hillntx

Just my opinion, but some of these cars are truly rare cars (Pace cars, TTAs, Firehawks) and others have rare options (L69 IROCs, 88-90 1LE, Yellow). I imagine a 1982 v6 Berlinetta is probably a very rare car, a 1985 Sport Coupe with the inline 4 cylinder and automatic is also probably pretty rare; but will they be collectible and sought after years from now? Probably not. I have a 1985 Sport Coupe with the factory rear storage cover - Wooo - rare option for the model (maybe its not, who cares). We can all sort our build sheets and try to make our cars seem "special", or we can enjoy them for what they are. Time will tell which are truly collectible. If your's is all original and not ravaged by time, you've got a better chance than most.

I purchased mine in August of 1986, so a one owner for 28 years. Hearing that, you think locked away in the garage under cover and wiped down with cloth diapers. Reality can be very different. These cars were one of the best handling vehicles of their time; drive them hard and enjoy them. When you wear it out, drop in an LS and a brake upgrade and do it again.

detltu

iTrader: (1)

I for one love this combination (1LE/Z03). If I find one for sale I will pick it up regardless of color, other options. I think when I looked into it a while back there seemed to be about 36 or so of the 1LE/Z03 cars.

Don't get discouraged just because a lot of people don't get it. Everybody has different tastes. As others have said, many cars are rare if you brake them down to the individual options, but the question is what options make the car desirable. I think G92/1LE/B4C are options that people will be interested in going forward. Others disagree.

I'm with you though, and if you ever want to sell your car shoot me an email.

okfoz

Talking to Bruce Hawkins he tells me that there is nothing better than driving a 1LE, although it seems that the 1LE is more or less a front brake package, the driving characteristics are much better. He did not know why, but he claimed he could tell the difference just by driving one, without knowing whether or not it was a 1LE it just has a special "feel"

InfernalVortex

iTrader: (4)

The great thing about talking about "feelings" is they can't be proven right or wrong.

don siddall

thanks for the positive feedback on my car and I will let u know if I decide to sell it. u can tell u r driving a 1le there is a difference it's more than bigger front brake's but most people don't know because most have never driven one or owned one.

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

After driving a few 1LEs myself (including several TTAs and a few 92 Hawks), I do agree with Bruce 100%. I cant put my finger on it but there is something a bit different about the "feel" of them.

scottmoyer

Ok, enlighten me. What's different about it while being driven? The 1LE is the brakes. If you are driving a road course, the cornering and acceleration is the same as a non-1LE. The braking will be better because of the brakes, but where is this additional performance that is being "felt"?

hillntx

I don't think I'm posting anything that you haven't read elsewhere: 1LE is the brake option, but when ordered with the AC delete also received an aluminum drive shaft, dual cat exhaust, specially baffled fuel tank, WS6 sway bars and different spring rates. So basically a car with a little more power than others, an engine that spins up quicker, tighter handling and stops better. I could see it feeling a little different. I don't think any of the changes were dramatically major improvements, they were all just a little better resulting in a slightly smoother, quicker, better handling car.

scottmoyer

Many third gens came with the aluminum driveshaft, dual cats and the fuel tank. The 1LE does not have the WS6 sway bars, they have the standard IROC-Z sway bars and springs. The many SPID sheets that I have show that the 1LEs have the same springs that my 1987 IROC-Z has. So again, my question is for those that say the 1LE has more performance than the rest of the third gens. Where is this extra power coming from and where is this extra handling coming from?

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

In 1989 GM revalved the struts and shocks for WS6 and other performance cars.
I just went out and measured the swaybars (36mm 23mm F&R) on a certain 1LE purple 25th car on my lift. It has the same size bars (and codes) plus poly endlinks like all my formulas do. Same spring codes plus black valve covers also.
Not for sure when GM went poly on the swaybar bushings but all my formulas had yellow front and rear then in 90 or 91 they went to blue poly.
GM also started gluing and welding the cars around 90-91
Also the last of the cars with the black valve covers have the PM rods and hyper/pistons which are a bit lighter so that helps with those cars.

As far as power, lack of A/C, al driveshaft and a few other things add up to help "free up" the power that's in all the cars but are saddled with extra options and weight.

I don't think its just one option that certain cars could get here or there that could really change the feel, I think its ALL the options and refinement through the years coming together and making the car work to its fullest.