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History / OriginalityGot a question about 1982-1992 Camaro or Firebird history? Have a question about original parts, options, RPO codes, when something was available, or how to document your car? Those questions, answers, and much more!
I get calls & e-mails all the time about cars for sale - I got these pictures today. It's in state and been their long enough for the trees in front of it to have grown up. It looks like it was a really nice car when it got parked there.
He asked me to make him an offer - what would you give for it based on these pictures?
36k miles? How does stuff like this happen??? The only explanation I can come up with is that the general population doesn't know squat about cars. And since all of their daily drivers that they've ever owned in 5 year increments have lived their entire lives outdoors without any adverse affects, that it would be ok to park a T-top car under a tree indefinitely until they can figure out what to do with it. Disgusting.
I took this picture last week. I looked at this car around 2008 but didn't buy it. It's an L03, auto, '89 Formula hardtop with about 50K miles. It was fairly mint at the time. A neighbor ended up buying it and parked it in his front yard under a vinyl tarp, right after that. Poor thing.
BTW, that's not asphalt it's on, it's sinking into the grass. Luckily there's also a tarp under it, otherwise it would be a man made rust chamber. It's probably just going to rot there.
I feel that at some point, I'm going to have to save it.
damn the underside of that car must be gone.Does it still have them?
Originally Posted by eseibel67
36k miles? How does stuff like this happen??? The only explanation I can come up with is that the general population doesn't know squat about cars. And since all of their daily drivers that they've ever owned in 5 year increments have lived their entire lives outdoors without any adverse affects, that it would be ok to park a T-top car under a tree indefinitely until they can figure out what to do with it. Disgusting.
That or was stolen 30 years ago and abandoned there in the african rain forest
Last edited by FirebirdUSX; 03-09-2015 at 06:13 PM.
At this point we don't know - pictures look like they were taken last summer some time. I'm guessing by the size of the trees it's been parked there 10 years easy. I've had TOO MANY of these cars where I pull them out, clean them out and either part, fix or scrap them. So wet/humid inside that the screw that holds the face onto the speedo gauge is rusted??? God knows how many animals have made their homes in, under & around this one!
87? (Guessing by the wheels) Black, two-tone delete, t-top Formula.
At this point we don't know - pictures look like they were taken last summer some time. I'm guessing by the size of the trees it's been parked there 10 years easy. I've had TOO MANY of these cars where I pull them out, clean them out and either part, fix or scrap them. So wet/humid inside that the screw that holds the face onto the speedo gauge is rusted??? God knows how many animals have made their homes in, under & around this one!
87? (Guessing by the wheels) Black, two-tone delete, t-top Formula.
Absolute shame.
I hear you. But if someone like you doesn't save it, it won't get saved. With that said, cleaning out critters, their nests and turds is that much fun.
That cars been posted in the classifieds here and I've seen it on Craigslist as well. The car is in sandy Hook NJ IIRC. The owner claims he bought it as a mint car at an auction and just parked it. Scrap price on the car would be $250 so id offer $500 sight unseen based on pictures and see what he says. If the car by some miracle happens to be solid and restorable, id say $1000 to Maybe $1500 would be in the proper range.
I've seen plenty of these in the $200 - $1000 range on CL. Camaro's and Firebirds left to rot, tires dug in the mud or flat. IROC's, Z 28's, Formula's etc.
That cars been posted in the classifieds here and I've seen it on Craigslist as well. The car is in sandy Hook NJ IIRC. The owner claims he bought it as a mint car at an auction and just parked it. Scrap price on the car would be $250 so id offer $500 sight unseen based on pictures and see what he says. If the car by some miracle happens to be solid and restorable, id say $1000 to Maybe $1500 would be in the proper range.
In 1987 you could not get an LB9/A4 or L98 with T-tops, you had to get the LG4/A4, LG4/M5 or LB9/M5 to get T-tops... This was 1987 only, so if it is not an 87 this point is moot.
HOWEVER, it has a 120 speedo... which means the speedo is 1988-1992, so that means it is an 88-90, or at least the speedo is.
Regardless of what is in the car at this point, there is rust on the screw for the speedo, which means there is a lot of moisture in the interior, which means it is musty at best, if not all out moldy inside.
You can get a really nice, well maintained Formula 350 for about $12,000, it would be cherry.
- It needs Paint
- new carpet, seats covers, cushions (we know it is infested with mold) and a complete tear down and rebuild of the interior
- Depending on how long it has sat, it probably at least needs a new fuel pump and fuel injectors, amongst other issues with the engine and trans.
At this point, you have to ask yourself what does it NOT need, would it be less expensive to buy a nicer one, that is done, or try to fix what is there?
When are people going to learn that a TARP is NOT a CAR COVER.. Unless the T-tops leak, never ever use a Tarp, it will cause your car to rust because it will hold the moisture ON the car, causing it to rust.
In 1987 you could not get an LB9/A4 or L98 with T-tops, you had to get the LG4/A4, LG4/M5 or LB9/M5 to get T-tops... This was 1987 only, so if it is not an 87 this point is moot.
HOWEVER, it has a 120 speedo... which means the speedo is 1988-1992, so that means it is an 88-90, or at least the speedo is.
Regardless of what is in the car at this point, there is rust on the screw for the speedo, which means there is a lot of moisture in the interior, which means it is musty at best, if not all out moldy inside.
You can get a really nice, well maintained Formula 350 for about $12,000, it would be cherry.
- It needs Paint
- new carpet, seats covers, cushions (we know it is infested with mold) and a complete tear down and rebuild of the interior
- Depending on how long it has sat, it probably at least needs a new fuel pump and fuel injectors, amongst other issues with the engine and trans.
At this point, you have to ask yourself what does it NOT need, would it be less expensive to buy a nicer one, that is done, or try to fix what is there?
I would offer $500
Please correct me if i'm wrong but wasn't the 120 speedo was available in the 87 gta ???
When are people going to learn that a TARP is NOT a CAR COVER.. Unless the T-tops leak, never ever use a Tarp, it will cause your car to rust because it will hold the moisture ON the car, causing it to rust.
John
ill go one further and say when will people learn not to use covers period on cars stored outdoors? nothing worse than a cover on a car outside flapping in the wind abrading dirt blowing up under the cover. "but the straps on this one are so tight!" doesnt mean squat.
see this all the time on forums even with brand new cars. whats the obsession with covering a car that is going to sit outside for the winter? youll do zero damage leaving the car uncovered. hell i dont even put a cover on my cars stored indoors and untouched, theres just no real point.
So wet/humid inside that the screw that holds the face onto the speedo gauge is rusted???
Absolute shame.
Bingo. It's not even worth the gas to haul it away
I'd offer $250 but then you have to put it somewhere to rip it apart and deal with pain in the *** shipping to get anything close to decent money for what few parts are salvageable.
I say leave it there and it will make a great story and something cool to look at and dream in about 40yrs time.
Bingo. It's not even worth the gas to haul it away
I'd offer $250 but then you have to put it somewhere to rip it apart and deal with pain in the *** shipping to get anything close to decent money for what few parts are salvageable.
I say leave it there and it will make a great story and something cool to look at and dream in about 40yrs time.
I was going to say $300. If it's a 5 speed $500. But $250 is right there.
When are people going to learn that a TARP is NOT a CAR COVER.. Unless the T-tops leak, never ever use a Tarp, it will cause your car to rust because it will hold the moisture ON the car, causing it to rust.
John
What's worse is that it could be sitting in the garage right next to it, but it's full of junk.
I wouldn't bother with it unless you get it for practically nothing. unless its a 305 tpi 5 speed with the J65 brakes theres nothing really special about the car. But everybody's opinion is different. It's really a shame somebody just parked it and left it to rot, i will never understand those kinds of people.
Sandy Hook, NJ craigslist + rust on speedo screw; possiblly a flood car from the hurricane??
It's not in NJ, it's only a couple miles from me here in town. I've seen it on Craigslist too, e-mailed the guy and never got a response. He finally responded to it yesterday.
I don't know if I have another one like that in me - I wish I had pictures of some of the trunks and rat nests I've cleaned out in the past (then endured the sinus infection the week after). The ones you can at least drive on & off the trailer are so much easier to deal with.
I'll check it out next week maybe when the snow is a lot lower - I'll bring my trailer, some cash (not much) and my winch & see where we end up.
It's not in NJ, it's only a couple miles from me here in town. I've seen it on Craigslist too, e-mailed the guy and never got a response. He finally responded to it yesterday.
I don't know if I have another one like that in me - I wish I had pictures of some of the trunks and rat nests I've cleaned out in the past (then endured the sinus infection the week after). The ones you can at least drive on & off the trailer are so much easier to deal with.
I'll check it out next week maybe when the snow is a lot lower - I'll bring my trailer, some cash (not much) and my winch & see where we end up.
Edit: I'll bring my chain saw too!
Collectible or not, rare or not, but for the simple sake of keeping another third gen body on the road and not lost to time and neglect, I'm hoping for the best for your visit.
Shame...
Looks like a parts car now; so sad.
Kymmee has a point though about the hurricane.
BUT, from just from the pic's I see the following....but cant put a value on
1) Taillights
2) T-Tops
3) Formula Hood
4) WS6 Wheels
5) And whatever engine/tranny combo; SCORE with the 5 speed
Plus all the odds/end/bits/pieces that are wanted and sought after which require YOUR time to disassemble. BUT, you would get it out and either restore or put it to rest by parting it
I found a notchback that had 28k miles. Just sitting and rusting away. Been sitting for years under a tarp. Angers me so Much. It had t-tops and it was a Manual.
regardless of if it's saved or not, it needs harvested. There are usable parts there that we would hate to lose. You don't need to sell much to make money on it. I parted a wasted '84 Z28 2 years ago. I paid $300 for it (LG4 automatic) kept a bunch of stuff for myself, sold some stuff and scrapped the shell and made money. If you can get it for under $500, its worth it IMO.
I realize that the opinion of so many users is to be upset or question why anyone would do something like this, and allow a perfectly good car go to waste..
1) We cannot get away from the fact that some people will never take care of their stuff like we take care of our stuff.
2) We need to get over it, for starters it is not ours, and they can to do with it as they please.
3) I know that looking at something and thinking about what "could have been" is often a favorite past time for most of us, BUT the car sat and languished for a reason, whether it was a careless owner, or something was actually wrong with it and thus why it was wrapped up in a plastic cocoon.
4) Once you get over it, realize that the fewer there are, the more yours will be worth... By taking half of the cars off the road, you effectively double the value of your car.
4) Once you get over it, realize that the fewer there are, the more yours will be worth... By taking half of the cars off the road, you effectively double the value of your car.
That or if you buy them all you can set your own price
In the other thread , "Pontiac Pete" offered $500 to $600 cash was obviously refused since it's still for sale . Sad that the owner could be so shortsighted as to think it's worth more than the lump of scrap metal his neglect has turned it into . I know of a similar situation here in eastern Mass. with a Vette that has sat in a yard about 6 city blocks away from me , for the past TWENTY YEARS !!! And the family at the house thinks it's worth 10K , with trees actually growing up through the floors !
Ya can't fix stupid and ya can't save em all .........
Very interested to see how this turns out. ... maybe its not rusty (but by the same token, maybe the sky isnt blue and may be grass isnt green) ... who knows until you see it
Last year, I bought a '79 AMX "field find". It was sitting under a tree in North Dakota since circa 1996. Amazingly, no rust! I don't know how. So, you never know.
Oh and the WORST part about a car like that is cleaning up the mouse nests, turds and smell. Yuck.
Body looks straight, clear coat is gone. Wench it out and look underneath. Not a candidate for resto IMO; but a straight car will work for a resto-mod (to justify the expense). Bring a knife to cut the carpet and peak at the floor pans from above.
Some times you have to be honest with owners.. "Look you have not done anything with it for the past 20 years, do you really think you will get out there and start working on it now?"
Ive found cars like this before that owners would refuse to sell and actually get mad with me for asking about them. Some people are ok with just letting nice cars waste away before they will ever do anything with them. I know where a nice 87GTA is wasting away and I got cursed out for asking about it and told it was worth 10k. I politely asked her if it was worth 10k then why did she let it collect mildew under trees while she drives a 2k corolla.
03-09-2015, 05:26 PM
I thought it looked familiar... 
The ones you can at least drive on & off the trailer are so much easier to deal with.
Ya can't fix stupid and ya can't save em all .........
