I'm contemplating taking on a fairly large project with the intentions of selling it when I'm done. Since my father and I can do all of the mechanical and body work, as long as the car is worth enough when it's done, we're hoping to do this and turn a profit instead of losing our shirts.

But... I'm having a hard time figuring out what a restored 84 would be worth. I've seen originals go for $13k and higher, but obviously a resto wouldn't be worth that much. This resto wouldn't be likely to be a show winner either... but definately nicer than anything other than a garage queen.

The body would be brought back and all visible surfaces would be painted including the engine bay. Suspension, engine, trans, would all be painted the proper colors. Due to the complete lack of availability of stock interior fabrics, this may or may not wind up looking original. Engine would be rebuilt properly but on a budget (i.e. no crane roller rockers and AFR heads) with as much stock stuff as possible.

So, let's say this car looks damned nice, and runs just as well. What sort of ballpark figure would some of you expect this to fetch? $6k? More? Less? I have a preliminary dollar figure in my head for what it would cost, plus a large fudge factor, but since I've never really seen a restored thirdgen, I have no idea how to estimate what it would be worth.

 

i'd say about $5000

 

I'd say somewhere around $5k - $6k.

 

Restoring a thirdgen for profit sounds like a really bad idea to me. These cars really have no value, the market for them is tiny and is made up of kids with no money. There are enough all original creampuffs that if someone wants a really nice one they probably aren't going to buy a restored car. Typical selling price for a 84 Z28 now is about $2500. Restored I wouldn't expect to get more than about $4000 out of it. If you did the same thing with an Iroc you'd probably have more luck selling it.

 

Yeah, but finding an IROC for very little is a little harder.

But... that's why I'm asking. Once I get the interior done on my GTA I expect to turn a fair profit on it, but if the market isn't there for an 84, obviously it's going to be harder. I may be better off waiting until I find a newer project car.

 

I tend to agree that if you're looking to turn a profit, then you'd be better off sticking with a more popular third gen...however, you may be surprised how many looks a clean '84 will get from the general public! Hell, my '89 2.8 RS has been on the lot for 2 days and I've already had 3 people look at it, one of whom is a 60 year old guy waiting to get storage for sure before he comes back...supposedly

It doesn't have to be necessarily the most popular car to get a lot of attention (or decent $$)...but to restore a car and sell for profit, popularity does help!

 

I'd say $5K, tops.

I couldnt sell my '85 for $3200 and it's got pristine interior, good paint, and all-rebuilt running gear. I mean, like, in 2 weeks of advertising, only three calls and one look.

In addition, I have a friend with a 39,000 mile 1990 Trans Am L98 who cant even get $5K. His car is a national SCCA autocross champion and even comes with spare parts!

 

i've had my 87 lg4 for sale for awhile, and nobody wants to pay 4500 for it, its all new, restored no rust, no offers

 

wow these prices are low !! damn ! makes me feel like i got ripped off last monday when i bought my 84 Z28 305ho 700r4 with rust spots and a hole in floor and wet rear pass side floor board and seat, and driver door dings and bad hinge pin all for 1300 bucks and i had to put all 4 brakes on it(rears to do yet, eek) and the cat needs removed asap and I changed the oil and the 305 needed tuned with a vacuum gauge and a new battery and cables and alternator and wires for it, but damn it flies now !!!! and lots of ppl look at it when i drive by so hmm.. this town is sad anyways, not much good vehicles exist here, so.. two ppl have asked me to sell it already sine monday, but it aint going anywhere, so..

i guess im gonna have to save up the same and find me an even better shape one for same, sounds like it can be done !

good luck !

 

I would say ud be very lucky to find someone whod pay more then $5k, even that is pressing it. The only 3rd gens ive seen that go for decent cash are low mile IROC's, GTA's, and TTA's. The market for a restored 84 Z is not there. Maybe if it was a full blown low milage concours resto with a ton on paperwork and 100% everything you could maybe get $10k from a collector or something.

 

If you keep the car long enough the value will go up eventually.
Look at any old 40's,50's,60's car. Best bet would be to go get your car appraised(when restored) and then take it to the Barret Jackson(?) auction

 

In time old cars do start to go up in value. One thing I would compare is in the 50' 60' & 70' the most muscle cars (rare models) were driven very hard and most were not thought of as "collectable". Some of my older friends who bought these cars new wish they would have taken better care of the cars they once had. I think today people are more aware of what it means to have an original car and take better care of it so when they do sell it, it will sell for a good price. If enough people do this, restored cars will in most cases sell for less. Cars are only original once and after that there owners turn them into what they want. I did not think we will ever see third gen cars selling for what old muscle cars do today. I prefer to make my cars into what I want and do not worry about selling them( I plan on keeping mine). If you choose to restore your car I would do it right and use as many factory parts as you can.