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Hello everyone- new here but a Chevy guy through and through.
Looking for feedback and trying to navigate next steps on a 1981 Z28.
My father in law passed away in August and my wife has made the decision to drive her dads Z28 for a couple months and then likely sell it - just some car shows etc.
It has been sitting for a few years, when I got it started I noticed a good list of items that need attention to be road worthy. It’s going to be around $5k for everything needed - valve covers/gaskets, carb, tires, brakes plugs, wires, exhaust
it only has 51,xxx miles one owner since new.
Knowing the end game of selling it, is it worth putting $5-7k into it? I don’t even know what the value would be after it mechanically sound and detailed.
Any feedback is greatly appreciated from the Camaro community.
It is a pretty car, but definitely not a "survivor" and "all original". Lower grill incorrect, headlight buckets and turn signal buckets were painted too shiny, wheels were painted and color seems off-should be darker, center cap emblem missing.
It is a pretty car, but definitely not a "survivor" and "all original". Lower grill incorrect, headlight buckets and turn signal buckets were painted too shiny, wheels were painted and color seems off-should be darker, center cap emblem missing.
Don't listen to smahui the Newbie there.
The only thing not original is the '88 - '89 IROC-Z rims, a nice upgrade.
your best bet is to be honest and use the Hagerty Valuation Tool (Google it) to find real world value.
I've owned and restored many Camaros including a very nice original '81 Z28 with a numbers matching 350 4 speed. It would be well worth investing some money in the maintenance items you described.
The only thing not original is the '88 - '89 IROC-Z rims, a nice upgrade.
your best bet is to be honest and use the Hagerty Valuation Tool (Google it) to find real world value.
I've owned and restored many Camaros including a very nice original '81 Z28 with a numbers matching 350 4 speed. It would be well worth investing some money in the maintenance items you described.
Mike.
Mike - thank you for the response, I appreciate it. I have been poking around Hemmings, Hagerty and BaT - I know it's not perfect, but I want to honor my father-in-law by getting it back to an on the road driver and pass on the car to someone else to enjoy. Thank you for the feedback I appreciate it!
Where did you come up with $5K for everything needed?
I don't see near that much if you can do the work yourself,shouldn't be anything that hard to do it's a simple enough car.
Where did you come up with $5K for everything needed?
I don't see near that much if you can do the work yourself,shouldn't be anything that hard to do it's a simple enough car.
You make assumptions. My Brother in-law is the smartest person I know. I love math and use it every day in my job but he is the type of guy that writes the logarithms I use. In fact I asked him a question about stress and he wrote it out and simplified so he just gave me a formula to use in about 5 minutes. At work I would have been told that would take a week from a senior engineer. But, I would not trust my Brother in-law to change the oil in my winter unit. I am not saying that is the case here just that it could be.
Where did you come up with $5K for everything needed?
I don't see near that much if you can do the work yourself,shouldn't be anything that hard to do it's a simple enough car.
Great question - I included an assumption for some detailing and paint touch up / paint correction.
We are renovating our home and I’m doing most of the work myself - I have to pick my battles.
Im also doing a bunch of mechanical work on my personal truck (85 K20).
I hate paying someone else to do some of this stuff on the Camaro when like you said it’s an easy vehicle to work on.
1981 Z28 - One Owner
