hey there. i was looking at online listings and i found a 1983 Camaro. it has 260k on it, a v6 engine, iroc rims, and the ignition switch is broken. its selling for 500$. with the information ive given, do you think this would be a good car for its price? this is my first car and im not planning on using it alot. i actually plan to fix it up and if need be switch out the engine then sell it. would you guys suggest i purchase this car?

 

Welcome to the boards SuspectZero!

That's not enough info. I am going to assume you are a complete newbie, so no insults intended. Here we go.

Iroc rims aren't too hard to get anymore. The V6 is a bummer, but being an 83, going to a small block V8 is easy. As a person with more projects than brains, if you are of or near driving age, I would suggest buying something that is road legal first, or nearly so. Otherwise you may end up with the eternal project car that never sees the road again. My first car is one of those. The prices on thirdgens have dropped like a rock recently, and decent cars can be picked up in the $2000-3000 range. I know that seems like a lot, but it adds up REAL fast when you start buying parts. For example, brakes on my GTA are $300 in parts. I have cut up about a dozen thirdgens, and the biggest thing to look for is A) has the car been smashed, because most have and B) how rotten is it, because it seems like most of the remaining ones are.

Cars that have been smashed will have uneven body gaps (spaces between panels, like the space between the door and the fender) or the body panels won't be aligned correctly. Third gen cars aren't know for having great alignment, but if the doors don't line up with the quarters, you have a problem. I always get behind the car at the rear corner, crouch down and look along the body. It should be relatively uniform and straight.

Rot most often is in the front floor pans, rear floor pans, rear wheel tubs and window posts. You need to get under the car and look, and poke and look and poke and push. You should always hear a metallic or solid sound/feel. If you hit stuff that sounds like you are stepping on leaves or you can put your finger through, that's not good. Its not a disaster, but its not good.

It is very hard to 'tell' you what is a good deal and what is a bad deal without knowing your skill level, or what sort of facilities you have to work with. For a guy wanting to build a Pro Street car, $500 for a title and a shell is a good deal, because he will toss most of the guts and he doesn't car if it runs or not. For you who wants a street car (I'm assuming), you might blow $1000 on a V6 car (after purchase) when for another $500 you could have had a Z28, T/A or IROC. You should throw the link up. If the body is nice and solid and the interior is acceptable, then its probably not a bad deal. Its a hard question to answer. It takes years of looking at everyone elses stuff to figure out what is good, what is junk, what junk can be made good and what stuff looks good and is junk. Oh, and remember, if he's asking $500, he'll take $400 in most cases. Good luck. Oh, and just to prove my point, there is an RS Anniversary car just posted on kijiji:

http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-ViewAdLar...%2F22d1_18.JPG

It might have some rot, but I'd bet its an original paint car, which is nice, no surprises under the paint.


Is this it??

http://london.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehic...QAdIdZ92295914

I'd take a real good look at those 'rust repairs' that are required. I personally don't like the sounds of it, but I am picky, so its just my $0.02. I'm guessing you would be far happier to start off with a non-butched car that works, rather than have to fix someone elses 'improvements'. Also, johnathanryder, who is on this board, has a stupid clean 85 Camaro for sale. It is extremely nice.

Sorry for the length, good luck!

Oh, P.S. V6 engines are hard to sell!!!

 

Where are you located?

 

Yeah, I'm not seeing it either.