986 Berlinetta Sport Coupe that just has the exhaust from muffler back and Spectre replacement OEM air filters. The paint is a lil rough but its all factory.

 

I think you are 2 years late. The posts are from 2011.

 

So is their any threads of what they did with the cars?

 

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/hist...deal-when.html

 

Norwood Gathering in 2011 (the experiment)

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbt...&Number=460036


Norwood Gathering in 2012 (Now a mature event)

http://camaropacecars.com/eve/forums...6/m/8471083536


Norwood Gathering in 2013 (occurred last week)

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbt...our#Post535428


TGO has been invited each year but only attended the first year in 2011.

Footage for a made for TV documentary was being filmed this year. Also GM was in official attendance this year bringing a 2014 Pre-production ZL1 down from Ren Cen.

 

Luuuuvv the old muscle!