I think I found a rare potential project to start on, what do you think?
Posted by Outrageous_Shallot61@reddit | projectcar | View on Reddit | 89 comments
It’s a 1990 Camaro RS convertible, it looks pretty solid minus the window in the soft top breaking and getting the inside wet which in turn made the floor boards soft and breaking a rear control arm and the spoiler getting loose and breaking off during towing. It’s also been sitting for 20 some years on gravel before this guy bought it and mice ate the wiring for the window wipers but other than that she doesn’t look too bad for $700. I kinda want to do it but figured I should ask around before I jump on it. The guy said he’s got a lot of people interested but most of them are just trying to buy individual parts and he wants to get rid of the whole thing instead of parting it out. Should I bring it home or should I tell him I’m not interested?
Carollicarunner@reddit
How is it rare? Does it have the ultra potent Iron Duke?
Outrageous_Shallot61@reddit (OP)
It’s got a V8 but the seller said that convertible 3rd gens are rare so I took his word for it
SexyCavewoman@reddit
If third gens are rare then my yard is a gold mine. Hard pass. It's a rotten turd with a 305
RexCarrs@reddit
Put that 700 on Glue Pot in the 3rd at Plimlico. There you least have a slim chance. Very slim.
Outrageous_Shallot61@reddit (OP)
What in the world is Glue Pot?
RexCarrs@reddit
That's where all the old, worn out horses went, to be made into glue.
Of course this is not true. Just one of those silly sayings from long, long ago.
Outrageous_Shallot61@reddit (OP)
Oh ok
Sizgil@reddit
I've got a third gen firebird that i'm doing something very similar with, it was complete junk and the engine was toast.
However, it's been a lifelong arizona car which means no rust, just cobwebs and dust, along with a clean title, made it worth it.
It's helluva lotta work but in addition to the amount of rust repair? Not worth it whatsoever. Keep looking, you WILL find another one, just not this one.
cm2460@reddit
3rd gens are cool but they’re aging poorly, I can only imagine what rust bucket a soft top that has sat would be.
Run
braedae@reddit
I’d recommend avoiding this car. It will be a big hassle and require lots of money and work, which in my opinion isn’t worth it for a 3rd gen Camaro.
These are my favorite body style of the Camaros, so I get why you want it, but I’d recommend finding another better example!
Outrageous_Shallot61@reddit (OP)
Yeah maybe it’s the nostalgia hitting me cause my dad had a 92 Camaro and while I don’t have a lot of good memories with him that Camaro was one
braedae@reddit
I definitely understand. And if you have the knowledge and ability to do all the work yourself then it could be fun. But otherwise, I’d look around and see if you could find one running with less rust for a bit more money. Around me it looks like that would be around $2500 or so onward for that depending on how good of shape the body and paint is.
I had bought an ‘89 trans am (same car as this basically) in 2012 as my first car and it was beaten to the ground before me. Still was a blast to drive and never left me stranded! Would love to own this gen Camaro/Firebird again.
Outrageous_Shallot61@reddit (OP)
If I had the money I’d definitely buy a better looking one that runs better. I was also looking at this one for two other reasons: 1: I just got a “good job” bonus from work (which 1/3 of it covered rent for me) so I was hoping I could use it to get something fun 2: the body kit company Liberty Walk who usually makes kits for Lambos and Ferraris has decided that they’re going to be making a kit for the 85-92 Camaro and I kinda want to try getting one
stardate_pi@reddit
If you don't have the money for a better one then you definitely don't have the money for this one.
wheeliemammoth@reddit
That's fucking poetry.
Gregarious_Raconteur@reddit
Doing significant repair of heavily rusted structural elements is going to be a significantly more time and money intensive project than mechanical repair on a much cleaner chassis.
richie_parker@reddit
that’s interesting! i’d love to see one of those kits completed.
Outrageous_Shallot61@reddit (OP)
https://libertywalk.co.jp/bodykit/lb-works/chevrolet-camaro/
richie_parker@reddit
wow!
Outrageous_Shallot61@reddit (OP)
If you feel like spending $5700 on it and have a gen 3 Camaro you should try it
richie_parker@reddit
haha! i have neither so i’ll just wait for your next post in the sub.
Outrageous_Shallot61@reddit (OP)
My next post: I may have made a mistake… insert clickbait thumbnail
Outrageous_Shallot61@reddit (OP)
I haven’t heard an update on it since I saw this but it would definitely be cool to try, it looks great even at this stage
GhostOfMrBojangles@reddit
That looks like a "body swapped"car.
Al least that's what one would look like after being mixed with a newer camaro.
braedae@reddit
If a new kit is made I look forward to seeing it in person! Lots of nice 3rd gen’s around me, so I’m sure I’ll see one with a kit one of these days then!
wheeliemammoth@reddit
Too much, man. That's a long project. It won't be satisfying.
Busy_Signal1858@reddit
You should be able to make at least your $700 in whatever parts can be salvage. Then crush it.
Killstacy808_@reddit
bought an 89 toyota mr2 that had been abandoned at a shop, parked in the grass for a couple years, have it running right now, and in total ive had 4 other cars from the 80s early 90s. Very familiar with rust, and i can tell you that thing is shot, that is not a car, very far from it.
Also 3rd gen camaros have solid rear axles, therefore it has no control arms, the piece you see completely rusted off in image 4 is the torsion bar. Just like a control arm it needs to be mounted firmly to the chassis/unibody. If its rusted off as it seems to be, the structural integrity is compromised
Outrageous_Shallot61@reddit (OP)
Oh, I didn’t know that it’s a torsion bar not a control arm
Zed32_Customs@reddit
Please be joking. This is a horrible project car. Busted control arm? Sitting for 20 years? Bad wiring? No floors? I mean, at that point wtf is even left? That's a parts car and should never see the road again. And I say this as a 3rd gen lover.
Outrageous_Shallot61@reddit (OP)
It also makes me feel bad for it cause apparently convertible 3rd Gen Camaros are really hard to find and this car has only had one registered owner in its whole 35 year life, it was last road legal in 2003
brocktacular@reddit
3rd gen Camaros are not hard to find.
zodiacrelic44@reddit
3rd gens aren’t, but (correct me if I’m wrong) drop top 3rd gens are. Even still, this thing is a full tear down and rebuild, and I wouldn’t touch it.
I made this mistake last year with an 84 Mustang, but it finishes its mechanical resto this week. It looks good, but it really isn’t. It’s cost me way more than it would’ve to just buy a good one. Don’t do what I did OP.
Prettycoolgeek@reddit
Yep if op has to ask he doesnt yet have the skillset to do it in any realistic amount of time/money.
Unless he got the car for free, then it might be worth a slow tinker but do not pay for this car op
zodiacrelic44@reddit
I mean, I didn’t know either. That’s how you learn. I YouTubed everything on the car and did pretty much everything myself.
Prettycoolgeek@reddit
Right, thats why i said yet. but theres starting in normal mode and hard mode
zodiacrelic44@reddit
Agreed. The lack of rear frame in this car would make it a no-go. My Mustang was rust free. I’m not equipped to YouTube my way to a fresh frame, and I doubt OP is either
brocktacular@reddit
Quick FB Marketplace search yielded 10+ 3rd gens in my area, but only one ragtop, so you may be on to something there.
'It looks good, but it really isn't' had me rollin. :)
zodiacrelic44@reddit
Let’s just say I have very much polished a turd that someone else spent a significant amount of time trying to polish, but actually made it worse. The power top was fucked, suspension was fucked, brakes were (and still are) fucked, the motor leaks from everywhere, as does the transmission, the wiring is hacked up like crazy with a 90s alarm, stereo system, and remote starter, I’m missing one hubcap (unobtainium 90s rare wheels), new rims are impossible (4x4.25/4x108 bolt pattern, thanks Ford) and it’s easily a 20ft car as far as the body goes. But, it’s not rotted out, I’ve just had to redo… well, everything. It passed its safety inspection (somehow, still almost no brakes, should’ve failed 1000%) and the top’s just about done getting changed out and then I’ll have double into the car that a good one would’ve cost me. But, I learned a lot and did a ton of the work myself, so, at least there’s that.
_maxxwell_@reddit
80s and early 90s American made sports cars are terrible. Especially anything convertible. Little to no value in restoring them unless it's a fox body
diamondryan599@reddit
my guy said that 80s sports cars are horrible and then said the fox body was good. someone needs to buy this guy some better crack to smoke.
Famous_Confection441@reddit
No there not.
zshift@reddit
You’re going to have to rebuild or replace everything on the body, frame, and interior of this car. All the plastic and wiring in the engine bay may also need to be replaced. You’d have to be very comfortable with welding, or have enough cash to pay someone to do it. It’s a very long, painful project that’s also going to cost more than trying to find one in better condition to start from.
Themagicdick@reddit
You don’t want an old convertible unless they are in really good condition. It would be a bitch to fix the leaks and expensive, rust and mold from said leaks, and they drive worse because of the lack of rigidity from the nonexistent roof. Also they just look worse imo
thepvbrother@reddit
You'll spend waaaay more on fixing this one up than in buying a nice example that's drivable today.
grease_monkey@reddit
It's a piece of metal, you won't hurt its feelings
SyntheticParanoia@reddit
I know where a mint Iroc Convertible is sitting on a used car lot.
bob999999117@reddit
Gen 3 cameros can be had in pretty okay condition (read drivable) for around 6-7k. This looks like a parts car
Outrageous_Shallot61@reddit (OP)
That’s kinda why I made this post because I think it could be a really good project but this is a subreddit full of people who have probably way more experience with looking for these kinds of things and determining if they’re worth fixing or selling parts from and scrapping the rest
BLACKBIRD823Rblx@reddit
Dude it's reddit don't listen to people here
Legitimate-Ganache71@reddit
yea op start by not listening to that guy\^
(bc that cars cooked)
AdOdd1841@reddit
this is nothing but a parts car at best if you’re set on getting a third gen I’d wait until something in a bit better condition shows up
If you’re looking for a fast car find a 350 car or I’d look for a roller or as typically the bodies are in better condition but cheaper due to lack of drivetrain but if you want a cruiser that sounds nice I would look for a 305 5.0L SBC as it seems the 350 5.7L are getting harder to find at cheap prices at least in my area
If you’re really interested in a third gen it wouldn’t be bad to offer him around $500 so you’ll at least have some parts available but as restoration goes this things pretty much junk
If you live in Tampa Bay Area there’s a guy by my job with a bright red T-Top with a 350 SBC for about $2500 I think
Outrageous_Shallot61@reddit (OP)
Unfortunately I’m not in the Tampa Bay Area, I’m in the Buffalo NY area
AdOdd1841@reddit
I’m sure you’ve seen it on marketplace but I’d look for something like this if you’re set on a convertible This is a 12k car by me typically but could be a good deal
https://www.facebook.com/share/12Kb88r3fvT/?mibextid=wwXIfr
ekinria1928@reddit
"It's rare"... I'm so sick of hearing that.
texan01@reddit
This one’s a “rare and no one cares” rare.
ekinria1928@reddit
No one ever advertises their car as Medium Rare...
texan01@reddit
Uh…. That’s a parts car.
therezin@reddit
Third gen owner here. Honestly, this one's a shitbox. Stood for 20 years, the interior is a pit of mold from the damp, body parts falling to pieces, broken control arms? In fact, looking at photo #4 the control arm is fine but the frame rusted away around it? Walk away man. Verts are pretty uncommon, but I'd hardly call them rare.
Plus if mice ate the wiper wiring, you know that's not the only wiring they ate. Even if you dove in and fixed all the rust, spent thousands on an interior that won't take five years off your life with mold spores, you'll likely never fix all the random intermittent electrical problems you'll inevitably have.
Kinda hope this has piqued your interest, they're great cars - just not this example. If you want a project, spend twice what this dreamer is asking and get a car worth ten times what this one is.
SAHpositive@reddit
Its your dream. If you want to follow it, then go for it. It depends on your time and budget and goals. If you just want to get it moving again, then that is not too hard. if you want to get it safe/legal again, then plan on spending the next 5 years of saturdays taking apart all the stuff that doesn't work and making trips to the junkyard for spare parts. If you want it to look like a show car then plan on spending every dime you have and forget about a family as you spend every spare moment for the next 10 years on this baby.
If this was really a super rare hypercar, then this makes more sense. This particular make/model of car is just a car. They literally made millions of them. You can literally find a car like this that is already in way better shape if you take some patience.
Outrageous_Shallot61@reddit (OP)
It’s kinda funny to me trying to picture him being like “here’s $300, please take this car” XD
velowa@reddit
That failed control arm makes this a parts car. Very slim chance a novice would be able to make that safe again and an expert knows better than to take it on.
MusselsMarinara85@reddit
im restoring a really rough one myself. its a non airbag, non anti-theft, no convertible and if I could do it all over again it wouldve been way cheaper to save my money and buy one in better shape.
bootsblazing@reddit
I need that hood if they tryna part it out lol
Outrageous_Shallot61@reddit (OP)
He’s already had plenty of people asking him but if they don’t take the whole car they’re not gonna get any parts off it
bootsblazing@reddit
what area is this in
Outrageous_Shallot61@reddit (OP)
Lewiston NY
bootsblazing@reddit
sheesh, im in louisiana lmao
LetWaldoHide@reddit
Walk away.
qkdsm7@reddit
Depending on your expectations----- on that one---- I'd say 95% of the time you're going to be better off starting elsewhere, even if it's +$2k or even +$8k up front from that one.
loquedijoella@reddit
Floor boards soft this isn’t a house, it’s a car made from steel. That’s rust and a whole fuckin’ lot of it. If you love the car and want to learn rust repair, go for it. I rebuilt a ‘66 Impala convertible that was worse than this, but that car sold for $45k when I was done with it. If you want to fix it and keep it another 20 years I’d say it’s worth it. Otherwise you aren’t going to have fun here.
Outrageous_Shallot61@reddit (OP)
I mean that’s what he told me and I didn’t want to see for myself and accidentally break something
Big-Energy-3363@reddit
Not rare. A very common car and will be a no return money pit. Run past this one!
Catatafish@reddit
Good project... if you know how to weld, and are willing to buy actual floors for it.
StanCranston@reddit
Bring a full checkbook and a lifetime of patience
aj8j83fo83jo8ja3o8ja@reddit
i noticed that you said it looks pretty solid, and then listed all the ways in which it is in no way solid.
when people say solid, they’re referring to the frame, floors, and the stuff that’s really hard/impossible to fix. the fact that the rust snapped a control arm out of the frame is nuts.
the body panels do look good, but body panels are a dime a dozen. you get a fender from a junk yard or a parts stash, a little reshaping and paint matching and you’re onto the next thing
if the frame and floors are this bad, you’ll be into them for $xx,xxx and months or years before you even get started on the rest of the car
Vfrnut@reddit
It’s not rare , and you definitely NEED to look at the subframes!! My sister’s car was so rusted out the shop couldn’t believe it actually made in to the garage . 😬
Mopar44o@reddit
It would be a nice car when done.. but there’s plenty of these in great shape that aren’t expensive. As someone who is knee deep in rust repair, you’re going to spend a fortune.
I saw a rust free convertible iroc last year for 18,000 Canadian with 70,000 km on it.
UmeaTurbo@reddit
That car will eat the down payment of a house. Walk away.
Aggressive-Relief199@reddit
I love these 3rd gen Camaros, I own one, but with the condition that one is in, and how hard it is to find some of these parts, I think it might be in your best interest to pass on this one.
largos7289@reddit
a 3rd gen convertible, maybe? i mean i've seen worse but it's got alot going on with it and would probably take a ton more money to get it back on the road.
There is a reason why people want the parts because to junk it you'll get 800. It's probably better off to sell the parts they want then jink it. You'll make more money on it that way.
shotstraight@reddit
If it was anything but a convertible and didn't have rusted floors then I would say hell yes as I had one in the T-top version, and it was a blast but the convertible and floors stay away from because if you're not a body man and have access to a frame machine and measuring system that car will never be right. Sorry, I know you didn't want to hear this. Buy a hard top or t-top with good floors and use this for parts.
Intheswing@reddit
Not bad …… I heard rust - rust and don’t forget the rust. Too bad - it would be a great car except for the rust.
Living-Albatross-120@reddit
I’d avoid it due to the rust issues I’m seeing in the 4th picture. The 3rd gen Camaro has a huge aftermarket support no matter the original trim.
Phase4Motion@reddit
I gotta say no, boss. Save up more money and you can get one in way better shape. This is not the one.
GhostOfMrBojangles@reddit
If I were going to use that as a project car, it would only be a "body swap" project.
Check out the body swap subs. It's where you cut the entire substructure and drive train out of a newer car and fuse your crusty old body onto it. (You usually have to go with "wide body" fender flares because new suspensions are significantly wider than old ones.)
It would take some work, but that would be cool with a LS3 and modern handling and brakes. As a "restoration" heck no.
Civil-Zombie6749@reddit
Or mount the body on a 4x4 chassis...
notgreatus@reddit
What a pile of shit
Gorb87@reddit
Do you like it? Is it the right price? Will you have fun fixing it up? If yes, then do what makes ya happy. Alot of people want to start their project with a pristine car. I enjoy taking something others would throw away and giving it life. I have a truck that I’ve put 15 grand into that most wouldn’t buy for 5k. And i have no regerts.