Hello all,
So I'm hunting a running, no-rust, never-crashed, factory-v8 third-gen, for up to $2500, and I'm wondering what I'm more likely to find?
Has anyone identified any trends such as Firebird owners being better on maintenance, or Camaro buyers being more likely to order a v8?
But Camaros were cheaper, so maybe more of them were V6? And they sold more, or were numbers about equal, with the 'bird looking better?
Any reason to insist on one over the other?

 

Good luck finding one with no rust, that runs, has never been crashed and with an original V8 for $2500. You have tall dreams for such a small budget.

As for Firebird owners being better on maintenance, no. They are all about the same. You'll find some Camaros in better shape than Firebirds, and you'll find some Firebirds in better shape than Camaros. All of which have had different engine options. With the newest car being 25 years old now, what's left is anybody's guess.

 

Actually, finding ragged-out, beat-to-death RSes for $500-1K is no big deal around here, I know of 2 right now. That's why I'm budgeting more for a nicer buy-in. Something that maybe needs tires, a tune-up, filters and fluids, but otherwise is not too nasty to daily-drive while starting the bolt-ons.
I don't expect to find a jewel with no coffee stains on the carpet, no speed mods under the hood, all gauges working perfectly, a working factory stereo, and showroom paint, but never-crashed seems common enough, and these don't have the rust problems my '79 had.

 

I've found 4 candidates, only 1 of them is a 'bird. I'm leaning toward a black IROC-Z, but it has been sitting several years with the passenger window wide open, or broken out. Aside from probable water damage to the seat and carpet, what else should I be checking?

 

"sitting several years with the passenger window wide open"......The floors for one

 

I'm assuming not inside...

 

And this is what you're looking for in the $2500 range? This is what I'd expect you to find.

 

Yep, I don't know about anyone else, but I always leave a good car sitting in a barnyrad with the windows down for at least half a decade. It really gives it that sleeper quality.

 

Yes, the passenger floorpan may have rust, can't check it now. It's on the back row of a gas station lot. Both driver's-side tires are flat.
Oh, and what hubs did Firehawks use when ordered with the really big brakes? turned-down 1LE? Aluminum? turned-down 10.5" base?
My second most likely candidate appears to be a '91-'92 Z28 with the wrong nose.

 

They can be found, be patient and you will find one especially this time of year. Don't waste too much time, the cars are doubling in value every two years currently.

If at all possible, increase your budget - the car will be exponentially better and more valuable. It will also cost you less in the end while being more enjoyable.

 

save another 1,000 to 1,500 and you will be able to find something nicer .. i look for irocs and trans ams everyday and at 2500 have not seen anything that doesnt need alot of work .. waste of time really

 

i bought some real nice third gens this year pretty cheap and missed out on quite a few smoking deals .. i dont know about doubling in value every few years .. i have not seen it .. watched alot of cars go cheap this year

 

Expand your look to Washington. Seattle/Portland/Eugene. More choices and saltless on the west side of the mountains.

 

Jeremy,

If there has been water intrusion, it's not just the floors. Everything inside that car has been exposed to years of high humidity...humidity above and beyond what they are designed to stomach. Electrical connections, modules, ECMs, gauges, stereo...all of the these electrical items and more could now be real trouble makers. Very hard to tell by looking.

The musty smell will be hard to chase out. It will have permeated every soft material inside the car. Seats, seat foam, headliner cloth, headliner foam backer, carpet, speaker cloth, etc.

 

Thank you! This is the friendliest and most helpful reply I've gotten so far. Not too sure about excessive humidity in the critical electronics under the driver-side dash, but otherwise this seems all correct.

 

Good finds are still out there, but you have to wait, I got my 84 Z28, 5 speed with working everything except for cruise control and a perfect dash, with only rust on the hood, which is common on 3rd gens for 2900$. Just wait and find something that you want. There is a very nice 84 5 speed HO car here in south florida right now for 5k. The more you save, the nicer car, and untimely save more money in body repair in the long run. Just dont settle for any car, find one with the options you want.

 

You're welcome Jeremy.

Lots of good advice here. Buying the nicest example (of anything) that you can afford is always good advice, IMO. I looked for over a year before I found my T/A. But if you really have a hankering for this particular car...well, we've got 4 pets we adopted from shelters because once we saw them, we just had to have them, whether it made sense or not. So I get it.

 

Found locally down here something of a unicorn...a 44k mile hardtop '89 IROC LB9 G92 car. Needs just about everything to be up to my standards, and the guy wants $5,500 for it. Typical FL car...no rust, but the sun has beat everything else pretty hard. Its tempting...but I have to wonder, what would a mint low mileage one cost me?

 

I know the car, I talked to him and he sent me a couple videos. Cool car, but has many needs,

 

Yup was up in Seattle last Summer/Fall Seen some CRAZY deals for nice cars up there !!! Was a TRUE third gen paradise !!!!!


Missed by 1 day a RUNNING black on black '92 trans am VERT for $2000... YES $2000


CLEAN rust free black/gold 84 trans am HO, t-tops, tan int, 55K miles for $500 !!


Dave

 

You know, you sold one before moving.

 

You're over thinking the whole firebird vs camaro thing. There were TONS of both made, and tons made with the v8, more so the 305 than the 350.

As for your price range, you're not gonna find something ready to drive with no rust easily. Gonna have to look in the southern states.

I suggest you save up another $1,000-$2,000 and just buy a car you won't regret. Cars are only fun to work on for so long before you can drive it reliably. Most F-bodies have been beat to **** by every ****** wearing Joe Dirt that could afford one, so just be patient in finding a solid one. You won't regret it.

 

Doesn't surprise me one bit you found that car all the way down here Hope all is well, bud. Now that my 30th is gone, I'm getting the itch for another third gen....

 

Yes and no. I research the market big time before I buy anything. The only third gen I've lost money on was a 91 RS that other than being a 5 speed with leather, had nothing special going for it. It was/is beautiful (back up for sale now 6 years after I sold it), but I sunk a ton of money in it thinking I was keeping it.

When it comes to the IROC in question, I can see hurdling over $10,000-12,000 easily to make it the right car for me...then what could I unload it for if I changed my mind later? I think a clean original is better for me. I don't have the time down here or the space I used to have to work on things

Need to do more homework before I jump back into the third gen game...I've been messing around on Cadillac V forums for over a year, but keep coming back to 3rd and 4th gens

 

Thanks Jason. If you pursue that one, be careful. Title issues.