I'm curious as to what parts would be considered rare. I don't mean an uncracked dash as all cars came with a dash. And I don't mean rare or uncommon package options like berlinetta. I'm talking things you could pay extra for that most people did not. Special seats, trim pieces, colors.......
I bring this up because I found a Camaro in my local scrap yard with a lockable panel to go over the well at the back of the hatch. I've never seen this before and was lucky enough for the yard to call it a spare tire cover and sell it to me for $5. I did not argue as I know that's not what it is. I'm not sure what to call it.

What are some other hard to find parts I should be keeping an eye out for?
I've tried a google search but all it turns up are rare sub models and the production numbers for them. Nothing on actual parts.

 

Thats not really a rare item, good score though!

 

Notchback, Pace car editions, 1LE, B4C Camaros

 

Nothing that could be ordered seperately was super rare as they usually came in one of the packages too. The lockable storage area is relatively uncommon , more so on firebirds I think. Other less common interior items were the firebird knee pad, z28 console clock, overhead console, special stereos, auto dimming rear view mirror, cargo cover. None of these are rare as hens teeth, but only see them on a few cars. The most rare things I can think of are the berlinetta digital dashes and sci fi pod radio in Camaros and Lear seigler seats in firebirds.

 

this hatch cover must have come from a berlinetta then. It had the crazy pod stereo. But the gauge cluster and panels were already gone.

 

yes I know what cars are rare. What I'm talking about is rare or uncommon options that most people passed on when new for base model or z28 cars, the more common cars.

 

rear wiper
center console clock

 

Orange & Red CAMARO CAMARO CAMARO seats.

Dk. Blue & Lt. Blue CAMARO CAMARO CAMARO Seats.

"Hens Teeth"

Rod

83ZZZ28

 

My base model, former V6 Firebird has the lockable cover.

 

If you are going to use the lockable panel, go back to the scrap yard and buy the rear interior trim panel. The standard trim panel won't work with the lockable panel.

You got a heckuva deal!

 

Unfortunately those panels were already gone. I'm not sure why they took those and not the panel but whatever. It actually fits well and catches on the lip that runs around the back panels well.

 

 

As long as you don't care about the locking feature, that's just fine.

 

Here's a couple more that are not too common

- a/c delete berlinetta
- leather 87 camaro seats
- gta deluxe door panels with crank windows
- power Ls interiors camaro or firebird.
- power recaro seats
- 1986 custom cloth ls interior

Not all options but rare pieces you don't see everyday

 

My T/A has the factory subwoofer system, with power switch and attenuator slide on the dash to control it. Not unheard of rare, but no common either.

Door storage pockets seem to be a little more common, but also seem to sell well.

 

Anyone have a pic of lear siegler firebird seats?

 

That actually looks like a cargo cover for the non hatch pull down option. The cut out is deeper than the one in the image above. It's harder to find those iirc.

 

I was going to say that the condition of the parts you find is going to make a bigger difference than rarity if you're looking to sell them. For instance the stretched out elastic on the sunglass holder on the overhead console, or even finding mint condition visors or interior plastics that aren't scratched up. The dimming mirrors usually don't work since the belts inside often stretch and/or break while the grease tends to get everywhere as well. They can be fixed but I don't put a whole lot of faith in them especially comparing them with the later non-mechanical styles that came out later. It used to be that the stereos weren't worth fixing but I see that has changed more recently. I do feel that with the cheaper 3D printers coming out many of the smaller plastic parts will be able to be reproduced.

Some other more rare parts come from the 82-83 and/or 84 models. Things like the door sills, console parts and t-tops are different. The IROC hood, steering wheel, or GTA parts may be more collectible as well. Good condition seat belts are hard to come by sometimes, especially in black. I've had problems getting Berlinetta parts, but the cars really aren't as popular which gets a little frustrating at times, especially when the parts you pay good money for don't work. That's more of the reality of it imo.

 

I'm not really looking to find parts to resell. More so looking for parts that will make people say "hey neat, where'd ya get that?" if I find anything rare that I already have on my wifes car then I might consider buying to resell for a small profit to help you guys out.

But this thread was started to get an idea of what I should keep an eye out for to put on my own car.

Don't shoot me, but I come from the mustang crowd, I daily drive an 04 and have a drag 92 GT and a road course prepped (in progress) 94 GT vert. Before that I was heavy into second generation rx-7's. Still own 7 of those.

My wife comes from a Chevy family though and really wanted a third Gen Camaro, so when my buddy decided to sell I jumped on it.

 

It was from an early year third gen if that makes any difference. My car is a 91 RS.

 

Looks exactly like the one in my 84.

 

Yes, in a way. It depends on if the car has a hatch pull down option or not, which I believe did come out later on. The hatch pull down assembly is bigger which is why the plastic extends out further. The hinges on the later ones are typically plastic as well vs. the earlier metal ones.

Oh, the window triangle with the track was also different in 82-83.
I like going out to the junk yards as well to see if I come across something new. Some of the rare options aren't as well known so I've been surprised at times.

 

I have the original airbag sticker still on my car!
And that's the roll cage just below it.

 

not sure that I would consider that a rare "option"

 

Theres a thread somewhere about contour interior, all the best info on LS seats is in that thread including firebird options.
Here's mine that are apparently from an 84 though I was told an 85.

 

I thought the Lear seigler had Camaro written all over them like these?

http://www.hawksthirdgenparts.com/pr...17240_zoom.jpg

 

They did, but the firebird ones didn't.


Locking t-tops apparently weren't on every car. I got mine from a junkyard.

 

I have a plastic and a glass set of tops. On one set the driverside locks only, on the other the passenger side only has a lock.

 

The Camaro console clock used to be very common. It was in many cars that had the base radio that did not a have a digital display.

The '85-'86 copper color interior is very uncommon.

 

My 87 Z28 as well as my dads 84 Z28 both White/silver hardtop cars go figure, they both have the overhead console with small flashlight and pouch which looks like a purpose built cigarette pouch to me lol. Pretty useless feature since the counters are all manual. Unsure how rare it is but I haven't seen many in person.

Both my Current Z28 and my Old 87 Iroc-Z had locking panel/storage area in the trunk as well as back hatch covers. My Old Iroc-Z was a pretty top model car though. 87, 350, t-top charcol/black interior.

My current 87 still has a MINT build sheet stuck to the floor though, thought that was cool.

Jay

 

I'd actually love to have one of those roof consoles. I need to find a ttop one. The flash light though sounds like it would be the hardest to get a hold of. I imagine plenty of people have lost them.

 

The roof consoles for coupes and T-tops are frequently available on Ebay...at widely varying prices. Yes, the flashlight and the special mounting bolts/screws are a bit more difficult to find. Flashlight asking prices are sometimes as much as the whole console.

I've put together a nice, complete console but haven't gotten around to installing it yet.

 

I haven't looked real hard yet. As much as I like to have rare stuff to show off at meets I really do need to get ac back in it before my wife kills me. Since it is her daily lol

 

My 84 z had overhead console, center console clock, illumination package, rear wiper, power driver seat, five speed 5.0 h.o. badass car i wish i still had it.

 

What's an illumination package include?

 

It was a bunch of lights, lolobviously. They were all in the interior, kick panels, flashlight back then me and my friends caled it the "dope scope" lol, map lights, regular dome light, trunk light. I had the build sheet for the car and thats what it was listed as. I think the extra ones in the package were just the flashlight, kick panels and map lights, dome and trunk i think are standard i could be wrong. This car was loaded up like a cadillac it was sweet, it was 1997 i was 17 and i traded it for a 5.0 stang.

 

I had these EXACT seats on my first 3rd gen 1986 base model Firebird. It was a special order I placed and these 2 tone seats were and option. They put this same seat on the 89 birds too(and other years I am sure). But they were the solid grey tone all over.

I know this because I bought a pair from SLP when they first started the Formula Firehawk package. They put in their seats and had these lying around. The guy I spoke to thought it was neat I wanted a pair being they did not know what to do with them. I cant remember what I paid but it was a great price.

I still have them in my bird.

 

Check ebay from time to time, you will see the flashlight come up. I have a spare one I am keeping in case the original ever breaks. I got it off Ebay a couple of years ago.

The overhead unit was only available for TA's and GTAs, not formulas in 1989. So I bought it from the parts dept. There were 2 kinds, 1 for t-top cars and 1 for solid roof.

 

I didn't even use the mounting bolts, I just found sheet metal screws and put them in. Its not that hard if you take your time. I did that in 1989, it was really easy.

 

Not only the only one I've ever had,... but also the only 1 I've ever seen,.....1 of 184.

 

When my old 87 IROC was recovered after it had been stolen and totaled, the one thing I took out of it was the flashlight. I had a feeling they would be hard to find some day. I still have it. I have another 87 but it doesn't have the roof console this time around. I have seen the flashlights go for over a hundred bucks.

 

Are those power LS seats, Jon?

 

Bingo !!!

 

There are two sets of switches. What are the ones on the right for? Lumbar?

 

Got them both on my 85 Z28. That rear wiper is so ugly I wish it wasn't there.

 

Pics of the firebird LS seats, please? I'm interested in all the patterns they came in.

 

Stealth/a

Of you look at the two tone LS seats above I responded too mine are exactly the same but all one color which is the lighter gray on the two tone seats.I ddon't have a pic of the originals because I sold the off years ago. The originals had the same upper part but the bottom was one whole piece not 3 sections as the LS are.

 

Sounds like you might have pieces from 4 sets of Tops..... or a busted lock in the 'plasitic' set and parts from 2 earlier sets.

82 cars ( maybe 83?) used a "hook" style T-Top, Changed to a small "pin" style non-locking in (83?)84, changed again to Locking Small pin in 86 or so, changed again to "large plastic" pin Glass in around 88, then once again in 90(91?) to LEXMAR. Let's not forget those Aftermarket C&C T-Top cars too !!



+ 1 !!

I've gotten Blue/Grey from an 84 TA and Black/Grey from an 85 TA; Can't ever recall seeing anything originally installed an 86 Firebird.


Here's a picture,.... it's worth a thousand words !!




For a Weekend Warrior the rear Wiper is an eyesore for most. But I drove with a rear wiper as a daily driver for many years and that thing is GREAT in a car that's well-used. In winter push R/defrost, then 2 minutes later push the R /wiper and you have instant visibility,..... without leaving the drivers seat -Pretty nice feature @ 10 degrees !!

 

I don't think you understand that LS seats are the same Lear Siegler contour seats that were offered in the Camaro with adjustable bolsters and lumbar as well as the leg support. In the firebirds, they came in the standard trans am two tone color scheme from the regular trans am seats. Not available after 85 I think. AFIK, firebirds didn't have any power LS seats.
I think you just had the regular two tone trans am seats if they had a solid bottom.

 

of my two sets of tops the ones from each set that do not lock have trim that does not have a lock hole in them. Will the trim and seals swap from the plastic tops to the glass tops? The rubber is shot on my glass tops and leaks but I like them much more than the plastic tops