Should I buy this?
Posted by No-Statement5662@reddit | projectcar | View on Reddit | 51 comments
Thinking about buying this 1985 Trans Am for $800 and wanted some opinions.
Garage kept, T-tops, minimal rust from what I've seen, and my brother says it's very drivable with only minor work needed. It did have a mouse nest in the rear at one point, but it appears to have been cleaned up.
Assuming the floors and underside are solid, would you buy it for $800? Any common third-gen Trans Am issues or rust spots I should check before pulling the trigger?
Photos attached.
Blue_Kangaroo_42@reddit
No don’t buy it. Give me the details so I can.
artschool04@reddit
800 is great. Lets say new hoses fluid’s tires seals fix wires if you do it yourself its about 800-2000$ tires being the bulk cosy. If a there is nothing catastrophic if so ls time
Mental_Medium3988@reddit
id be concerned about the wiring and soft lines. the good news is those are a lot cheaper than body work. for $800 today id go for it.
Elated_copper22@reddit
I had an ‘87 IROC with leather, and someone told me they only made a few thousand, so I jumped on the Google and it’s the same situation. OP if those seats are original that’s a fairly rare car.
My IROC was about $3,000 and a fire suppression system for a paint booth, and I sold it a year later for $12,500. It was a 5.7 T top car.
When you get it into your garage go to third gen.org and ask some questions, they know their shit. I’d have been too excited if i stumbled on this car, I love thirdgens and can do the front suspension with my eyes closed.
Throttlechopper@reddit
sladebonge@reddit
It's worth 800 bucks for the shape that it's in, but remember:
If it really was that "minor" of a problem to fix, the owner would have done it himself and sold it for 5 grand instead.
GunnerValentine@reddit
Logic says this should be the case. But people are crazy... I've found a few gems for way cheaper than they should be that end up being great drivers for super cheap.
LakeSuperiorIsMyPond@reddit
I've already liked and subscribed to legit street cars if that's what you're promoting 🤣
Obnoxious_Gamer@reddit
Yeah. I got my Scamp for $1300 and all I had to do was replace the engine, transmission, rear end, all four wheels and tires, shorten the driveshaft, rebuild the entire suspension front and rear, replace a window and regulator, the gas tank, front and rear brakes plus a master cylinder, booster, and prop valve, and a lower driver side door hinge and it's pretty much good to go.
sladebonge@reddit
GunnerValentine@reddit
In some regards.. I am insanely lucky. I had a $300 76 wagoneer that ended up needing new tires and a carb clean. Insanely clean jeep, sold it for 5k a couple months later. That was back in 2022. Also bought a $500 XJ last summer that had some rust, but was insanely clean low miles, owned by a guy who worked at the Liberty Jeep dealership and had a shoebox full of records. Did some body work, rocker replacement, ended up selling that one for 8k. There's others but those two will always stand simply because they were great clean cars.
sladebonge@reddit
Nice
ConverseCLownShoes@reddit
It’s $800. I can see over $800 in good parts in the picture. Some people just don’t want to deal with a project anymore.
sladebonge@reddit
Yeah, that's why my very first sentence said what it said....
But assuming you think you're getting a car you can just drive every day for 800 bucks and there's no catch/downside never works out and should never be a reasonable expectation, especially when it's a mid-80s pontiac.
ConverseCLownShoes@reddit
Im saying it’s not a lot of risk for $800 and the rest of what I said is responding to everything after your very first sentence.
sladebonge@reddit
At no point did you even reference "the rest of what i said."
punkassjim@reddit
Likely because the rest of what you said was a massive jump to conclusion.
That’s only the case maybe less than half the time, and usually not when you know the seller quite well. More often it’s just that life got in the way, and before they knew it years had gone by. Sometimes it’s because a child came along. Sometimes it’s just ADHD. Sometimes it’s depression. Sometimes it’s just that someone bought a project they weren’t prepared for, and inertia is a real bitch. Sometimes it was an inheritance, and the responsibility wasn’t even wanted.
Your conclusion was one of many that can be legitimate. And the fact that the seller is OP’s brother means he likely has better insight about this than you do.
collegeatari@reddit
The older I get I don’t agree with this, older people just aren’t up to the project.
GhostWrex@reddit
I had a Datsun 280 Z I could have fixed up for cheapish and sold, but I was moving and didn't have the time, so I sold it for cheap instead
Ok_Narwhal6356@reddit
Garage kept is a huge plus. The paint will probably look fine after a solid buff. Just take a new battery and fresh gas with you and see what happens when you turn the key.
justLeDuck@reddit
For 800 bucks? Looking like that and garage kept? Fuck yeah I would any day
CombatDeffective@reddit
I just want to know how someone can store a car like that. It's not thick metal and paint scratches easy, its not a table.
Scope281713@reddit
Do it
PotatoDrives@reddit
If there's not much rust that price is great. I'd do a thorough inspection of the floors though. These T-Top cars rotted out real bad if they weren't garage kept. The T-Tops always leak.
McGee4531@reddit
Nice! If you have the money burning a hole in your pocket, yes.
MCXL@reddit
I'd buy it for that. Where is it?
cyberpunk1187@reddit
HERE I GO, AGAIN ON MY OWN!!! GOIN DOWN THE ONLY ROAD I'VE EVER KNOWN!!!
Marshall_Lawson@reddit
fuck yes
Existing-Box-7938@reddit
$800? That’ll prolly run if no part has been taken out of it. Just a bit of love and work. Ignore all the jealous haters saying not worth it. They’re probably scrambling trying to find out where this is. Parts alone could net you $2k. Those seats look really well kept.
1331bob1331@reddit
Send me the guys number and I will lol
CustomCarNerd@reddit
Cool Trans Am shaped shelf! Treat it better and give us updates!
OceanGrownPharms@reddit
Only if you agree to not touch that decal
basicKitsch@reddit
Hell yeah
swissarmychainsaw@reddit
if the engine is not in pieces I'd buy it in a heartbeat
monty2003@reddit
Good deal for $800. Make sure you get the title and keys if they have either. It will most likely need a gas tank or if you are lucky just the one in it cleaned. Don't forget to flush out the fuel lines too. I would guess the rubber brake hoses will need changed along with the master cyl. If it is a rear drum car, those brake cyl would be on my list too. For that car none of those parts should be expensive or hard to find.
wals02481@reddit
Hell yeah
Aleutian_Solution@reddit
Yes
OutlandishnessOk5549@reddit
Yes.
And report back.
No-Statement5662@reddit (OP)
I really appreciate everyone’s comments and advice here. After reading through everything, I’ve decided that I will be getting the Trans Am! I’m excited about the opportunity to bring it back to life and get it looking great again.
I think it’ll make an awesome summer cruiser here in Maine, and during the winter I’ll stick to driving my truck. Thanks to everyone who helped convince me to go for it. I can’t wait to get started on the project.
I’ll be sure to post updates along the way so you can all follow the progress!
theuautumnwind@reddit
Yes
whats_his@reddit
Yes
Dusty_Jangles@reddit
$800 is a steal even if it needed a motor or body work. But if there’s been mice in it, there probably still is. Sneaky little bastards.
OlYeller01@reddit
I’m a die hard blue bleeding Ford fan, but the only way I wouldn’t buy it for $800 is if the underside was completely holes-in-it corroded.
MatchesMX12@reddit
The color alone is worth the entry price
juwyro@reddit
I would've bought it yesterday even though I don't have a spot for it.
GunnerValentine@reddit
Stop asking questions and go hit the atm
LordoftheUmpaLumpas@reddit
Hell no...
goon_dude@reddit
Brother 800 is a steal for this
BKEDDIE82@reddit
I would grab it for 800 regardless. Even if I ended up parting it out.
Some_Conference2091@reddit
Dig it out to make sure it's not rust rotted.
For $800, if it's solid, it's a great price for a project car. I'm assuming you're going to restore or modify?
Entire-Extreme7327@reddit
The visible paint looks surprisingly good, given all the crap on top of it. I would want to see if there’s paint issues and dents under all that stuff. Otherwise, if it starts up and you can drive it, it sounds like a deal.