Jason E

I found today a completely original '87 IROC 350, maroon with grey custom cloth with 82k. I looked at the SPID sheet and it is an original L98, J65 rear brakes and G80 limited slip...just what I'd want as an '87 in terms of mechanical options. It has PW, PL and a p-hatch, no p-seat. Sadly, the one real thing it does not have is t-tops However, with that said it is substantially tighter than my RS is with NOS Lexan t-tops, despite my car having SFCs!

In terms of condition, the paint is shot (nose is all chipped up, hood has no clear and it appears a hood bra actually ate the paint off of it, RF fender was painted at one point and is chipping again. The underhood area is dirty, but a nice polishing of the TPI assembly and some cleaning would probably bring it back. The interior is all there...it needs a carpet and some scrubbing on the drivers seat...otherwise all the plastic is there, in good shape, and even the dash is fine save for a crack in the side of the center vent. The undercarriage appears clean, with just some light surface rust. It supposedly has a new exhaust, recent tires and brakes. On a 5 mile demo drive, all I found wrong with it was under WOT, it would shift by 3,500 RPMs...apparently a bad kickdown cable? When held in gear, it would go up to 5k easily in each gear, and performed very well. You could definitely feel the difference with the torque after just getting out of my M5/TBI RS...

For $2,500, am I crazy to not take it? Aside from $3k in paint, front marker lenses, new stripes, a new carpet and a new headliner, it seems awful nice. The wheels would need a re-clear, or I could always just get aftermarket TT2s. I have no idea as to what is required to fix a kickdown cable.

I said after my RS, I'd never do another restoration...I wanted a clean original. I have nearly $9k invested in the RS with all the bodywork (same deal as the IROC...needed a nice respray and lenses), purchase price of $1,000, various bolt ons and TT2s. I know for $9k I could've had a very clean IROC that was worth that much...but the RS has been a labor of love, and has almost $2,000 worth of aftermarket performance items included in that (TT2s, SFCs, Pro 5.0, Edelbrock STB/intake/Elite air cleaner, etc.)...and I thought it was cool how it was an original leather/M5 RS. I've never seen one like it. I'm nervous with the IROC though that once I go through whatever it needs mechanically (I do admit I want mint old cars), I'll be in it for similar money, bone stock, and still have an 82k mile car.

Knowing all this, should I hold out and pay top $$ for an original, or save another one from the potential grave? Thanks for reading

IROCZTWENTYGR8

iTrader: (1)

You know what I'm gonna say JE, pay top dollar for a great original because that what you really wanted all these years. IMO, that's gonna need a decent amount of work to get it in the showcar type of condition you're gonna want.

brandotron

iTrader: (2)

I think you can find a car in better condition for a waaay better price than that. I would check out craigslist. I just bought an 88 Formy 350, great shape, 85K miles for $2700. I don't know what the scene is like where you are, but here in SoCal, that kinda deal isn't rare. Maybe you can find a decent car in California and have it shipped to you with all the money you save

Also--we don't have rust out here!

Jason E

IROC,
Yeah, I know what you mean, but the deal seems pretty good. I look at my RS, and yeah it isn't worth what I have in it, but there's nothing like a shiny FRESH, properly done paint job. My car looks like it could be on a dealer lot, brand new, on the outside. The inside, with a carpet, headliner and dash pad, is 100% as well (I'd say it looks 80% now! Its not too bad...). I'm actually glad I drove a hardtop car...because my RS has t-tops, and will always be my primary summer fun car (the IROC would be a 1k mile a year car, like the Z), the lack of t-tops actually didn't bother me like I thought it would...the structurally integrity and lack of rattles was really impressive to me. Its the first hardtop third gen I've driven.

brando,
I will try Craigslist...cars out here are getting pricey for '80s metal...many succumbed to abuse and rust, and the remaining ones are going up...

I'm shying away from the car at the moment, but still thinking...

blackphoenix

Jason E,
Hello. I saw your thread on here & in my opinion I would continue to look around. In the last 8 years I have been through 7 3Rd Gens. I am finally done now got what I want. I would not pay more then $1500 - at most $1700. I just got a BEAUTIFUL Trans AM with 28000 original miles on it (body is straight absolutely no rust at all ) redone interior, brand new crate 350 with Edelbrock RPM intake, Edelbrock 650 4 Barrel, Headers, Dual Flowmaster exhaust, mallory fuel pressure regulator, lifters, bigger cam, extra 5.0 engine, and lots of extra goodies for $1000 (probably never find a deal like that again found on EBAY) all it needs is some suspension work & I just got my GTA 87 5spd with 4 wheel disc, T-tops, nice GTA rims, nice interior, needs minor body work for $1500. If you look around you can get a steal. I have owned all the ones on my signature, all really nice cars, just improved with each buy until I got what I really wanted and have NEVER paid more then $1650 & that was for my 87 305 HO. Most were $1000 with a few being $1500. In PA I see some really nice Camaros for great prices. Before we got my GTA we were looking at Z28 for $800 and all it needed was a very small hole in the floor board repaired. If you are willing to travel a little try checking out your surrounding states. In PA for $2500 you could get a Camaro that looks good & does not need anything. Especially if you got the cash. I would continue to hold out or offer them $1500 cash and then walk away. Most of my cars they were asking more but I was able to talk them down, especially being a chick & knowing my ****. I was just loooking on EBAY tonight b/c we are looking for a donor car with 4 wheel disc brakes & T5 and seen some really nice Buy it nows. Good luck in your search. Shenna

P.S. I just went on Criagslist for my area & found Iroc with 6.6L 406CI, T5, with 3.73 gears for best offer I bet that cars flies. The posting is:
http://allentown.craigslist.org/car/479059328.html car looks good too.

Jason E

To revive my own thread from the dead, guess what???

http://westernmass.craigslist.org/ctd/838723931.html

Same car I drove last fall, same asking price. I contacted him on Saturday, and its STILL for sale. I talked to him last spring, and he had actually UPPED the price to $4,995, thinking the spring market would help him sell it.

My wife thinks I should get it so I can finally fulfill my IROC fetish, my best friend wants to help teach me car mechanics on it, and I figure its a cheap way to learn car mechanics and fix it up over time. My RS is 90% done (still needs that carpet and headliner I was mentioning in the original post)...on to a new project?

These cars are getting rarer and rarer in the Northeast...I never really see them on the road anymore. I drove my RS to work yesterday, and I can't believe how many people gawk at it...you just don't see them like mine anymore.

82taluver

I found a deal on a 91 GTA 5spd, always wanted a GTA and bought it. you know why?? because i wanted it - pure and simple. If you want it jump on it because there is always someone else who will if you wait.

brandotron

iTrader: (2)

Walk up to him with 2k cash and call it done. He'd be crazy not to take that for a car he's been trying to sell for a year, and you'd be crazy to pay more than that.

I'm not saying it's a bad buy, but it does need work. If you buy it as a "project" and convey that to him, you might get a better deal...especially if you're the only guy to look at it in a year and you could "take it or leave it". Good luck to ya!

okfoz

I guess it would all depend on what YOU want... I bought my 89 Formula 350 Convertible even though it needed some things like paint... BUT it was what I wanted and I had an inclining that I would never find another like it...

Ultimately it sounds like a reasonable deal, any more finding those $1500 deals are getting further and further between. Does the car have Factory T-tops, i cannot tell with my monitor I will ahve to look at it tomorrow with a different screen to be sure, its too fuzzy...

I would think $2500 is not too bad, I sold a rough 87 formula 350 for $2200 2 years ago, it needed Everything to be reasonably nice...

John

John in RI

iTrader: (167)

Buy it.



I live next door in RI and you are very right about that ! ( This ain't SoCal ! ) I used to rip apart 'regular' third gen cars to take what I needed and sell the rest to guys with 'performance' cars. I would re-build the Z's and TA's using the regular cars parts and sell them off.......... BUT TIMES HAVE CHANGED ! The last 3 cars I re-built were coupe Bodies, the V8s sold between 2500 and 3000 Why rebuild the coupes ???? Because they were not rotten. The last 3 cars I stripped: 84 TA, 88 TA, 89 Formula. Why ??? ROT. These cars are 20+ YO now & quickly starting to rot away here in the northeast !

The point here is that if you found a ORIGINAL 87 IROC 350 with under 100K on it for $2,500 then why isn't it in your driveway ?? With all you know about Camaros - you know it's a good deal.

IMO: Look for Rot - if there's no Rot,............. Buy it !

92RS(real slow)

Id agree with everyone offer 2k, and he will probaly take it, as far as paint goes almost all thirdgens need repainted unless they were garage queens lol. hell when I bought mine it was near perfect now 2 yrs later almost all the clear is gone and base coat is starting to chip away

Jason E

John,

Its a hardtop car...which, I never thought I'd say, is what I want. My RS has brand-new OEM Lexan tops...and with 116k on it, it sounds like it has 316k on it. I've had it with third gen t-top cars! If I didn't have the RS, I'd probably insist on a t-top IROC...but the RS isn't going anywhere, so why not get some structural integrity this time around??

I'm ASSUMING the $2,500 price...as you can see, its listed on Craigslist for $2,950. I offered him $2,500 last fall, contingent upon me asking my wife. He said "talk to her and we can work it out." We both agreed then it wasn't the right time. As mentioned above, I talked to him again in May, when I was all set to go (had storage for it), and he upped the price. In August we bought our new home, complete with a 4 car garage out back (1 car attached out front for her)...now storage is no issue. Actually, we're welding floors and rear fenders onto my best friend's original '83 L69 Z28 this winter in the garage...I thought this might make a nice sister project

John,
You're probably right....this economy is just scaring me right now. I'm a General Sales Manager for a Chrysler dealer...work is somewhat slow right now

Any more info is appreciated. Yesterday afternoon I thought I was gonna go over tomorrow, offer him $2,500, bolt on my dealer plate and take it home...now I'm waffling again...
----------
One more thing...the NICE thing about this car is the biggest thing it needs (a full respray) is the easiest thing I can remedy. I WANT a car with a decent interior and running gear that looks like poop. My body shop here is like watching artists at work. They only charged me $3k to do a full re-spray on my RS in 2007 (by full I mean a complete removal of all gfx, hood, trunklid, bumpers etc.), and it looks better, with less orange peel, than my OEM paint job on my long lost '89 RS. Paintwork is the least of my worries...a big reason I like this particular car. Other than a carpet, the inside is decent from what I remember, based on my OP.

Bullydawg

iTrader: (7)

Get it. Looks like a good buy, especially for your location. Working for a dealer also must help big time. I would grab it for $2000, if he doesn't take it try and work something out with him. The worst he can say is no...

camarofan79

I would definitely offer him $2,000. I see a couple on craigslist down here and the sellers will usually work with you on the price.

I'm in the same boat. I've been looking for a clean third gen with T-Tops down here in GA for awhile now.

I didn't want something that needed too much work. Since I live in a condo with my wife, parking is tight.

Good luck!

-John

90tararebird

iTrader: (4)

Hey Jason, i'm from next door in Wilbraham. I have a 1990 TA and i would inspect it very closly for rust. Mine has quite a bit in spots that are tuff to see. It does have 175k on tho odomiter and has been my daily driver since new.

FUNIROC

iTrader: (4)

If I were you I would do a pro and con list on the car. I think you must not want the car to bad, or it would be yours. I would look all over and not worry if I had to take a trip of 300 miles to get the IROC I wanted. If you are going to buy your dream car you should make a list of what you have to have on it and dont take less. If you settle for less you will not be happy.

I bought my IROC and got most of what I wanted. I wanted no rust, original stock, T-5, T-Tops, TPI, 88 or newer, and as factory loaded as I can get. The only thing I did not get was BLUE. The car I have needs work, I just got it so cheep that I could not walk away. I paid half the asking price.

So guess what one day I will have to go and find one in BLUE.

okfoz

Just curious, Why 1988 or newer?

The major only difference that I can think of is the 1987's had V-Belts and the 88+ had a Serp, is that the reason?

John

FUNIROC

iTrader: (4)

Yeah that was a big reason, they look cleaner under the hood with the one belt. I also felt I would have better luck finding one more original and no rust if I could find the later model year IROC.

rideon1200

Hey John, in the same boat, I rely on financing also. I freaked on friday when the big 3 froze money to lend. Saw GM and Chrysler are merging. But the economy is bad right now, see how bad he wants to get rid of it. Hell, your a salesman!