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View Full Version : Opinions needed on a '92 ZR-1...


bdw18_123
04-29-2010, 08:48 PM
A buddy of mine is thinking about buying a '92 ZR-1 and he wants some opinions on the car's value from some ZR-1 experts. Except for the damage to the transmission tunnel, he said the car is very clean and in good condition. Car is #459. He posted this question over at CF (he's "eguyett1985" over there), I've cut and pasted his question here for him:


eguyett1985:

"I'm looking at picking up a 92 ZR1 with 43k on it. The car is Red/Black, 1 owner, window sticker, etc. Now here's the problem; the car had a minor electrical fire underneath in the trans tunnel, the reverse light switch shorted causing the harness to catch fire briefly which scorched the LH side of the floor next to the transmission and the area of the firewall below the wiper motor. The owner opened the hood right away and put the fire out; the underside of the hood is completely undamaged as is the engine and the interior.

The car was fully insured and the body shop and the insurance company were unable to locate a replacement harness over the past year and the car has sat in my friend's shop with a pending lien sale against it until last week when the body shop got title to the car. Unfortunately, the owner sent the insurance company the title he had in his possession 2 weeks earlier and accepted a payout on the car.

So now, I have been offered the car with the necessary minor floorpan repair made and the engine and trans on a pallet at a great price; I have located a perfect replacement harness and can put the car back together in short order. I'm just hesitant to buy it now that I ran a Carfax on it and it shows a Salvage Title. If I document the initial damage, is it going to deter a potential buyer somewhere down the road and/or what is the value going to be if I keep it? I just wanted to throw this out there and see what the consensus was with you guys that are Z owners."

XfireZ51
04-29-2010, 09:36 PM
Sorry. What's the question?:confused:

bdw18_123
04-29-2010, 09:39 PM
Sorry. What's the question?:confused:

He wants opinions about what the car is worth.

(I've edited the original post for added clarity. I thought it was pretty clear what the question was, but apparently not...)

VetteMed
04-29-2010, 09:55 PM
To most buyers, salvage title = 30-40% reduction in value, regardless of how good the explanation is. Just MHO....

tccrab
04-29-2010, 09:56 PM
As far as I know, there's no way to clean a salvage title here in CA.
Resale value on the car, no matter what condition it is, will always be less than a car with a clean title.
If he plans to drive it till it drops, then he's getting a bargain.
If he plans to buy it to flip it, not so good an idea.

Red/Black guts (common color combo), 43k miles, '92 with salvage title, motor out of the car probably worth around $10k or less.
Fixed up and running, maybe worth around $15k, hard to say in today's market.
I've seen high mile '90's on eBay go for less than $15k, can't imagine anyone paying top dollar for a car with a salvage title, no matter what the story is.

TomC
'Crabs

LGAFF
04-29-2010, 11:04 PM
eguyett1985:

I have spoken to this guy before, he has a Gulstrand car with Dymags....he also knows a lot of guys from GM....including Scott Leon, who was Snakeskinners keeper.


I want to say that he also does tuning on Forg GTs..

todesengel
04-29-2010, 11:20 PM
I wouldn't give 5k for it personally

bdw18_123
04-30-2010, 12:59 AM
eguyett1985:

I have spoken to this guy before, he has a Gulstrand car with Dymags....he also knows a lot of guys from GM....including Scott Leon, who was Snakeskinners keeper.


I want to say that he also does tuning on Forg GTs..

Yes, he does have a 1985 red GS80 car, but it doesn't have the original GS motor, he bought it that way. And yes, he does do work on Ford GTs - installing aftermarket supercharger & exhaust setups and maintenance. He gave me a ride in an 830HP Ford GT, holy crap, talk about acceleration! (I posted a video I made of the ride here in the off-topic area)

He also does work on Corvettes and sometimes other misc cars. His shop is near where I live, I go there on Wednesday's to hang out and talk with him and other guys that regularly stop by.

I know how much he is being offered the car for, but I don't know if he wants me to reveal it or not. I will say it is less than $10K, which would include the necessary repairs to the fiberglass area in the trans tunnel (the body shop that has the car would do it, he knows the guy).

WB9MCW
04-30-2010, 01:50 AM
Well then if he can put it all together for 10 to 11K

And it is worth 13-14K

He can drive it for a good # of years and put 20K miles on it and break even --maybe

Kevin
04-30-2010, 02:17 AM
buying a car and worrying about resale is pointless. stick the money in the bank if you're worried about down the road. I'd probably consider that a really good candidate for some serious mods

tomtom72
04-30-2010, 10:46 AM
:o JMHO from my view point if I could get a Z that cheaply and didn't care about future resale value.....I'd jump on it. Even if I was the kind that traded cars frequently it might still be a good situation. I mean the person that buys dog eared hot rods, fixes them up and has some fun for awhile and then sells to get the next project that tickles the fancy.

Or you can fix it & drive a C4 ZR-1 for what looks to be under even a salvage value. As an added benefit you could even hang on to it and since you're in so cheaply make a 427 out of it some day...picture that on a license plate..."4Cam-427"...talk about confusing people...it's priceless!:redface:

If on the other hand, you trade cars to constantly move up in money towards that Enzo you always wanted...then this car with a salvage title may not help you get to that goal.

:cheers:
Tom

iliad427
04-30-2010, 05:46 PM
I have a '92 Zee and prices are way down for running cars. I would offer him the low end of the scale.