Apologies if this is the wrong thread, but this Camaro came up and is being offered to me for $2000. I am leaning toward yes. It is a running, 305 converted to carb. external aftermarket fuel pump. headers, with short exh pipes. comes with new carpet. Has digital dash. I hate that it doesn't have Ttops. It needs rims and tires, body work (but that can wait). I guess I am asking for advice on what to do. With the price of these cars going up a lot, I really don't want to pass on it. Does this deal seem too good to pass up?

 

There's a lot of custom work that you are going to have to decipher. It looks like a good price, and looks like a solid project car...budget & skillset permitting.

 

Thanks for the input. I am looking to enjoy it, and do some work on it with my son, and eventually give the car to him. I worry because it is a hard top, that I ned to be careful how much I invest. I can get rims and tires on thirdgen for a few hundred. Paint and body work is going to cost me 3-4K....thats a problem. Suspension, exhaust...because its a hard top is keeping me from saying yes already.

 

Looks like a good deal. And I hate T-tops...

 

Nothing there you cant fix. .A used hood, maybe some used Z28 wheels just a few things and youre on your way. 2K is fair for a running car with no rust. Drive it and build it along the way

 

I would think a hardtop would be a positive, not a detractor. That way you know you won't have leaks. It is a good price though.

 

I second the hard top comment. Having grown up w these cars, between leaks and flexing I'd go hard top all the way (I always have) The rust associated w t top leaks is miserable. It's hard enough to keep these cars from rusting as it is. It also hard enough to keep them from flexing. The roof is a significant structural component.

this car looks pretty rust free. It also has some stuff done to it. I can't tell the deal w the suspension. It looks like the tires are really small and that makes it look lifted. But it's hard to tell. In general the price is right. That said it's an old used car. I'd expect anything and everything w it. My 82 has had everything replaced/upgraded less the steering box. And that's next!

 

The wheels and tires. Oof. It's not every day you see undersized R888R's on the worst vette wheel of all time. $2k is a solid price.

 

I really appreciate the feedback. The two Camaros I had were both T-tops and I loved taking them off in the summer. I understand the "pros" of the hardtop, and agree. Those wheels have to go. Here is another image showing the rear. sway bar and springs are upgraded. I may have to measure them to see if they are "lowering" springs.

 

I know.....I wasnt too sure what the mindset was going that direction!

 

It has the stock panhard rod so see if one rear wheel sticks out farther than the other side. That's a tell tale that a car was lowered. That sway bar was likely a rattle can rebuild as it doesn't look aftermarket. From the limited view it appears the dash pad is intact without any cracks. If so, that's worth hundreds of the $2k value alone.

 

Maybe an OK deal but few things are a bigger red flag than a carb conversion on a 305. Just screams I am too dumb to work on the car correctly so I hacked in a new carb

 

That's what would concern me. The engine, dash, wheels, etc. just give me the vibe that proper repairs weren't done correctly. I may be wrong, but that amount of "custom" scares me.

 

@Macolanz00 Your profile doesn't say where you reside. If the car needs to be smogged, that carb will cause you problems.

 

I'm thinking two grand for a solid third gen that's 90% complete is a deal. But you'll need to find a scrap/junk/upullit/recycle yard with a couple hulks for parts to complete. Good project.

 

When I was looking for a third gen project car, I specifically looked for hard tops due to the leaks and chassis flex associated with T-tops.

 

Based on the pics provided, and if the car has a clear title, it's worth the $2K asking price. Would make a good basis for a project car.

 

I ended up passing on the car. Reasons listed here:
1) No T-tops. I understand he hardtop argument, but I am a T-top guy.
2) It needed rims and tires. That's a fairly large upfront cost, on top of other costs.
3) It needed exhaust. It had headers into a 3" down pipe. I leave for work sometimes at 4am. My neighbors would hate me. Again, another large upfront cost.
4) A few members here mentioned the amount of "custom" work done. I took this advice.
5) I have work that needs to be completed in my home, and I really don't have too much time or funds to invest right now.

Thank You All for the advice.

 

You made the decision that many of us should have made 25 years ago.

 

You made the right choice. If you decide to get one, you should have the extra money on hand and should get exactly what you want. The price of rarer third gens in good condition might be going up, but in my area I see rollers for a grand or less all the time. The market fluctuates and deals come and go, so don't spend extra money you don't really have to spend just because a deal pops up. There will be other ones.

 

True enough!

 

Well, I am VERY happy I did not purchase this vehicle. The gentleman I spoke to was nice enough, and the price came down quick because there was a need to sell. I had spoken to the man not too long ago and asked if he had sold it and he said he did. NOW it is listed AGAIN, same pictures, different person. Seems like a scam.



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I am glad I didn't make this purchase. The car is now on "offer up", with the same pictures, but different person selling, but the ad says "my husband is now ill and can not work on his car that he had for a while".......scam?

 

"For a while" could be several days or so. Probably realized he got in over his head and realized finding parts to rebuild would be a nightmare.

 

Sounds like a flipper. Probably no scam just making some quick easy money. Be interesting to see if it sells. With that write up it might at that.