1992 RS Camaro. First car for Der Burger.

So my daughter has been all over me for the last year and a half for us to purchase her a first car.
She has been all over the place with what she wants, but one that remained in play over that time was a 3rd gen Camaro.

We found this one in the local area on Marketplace and set up a time to go and see it.

I've been thinking about a 3rd gen for a beater race car for a while. I've got the aluminum Gen IV 5.3 from my suburban that needs a home and they are great platforms. Paint looks pretty rough for that price point, but if it is in solid mechanical condition and rust free with a decent interior, probably a pretty good deal. 92' would be TPI, right?

My first car (well, one that actually was driveable) was an '87 IROC with the 305/700R4/2.73. It was a fantastic first car. Very reliable, great looking cars and easy to work on. I'd love to have another, but it'd have to be '89-back cuz I don't like the updated dash and airbag wheel. But that's not a deal breaker for most

I had made her make all the connections and phone calls to the gentleman that was selling the car.
He is a 70 year old guy that over the phone wanted to make sure she knew what she was getting into as he knew she is an 18 year old girl.
So I put Max on the phone and he let him know we are better than novice with mechanical things.

The car is by no means perfect, it is far from it.
But it has good bones and seems to start right up after a few weeks of not being run.
There is a musty old car smell to it as well, but pulling up the carpet in the footwell shows NO rust.
Same pulling up the spare tire well carpet, no rust back there either.


It was originally green, but the PO to the PO has used plasti dip on it.
So that will be an adventure to figure out how to remove and then get it done.
The guy that did it, sprayed over everything but the glass, head, and tail lights.
Genius.


It is missing the headliner parts between the T-tops and some time in its past somebody broke in and stole the sub woofer out of it.
So the trunk is accessed via screwdriver.
The trim that goes over the rear speakers is also gone on both sides for some reason.

Bextreme04 said:

I've been thinking about a 3rd gen for a beater race car for a while. I've got the aluminum Gen IV 5.3 from my suburban that needs a home and they are great platforms. Paint looks pretty rough for that price point, but if it is in solid mechanical condition and rust free with a decent interior, probably a pretty good deal. 92' would be TPI, right?

Click to expand...

He told us over the phone he bought it for the wheels that were on it.
They were the stock ones that went on his 1986 Vette.
He paid $4,000 for it and then told us that he was set on $2,600 and no lower.

After it started right up and idled like a sewing machine I was good with his price.

It is actually a TBI car.
He wasn't super phone savvy so he didn't get us the engine bay shot before we went to see it.
It was a surprise that way.

We also know that it will peel those little 14 inch tires with no real issue and Max made sure it was not a time machine on the freeway ride home.
He made sure by taking it up to 90 mph...

Cool , big brother looking out for little sister!!!!!!

So I sent Max and Der Burger on the test drive while I talked with Tony.
He was surprised to hear that we are a hot rod family and that the car will be in good hands.
I explained that I have made both the kids engage in the research for their own cars by making contact and asking questions.

Her is Elizabeth aka Burger with her new to her machine.


We stopped for a snacks and bathroom at a nearby Fred Meyers where she got to drive it for the first time.

She loves it.

On the way home...


This is the bridge going over the Columbia river that separates Washington and Oregon.


And this is the Fremont Bridge in Portland that crosses over the Willamette (Will-am-ette) river the city is based around.
Portland has 12 bridges that cross the Willamette River.

Catbox said:

He told us over the phone he bought it for the wheels that were on it.
They were the stock ones that went on his 1986 Vette.
He paid $4,00 for it and then told us that he was set on $2,600 and no lower.

After it started right up and idled like a sewing machine I was good with his price.

It is actually a TBI car.
He wasn't super phone savvy so he didn't get us the engine bay shot before we went to see it.
It was a surprise that way.

We also know that it will peel those little 14 inch tires with no real issue and Max made sure it was not a time machine on the freeway ride home.
He made sure by taking it up to 90 mph...

Click to expand...

Interesting, maybe it was just the IROC that got the TPI with the 305? Or maybe it was a later year that they switched over... I'd say you guys got a great deal at the $2600!

Nice! That's a great start for her first car!

Bextreme04 said:

Interesting, maybe it was just the IROC that got the TPI with the 305? Or maybe it was a later year that they switched over... I'd say you guys got a great deal at the $2600!

Click to expand...

TPI was an option on Z28 and IROC cars from '85-up. My '87 was the last year for the carb on the standard engine, after that it was TBI. The 350 always had TPI.

Really cool car! The dark green (Polo Green) was a bit uncommon as it was only available for the '92 model year and it was introduced after the start of the model year, along with Purple Haze. Have you looked at the RPO codes yet? It's possible that it could have been a Z03 Heritage Edition with gold stripes.

Bextreme04 said:

Interesting, maybe it was just the IROC that got the TPI with the 305? Or maybe it was a later year that they switched over... I'd say you guys got a great deal at the $2600!

Click to expand...

TPI was only optional on Z28 and Iroc-z, then became standard on Z28 (no more Iroc-z) in '91. The only way you could get TPI in an RS was to get the B4C police package, which was essentially a 1LE special performance Z28, but without the hood scoops and the tall rear spoiler.

Catbox said:

So I sent Max and Der Burger on the test drive while I talked with Tony.
He was surprised to hear that we are a hot rod family and that the car will be in good hands.
I explained that I have made both the kids engage in the research for their own cars by making contact and asking questions.

Her is Elizabeth aka Burger with her new to her machine.

You must be registered for see images attach

We stopped for a snacks and bathroom at a nearby Fred Meyers where she got to drive it for the first time.

You must be registered for see images attach

She loves it.

On the way home...

You must be registered for see images attach

This is the bridge going over the Columbia river that separates Washington and Oregon.

You must be registered for see images attach

And this is the Fremont Bridge in Portland that crosses over the Willamette (Will-am-ette) river the city is based around.
Portland has 12 bridges that cross the Willamette River.

You must be registered for see images attach

Click to expand...

That smile says it all!! Lucky kid!!!

bucket said:

Really cool car! The dark green (Polo Green) was a bit uncommon as it was only available for the '92 model year and it was introduced after the start of the model year, along with Purple Haze. Have you looked at the RPO codes yet? It's possible that it could have been a Z03 Heritage Edition with gold stripes.

You must be registered for see images attach

Click to expand...

Not a Z03 car but does have Bose which is a fairly uncommon option.

In '92 a pal of mine bought a red over red RS 5.0 5speed, it was our Sr year. He smoked so much herb that I ended up driving the car more than he did while new. He eventually dropped out of HS & continued to smoke up his inheritance. He trashed it & sold it for a few more fixes. I sure did like that car.

HS