have gone to check out 3 different 3rd gens last month. considering a 3rd gen project.
The cars ive gone to go see are all in the 4k$ + range. These are supposed to be immaculate condition cars. Seen the pics, convo with owners,etc.
1st car 1989 iroc z hardtop. 4500$
Motor knocking, trans slipping, pissing oil. Body was pretty solid, paint, fading and clear.
Worth 1500$ at best

2nd car 1990 iroc z hardtop 5800$
Carb 355ci motor, ported dart pro1 alum.heads,cam,dual plane intake, shorty headers, stall, pig rich, guy claimed ls1 killer. It had a shift. It was a turd, 300hp at best. Non ls1 killer. LoL
The body and interior was in excellent condition, new black paint, black interior,sparco seats. Very well taken care of interior. Maybe worth 3500$ tops

3rd car was just stock excellent condition roller with tubular ls1 kmember and a arms, bunch of 4th gen upgrades, many serious suspension upgrades, 9in rear end, tunnel mnt tq arm with integated ds loop. Bunch of good real deal parts. Guy wanted 4k$.i had cash in hand, he backed out at first, then call me back and said he needed 5k$

Wasted my time, i was done with it. By comparison. Ive sold
An immaculate condition black/ebony ws6 m6 with bolt ons and tune

 

Sold ws6 for 9k. Everything worked, everything 9k$
Sold another trans am for 7k$ m6 black/grey everything worked. Had lid, tune,c/b

Some of these 3rd gen prices are ridiculous for clapped out pos projects. LoL
Some guys smoking crack. Anyways if know of a CLEAN hardtop iroc z. pm me.
No wiring gremlins,hacked up or rigged anything.

 

I went through this last year when I was searching for a 3rd Gen. I ran into all kinds of screwballs here in Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. I ended up driving to Kansas City to get mine, I just got tired of dealing with the condition/prices around here.

I don't know how it is now, but last year, Missouri, northern Arkansas, and Illinois were a hot bed for awesome 3rd gens and low prices. My theory was the economy was hitting them a lot harder there than here, and guys were selling cars that they'd been holding on to for quite a while.

I paid $4800 for mine. 87k miles, 3rd owner, immaculate shape, and completely original (down to the shocks, speakers, etc). I talked to a guy around Dallas that had a pair of GTAs in similar shape, and he wouldn't budge below $7500. It was much cheaper to just drive up to Missouri and get this one.

 

And I don't even want to talk about the '87 GTA that I drove to Houston to look at. Supposed to be in nearly perfect shape. It had a 4th gen rear end (with the original wheels sticking way out), a 3rd gen Camaro console, a mostly non-functional digital dash, and had been rather poorly repainted. The underbody looked like somebody had played dukes of hazard in it, the seat tracks were terribly messed up, and the transmission felt like a CVT it slipped so much. The guy said he couldn't take anything less than 4k for it (with unverified mileage because of the dash, a questionable trans rebuild with no documentation, and an engine swap at some point, also with no documentation). I just told him that he was going to have to find a very "special" buyer at that price.

People these days...

 

How much you looking to spend? I don't have an iroc but I have a MINT 28k mile 91Z28 305, 5speed I might sell for the right price.

 

Looking for hardtop irocs only.
Not interested in rs,v6 or z28 bodies.
I know the bodies are pretty much same thing. But i want a real iroc.
Motor trans not really important to me, but priced accordingly.
I really prefer 100% stock. But not necessary. Ive seen too many hack jobs alredy.
Thanks though

 

i can tell you every one that has a 3rd gen for sale thinks they have a diamond in the rough. we have been looking lightly for another one. just havent found the right deal.

 

Ive seen a few doozies. Seems like ppl hack these cars up more than fox bodies??
I have no prob paying for something at a fair price. A fair price is not 15k for a immaculate iroc. my friend is selling his 400+rw 00 frc vette for 13k.
Some folks are delusional. A 3rd gen does not fall in a "classic" category. Most ppl that have them think they do though.

 

Love the days when you could find a decent camaro on craigslist for around 500-1000...

 

lol I feel very fortunate to have found mine in 09 for 1500 ALL stock. real y84 l98 car. lady won it in divorce and didn't want it anymore


Posted from Thirdgen.org App for Android

 

All I can say is good luck. I looked lightly for about 2 years and found one in Nebraska. Had the guy take about 100 pics and then flew up one night and drove it straight back to Houston. It's been a great car just doing some upgrades now to keep it pristine.

 

I will tell people to their fact they have junk. I will tell them what it is worth. Then leave. If the price is out of hand. I look for the ones needing paint, busted fender, and or hood. Easy to replace and I don't run stock hoods anyway.

Now my B4C was a decent deal, needs a few spots repaired from rust, but nothing to cry about. Not to mention it was another factory 5 speed. Traded a 5.3 I had with 500 in it or do, then sold the 5 speed and corvette L98 out of it for 700$. Always wanted a B4C.

 

CL Cameros are some of the best ads to read for a laugh. Kinda sad.

 

8/10 are complete junk.
I found what i was lookin for in atx. I contacted the guy. Offered a deposit thru paypal.
But due to work, i couldnt travel til the weekend to get it. He sold it for 3500$.
1989 hardtop iroc z 350tpi. 35k miles. very well taken care of.
He sold it. He gave me no. Of the person he sold to.
But that person had also been looking for same thing.
Went to oklahomo

 

Damn that sucks. Seems the majority of anything on CL is junk or the idiots think they can get Barret Jackson prices for their rusted out pile. And for the love of god there really needs to be a spell check function, or even better and IQ test to make sure the "genious's" stay away.

 

New to this forum, Was wondering If I could get some help.....I have a 1992 Trans Am GTA with the 5.7 engine, Is suppose to be 1 of 508 built VIN # 1G2FW2382NL200376, Got it from the orginal owner, and is completley stock, been sitting in a barn for 4 years, covered in wasps nests, but all in all pretty good shape....Does anyone know what it is worth? Or how can I find out its rarity, I have tried on my own to none avail???? Thanks

 

well it seems like people just want them for free. so your bad azz desirable 92 GTA l98 is worth like $10 at best. seriously though, these cars arent classics to buyers, but they are to owners...if they werent "cool, interesting, iconic, or classic" then why the heck does someone want one???? these arent plentiful like they use to be. expect the beaters, because the beaters are still better than no 3rdgen at all. some people DO ask too much for cars, but thats any car. and the comparision of the vett to the 3rdgen is too far differant circumstances to compare. 3rdgens are more rare than corvettes of the same time period and current.

 

Third gens more rare than Vette of the same era? You know there were about a million third gens made from 82-92 right? And there was not even a production Vette in 83?

 

yeah...more 3rdgens made than vetts same era, your right. who were the buyers of the vetts, and the buyers typically of the fbodys? guess which cars were considered worthless as time went on, fbodys. iv heard the saying "throw away cars" used loosely with 3rdgens. well, vetts didnt have that rep because they were CARED for and had owners with money to care and maintain them. so now those throw away cars have been THROWN AWAY lol. so whats left of them today is far less than the vetts. dont believe me? wait for weather to warm back up, and just see how many c4's you see to a 3rdgen in parking lots, and going down the road. check craigslist even. or ebay...just look around lol

 

Yeah those people on craigs are out of there minds but every once in awhile a really good deal pops up just keep on searching Carlos..

 

Im prolly just gonna get me a yellow c6 if i dont find what im lookin for

 

http://houston.craigslist.org/cto/3471538056.html

Whatcha think

Give em 100 bucks for the body no engine and you have yourself a pro-Ject lol

 

Perfect example of a turd gen
WTF?

 

There are some good parts there. Who knows what he might take for an offer.

 

Not really looking for a basket case. I think i will pass.

 

I will post a pic of mine. Just an rs with some miles.. There were no dash cracks until last night.... Uploading at the moment..

 

 

I got a good deal on this.. This came down from Seattle and my friend needed a truck, so I traded him an old ford ranger for it..

 

Still the same here in the midwest. I'm in Evansville and trucks, Mustangs, and Fbodies are still dirt cheap around here. ~$1-2k for a fixer upper, ~$2.5-3.5k for a nice driver and ~$5k for a nice, original low mileage car. They go pretty quickly though. You might watch around the midwest if you don't mind the time, money and gas.

 

there is on on my local Craigslist brand new old 1987 IROC 5.7 100 MILES - $29000.it looks like it could be be on a showroom floor right next to a new 5th Gen

 

ok, I took up the challenge and look at the houston area CL for irocs, thinking it couldn't be as bad as you say.

OMG, I couldn't find ONE that looked even halfway tempting.

How far are you willing to drive? The Dallas area always seems to have nice cars available, and I bet somebody up here would be willing to give a car a pre screening for you

EDIT: I just looked at the dallas findings... a bunch of crappy cars with over sized wheels and bad paint jobs. Damn

 

CL idiots are not region specific, scary.

Check out this "pro mod" moostang. Awesomeness right here.
http://athensga.craigslist.org/cto/3481153126.html

 

http://austin.craigslist.org/cto/3470088925.html

http://austin.craigslist.org/cto/3508804135.html

http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/cto/3502466265.html

http://austin.craigslist.org/cto/3379964323.html

http://dallas.craigslist.org/ftw/cto/3508739225.html

 

http://winstonsalem.craigslist.org/cto/3518821051.html
winstonsalem.craigslist.org/cto/3454536217.html
best and one of the worst from w-s nc

 

I could be wrong, But I bet the OP is looking for cars within a reasonable driving distance.

That being said, in today's world it's certainly possible to jump on a plane and drive a car back from practically anywhere in north america, but you've got to want that car incredibly bad and know going in that it's exactly what you are expecting.

 

I thought it was about how crazy Craigslist is I am sorry
thought that's why there is a mustang on here? I maybe wrong though?

 

maybe you're right..maybe it's both. I thought you were showing him a really nice car for sale

for the record, I don't think that car you posted is that bad a price. I mean, if you want one like that, where else are you going to get one like it? the nice thing is you wouldn't have to pay auction fees to buy it

 

sorry second link did not work. It's a pictures of a 1984 red camaro sport coupe on 24's they are red to wants 6,500 sorry about the mix up

 

^
Its all good. I scan the houston/satx/atx/dfw on a daily basis.
Ive seen most if not all whats on there now.
Wasnt kidding bout the WTF? Part.
Sincerely i could care less if it has a busted motor or trans. But priced accordingly.
I just really want the body. A hardtop iroc body.
I have a few motor.options to choose from. All LS. So i got that covered.
I have a 12bolt rear end, ssw swap headers and an aluminum 6.0 h/c engine. riding the bench til i find a good car.
Wiring i prefer it be a stock car that hasnt been hacked up.
I dont want to go around chasing phantom shorts.
Seems like rodents like to chew on gm wiring

 

[QUOTE=That being said, in today's world it's certainly possible to jump on a plane and drive a car back from practically anywhere in north america, but you've got to want that car incredibly bad and know going in that it's exactly what you are expecting.[/QUOTE]

You know, there was a nice clean 91-92 Formula 350 TPI car, 120,XXXmiles, full hooker exhaust, Arctic White with gray interior for sale for $2,000 about a year ago. Was in Missouri or somewhere about there. If I had the money I would have done just that in a heartbeat.

 

I halfway expected to see my ad linked here.

http://houston.craigslist.org/cto/3518706915.html

So experts, let your opinions be heard. & no, I'm not saying that sarcastically.

 

I picked up my 87 running driving title in hand for $300

 

Not an expert but i have owned,bought and rebuilt and resold many 3rd/4th gens.
The dent hurts it value significantly imo. The spray paint, poor running condition.
Im sure that if you put some work into it, pulled the dent, fixed motor and interior. You could get way more than what ur asking. Or maybe even decide to keep it.
The hood does draw alot of attention to it, but the dent kinda over rides it . Not many folks can take on the task to fix it. A BFH mod will only prolly make worse.

I think you may have texted me today if you were lookin for a lq4. LOL.
Im out of em theu are getting harder to get and goin up in price. Plus heavily used.
LY6 is the new 6.0 with l92 heads.

 

Yep, that's kind of a catch 22 about it. I know it could be worth X amount after X amount of work and if I had room and the ability/ dedication. But then I am likely looking at steeply diminishing returns on something I've already poured money into. I also have three other projects that need attention too. I would keep it and do something fun with it but it needs to go, sooner than later.

No, that wasn't me that messaged you. I do need one for my truck though. It lost oil pressure and has been sitting for over a year and a half now. I'd love to build a better engine for it to make it a better tow rig. Stroked with small heads is what I would like to do but I see the price of stroker kits and my cheap side says F that. With all that said, I will also be happy just to have the damn thing running again anyway.

 

Looks like a good starter project. At least it has a 350.

 

It makes sense to use a 5.3 if u seriously need the truck running asap. Can get a longblock for 300-600$ range. The 5.3s do a very good job as the 6.0. The 4.8 in my truck tows a trailer with my car or boat no prob.
I have a 60k mile 5.3/60e but im not looking to seperate. Everything works perfect

 

Found a complete,solid body,running 305/700r4 1990 rs for 800$.
Has headers,holley carb,edelbrock intake swap. Being used as dd. Hopefully i may pickup thos weekend if i dont have to work saturday.

 

The problem with that is mine is a 6500-7Klb 3/4 ton. Plus any trailer I would be hooking to it would be heavy. The 6 liter is already pushing the too small border. I'm not too sure the computer would be too happy either. It's not life or death to have it running absolutely ASAP. I could go to a junkyard and pay whatever for one right now I suppose, bit the tightwad poor man mentality in me is holding me back still.

 

I would reccomend just get a rebuilt shortblock with warranty,reuse the stock heads and parts.new pump.flush out the oil pan.pickuptube.rebuild stock heads.
There was a time when 6.0 lq4s were plentiful and fair priced. Now there used up and go for hi prices. The jy are on to it now. Theres always the "car guy" that works at the jy and knows that ls motors are popular for performance.
I would not reccomend a jy 6.0 unless it is documented low miles and healthy.
Or if you gonna rebuild it. The ppl that buy those cheap motors are looking to push em and reliabilty is not an issue.
I need a reliable motor in my vehicles. My dd sierra has a 360k mile stock 4.8. I give it scheduled pm. 60psi oil. 25mpg.

 

My buddy in H.s paid $300 for a 86 T/A, needed a lot of TLC but was solid and all there, this was in 98. Another friend around the same time paid about $4K for a solid 89 Formula 350 with around 100K miles. I have wanted a third gen Formula since then, but even when I looked in '00, they were still some what tough to find in clean condition. I was set on a Formula, you could find GTA cars then that were for sale by the original owners in nice shape though.