Advice on purchase price needed.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 50
Likes: 2
From: Canada
Car: 1988 A4U (#99 SONY/Protec)
Engine: 5.0 V8 TPI
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.45
Advice on purchase price needed.
i realize opinions will vary greatly so thanks in advance. Canadian car local so the purchase will be in cdn funds. Over the weekend i followed a friends lead and found a 1991 z28. It is a one owner car, full load no leather, w t/top, AT305. The woman has all paperwork of original purchase and was purchased at a dealer who is still around. In 1999 she got sick and unable to use the car, so it has sat ever since. The clear is peeling and was stored inside until recently where some leaves and moss have taken over. Body wise its in very nice shape. The car has 58,740 kms. And that is thats drawn me to the car. Shes heading for surgery in the fall and if she isnt better has offered to sell it to me if I restore it. Her husband says shes holding on to a dream of recovery, sad story. Anyhow curious as to what the pros think its worth, with some love and a reclear it could be a beautiful car, and the interior is mint. No pics as id prefer not to give any more information away. Sounds like it was started from time to time but left alone mostly. Serious concerns to review on a car thats sat 19 years? If i do buy it it will seriously slow down my A4U rebuild but i am ok with that, not looking to lowball her but dont want to overpay. Thanks
On Probation
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 411
Likes: 15
From: Livonia MI
Car: 88 Camaro vert/86 SC
Engine: 355 tbi/2.8 V6
Transmission: 700R4/T5
Axle/Gears: 2.72 posi/3.42 open
Re: Advice on purchase price needed.
Anywhere from $400 to $30,000 CDN. Seriously, without any pics to go by, it is nearly impossible to give you any kind of answer.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 50
Likes: 2
From: Canada
Car: 1988 A4U (#99 SONY/Protec)
Engine: 5.0 V8 TPI
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.45
Re: Advice on purchase price needed.
Thanks for the information. Ill use that as a starting point. Pics are actually useless anyway as the car is surrounded by bushes... but the internet is smart. I grabbed the vin and will get it decoded tomorrow that was most important. Im more wondering about poor preservation cost to repair vs lower mile car value,
Re: Advice on purchase price needed.
A poorly preserved low mileage car, is slightly less desirable than a well preserved high mileage car. You can pretty much throw out the low mileage bonus if the car needs paint and service to be presentable. If it's been outside surrounded by bushes for 19 years, the value is probably really low since the car likely needs complete restoration. 305 auto doesn't help it's value either. Sounds like a very good car to pass up.
Re: Advice on purchase price needed.
Thanks for the information. Ill use that as a starting point. Pics are actually useless anyway as the car is surrounded by bushes... but the internet is smart. I grabbed the vin and will get it decoded tomorrow that was most important. Im more wondering about poor preservation cost to repair vs lower mile car value,
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 683
Likes: 19
From: Knoxville, TN
Car: 1988 IROC-Z
Engine: 350 TPI
Transmission: T56 swap ongoing
Axle/Gears: 2.77 9-bolt Posi
Re: Advice on purchase price needed.
Unfortunately, these days, a good paint job can easily top 5K, unless you can do it yourself.
Re: Advice on purchase price needed.
you are right , i own a bodyshop and the last third gen i did for a customer was 7k .. to do it right its not cheap .. then you have to service the car and when its all said and done you have a repainted 91 305 automatic z28 ..
Trending Topics
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 4,556
Likes: 811
From: South Ms
Car: 89 Firebird
Engine: 355 TBI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 10 Bolt.Posi-3.73s
Re: Advice on purchase price needed.
By the time I get my car to where I want it.. I should have bought a higher optioned low mileage car I would be ahead for the same $. ray jr is right, even painting mine myself I have way more $ in the car than its worth. Hold out for a better car or be ready for spending some cheese to get it where you want it.
Last edited by dmccain; Aug 13, 2018 at 01:09 PM.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 50
Likes: 2
From: Canada
Car: 1988 A4U (#99 SONY/Protec)
Engine: 5.0 V8 TPI
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.45
Re: Advice on purchase price needed.
Thanks Drew, ray jr, Galaxie500XL and dmccain - you bring up some valid points. I was fairly excited at the mileage and having all the original paperwork but lost sight of the work required. Truthfully I should focus on my '88 but got distracted in hopes of having another driver. I'll wait it out - if they get desperate I might throw an offer but wont lose any more sleep on it!
Thanks again guys for your help.
Thanks again guys for your help. 
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 9,946
Likes: 644
From: Chicagoland
Car: 1989 IROC-Z. Original owner
Engine: LB9. Dual Cats. Big Cam
Transmission: World Class T-5
Axle/Gears: BW 3.45
Re: Advice on purchase price needed.
Although I am sometimes tempted, I feel the same way. I'd actually prefer a car that needs paint vs one that's repainted. But like you said, $5K for a car plus $5K for paint, some odds and ends, next thing you know, you're at 12-13K. You can buy a nice, original paint 3rd gen for that kind of money.
Last edited by chazman; Aug 14, 2018 at 08:47 AM.
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