C4 question
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 6,332
Likes: 1,141
From: Vermilion OH
Keep us posted on what you find out. I think the car could potentially be a great buy! Would be nice if the car had the 4+3 trans and Z51 suspension! Of course you wouldn't know for sure about the Z51 until you were able to get into the car and look at the SPID label. Might be near impossible to see the spring code without raising the hood. And at that, the code sticker is likely covered in grime anyways.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 483
Likes: 157
If the seller cares that little about selling the car, I'd walk away unless you just like to gamble. Wouldn't take much for me to get a door open so it could be inspected. Wash it, air up the tire and open her up....Even the auction house should have told them to do at least that much. What's the link for the auction? Not that I want that mystery box....
84 might have a barrel odometer, so you could at least see miles. I'm telling ya, that key is around that shop.
I think I see window sweep damage, which can indicate exposure or ware. Look for amount of rock chips on front end (more = miles), is rim clear delaminated, exhaust (system) mufflers rusted, shocks rusted or is paint good, front turn signals clear or pitted and cloudy, weather strip torn or in tact, rear carpet curled up and faded, seats and steering wheel worn or torn. All indicators of overall care or use.
Check tire dates. Original to car means less miles.
84 might have a barrel odometer, so you could at least see miles. I'm telling ya, that key is around that shop.
I think I see window sweep damage, which can indicate exposure or ware. Look for amount of rock chips on front end (more = miles), is rim clear delaminated, exhaust (system) mufflers rusted, shocks rusted or is paint good, front turn signals clear or pitted and cloudy, weather strip torn or in tact, rear carpet curled up and faded, seats and steering wheel worn or torn. All indicators of overall care or use.
Check tire dates. Original to car means less miles.
Last edited by detroitrust; Mar 16, 2023 at 09:33 AM.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 688
Likes: 243
From: Spokane Wa.
If the seller cares that little about selling the car, I'd walk away unless you just like to gamble. Wouldn't take much for me to get a door open so it could be inspected. Wash it, air up the tire and open her up....Even the auction house should have told them to do at least that much. What's the link for the auction? Not that I want that mystery box....
84 might have a barrel odometer, so you could at least see miles. I'm telling ya, that key is around that shop.
I think I see window sweep damage, which can indicate exposure or ware. Look for amount of rock chips on front end (more = miles), is rim clear delaminated, exhaust (system) mufflers rusted, shocks rusted or is paint good, front turn signals clear or pitted and cloudy, weather strip torn or in tact, rear carpet curled up and faded, seats and steering wheel worn or torn. All indicators of overall care or use.
Check tire dates. Original to car means less miles.
84 might have a barrel odometer, so you could at least see miles. I'm telling ya, that key is around that shop.
I think I see window sweep damage, which can indicate exposure or ware. Look for amount of rock chips on front end (more = miles), is rim clear delaminated, exhaust (system) mufflers rusted, shocks rusted or is paint good, front turn signals clear or pitted and cloudy, weather strip torn or in tact, rear carpet curled up and faded, seats and steering wheel worn or torn. All indicators of overall care or use.
Check tire dates. Original to car means less miles.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Mar 2023
Posts: 13
Likes: 4
Hey went to look at it today, no body damage, and the paint is not weathered, rims are in good condition, the tires are from 2006, it is an automatic, the interior looks to be in good condition besides the wear on the driver seat, the bad- oil leak would expect on a car thats sat, windshield is cracked, rear exhaust is off and sitting on the ground looks like a crappy repair job, that headlight mechanism is stuck. Just curious on everyones opinion I wouldn't plan on fixing it right away, I have a 6 month old son and would like to fix it up with him. Thanks
Pro
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 688
Likes: 243
From: Spokane Wa.
The interior does look pretty good and from what you have described it would clean up nicely on the exterior. If you have a place to store it indoors it could be a fun project. As I mentioned above, I would be all in at $2500 given what it is and all that it needs both seen and unseen.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 793
Likes: 49
From: St.Paul MN
I'll try to be of help. There are a lot of utube videos on how to fix just about anything on a car, so long as you can find the key you can save a ton of $ by doing the labor. Looks like a lot of work to me, but sounds like you and your son would have a project.
Having stated that, later models 92 (refresh year) c4's should go for about 9-10k running and in great shape. Please correct me if I'm wrong folks.
No maintenance records means a lot to most buyers when buying any car that old, even if it were in running order.
To cut to the chase, if there are keys, I wouldn't pay more than $2k for it.
Having stated that, later models 92 (refresh year) c4's should go for about 9-10k running and in great shape. Please correct me if I'm wrong folks.
No maintenance records means a lot to most buyers when buying any car that old, even if it were in running order.
To cut to the chase, if there are keys, I wouldn't pay more than $2k for it.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 688
Likes: 243
From: Spokane Wa.
If the car isn't that far away I would see if you can get a pic of the SPID. Post it on here and it will tell us how the car came equipped. It should be in the compartment behind the drivers seat. I'm guessing that you had the hood open and checked the condition of the fluids? If the brake fluid is dark you can just about count on having to go through the brake system completely. Overall the car looks quite original which is a good thing in that maybe Bubba hasn't had his hands on too many things.
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Pro
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 688
Likes: 243
From: Spokane Wa.
I guess there are services that can give you the build from the vin but from what I have learned that is only available from 1990 and newer. If you can get a pic of the spid it can be decoded easily on here.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 688
Likes: 243
From: Spokane Wa.
In case you aren't familiar with what SPID means it stands for Service Parts Identification decal. It lists all of the options and what the car came with from the factory. It's a bunch of 3 digit codes that are a combination of numbers and letters that explain how the car was built so that if you are ordering parts for it you will get the correct ones. Very handy in finding out if the car came with certain desirable options and suspension packages.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 12,109
Likes: 50
From: SW Michigan
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 6,332
Likes: 1,141
From: Vermilion OH
The interior appears nice and the cloth sport seats are a huge plus! Often times the sport seats were paired with the Z51 suspension so you might have found a great car with those two options. The car seems like it wpupd be a good buy and would be perfect to restore. With that said, the SPID label will be located on the driver's side storage bin frame. Lift the lid and you should spot it right away. Here's the SPID label on my 84:
