I have a 1990 Chevrolet Camaro RS with 69,000 miles on it.

As you probably know it is one of 34,986 Camaros for the 1990 Half Production Year.

I'm just wondering how desireable the car is by the rest of the Thirdgen Community.

Recent Research points out that there are only 5 other Camaros with the same options, and very few(8) with the same suspension/radio/color and engine and no t-tops combo.

All numbers are matching and the car is 100% original, well except for tires and engine componets and such, it had many of the original engine parts on it when I bought it. I've replaced the sensors and such.

This car is my first car and I bought it for $1,350 and it had 56,000mi on it when i got it.

The car is in great mechanical condition and everything works except the cigarette lighter. There is little to no rust, and the rust that exists is surface rust, and its just chipping the paint on the underbody of the car, and no where else, no rust on the body or doors. The interior is nearly perfect, except for a small tear on the drivers seat, and no headliner. But other than that all it needs is some fresh paint and its to factory spec.

Let me know what you think!

1=Not Desirable, 5=Somewhat, 10=I WANT IT!!!

 

nice car i have an 88 with around 65k on it all original but its lookin rough right now only other owner has been my mom id say yours would be around a 7 being its in pretty good condition and its all intact and running

 

Oh man I feel ya. Mine looks rough when I don't have it all nice and waxed up. But when it has a good wax job, it almost looks new. You have to have a picky eye to notice the paint.

I just can't wait until i get it a new headliner and get the rip in the seat fixed. Because I mean....thats really all the interior needs. I would really love to get it a new paint job too, but thats gonna cost me a pretty penny! lol

 

I'd also go with 7, but I'm picky (mine is only an 8 with more work done).

I think you got a pretty good deal for the mileage. I was thinking $1500 to $1900 sounded about right.

As for rarity, you may have an unusual option combo, but people are going to see: *1990 Camaro V6* and stop. Options don't add anything to value unless it's 1LE, B4U, etc.

 

Yeah, I understand that, but like the radio is 1 of 1084 so its probably among the rarest radios for Camaros like this, and the suspension package is 1 of 276, I mean the car was ordered from a dealer, it wasn't dealer ordered so the people got what they wanted. And they got what they paid for. But it has to have a rare options combo for what it has.

 

to be honest its not really desireable at all. its a v6, auto, red intreior and no t-tops. just because its numbers are rare dont really mean anything to someone. would i drive it? hell yes i would, i love it, but to other people it is what it is. a v6. the only thing it has going for it is its low mileage, i can find them with 200k mile that are still in great shape.

 

Thats what I was looking for, lol thats the desirability that i was asking about, not the rest of the car

I know that its only a V6 and there isnt much going for it but the fact that its in great shape, original, and low mileage, but thats what makes an old car a good old car, and its a classic. Most of the parts on it are vintage parts, or at least thats what my dealer tells me when it orders me new parts.

 

So what? Rarity does not equal desirability. It's a Camaro. It's not a B4C or 1LE and it isn't any kind of special edition. The truth is there is nothing rare about it that anyone cares about. The factory radio and certain miscellaneous factory options are not really all that important when shopping for one of these cars. The only options that matter are of the performance variety. This car is extremely lacking in that area. It's really damned close to a base model.

For the most part I agree. Though I have no desire to drive it or own it.

Reasons why I do not find this car desirable in the least:

• V6
• No T-Tops
• No power windows
• No power locks
• Probably equipped with rear drum brakes
• Red exterior color
• Red interior
• Probably non-WS6
• Rust (Southern cars typically have none unless they sat outside and unmoved for years at a time.)
• Automatic transmission (If this were a V8 car that wouldn't bother me, but a V6 NEEDs the manual transmission or they just aren't any fun to drive.)

Reasons why it is "slightly desirable":

• Straight body
• Rust is light (I've seen far worse cars actually saved by other forum members.)
• Interior is in good to excellent condition
• Low mileage

I hate to say it but I'm going to give it a 2 for desirability. The only cars that rate a 10 for me are going to be the 1991-1992 Firehawks or 1989 20th anniversary Turbo Trans Ams.

 

Double post.

 

It seems like only a few people on this thread know what I mean when I ask the question......

 

"I'm just wondering how desireable the car is by the rest of the Thirdgen Community. "

This is the closest thing to a question that you asked.

"Let me know what you think!"

You made this statement and I responded based on earlier qualifiers.

 

we get it. the only reason i said i love it is because its a good looking camaro. this is a camaro web site. you need to think about what non- camaro people think. they are going to see it as a v6, non t-top base model car. and it is. for the fact of it being in nice shape is what makes it desirable, not for any other reason.

 

Maybe not have people with WS6 Firebirds commenting on it, thats why I posted in the V6 forum, for people with V6's and autos to look at it and rate it. And from the sounds of it you take a nice thirdgen for granted. Thats not how I am. Im thankful that I at least have one, and yeah when i set out for one I wanted at least a 305 V8 but this is what I ended up getting because it was in such good shape. And your right there is almost zero rust, and the body is straight, and the interior except for the headliner, and the small tear in the seat it is exactly how it was when it rolled out of Van Nuys Assembly.

Trust me it could be far far worse. I could have bought an 82 with and iron duke and then i really would have been ****ed! haha

I wanted people to look at it for what it is, and for me that means:

A thirdgen Camaro

A thirdgen with a V6

A thirdgen with an auto tranny

A thirdgen with low miles

A thirdgen with a good body

A thirdgen with a rust-free body

A thirdgen that is original

A thirdgen with a near perfect interior

A thirdgen that was bought and is being maintained by a 17 year old

A thirdgen that you dont really see many like it around

A thirdgen in a color that you dont normally see on a Camaro

A thirdgen that is unmolested

A thirdgen that is a good example of what a thirdgen was, and should be

A thirdgen that is a piece of American Auto History and is a surivior

A thirdgen that is a piece of the past and should be preserved, and so far, its make out pretty good


Thats what I meant, or at least thats what I take into consideration when I look at other thirdgens....

 

I like the car... But it won't ever be worth very much. Like others have said before, the only options that seem to count towards making a car more valuable are the performance options or the luxury/convenience options.

It is a nice, straight, unmolested used Camaro. The red exterior color was one of the most popular color on an RS, if it wasn't the top color choice.

It is a good car in good condition, so be happy with it. That's the main thing about a v6 thirdgen... does it make you happy, and do you like it? If not, then sell it and get something else.

I would give the car a 5. It is good and clean and straight, but the V6 and the fact that it is an automatic, hardtop, and a Camaro (I like firebirds better) means that it wouldn't be too desirable to me. It's main desirability to someone NOT a V6 thirdgen fan is that it would be a really great project car for someone wanting a high performance car and the classy 3rd gen lines.

 

I've been told before that the radio could become a collectors item. Its the second rarest radio for this year, second only to the CD-player, only 3 radios with CD players were produced for 1990.

 

Heh, those are pluses to me.

 

Yeah, safer, don't break nearly as easily.

 

Not for some time it won't. Even then it will only happen when people start wanting to restore some cars to flawless original condition. That's about it. Keep it if you think it will be worth something, but I wouldn't bet on that.

They are minuses to me. I have no desire to cruise around like it's 1910.

 

if it had a 5 speed, i would give it a 8, as it is, I'd give it a 3

I like v6's, but hate auto trannys

 

lol, do you have a solid axle? internal gasoline combustion? Any idea when those were invented?
Power windows and t-tops as high tech features is BS. You'd be driving a Lexus hybrid instead of a low budget car designed with 1970s ideas.
You like power windows/locks because you are lazy. /end

 

Uh yeah I do. Believe me I'm not ignorant of the origins of these technologies. Still I don't like to cruise around without basic amenities that have been around for several decades. Power windows, locks, air conditioning, cruise control, etc. are all features I find desirable. If you don't that's fine. T-Tops of course aren't technologically sophisticated at all but I like them.

 

I wish there was a like button on here like on Facebook! lol

 

Nice looking car...no doubt! Desirable... well?? NOT!!! Dude I think i commented on this subject earlier. Its not a 90 Iroc those are pretty rare.

I came close to buying an RS that had a 305 TPI manual tranny and it was a vert! Damn dont remind me.

 

OMG!!! Ok I wont remind you.....lol


Well as far as the model year production for all thirdgens, 1990 was the rarest year at only 34,986. And well compared to that with options I think that mine has something special about it. And we can argue about it all day and night but thats what I believe!

 

Look man it seems like you want someone to say "OMG!!! thats the rarest v6 RS i've ever seen!!! lol" Man i see u really love your ride, and thats great! Its a nice car, like i said for the second time. But what matters most is how you feel about it and how it makes you feel driving it.

Keep it in good shape and as the years go by you may sell it for alot more than you expected to get.

 

I have an 89 RS V6 5 speed...

is it rare? only in the sense that not that many people ordered them that way, but that doesn't mean it's desirable. It has next to no options other than A/C, and that doesn't even work at the moment.

So why did I buy it? because it's the exact car I wanted. I wanted a v6 for my own reasons, and being my second 3rd gen, I wanted a 5 speed.

I specifically didn't want power windows or locks, just one more thing to break.

So is my car desirable, maybe only to me, but the answer has to be YES

 

Well said... my point exactly!

 

I think its hard to say that ANY thirdgen isnt desirable on at least a somewhat level, I would love to have any number of them/drive them.

And I'm not even talking about sentimental value yet....that car is a living, breathing part of me by now....has to be!

 

youre kidding yourself by thinking its a rare car.

 

here's the problem with this thread...

You asked people to rate your car on desirability, but we're prepared for what they had to say

Don't ask a question that you aren't prepared to get an answer you don't like

There are very few and select people in the world that would find your particular car desirable. Fortunatly, you're one of them, and you're happy with your car.

There you go, a match made in heaven

 

I wasn't expecting peoples judgement skills lol They looked into factors that I didn't think of, and/or didn't want them to be concerned about in the thread. I gave a list lol.....

 

Sloick:

I said thats what I believe so people WOULDN'T argue it, what didn't you get about that?

I understand everything that people are saying in this thread, but I'm not so sure other people have as much sense to them.......

 

You spent to much for the car.

 

Understand that many, many, people here who ran their VIN in the Compnine database (where you got your figures) also received the 1 of X or (insert single digit here) of X equipped exactly or similar.

One thing to keep in mind is that rare does not equal desirability. Even with 1990 only having just under 35K compared to other years, 35K is still a lot.

I can't say I'd judge the desirability of any car based on things such as the optioned radio. Even the CD players, which were "rare", are only really sought after for originality for car shows as the units was not known for quality or reliability and there is far better technology out there today.

 

How much would you have paid for it?

The KBB was around 2500 when i got it

 

I did get figures from Compnine, but not the ones that I'm using here.

I got them from Iroczone until they changed the layout of their site and got rid of the data.....

ugh....I wish i could just delete this thread and forget about it since so far only 3 or so people in it have understood what I tried to ask.....

 

Well, this doesn't really belong in this forum (v6 forum), which is geared more for technical questions. You already posted in the History/Restoration forum (more appropriate forum) about your vehicle and rarity/desirability. Since you wanted to delete this thread, I'll just lock it.

I don't think there is any misunderstanding on the part of people here. You asked how desirable we would rate your Camaro (per thread title) and you gave out several figures about it being X of X built or equipped, on top of 1990 being a short-run with just under 35K.

People gave you the input - it just may not have been what you was wanting to hear. Rare does not mean desirable. You appeared to have gotten a good deal as you got a clean, decent mileage, Third Gen for low dollars. Unfortunately, the truth is it won't be considered "desirable" other than to those who specifically are looking for what you have. Those people are probably going to be fewer and far between to those looking for higher-level equipped Third Gens.

Good luck.