1990 time capsule
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 256
Likes: 35
From: Soddy Daisy TN
1990 time capsule
OK let me ask you guys a question,
A friend of the family has a 1990 coupe that they ordered and bought new and now they want to sell it. It's an automatic, standard 5.7 350 , with both tops.
The car has only 3600 miles on it but it hasn't been cranked in 10 years or so. I'm hoping for the best but expecting the worse such as, brakes leaked down or stuck, a/c leaked down, gas in tank and the rest of the system bad, etc.
Its a beautiful car with every piece of paperwork, even the dealer prep stuff. It even has the paper instructions still on the parking brake. The only thing changed from original is the battery. It has always been garaged and covered but still is in need of extreme cleanup.
What in the world is it worth? I want to be fair on the offer but I'm also considering everything that must be done just to drive it down the road.
Thanks, Steve
A friend of the family has a 1990 coupe that they ordered and bought new and now they want to sell it. It's an automatic, standard 5.7 350 , with both tops.
The car has only 3600 miles on it but it hasn't been cranked in 10 years or so. I'm hoping for the best but expecting the worse such as, brakes leaked down or stuck, a/c leaked down, gas in tank and the rest of the system bad, etc.
Its a beautiful car with every piece of paperwork, even the dealer prep stuff. It even has the paper instructions still on the parking brake. The only thing changed from original is the battery. It has always been garaged and covered but still is in need of extreme cleanup.
What in the world is it worth? I want to be fair on the offer but I'm also considering everything that must be done just to drive it down the road.
Thanks, Steve
Last edited by olDW17; Sep 3, 2018 at 08:05 PM.
Zen Vet Master Level VII
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 5,214
Likes: 1,173
From: Southlake, TX
While low miles is always attractive you will need to put a lot of money into the car to get it road worth. Consider:
Tires
Fluids, coolant, trans, oil
Fuel system, tank, filter and pump
Brakes, fluids (stuck caliper?)
engine tune
Assorted electrical gremelins
So, whats it worth? Id base it on starting with a sorted, road worthy car, minus your required maintenance (for the car you are considering) expenses and then add 10-20% extra for low miles
Tires
Fluids, coolant, trans, oil
Fuel system, tank, filter and pump
Brakes, fluids (stuck caliper?)
engine tune
Assorted electrical gremelins
So, whats it worth? Id base it on starting with a sorted, road worthy car, minus your required maintenance (for the car you are considering) expenses and then add 10-20% extra for low miles
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 9,060
Likes: 214
From: Epping NH
Also I would first remove the belt and turn the crank to see if it freely moves by hand before trying to actually start since it's been sitting for so long.
As for what it's worth, taking a stab here, but because of virtually no miles and probably still physically in great shape maybe between $10-$13K.
Last edited by bac22; Sep 4, 2018 at 08:16 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 20,974
Likes: 261
Low miles is cool.
1990= 28 years old no matter how you spin it. All m[arts mentioned above and I would include suspension components and bushings. Maybe injectors and fuel pump too. Who knows.
Either way, the bones are there. Drain fluids, refill, change tires,and drive it... knowing that somethings might be worn out or break.
10k if you really like it if you ask me.
-Not valuable even if in great shape, definitely a potential project, and a ton of unknowns. At this point it is a clean car that needs work.,. the miles happen to be low.
Don't worry about the not driving. I personally have let my car sit 8 years before. I don't care about driving it much. I stuck about as much in to it as it cost new to make it fun, and I still barely drive it.
1990= 28 years old no matter how you spin it. All m[arts mentioned above and I would include suspension components and bushings. Maybe injectors and fuel pump too. Who knows.
Either way, the bones are there. Drain fluids, refill, change tires,and drive it... knowing that somethings might be worn out or break.
10k if you really like it if you ask me.
-Not valuable even if in great shape, definitely a potential project, and a ton of unknowns. At this point it is a clean car that needs work.,. the miles happen to be low.
Don't worry about the not driving. I personally have let my car sit 8 years before. I don't care about driving it much. I stuck about as much in to it as it cost new to make it fun, and I still barely drive it.
Last edited by pologreen1; Sep 4, 2018 at 11:00 AM.
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Drifting
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,274
Likes: 399
From: Tacoma WA
2024 C4 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
You should be OK even if it has not been driven for ten years IF they drained the gas and ran it until out of fuel. Fuel lines can get "sticky" if left with old fuel in them. That would be the biggest pain to deal with but not very costly.
I paid $9,700 for a 1992 6sp coupe with all options including the ZO7 package last year. I am the fourth owner and the car had 19,700 miles when I bought it. It had not been registered for 8 years but was in perfect condition but I still spent time and money bringing it back to being a dependable car. New injectors, new fuel filter, new knock and O2 sensors, new tires (still had the originals on it), all new fluids, and a new serpentine belt. Runs like the day it came out of the showroom and takes home a trophy at every show I have entered.
I would not hesitate buying the one you mentioned but would not pay more than $11,000 for it (even though I wish the prices would go up) and still assume you will spend $1,000 to $1,500 making it perfect to drive any time you want.
I paid $9,700 for a 1992 6sp coupe with all options including the ZO7 package last year. I am the fourth owner and the car had 19,700 miles when I bought it. It had not been registered for 8 years but was in perfect condition but I still spent time and money bringing it back to being a dependable car. New injectors, new fuel filter, new knock and O2 sensors, new tires (still had the originals on it), all new fluids, and a new serpentine belt. Runs like the day it came out of the showroom and takes home a trophy at every show I have entered.
I would not hesitate buying the one you mentioned but would not pay more than $11,000 for it (even though I wish the prices would go up) and still assume you will spend $1,000 to $1,500 making it perfect to drive any time you want.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 2,090
Likes: 599
From: Question Government
A friend of the family has a 1990 coupe that they ordered and bought new and now they want to sell it. It's an automatic, standard 5.7 350 , with both tops.
The car has only 3600 miles on it but it hasn't been cranked in 10 years or so. I'm hoping for the best but expecting the worse such as, brakes leaked down or stuck, a/c leaked down, gas in tank and the rest of the system bad, etc.
Its a beautiful car with every piece of paperwork, even the dealer prep stuff. It even has the paper instructions still on the parking brake. The only thing changed from original is the battery. It has always been garaged and covered but still is in need of extreme cleanup.
What in the world is it worth? I want to be fair on the offer but I'm also considering everything that must be done just to drive it down the road.
The car has only 3600 miles on it but it hasn't been cranked in 10 years or so. I'm hoping for the best but expecting the worse such as, brakes leaked down or stuck, a/c leaked down, gas in tank and the rest of the system bad, etc.
Its a beautiful car with every piece of paperwork, even the dealer prep stuff. It even has the paper instructions still on the parking brake. The only thing changed from original is the battery. It has always been garaged and covered but still is in need of extreme cleanup.
What in the world is it worth? I want to be fair on the offer but I'm also considering everything that must be done just to drive it down the road.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 2,099
Likes: 47
From: Minneapolis MN
Not Started in approx 10 years??? I'd express to the seller all that is involved with a car that needs every fluid and filter changed, including draining the gas tank etc, before you can even attempt to start it. It's the only proper safe way to bring life back to the car. Also, include the cost and hassle of having the car towed to your place or mechanic. You can't just top off fluids and start it up with a new battery. I'd base your offer price on a similar year "running" car that was moderately maintained with 130,000 miles on it. Research asking prices on similar running Vettes in your area with high mileage to get a ballpark price. That price would probably be reality, since any buyer will have to put out a lot of cash into this car just to start it.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 256
Likes: 35
From: Soddy Daisy TN
The car has sat for many years, long enough for 2 tires to go flat. My friend who owned it was 78 and had been ill for a long time. Just one of those things, didn't feel like getting it out.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 4,564
Likes: 1,676
Ok, it sat for 10 years. It's 28 years old now, so it was only driven 3,600 miles in 18 years? That's only 200 miles a year, average, prior to it being stored. Pretty hard to believe. Easier to believe that it probably had a CCM replacement 3,600 miles ago, and the odometer reading wasn't transferred to the new CCM.
There isnt isn’t a big enough eyeroll smiley for your constant CCM mileage scam claims.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,062
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
The guy got sick and parked it I believe. Been coming up on 3 yrs here-
Long as the cyl walls arent rusted (a borescope and pullinga plug can solve that mystery) Id be all over it.
Hard to put a value on it..budget a couple grand in case, hope for the best. Id have no problem with something that low mile, its worth it....IF you drive it!
He would be crazy to sell it for even 10k. Its like new...just not a collector but how many are there like that & how bad do you want it?
Long as the cyl walls arent rusted (a borescope and pullinga plug can solve that mystery) Id be all over it.
Hard to put a value on it..budget a couple grand in case, hope for the best. Id have no problem with something that low mile, its worth it....IF you drive it!
He would be crazy to sell it for even 10k. Its like new...just not a collector but how many are there like that & how bad do you want it?
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,357
Likes: 3,253
From: Hartford WI
The guy got sick and parked it I believe. Been coming up on 3 yrs here-
Long as the cyl walls arent rusted (a borescope and pullinga plug can solve that mystery) Id be all over it.
Hard to put a value on it..budget a couple grand in case, hope for the best. Id have no problem with something that low mile, its worth it....IF you drive it!
He would be crazy to sell it for even 10k. Its like new...just not a collector but how many are there like that & how bad do you want it?
Long as the cyl walls arent rusted (a borescope and pullinga plug can solve that mystery) Id be all over it.
Hard to put a value on it..budget a couple grand in case, hope for the best. Id have no problem with something that low mile, its worth it....IF you drive it!
He would be crazy to sell it for even 10k. Its like new...just not a collector but how many are there like that & how bad do you want it?
Easy. Get a PDI to see what it takes and I'd see what excellent condition goes for on the "SOLD" pages not the "I want" pages.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 256
Likes: 35
From: Soddy Daisy TN
Ive known the car since it was new. It was a gift from his wife and he parked it beside his other cars and hotrods.
Even if it could be bought for 10k, I don't know if there is any resale value there by the time it's brought up to 'driving' status.
thanks guys for all of your input on this. I'll let you know what happens