I think it really depends on the buyer, and what the buyer wants. If you make modifications to the car that a buyer would want, then it will not hurt the value. Unfortunately there have been too many modifications that would be a tough sell.

For me, this is a tough sell:

 

Like the car above, this car was heavily modified. I first saw the ad for this locally offered car 3 years ago. It comes back up for sale every spring into summer. Originally he was asking 12k plus but each year the price drops. This summer it was down to 8k.

Like the car above someone spent a lot of time and money to create their present look. They were made with the owners personal preferences and tastes. That's great if you end up with the car you wanted. However if your purpose was for resale, finding someone with your tastes could take a very long time and probably will not get a price good enough to cover the cost of the build.

 

I think the orange/white one could sell if they change those ridiculous wheels.

 

Years ago I had a friend with a mid 70's Trans Am. It had the 455HO motor in it and was stock all around. After an accident that twisted the frame, he took the car apart and did a frame off restoration of the car. The motor was completely rebuilt but heavily modified with a big cam, carb and other performance parts. The car was stunning when he finished and fast.

Before he wrecked the car, it was his daily driver. After the rebuild he rarely drove it. Maybe once a year he would take it out, but otherwise it sat in his garage under a cover. I asked him once why he didn't drive it much. After all, he loved this car and was well known around town with it. He told me he didn't drive it because it was too powerful to enjoy on the street. In fact he said it sometimes scared him to open it up and was almost impossible to drive in traffic. The only place he felt comfortable driving it was at a drag strip and he only did that once during the time I knew him (30 years).

Sometimes the dream car we think we want, isn't the car you really wanted. I've met others since who have discovered the same thing. When and if they sell it, many times they take a bath vs the money they spent building it.

 

I love how slow my TA is. Still tons of fun.

 

I'm with you. I have debated many times of upgrading the motor in my car, but more and more I think if I do anything, it will be to do minor upgrades of my 305. I love my car just as it is. I really don't want to do anything that would take the enjoyment I have driving it daily away!

 

Would Anyone Actually Buy This Camaro I Think The Owner Is Stuck With It For Life. At Least I Think It Used To Be A Third Gen.

 

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I'm glad I'm not holding it LOL.

 

Wow, nice work but I think Chip Foose would cringe at this design!

I was at this same crossroads when I bought my car. I was thinking I was going to find a fixer upper with high miles amd make it mine. Well what I found was a much nicer condition car with lower miles than I expected, In fact the car was in such nice shape I was affraid of screwing it up! It is mostly original but stuff like lights, rims, radio have been replaced, the upper surfaces and the plastics have been repainted but the sides are original, original top and a beautiful original gray cloth interior. Motor, trans, rear and paint color all numbers matching, my air pump has been removed and a flowmaster Exhaust was on the car when purchased.

My decision, To do some suspension mods, cosmetic stuff and a mid build on the engine but to keep it stock appearing. don't mind a little underpowerd as you can only use so much on the street, and with the suspension mods she is a blast through the roundabouts.

I agree With Abubaco and Vanilla, If it is not one of the rare low mileage examples don't be afraid to mod it and enjoy it while you own it.

 

Unless the 3rd Gen is a TTA, FireHawk, B4C, or very low mileage 25,000 or less Z28, IROC, GTA, mod away and enjoy the car in my opinion.

Changing the stock external appearance of a 3rd Gen is mostly an epic fail. Exceptions are upgrading to a better stock appearance, like adding IROC hood, fog lights, wheels etc. I like the 3rd gen aftermarket SS hood but many people don't.

Interior, stock or factor appearance normally looks best in my opinion.

Mechanical, as long as it's done right and properly sorted out, it's ok. It will turn off some buyers, but building or restoring a 3rd Gen isn't an investment it's entertainment.

Safety improvements should be made. Example replacing rear drum brakes with appropriate rear disc brakes.

My very stock white 91 RS when it was restored got a new after makers hood because I liked it. Resell not a factor. The interior was changed from the GM blue-gray to the GM dove gray, minor change but noticeable improvement. Mechanically, the entire drive line was replaced. The car had zero collectable potential with 390,000 miles on it and after restoration has between little and zero collectable potential. The car is more fun than ever. Part of they key to keeping the 'honest' feel is building an engine with a similar feel. 305 TBI's have a nice torque feel to them and excellent throttle response, that was a major factor in building a 383 LS1 with a small cam to keep a good torque feel & great driveability.

My girlfriend's tells me constantly, I won't get the $$$$$ out of the car when I sell it. My reply is I'm couldn't care less about resale in 20 years because I want to enjoy the car for the next 20 years

 

I say have fun with it, life's too short to be so **** about keeping everything perfect, that is unless your looking to keep it as a collectors investment years from now...if you don't die in a plane crash or get hit by a meteor . I ripped the hideous all red interior out of my 92 RS and went all black, sure maybe it killed any monetary value but at least I can enjoy driving it now without wanting to vomit.