Those of you who have 4th gens and have or had others, how do you compare them? I've had 2nd, 3rd and 4th. I miss my 2nd gen and it's the biggest regret ever to selling her but I had a 2 year old and preemie twins coming home from the hospital at the time and had to part with it.

Now I have this guy who has an 85 and it's all he talks about and knows. He puts off on the others. The 3rd gen has been my least liked so far. He went as far to say that the 3rd was worth more than my 81 would be and that car was in PERFECT condition when it was sold. Paint was superb and just a few years old and everything under the hood was shiny new.

 

I like how you left out the 1st gen's, we're in our own "special world"! lol
The value of the car doesn't increase or decrease solely based on the generation. Although they are still nice cars, the later 2nd gens are less desirable than the earlier ones. So yes an 81 can be worth less than an 85, depending on the condition of the 81 and what the 85 is, such as a low miles Z28 or IROC-Z.

 

Car value is based on a lot of things and can swing even within a year. It is all about supply and demand. With later 2nd gens and 3rd gen the value is tied to original option and current conditions.

There is no way to answer the question “ is the 3rd gen worth more than 2nd gens”. An 1985 all original Z28 worth more than a 1980 Berlinetta? In the same condition, maybe. I have seen people asking stupid money for later 2nd gens Z28 in all original condition or restored.

When you are talking early 2nd gen there is no comparison. You can get 5-6K for 70-73 shell with no motor even if the car was an original I6 car.
One observation. You do not see solid 2nd gen bodies going for scrap it happens every day to 3rd gens. In most cases only the Z’s are saved. Base models in need of major work are stripped and sold as scrap.

4th gens are the best engineered of the first four generations. They will out run all their older bothers except a very few pre emissions cars and out handle everything. Where the 4th gens failed is in the esthetics. IMO GM forgot the Camaro was a pony car that handles decent and tried to build a sports car. Even tho the Camaro out handled and out ran the Mustang the Stang out sold it. I do think the 3rd gen did take a step closer to sports car then the 2nd gen did but the 4th gen crossed the line. The 4th gen Camaro lost the Pony car war that had raged since 1967.

The 3rd generation where wildly popular when they where new. If history repeats, then when the kids that were in school when these were the cool cars will want these cars once they get older and can afford big dollar toys. Time will tell.

 

I didn't "leave" it out but I haven't owned a 1st or 5th. Both cars in question above are z28. I hate to say much, he could join lol. Leaving off the worth, how do you personally feel about the generations you've owned or driven.

 

I love all of this. You are more or less explaining my feelings. I don't care for the 3rd gens. The one my son has just doesn't do anything for me. V8? BTDT, don't need that. He's young and feels he needs it. My car has a better ride than his. It handles better to me. It feels sportier and for a 40 year old, that's a good thing. It keeps me feeling young.

I love the 1st gens but it's something I would never find or be able to afford if I found it. I will have a better chance at a brand new one.

 

There was a time when the 75-81 Camaro where close to worthless, No one wanted them. in the last 5 years that seems to have changed.
1980 Chevrolet Camaro Z28

IMO the 82-84 Camaros are now the red headed step child of the Camaro world. For me personly if I am at a auction and 3rd gen comes through I will watch it if its a L98 Z28 in original condition. Its pretty rare for a 2nd gen to come thru.

 

That car looks pretty identical to my first one. It was metallic gray though. It was very well taken care of. I had it for 5 years. We did take the stock stereo out. The only 8 tracks I had was the Eagles lol. I just had to have a cassette player in it. The interior was flawless. It was only 14 years old when I sold it. Coincidentally, that was in 95 (the same year as the one I have now).

 

I would guess that in 95 you did not get 20k for it Z28 in good condition always have a market but I could fenced in my back yard with 75-81 V6 Camaros cheaper then I could install a fence in 95.

Ok that may be an exaggeration but at every auction you get your scrapers. Guys that buy cars for the scrap value because dealers just don't want to mess with them. In the 90's I saw a lot of running inspected 2nd gen Camaros being bought by scrapers. Around 05-06 that switched to the V6 3rd gens.

 

I don't recall what it sold for but no it wasn't much at all.

 

I know how you feel. My wife and I have twins, we brought them home in her 1967 Barracuda. It was too impratical to pull car seats in and out of the Barracuda so we sold it for a roomier car, (a 4 door Cutlas Supreme )

That Barracuda was my wife's first car that her father restored and gave to her when she was 16 years old. She still gets sad whenever it's mentioned. Maybe one day we will find another one.

??? Uh Oh, am I about to get banned for mentioning a Mopar ??? Sorry, LOL