http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwi/cto/4651908362.html

 

Looks like you posted the wrong link. It's a tire company page.

 

Multi-tasking between Coker Tires and Craigslist?

Here's the link to the Craigslist ad:
http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwi/cto/4651908362.html

 

Ha! I guess that was still copied from the Gatorback thread.

I'll fix it in my post too.

 

O
U
C
H

 

I'm sorry but someone would have to be literally INSANE to do it. That car is a rust bubble Whatever is holding it together won't last much longer.

The interior is pretty decent tho! Too bad it's red

 

No doubt a big project, requiring an enthusiast with very large testiculars.

 

Man, that's a real shame...

 

That car isn't worth anywhere near $3500, don't care what it has. Looks like every body panel on the car has to be replaced, the cowl probably is rotted out, and I'd bet it looks straight out of the Flinstones underneath. Not to mention 170k miles, that's just the cherry on top.

 

Anyone that tackles that one would also require the very interesting combination of deep pockets and low IQ.

 

I think we've all seen worse, or at least just as bad. It's rare combo is the ONLY reason this car hasn't met the crusher yet.

How about if it were free or near free? Would anyone tackle it?

 

If I had a big shop, unlimited funds, unlimited time and unlimited patience -- maybe. This car needs a lot of everything from the look of it.

Seriously -- when I first saw this was a midwest listing my first thought was "how bad is the rust" (having dealt with that in my '84 oh so many years ago). I'd love to see what the floor boards look like.

As much as I love third gens, this one falls in to the same rescue category as some of last Corvettes they pulled out of the sink hole at the NCM. Even GM was smart enough to realize those cars weren't worth saving. This car falls into the same category IMHO.

Best outcome here is to part out what might be usable and move on.

 

Its a rare car, yes, but not a '$50,000 when restored' kind of rare. It will never be worth the time and money you put into it even if the car was free

 

"One of everything please" comes to mind. If it's free with the provision it had to be restored not parted? I'd be looking that gift horse in the mouth. Even the "rust free" doors that come with it look as bad as the ones I replaced on my car from the little of the lip you can see.

 

The body on this car is twisted to go along with the rust. If it was free, I would take it and put it in the future projects shed, something like #19 in line.

 

I'm always trolling Chicago CL too and was about to post this. That car won't sell for more than $300.

Whoever buys this car, just use my rust repair threads as a guide.

 

You know what? For $300, I'd buy it just on general principle.

 

If I was Bill Gates I would pick this up and restore it since money would be no object. As an average Joe....as much as it pains me, I wouldn't touch it.

 

I just looked at a 87 IROC that had lived it's early life in Ohio. What a waste. The thing was so rusty underneath it probably wouldn't have made it over the first speed bump without breaking up. It was really sad, even being maroon.

Rick

 

If the driver's side of it looks that bad, I can only imagine what you'd find underneath...

Personally, I'd love to see someone restore it...but after doing 2 mild third gen restos, I wouldn't touch that car with a 10 foot pole

 

That is why you are you and Bill is Bill. Bill would not buy this either, he knows it would be less to just buy a nice one than restore one this far gone.

 

unfortunately that looks to be a parts car now in the horrible condition its in and wow where did we come up with that price tag i'd say in that shape it's worth 5-700 and that's a stretch.

 

The car is on the list, it is number 88 out of the 143 known GTA & T/A 350 convertibles. It appears to always have been purchased at Terry Shaver Pontiac in Highland, IN, The top was originally Tan, not black as it is now.

Highland is just west-south-west of Gary, IN. Almost on the boarder of IL

Cedar Lake, IN (where it is apparently now) is further south, of Highland, so I suspect it has lived in the area its entire existence.

Did anyone else notice the radio is the original push button radio?

John

 

So apparently there is some value there just how much?

 

1) the car has 170K on it
2) the most I have seen a GTA 350 vert sell for is around $12,000 I really have not been paying really close attention, and I was offered $12,000 for my Formula 350 Vert.
3) In a world... All things being equal, if you found that perfect 5,000 mile GTA convertible with the 350 I would bet they would be asking around $20,000

So Let us play a little game, of deduction.
What would a 170,000 mile GTA convertible be worth if it was show quality?
$8,000, maybe, Let us just say $10,000 for giggles when the wind was just right and there was someone that had to have that car.

If you do the work yourself,
$3000 for materials in paint, primer, bondo, welding supplies, tape,
$3000 for a rebuilt engine
$3000 for small misc pieces that should be replaced, painted etc
$1000 for interior pieces.

At the end of the day you would break even if you could even feasibly sell it for $10,000 and you got the car for free...

If you paid someone to do it for you.
$8000 paint
$1500 Interior
$6000 Engine

See where I am going?

Unfortunately right now there is no big pull for the ASC 350 convertibles, it surprises me, and honestly I think because of the rarity very few people know they exist. They seem to sell for about the same as a similar 91-92 Trans Am Convertible right now.

It is in the same conundrum I am in with my Formula 350 convertible. The car is actually very solid, But the paint is actually burnt off from living in Florida. There is a touch of rust if you look for it hard on the front seam of the hood and the rear seam of the deck lid. And the center of the drivers side door where the window down rubber stop broke off and the screw nicked the bottom of the inside of the door has a little rust. Beyond some little door dings the car is straight which could be fixed by a PDR guy for under $200.

But to paint it I would have a lot in materials, the interior is actually pretty nice, but the door panels need a little cleaning to where the top had leaked, or windows left open in the rain (prior to my ownership) Nothing really earth shaking.

The wheels look like they are 25 years old, fortunately no dents or corrosion, just the typical pealing of the clear-coat (again remember it was in Florida).

However it is one of the lowest miles Formula 350 convertibles out there... Here is what I know.

My car has 37,000 miles on it since new. And compare that to Last recorded miles of the other 43 Formula 350 convertibles out there...
Car 23188 has 24619 miles as of 1997 and it has a salvage title
Car 35103 has 18 miles on it as of 1989
Car 49846 has 15 miles on it and again last recorded in 1989
Car 36127 has 12,000 miles as of 2005 (confirmed)
Car 58203 has 23650 miles as of 1997

So really the 3 cars, one with 15 the other with 18 miles are probably gone, and I think 23188 is also crushed...

So at worst, I have the 6th lowest miles car out there, but At best I have the 2nd or 3rd lowest miles Formula 350 vert out there... But what is it worth. I know the 12,000 miles car is from around OH, and he was asking $30,000 for it a few years back, which I believe he never actually got. It is a super nice car however...

It would not be worth fixing up this car right now... IMHO

John

 

If you knew you wouldn't sell it, at least for another 20 years, it'd turn around (I'd think).
I know these cars aren't anywhere near 1st gen territory (for the most part) but if you could get this car stable and hang on to it for a couple decades (a comical thought) then it'd pay for itself. (if people on this forum can buy a thirdgen new and manage to never drive it then doing the same to this car is WELL within the realm of possibility).
Once a complete car is crushed it's gone.

I wish we had pics from underneath. Not my cup of tea, but I've seen worse be saved.

 

Exactly my point there is a value to the car but it's not worth fixing it even if it was a free car.And overall I think the mileage kills it for most people. -John

 

I do know and know it wouldn't be worth the effort especially with 170k and the price as high as it is . Someone obviously didn't care about the car very much if at all to let it get to be in that bad of shape. As you have mentioned I've seen worse fixed also but where is the line drawn? The current owner may not have the skills or money to get the car back up to par I myself would never purchase it for being in such horrible condition as it is.

 

I think the saddest part is way better cars are crushed and parted out on here everyday.

 

x2

 

Went to a local junkyard yesterday and they had about 5 3rd gen Firebirds, one 88 GTA, still had the GTA seats & interior, analog dash, missing cold air intake and MAF from what I could tell, had I think an 86 T/A, and several firebirds.. They also had 3 Reattas, at least 4 or 5 Fieros...

John

 

I went through this 3 years ago when my 92 Camaro finally got too expensive for me to rebuild. I tallied the $ and it was just not worth doing compared to just finding a better one. I refused to part or crush it though. The body was in good shape. I had done repairs from two accidents and it was ready for paint. The drive train was shot though. I sold it to a young guy who wanted to race it. I just didn't want to be the last driver of the car.

 

wow need to visit that yard what state is it in?

 

The heck of it is that all the cars in the yard I think looked better (in regards to rust) than this one...

John

 

would u be willing to give up the location of this yard?

 

Would love to fix it- but not at that price. Interior doesn't look like it needs anything, which is a good thing.

 

That is a case of a car that is simply too far gone for all but those who are willing to spend $20k-30k restoring it. Assuming thats an original car with all stickers and the other stuff that people want in an original resto car.

That car is well beyond survivor status, its knocking on the junk yards door.

I don't even think there is anything left worth salvaging off that car except for some of the interior bits if you need red stuff.

With the way its beat up, I'd hate to see what the underside looks like.

 

I need the gasket under the third brake light