97 SS with 13K miles
I don't think it worth mid 20's right now even with the right buyer. There's a perfect '96 SS with similar miles for sale near me asking $16k. Been for sale forever and hasn't moved. Last year, I almost pulled the trigger on a '96 SS with under 20k original miles with a supercharged 383, 12-bolt, 6-speed, guy was asking under $10k. I bought a Formula WS6 years ago which is technically more rare with 8,600 miles for $12k. I just don't think the LT1 cars are worth much but I've been wrong on more than one occasion.
At the end of the day, OP has a sweet ride. I'm still sticking to mod it and keep the stock parts. Don't be like me (this may **** some people off) but I have thrown out and scrapped most of my stock parts with 10,000 of use on them. I still have some but will probably sell them off. I dislike stock cars, will never go back and don't want all the junk sitting around but obviously from a future value standpoint that isn't the smart way to go.
At the end of the day, OP has a sweet ride. I'm still sticking to mod it and keep the stock parts. Don't be like me (this may **** some people off) but I have thrown out and scrapped most of my stock parts with 10,000 of use on them. I still have some but will probably sell them off. I dislike stock cars, will never go back and don't want all the junk sitting around but obviously from a future value standpoint that isn't the smart way to go.
Last edited by StealthFormula; May 20, 2016 at 10:42 AM.
A car is meant to be driven. Simple. However, if you constantly have 2 or more commas in your bank account and your storage facility is 7 acres... why not just keep it original, clean and stored for some future kid to wrap around a pole while you're toying with something else? Regardless of how long this debate goes on you'll end the discussion with the same position you entered, 50/50. If I had that car AND my '01 Z28, I'd keep the SS in immaculate untouched condition and keep modding the Z28. You and the car are getting older. As you get older your love for cars may not die, but your desire to get out and build and drive will taper off and you'll constantly be thinking "I should have driven the hell out of that car."
My $.02
My $.02
TECH Regular
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 442
Likes: 3
From: Raleigh, NC
Absolutely drive it! It's a car that was built to be driven and enjoyed by a car lover. There are much better investment options to make plenty of money for your future and a car isn't one of them. Why store something just for someone else to get to drive later on? The kind of money you will get out of it won't bring happiness anywhere near having that SS for a weekend car. My 96 Z28 just hit 54k miles and I love every minute of it when I take it out on the weekends.
My Z28 has over 100k on the clock and while it is a nice clean car, it's hardly a pristine survivor; having been extensively modified and totally re-painted. Yeah, it's much faster and more capable than any stock f-body from that era. But if it were stock, pristine and virgin with very low miles it'd be more desirable in years to come. More to the point, mine hasn't been a daily driver in well over 10 years and even driving it all I please, it's annual mileage accumulation seldom exceeds 2000.
In short, if you want to build a street machine or race car, go with something a bit less rare than a pristine 1997 SS with 13k miles. Just keep that one, drive and enjoy it on nice days and use a nice, clean example of a Z28 or even another SS car with closer to average miles for a build.
If trans is auto or 6spd also makes a big difference in value....-20% for auto according to Hagerty.
Yet another way 6spds are better!
https://www.hagerty.com/apps/valuati...olet-Camaro-SS
Yet another way 6spds are better!https://www.hagerty.com/apps/valuati...olet-Camaro-SS
