87 transam worth saving or tearing up???
 

So I've been at a loss with this car. Forget the what if's. It an 87 trans am, 305 tpi, auto trans, power windows and locks. It's a t-top car that is flame red I believe. It kinda like a copper red and not a bright red. I'm good with all of this. Now the hard part. It's got WS6 suspension, digital dash and the GTA doorpanels. From everything I have read there weren't many built like this without being a GTA. It also has the crazy overhead console. I'm wanting a car to tear apart and make my own. You know: trash this, keep that, customize this. Basically I want 4th gen seats, custom dash and console, couple little other custom stuff. However I DO NOT want to screw up a factory original car that SHOULD BE kept original. So what do you guys think seeing that it has the digital dash, GTA panels, and WS6 suspension.

87 transam worth saving or tearing up???
 

So I've been at a loss with this car. Forget the what if's. It an 87 trans am, 305 tpi, auto trans, power windows and locks. It's a t-top car that is flame red I believe. It kinda like a copper red and not a bright red. I'm good with all of this. Now the hard part. It's got WS6 suspension, digital dash and the GTA doorpanels. From everything I have read there weren't many built like this without being a GTA. It also has the crazy overhead console. I'm wanting a car to tear apart and make my own. You know: trash this, keep that, customize this. Basically I want 4th gen seats, custom dash and console, couple little other custom stuff. However I DO NOT want to screw up a factory original car that SHOULD BE kept original. So what do you guys think seeing that it has the digital dash, GTA panels, and WS6 suspension.

Re: 87 transam worth saving or tearing up???
 

I'm voting for leaving it as is, GTA or not...if you're going to start tearing things out and "customizing" things, I'd vote for a base model Firebird. They're cheaper, not as special, and usually aren't going to get saved/redone by someone else.

Re: 87 transam worth saving or tearing up???
 

WS6 suspension is not particularly special. Nice to have, but not ... special. Certainly not the kind of thing that factors into this type of discussion.

Same for the rest of that stuff. Nobody besides the Firebird people on this site (not the Camaro people, not the general car buying public) could give a rip about any of that. And none of those people are going to pay you for it because they're all looking for a "deal". Doesn't make the car "worth saving", all by itself.

IMO, the ONE AND ONLY thing that matters, is the car's condition. If it wouldn't take too much $$$ or effort to mostly renew it, then it's "worth saving". If not, then maybe it's a parts car, for one that IS "worth saving".

Same for "customizing" it. If the whole car is trashed out and you gotta replace stuff anyway, then it makes sense to replace it with what YOU want, apart from what it came with. If the existing stuff is good, then maybe not so much.

Re: 87 transam worth saving or tearing up???
 

Sounds alot like my car, besides the dash and doors. I what's the body like? the mileage? hows it run? Some on here don't care about the WS6, but to me it's a must have-I don't think I would have bought my car if it was a non-WS6.

Re: 87 transam worth saving or tearing up???
 

It runs good. 25x,xxx miles though. Body is solid except it needs floorpans. It looks like someone bumped into something. The front right fender is pushed back about approximately a half inch and the nose has some minor stress cracks on the right. The interior needs replaced, however the dash is Perfect except the pad. It all easy and cheap work. I just want to make a lot of changes but don't want to ruin a rare car. Not saying expensive, just a rare one that people don't see.

Re: 87 transam worth saving or tearing up???
 

Everyone would kick me in the nuts if I tore up a 69 z28 with numbers matching DZ302, 4 speed car. But no one would have a problem if it was a 6cylinder with no options. In 20 years will I regret tearing up this car.

Re: 87 transam worth saving or tearing up???
 

Then don't do it...I wouldn't...

Re: 87 transam worth saving or tearing up???
 

IDK man it's your call, with that kind of mileage and with bad floors I would say that might not be a bad car to play with. if it has alot lower miles and no rust then i would say leave it alone.

Re: 87 transam worth saving or tearing up???
 

I might catch a lot of heat for this, but tear into it and do whatever you want with it. Sure some people from this site might pay more a certain optioned car. But as said earlier, most people could care less if your's has better door panels. Having 25x,xxx miles makes the car worth it's weight in scrap to pretty much to all buyers, clean body or not. Factor in the amount that were produced and you have a car that can be bought for a few hundred dollars. I doubt in 20 years you will regret cutting into it. Having Ws6 or not doesn't mean much with that many miles either...everything has been replaced or needs to be by now. The way I see it is, you're probably in this hobby for enjoyment not profit. It's your car do what you want with it and don't care about what someone might give you for it down the road. If you plan ahead and do tasteful mods or ones that can be reversed then you shouldn't loose much if any future value.

Re: 87 transam worth saving or tearing up???
 

As far as I am concerned the only saving grace the car has is a good fully functional digital dash (I assume). The WS6 as said above means very little in the overall scheme of things. The door panels and such are again relatively minor. I say replace the floor pans and do what you want with it. The biggest ? with this as I see it could be the digi dash and different gauges.
Start with the floors and any other rust issues. Then get the basics of the mechanical good. Then do your customizing on the rest.
I know many people do not agree with this statement but:
Get all engine and mechanical work done before body work and paint unless a full paint with the car stripped. Paint the car last (with the exception of new weatherstripping). This way you aren't taking the chance of scratching it with your other work.

Re: 87 transam worth saving or tearing up???
 

It is not that rare build what you want.

Re: 87 transam worth saving or tearing up???
 

Decide what you would like most and do it.

My 72 Vette has a custom built Dart 400 small block, Yank 3200 stall & Vette Brake Products suspension set up. My only regret was I owned the car for 20+ years before getting to do the cool stuff to it I wanted to do.

My 99 T/A was mod'd over ten years ago with a Heads & Cam package, gears etc. I'm postive I would have gotten bored and sold the car if it hadn't been mod'd and remained a very fun car.

With 250,000+ miles on the car have fun with it. If it had 25,000 miles it might be worth considering keeping it original to a few die hard Firebird fans. I'd still say mod the car and have fun with it.

Re: 87 transam worth saving or tearing up???
 

There's a big difference between kinda rare and really rare.
Having a few rare options won't make any difference. That one isn't even a 5 speed.
Do whatever you like to it and be proud of your non rust bucket third gen, that's what's rare.
The digital dash is cool, I would try and save that. That is the kind of thing that will bring more value/ attention down the road as it is recognizable by everyone as a cool option of the 80s, esp if you can keep it working. No one will care about door panels.