I have this 83 SE loaded 5.0 HO pw tilt wheel spoiler ac tinted glass int wipers cruse ws7 package rear wiper and defroster power hatch luggage comp trim 700r4 other options i remember was it had the prem radio and leather wheel . when i was younger back in 94 I removed the rear wiper but kept the parts everything is still there i changed the hood and color of the car and needed a new 700r4 other than everything is original the car has been sitting for the last 15 years and after going over it it needs minor body work i put a battery in it last week and it started right up no misses or anything the motor has 68000 miles on it and i know its right i have had the car since 85. restoring it to the orignal color over the winter . will do minor susp upgrades due to old age .

 

Sounds like a great car. The first third gen I remember was my dads 82 SE, and I've always wanted one just like it, so SEs are special to me at least. I would say restore it, SEs arn't the most desirable of the third gen birds, but you never really see one in good shape anymore, it would be nice to see a restored well optioned SE.

 

WOW, that sounds like a really rare car with all those options! If it were a 2.8 I'd say part it out, but having the L69, I'd definitely look into restoring this one. Can't remember the last time I saw an S/E on the road (which means it was before I cared about cars, probably pre-1992).

 

Oh yeh couldnt find the build sheet i ripped out the whole interior and nothing and the car was made in norwood if that makes it any more scarce . I know there were less se built than trans ams .And the body shop guy said that all the early se models he has seen and not manny had either a 4 or 6 cyl and mine was the first v8 he has seen other than a ta.

 

Post up some pics, I'm sure I'm not the only one interested in seeing it.

 

Since there were no Firebird SEs with the L69, you don't have a "HO", unless somebody swapped it in there. The V8 ones came with the LG4 only.

Post the 8th digit of the VIN.

I would say, if you like the car and want it to be nice and it's not already a basket case, then yeah, "restore" it. On the other hand, if you think you're going to somehow make it "valuable" as in resale, you're hallucinating. You'll basically be devaluing any parts or materials you apply to it. It simply isn't a "highly desirable" type of car. VERY few thirdgens are "that kind" of car, or ever will be. Fix it, drive it, enjoy it, whatever; just don't expect whatever you do to it to matter very much to the next owner.

 

Yeah, was kinda wondering about that...didn't think you get an L69 without getting a T/A.

The car may never be valuable or even particularly desirable, but I still think it's a neat car just because it has so many options and you never see them anymore. I'd fix it up, but I'd also know at the same time that I'm pouring money down the drain as the car will likely never be worth more than the future equivalent of $5-7,000 or so (basing this on super nice rare 77-81 non-T/A Firebirds that sell for around that price vs. $25-40,000 for a ridiculously nice optioned-out restored T/A from that same era).

 

My bad its not a ho it didnt come out till mid year but it did come with everything the trans am did that year except the graphics and lower spoiler and hood till mid year till the ho was avil in the ta. well it dosent need much work and i know there were 30,000 plus ta's made and only 10,000 plus s/e made even less with the 5.0 and oh yeh i dont plan on selling it i have had it 26 years already and it was my 2nd car i owned so i will have it till the wheels fall off.