Viable for restoration/project?
Discussion
One of these days I am just going to take the plunge and buy me a project from across the pond, but are they financially viable (within reason) for restoration?
I know it's all bound to vary, but say a slightly rusty 3rd Gen Camaro/Plymouth Barracuda/Charger that's tatty, but running
Is it going to be crippling to put back on the road?>
I know it's all bound to vary, but say a slightly rusty 3rd Gen Camaro/Plymouth Barracuda/Charger that's tatty, but running
Is it going to be crippling to put back on the road?>
Matt Harper said:
In the US, a Gen 3 Camaro is a dirt-bag-mobile.
Not any more it isn't. Like the Capri's over here they have come out the other side and emerging as a classic. Same as the 1st and 2nd gen Camaro's when they reached a certain point.The Plymouth Barracuda was also a 'dirt bag mobile' whatever that means.
Dirt-bag-mobile - a rotted out, shagged out, underpowered automobile, nowadays operated by mulleted, heavily tattooed, semi-toothless, double-wide dwelling dirt-bags.
I must admit, I had an 88 IROC (in the early 90's) and loved it at the time.
I must admit, I had an 88 IROC (in the early 90's) and loved it at the time.
Edited by Matt Harper on Thursday 30th May 23:39
All Yanks go through a cycle of initial depreciation, slow depreciation then unwanted and then emerge as classics, some more slowly than others. The 3rd gen has emerged as a classic mainly because the 4th gen went a bit Japanese and the Corvette C4 has been slow to emerge as a classic, I think mainly because of the undesirable LT1 engine and fairly naff interior but it's getting there.
Regrettably, UK restoration is expensive because shipping is so expensive and all the parts are in the US. Ron at STS Imports can help reduce this a lot but some stuff is also expensive, like seals for T-tops and you'll never really see that money back on a 3rd gen.
Older stuff is a better investment but look at something less cliched, such as a Dodge Dart or Polara etc even though Mopar parts are more expensive and harder to find.
Regrettably, UK restoration is expensive because shipping is so expensive and all the parts are in the US. Ron at STS Imports can help reduce this a lot but some stuff is also expensive, like seals for T-tops and you'll never really see that money back on a 3rd gen.
Older stuff is a better investment but look at something less cliched, such as a Dodge Dart or Polara etc even though Mopar parts are more expensive and harder to find.
Matt Harper said:
Dirt-bag-mobile - a rotted out, shagged out, underpowered automobile, nowadays operated by mulleted, heavily tattooed, semi-toothless, double-wide dwelling dirt-bags.
I must admit, I had an 88 IROC (in the early 90's) and loved it at the time.
dunno - wasn't THAT underpowered. I had about 6 IROCs and to be honest IMO they were waaaaaay better than anything similar from EuropelandI must admit, I had an 88 IROC (in the early 90's) and loved it at the time.
Edited by Matt Harper on Thursday 30th May 23:39
irocfan said:
dunno - wasn't THAT underpowered. I had about 6 IROCs and to be honest IMO they were waaaaaay better than anything similar from Europeland
It's all relative. The 3rd gen produced Sierra Cosworth power but not all were IROCs. My 87 5.0 only made 170hp but again, that was still more than a 944.Maybe I'm misguided - but I am US based - and southern US based at that. Gen 3 Camaros and Firebirds are not in the very tiniest bit considered to be 'classics' here.
They were made by the bazzillion and pretty much thrown together - the metal to plastic panel joining was always approximate and subject to failure as the cars get older. Even with the 5.7 TPi that mine had, it was soft on power then - positively wheezing now. The 700-R4 transmission does not age well either.
So, most still running have the paint burned off, plastic bits dangling, headliner flapping, roof panels leaking, valve seats gone, smoke puthering, misfiring, seats sagging and water stained, dash falling to bits and cracked by the sun, mis-matched wheels and tires, lenses broken and or missing - running derelicts.
They never had the brawn of 60's-early 70's cars - nor the muscular styling. Even the IROC was a bit of a piss-take and carried over nothing from the International Race of Champions series other than the vinyl stripes.
Today they appear to be the vehicle of choice for your standardized undocumented alien, agricultural workers, meth users and broke high school kids.
They were made by the bazzillion and pretty much thrown together - the metal to plastic panel joining was always approximate and subject to failure as the cars get older. Even with the 5.7 TPi that mine had, it was soft on power then - positively wheezing now. The 700-R4 transmission does not age well either.
So, most still running have the paint burned off, plastic bits dangling, headliner flapping, roof panels leaking, valve seats gone, smoke puthering, misfiring, seats sagging and water stained, dash falling to bits and cracked by the sun, mis-matched wheels and tires, lenses broken and or missing - running derelicts.
They never had the brawn of 60's-early 70's cars - nor the muscular styling. Even the IROC was a bit of a piss-take and carried over nothing from the International Race of Champions series other than the vinyl stripes.
Today they appear to be the vehicle of choice for your standardized undocumented alien, agricultural workers, meth users and broke high school kids.
Matt Harper said:
Maybe I'm misguided - but I am US based - and southern US based at that. Gen 3 Camaros and Firebirds are not in the very tiniest bit considered to be 'classics' here.
They were made by the bazzillion and pretty much thrown together - the metal to plastic panel joining was always approximate and subject to failure as the cars get older. Even with the 5.7 TPi that mine had, it was soft on power then - positively wheezing now. The 700-R4 transmission does not age well either.
So, most still running have the paint burned off, plastic bits dangling, headliner flapping, roof panels leaking, valve seats gone, smoke puthering, misfiring, seats sagging and water stained, dash falling to bits and cracked by the sun, mis-matched wheels and tires, lenses broken and or missing - running derelicts.
They never had the brawn of 60's-early 70's cars - nor the muscular styling. Even the IROC was a bit of a piss-take and carried over nothing from the International Race of Champions series other than the vinyl stripes.
Today they appear to be the vehicle of choice for your standardized undocumented alien, agricultural workers, meth users and broke high school kids.
Doubtless all true but it's a matter of time and increasing rarity. I'm sure 60s Mustangs passed through that phase too. Over here, they are very rare in relative terms and, given many here worship the old Capri, a car which matches your Camaro description quite well and used to be popular council estate fodder and they made wheezy an institution, save for the 2.8i.They were made by the bazzillion and pretty much thrown together - the metal to plastic panel joining was always approximate and subject to failure as the cars get older. Even with the 5.7 TPi that mine had, it was soft on power then - positively wheezing now. The 700-R4 transmission does not age well either.
So, most still running have the paint burned off, plastic bits dangling, headliner flapping, roof panels leaking, valve seats gone, smoke puthering, misfiring, seats sagging and water stained, dash falling to bits and cracked by the sun, mis-matched wheels and tires, lenses broken and or missing - running derelicts.
They never had the brawn of 60's-early 70's cars - nor the muscular styling. Even the IROC was a bit of a piss-take and carried over nothing from the International Race of Champions series other than the vinyl stripes.
Today they appear to be the vehicle of choice for your standardized undocumented alien, agricultural workers, meth users and broke high school kids.
In the UK, a 3rd gen is still an event in a sea of dross.
Good points - well made, as always.
I think we all got a bit at crossed purposes as the OP meant Gen 2, rather than 3, which makes a whole heap of sense, alongside the other cars he mentions.
What I did find a little strange was the comment that, even here in the US, that they now have 'classic' status, which is a bit of a stretch.
I remember my time, running my IROC in the UK with a lot of pride and affection for it - it was novel and attracted a lot of enthusiastic comment - but it had to go when a kid pointed at it in a street in Bradford and said, "Look Mum, it's Knightrider" (moronic 6 year old couldn't tell the difference between a Camaro and a T/A - huh!).
I think we all got a bit at crossed purposes as the OP meant Gen 2, rather than 3, which makes a whole heap of sense, alongside the other cars he mentions.
What I did find a little strange was the comment that, even here in the US, that they now have 'classic' status, which is a bit of a stretch.
I remember my time, running my IROC in the UK with a lot of pride and affection for it - it was novel and attracted a lot of enthusiastic comment - but it had to go when a kid pointed at it in a street in Bradford and said, "Look Mum, it's Knightrider" (moronic 6 year old couldn't tell the difference between a Camaro and a T/A - huh!).
Matt Harper said:
What I did find a little strange was the comment that, even here in the US, that they now have 'classic' status, which is a bit of a stretch.
Just because you are American doesn't mean you have this right and I think you are generalising. Are the Turbo Trans Am, the 1LE, the Firehawk, the L98 GTA's and IROC's all trailer trash? No. You are basing it on a few (even if they are majority). 0-60 in 6.4 secs on the L98's is still quite quick today. The BHP as pointed out was as much as a Cosworth of the day. The Z28 was America's best handling car, rated above the C4.You sir are making sweeping statements, though granted not all are classics. As mentioned, the majority are on a one way road to the scrap yard in the sky. It's like saying all drug dealers drive M3's or all Mafia staff cars are S classes. It's all generalisation b
ks.Matt Harper said:
but it had to go when a kid pointed at it in a street in Bradford and said, "Look Mum, it's Knightrider" (moronic 6 year old couldn't tell the difference between a Camaro and a T/A - huh!).
That sums you up too. Worried about what a 6 year old kid thinks. 
Edited by ukzz4iroc on Friday 31st May 20:12
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