30thSS#217

I have a 97 SS with 13K on the whole car. Would you modify it? I had a Built Lt4 with T-trim built for it back in the day. Trying to decide if I should make the car worthy of carrying the SS badge since Hell Cats and others are making 500 to 700.

ElkySS

iTrader: (6)

I think I'd leave it alone and buy a z28 or even a v6 car

hrcslam

I'd leave it. Look at what 3rd Gens are going for now. In another 10 years you'll be kicking yourself for doing anything other than leaving the car stock.

I agree with ElkySS, find a nice Z28 roller and stick it in that. Hell, you can even make it an SS clone. In Phoenix I found a nice 1994 Z28 roller with staggered ZR1's in good condition for $1K.

bufmatmuslepants

iTrader: (3)

The hot rodder in me says that 13k mile short block is begging for more power. If you want to invest money in something, an lt1 f body is not it. Put it in stocks, 401k, gold, whatever, but cars are not it. **** Barrett Jackson, enjoy hot rodding.

StealthFormula

iTrader: (35)

I say mod it. I bought my Formula WS6 back in 2007 with under 9,000 miles on the odometer. It was pristine, the nicest F-body I had ever seen. I have no regrets modding it, I enjoy my car so much more than if it were stock. In my opinion nothing is better than a clean low mile car that hauls *** at the track and on the street.

sleeperZ96BT

iTrader: (2)

Do it, but don't do anything that can't be undone and put back to stock. Or buy a roller like someone else said and save the hassle.

SS RRR

iTrader: (2)

Mod it how you wish. Keep all original parts. Best of both worlds.

Mappinsj

Jeeeezeee that is low miles

sweetbmxrider

iTrader: (13)

Its worth more if you leave it alone.

HellTeeOne

The car will be worth much more if you leave it alone. If you want to mod one, find a good, clean Z28 or SS with mileage closer to average. You can find good ones for around $3k-$4k these days. The only thing I'd do with a 13k mile 97 SS is store it inside and drive it occasionally. The time will come when these cars will be more appreciated and values will climb.

Oh yea, post some pics.

palutZ28

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.

StealthFormula

iTrader: (35)

I couldn't agree more. I've got a few toys and I could care less if they become worthless one day. They were bought to have the **** kicked out of them and be enjoyed. If you keep a car like that sitting in a garage forever with hopes of making a few bucks you may die before that becomes a reality if it even does. Build long-term wealth by being smart and having a sound financial plan and enjoy cars for what they are.

SS RRR

iTrader: (2)

Exactly. There is no guarantee these cars are going to be worth anything any time soon, if ever. No reason to fret about miles where one day you may regret not driving it more. And when you decide to sell it, "There's an *** for every seat." As long as you keep in mind cars are horrible investments then there's no reason to worry about resale.

NewOrleansLT1

Ummm, where are the pics?!

hrcslam

I agree to a point. SOME cars are great investments. It all depends on the rarity of the vehicle and or the work put into it. I've made $2500 profit on a Catera in 3 days.

Rarely is a new car a good investment. Very rarely. Occasionally a used one is. And more commonly older specialty trim cars are.

30thSS#217

I had the car since Feb 1999. I rarely drove it once I bought it. I cloned a 1994 to look like it, black and orange instead of white and orange. I had more fun with the 1994 than the 97SS. Cause i didn't care if I smashed it or if if got damaged. It was a 1994 z28 with a slp hood and a slp wing. I sold the 94 as well as others to buy a house.

I thought of leaving it alone and I have since 1999, All I did was put slotted rotors on it. I still have the factory rotors for it. I paid 21K back in 1999. I drove it about 3000 miles since 1999 to now. But I mostly sits now.

Like some mention here. I can pull the motor, and keep the stock stuff, pull the 7.5 rearend and suspension and put it away. But with any uni-body, you need to tie the fame if your going to make the HP. Its a t-top car.

I have a BMR torque arm, a 12 bolt, the other built motor, the Supercharger, the inter cooler. ( the stuff I bought for the 94 z28 but never installed( I was running G2 suspension in the 94)

Hrcslam i can understand, I have a 1969 400/400 firebird CA plate car, with original lug nuts, still have all the factory a/c, deluxe interior, rally gauges, and even the bumper jack. Still has the factory motor, trans and rearend. But it still ins't worth as much as a 1969 Camaro.(will be a LSX car)

Stealthforumla: I can agree.

Thank you for the input. Driving it I do get looks, but as us guys know if a guy pulls up to you at the light. You have a choice, to say its rare, (even if is a 1969 396, camaro BBC car and etc) and get shut down with the new bread. Or Do u step up

bufmatmuslepants

iTrader: (3)

You paid $21,000 for it, if you don't touch it, maybe in 20 years you'll get $21,000 for it again. Right now if you sold it, you'd get MAYBE 10. Mod it. Even a low mileage 3rd gen iroc only gets in the teens, so you'd have to wait another at least 10 years to even get your $21,000 back.

I say mod it, and run drugs up the east coast or from Mexico to make some extra cash.

hrcslam

In 2010 a 1997 Camaro SS M6 Convertible sold at Barrett for $18K. In 2008 a 1997 Camaro SS A4 T-Top sold for $12K. I'd say in 10 years he may get what he bought it for. In 20, he should get more. Ignoring inflation of course (he'd have to sell his car for $30K today to break even on it).

That is to say, I agree. The car will likely never return him any net profit on investment. But the thing about the future is you never know. 5 years ago, most of us thought the 4th gen would never go up in value. I thought the same for the 3rd gens and C4 Corvettes, but look at them now. Even crappy ones are going for decent coin. Not collector car status of course, but they've increased for sure.

A 1969 Camaro is 47 years old. A 1997 Camaro is 19. Give the 1997 another 28 years and finding an original 1997 Camaro SS with low miles in good condition will be tough sledding.

Personally, I'd leave the car stock and find a nice roller for all the go fast parts you have. Make the 1997 an Heirloom and the other your toy. If you get a 1994 or 1995 donor, tuning becomes much easier too. The 1997 may never make a dime in net profit, but it certainly wont if you don't leave it how it is.

sweetbmxrider

iTrader: (13)

That car is worth mid $20s right now but finding a buyer is hard. If you mod it, it'll be worth less than it is now WITH mods. But hey, if you have money to burn and don't care long term then start bolting **** up.

ahritchie

iTrader: (1)

A concours level (absolutely perfect) condition 97 SS is worth 20K now... 12K in "excellent condition". Modding would only decrease the value.

I'd keep it stock and mod the hell out of a LS1 car with higher miles or a roller that's already hit rock bottom depreciation wise....easier to make big HP numbers too!