I just joined this forum and this is my first post. I am an 80's kid, in my forty's and I have always loved the 3rd gen Firebirds. The rounded bumper on the 91-92's are not my favorite, but I think they still look vastly superior to the 4th gen birds.

Here is my question:

I can pic up this GTA for $1,700. Here are the pictures: https://imgur.com/a/i6RpHqB I test drove it today, and it runs and drives great. The 350 TPI looks rough, but it sound great and does what it's supposed to. The body could use some serious work The passenger fender is dented, but the seller has a replacement. The front and rear bumpers have major spidering, and the spoiler was destroyed by falling walnuts. Can the bumper spidering be repaired, or does it have to be replaced? The interior is bad as well. Needs new seats, the dash pad is seriously cracked and needs replaced, and the steering wheel is also bad. All of the electronics seem to work, except the drivers window, which may just need a new motor. The carpet was dirty, but it might shampoo clean. The back hatch doesn't seem to accept the same key as the ignition, and the release button is not currently working, so I wasn't able to open the hatch. Also, the headlights turn on, but do not pop up. I noticed that one of the motors was missing...

I plan on doing all of the work myself, including painting. I was just curious if $1,700 was reasonable for a 92 GTA in this condition, or if I should hold out for a better deal.

Thoughts?

 

$1700 is parts car territory. If it runs and is not a rust bucket, that's a good deal. You may want to hold out for a better car, but not a better deal.

 

Thanks for the reply. I have been pricing it out and I think it's doable, but I was wondering about the bumpers. Both have major spidering, which can run deep. Are these repaintable (is that a word), or would I have to replace them? Also curious about the ground effects. The drivers side fender in front of the wheel is missing. I think it's in the back seat, but likely trashed. Is there a website that sell that specific item?

BTW, Only 124k original miles on this GTA. Too bad this orginal owner parked it under a walnut tree for 3 years. Fortunately there is very little rust that I can see.

Thanks again. This is exciting!

 

Well.. If you plan to fix it up all the way you will have a fortune in it by the time its done. Is it worth $1700, idk but it wouldn't be to me. Thing is there are super nice Thirdgens for 6-10k out there and you will be in the 6k range in no time getting this car together I would imagine. If you are interested in fixing one up go for it id love to see it saved. Just realize though that these cars take lots of $ to fix up and the return on them isn't the best most of the time unless it says IROC on the side of it.

 

IMO, even though 92' is the rarest year of GTA, that car can be had 100% identical in a 91', and there are very clean red ones that sell road ready around the 5K mark. If it doesn't have a spec of rust then that car's probably worth around the 1700 mark, but by the time you replace the missing or damaged parts with proper replacements, you'll be thousands deep. Those seats are impossible to find used replacements for, so you'll have to redo them, the wing and GFX are all 91-92 specific and expensive to replace, and then you're only a small portion of the way to having it in presentable condition.

 

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/fire...d-gta-5-a.html

 

I think that thing will be a money pit for sure. As rough as that car is, just to get it presentable will take thousands of $$$. If you really want it, I would go in with less than half of what he is asking. How did that POS end up at that house with all those other nice rides anyway, looks out of place there for sure. Good luck

 

Sometimes cheap cars @ buy in are the most expensive
Better to spend 5-8k and get a real nice one...lots of CL ads with pie in the sky prices. Those cars will be on there for months, disappear then reappear again
They dont sell for as much as some think. If you dont plan on making it nice maybe its up your alley but once you start its hard to stop. Things that look ok now all of a sudden need replacing it goes on and on..
Mileage isnt any concern if the car is neglected on the outside then....

 

Thanks for the advice. I have a lot to think about. I know it would be an undertaking. Im not really concerned about the investment side of things. I am just looking for a fun project that I can enjoy in the end. It may be more of a project than I am prepared for....

 

If the return is of no issue to you then do whatever your heart desires! Taking on something like this is usually a labor of love so that you end up with something you enjoy having. Think you summed it up the best. Myself, always had a soft spot for the 91-92 cars so my vote would be go for it!

 

Like others have said, it just depends on how deep you want to go, and how much you want to spend. To bring it back to a good driver's quality car, even if you do all the work yourself, is going to be expensive simply do to the lack of good quality parts available for that year of car. I bought my '87 IROC for $750 and at this point I could have bought an already finished car for what I have into mine, but I didn't want a finished car, I wanted a project that I could put my stamp on.

If you're looking for a project, then by all means purchase it, but if you're looking for the finished thing then find a turn key car.

 

Lol, I spent $2500 on my 88 firebird 5spd that's in nearly mint condition with 49,000 miles. Pretty sure I accidentally scammed him.

 

It'll cost a lot more to restore that car than what it'll be worth when it's restored. Firebirds are lagging behind Iroc values. A low mileage, mint condition GTA could probably be had for the same or less money than a person would spend restoring that one, and it'd be an original car instead of a 'restored' car with 130k miles.

That car has had a much harder past than 3 years under a tree.

 

I would get that car up on a lift to inspect the floors, even though it's a hard top. If you don't mind doing the work yourself it will make a good project for the right price. Offer 1000 if floors are solid. 1500 MAX for being a 350 car and the last year. Plan on buying a new spoiler, they are almost impossible to find used. I drove 3 hrs for a used one last year. Front bumper may be able to be fixed but prob easier to swap it out for one in better condition. Good luck.

 

I just want those taillights

 

I am looking at a 1978 Camaro tomorrow morning. If I don't decide to make it my project, I will buy this GTA. Based on suggestions I will try to talk him down on the price. Also, I have found a 1991 that was in a front end collision for $600. The interior is in perfect condition, along with the hatch, spoiler, rear bumper, doors, taillights, and more. It would give me a great start at a low price.

 

yeah - that car is too much work/money, probably has rust issues too. you can do better. unless there is something very special about it.

 

I got my 91 Formula WS6 (T5, 3:42 posi) for less in better condition. Personally I don't love the GTA's. Trans Am's in general were generally not equipped with performance gearing and were not what today we would consider "fast" cars. The fact that it "runs" is not that much of a plus - the body and interior are much more important IMO. 350's are REALLY cheap, and so are decent 700R4's. It is likely to need one or both (overhauled/replaced) anyway due to age and abuse so you have: Bad interior, Bad exterior, Questionable drivetrain.

That's a parts car. And they are asking too much for those parts.

GD

 

I think that's kinda far gone / high mileasge to restore although GTAs are hard to find......doable though. I'd personally get it, clean it up , throw a spoiler on it, throw seat covers on it... MAYBE do a cheap maaco paint job with the new fender on it, and just drive it as is. Then wait for a better deal and then use this as a parts car or vise versa depending on what you find.

If you plan to fix it, that front bumper is cracked on the bottom so you'll probably have to replace it unless you can find a place that knows how to repair that. Thise ground effects are hard to find / expensive but are usually broken anyway.


.02

 

Did you get the car ?

 

No. I bought a 1980 Z28 instead.