This Trans Am has been parked for the better part of 15 years. I've since moved across the country however the TA remains stored (back home) and now it's time to see if can be sold. Or at least get an idea of what it might fetch on the open market.

Purchased in the early 2000's as a clean, rust free, low mileage 1986 TA with the intent to go drag racing. Originally an LG4, M5 with 3.73 gear set. Non AC. Interior is (was) mint. All upholstery, seat padding replaced. repaired. Needs a paint job but no rust repair or body work.

Modifications: All parts purchased new and have less than 5000 miles.
GM 502 BBC crate engine. https://www.chevrolet.com/performanc.../zz-502-deluxe
GM TKO-500 5 speed transmission
Centre Force clutch
Moser 12 bolt w/ Ford ends, Eaton posi, 30 spline axles
3 1/2" steel driveshaft with 1350 u-joints
Fuel system front to back. (Holley Red w/ engine bay regulator)
4" glass cowl hood
Other bits

All told, not considering the cost of a very nice roller, there is close to $20,000 (US) in upgraded parts alone.
Would it be worth $20 000?
Feedback would be appreciated.
Pictures are scarce but it's just your average everybody big block Chevy in a Trans Am.

Note: The car will not be parted out.

Third gens that don't have an IROC-Z decal on them struggle to pull $20K on a good day. Mods aside, an 86' is one of the least desirable years of a Third Gen, and can be had in nice driver quality for south of $10K CAD all day. Take one that needs paint, and has sat for 15 years, and you have a $3500 car.

The other issue is that there are almost no cases where modifications add substantial value. Take an 89' IROC with an L98 and TTOPS with 100,000km; clean and well kept will probably fetch $15-18K CAD. Spend $20K LS swapping it with 500hp to the pavement, a built 6 speed, the best performance suspension you can buy, and that car will probably fetch $15K. Third gen buyers are basically in 2 catagories: people who have the dough to buy nice original cars that present either exactly, or close to how they did when they rolled off the assembly line. OR, people with a budget that want to jump in their old car from highschool and have fun. That puts your car in between. The guys who have $20K to spend on a Third Gen will want it to be as factory as possible, and either be an IROC or a GTA. The guys who want a car with a carb'd big block that's made to roast tires in a straight line are probably looking at the ones that they can jump in to for $5K and tinker with as they go.

I HOPE you get $20K for your car, it would be awesome! Realistically though, as it sits, I think someone might pay $10K, but it'll take a few months. (My numbers are all CAD btw)

Kind of the answer I expected. Sort of the right buyer at the right time sort of thing. Resto Mods are seeing an increase in popularity but I think for the most part those are older cars with very modern updates. This car, as you mention, kind of falls in the middle.
A sort of standard with the group I raced with was that speed parts, once installed and used might be worth 50 cents on the dollar. Those are stand alone parts. With a living, breathing, drivable (and insurable ) chassis, you might realize a little more.
One thing in favour of this Pontiac is that it's a turn key deal. Start it and race it. Or drive and mess people up on the street.
It'll be interesting to see what other replies may float through here.
Thanks for the input.
By the way RKeats, this is (was) an all Ontario car. Raced at TMP and then shelved.

I would say $3,000 to $5000 closer to the lower end. As most people want to know who and how it was built / see it built. That's the problem with modified cars pay high dolor to update. People want newest thing's not a few years old technology. That is why I prefer original stuff may be old but people relate it back to there younger years. How much documentation and photos of build do you have that will help bring value up closer to the $5000 range but no were close to what you spent.

By the way RKeats, this is (was) an all Ontario car. Raced at TMP and then shelved.[/QUOTE]

Hey it's a good thing she was taken out of here before salt ate her or a pot hole sent a crack through the sub frame

THAT would be a steal for anyone.
Engine new from GM is 10k.
Transmission new is 3k.
Moser rear end complete is 3k
Etc, etc.
Don't get me wrong, as these couple of answers are what I kind of expected and is what happens when you try to sell sight unseen.
I appreciate the replies.

Keep in mind that storage hasn't exactly meant 100% put away up on blocks. It made the rounds to ensure it wasn't falling apart. Plus whatever maintenance. It had a little resurrection earlier this summer by the potential new owner (my nephew) but he was the S.H.I.T.S. (Shows High Interest Then Stalls). So it's alive and well. I was trying to demonstrate the very low numbers on the new parts.

Anyway, thanks again.

This is going to be a tough sale as that crate engine alone probably has more value than the car itself, and not many third gen buyers are looking for a borderline drag car in that price range that still needs paint. To get the maximum out of what you've got, I would recommend pulling the motor and selling it separately, and dropping a cheap 350ci back in the car and selling it like that. Going to be hard getting much more than probably $10k for that car as it sits, and that's once you find the right buyer (probably someone that does bodywork or can get get it done cheap, as it needs a repaint).

That has come to mind. Although the big block would go in the Camaro...

Yes didn't think of that. Sure would get more money out of it parting it out. That just sucks to have to do that.

I need to move this as the title even states the car is modified. This is the History/Originality forum. It appears to be becoming the catchall forum.

That's odd Scott as my intention was to post it here in the Members Firebirds forum. No idea why it ended up where it did. Operator error I suppose.

Small market for such a car. It may sell if you got it running and had it at the track with a for sale sign on it. Otherwise it may sit another 20yrs. If you got 5k for it as it is sitting and not running I think you would be lucky

That's a really good idea actually. The car is on the wrong side of the country at this time, but still worth considering. (I moved and it stayed in storage).
One problem with that though. If I get it to the track and race , I'll want to keep it! It truly is a beast and a blast to with the stick shift.

I bet it is a blast to drive and im sure its nice and has a lot of $$ in it! GLWS