Let's talk about the 'HOSS'
 

When I first saw it in 1998 I thought it was the most horrid looking color I had ever seen. But then it started growing on me. So about a year ago I knew I had to have one. My wife couldn't take another Camaro in the garage but I've decided to sell or trade the 02 Z06 so another maro won't matter. From the pricing I've seen a fair trade would be somewhere around $12-15K and the HOSS for my Z06. (a 1LE might be closer to 8-10K)

First choice would be a 1LE but there are not many of those. There are however some hardtops around (I'm not sure I'll settle for t-tops) and the pricing on all these cars is good. A few are priced above low mileage 02's but the price still isn't out of site yet.

The car has to have great wheels to look good. That would take some research. 10 spoke chrome or C5 Z06 chromed might look good. I haven't seen a Fikse that I would like on orange catfish but I know there is a wheel that will set the car off perfectly. The engine will be a LSX, big cubes and solid roller. Ron/Mike say 800 street-able RWHP easy, NA.

There is a hardtop in Highlands, CA for $14,500 but how do you buy a car that is clear across the country?? I know I can get it shipped, that's not the problem. How do I get a pair of eyes on the car and how do you pay somebody that far away and know you're going to get your car?? :drive:

For a minute there I was like.....what's a HOSS? Is it some sort of special performance car I missed out on?

Then I realized Hugger Orange SS.....ohhhhhhhhh!

I think that is the BEST color on a Camaro.

Good luck with your hunt :cool:

IMHO these cars will start escalating in value soon. Some people are already getting a premium for theirs. Who knows what will happen in the future? When people look back at this era and the F-bods the only Yenko type cars (arguably) will be GMMG, but there will be other desirable cars too. I think the HOSS will be one of them. YMMV.

When I was shopping for my previous one, I just did a search on this site for "Hugger" and sent PM's to anyone that might own one. One guy replied that he had a friend with one, considered selling it. I got the guy's email address, and talked him into selling it :)

I even sent a PM to the guy that bought mine, asked if he would consider selling it back :jest:

Hugger SS is 1 of 375 built. Not super rare, but they are super-demand. If you can find one with low mileage, jump on it. Most became daily drivers, nobody knew the color would only be available for one year. I remember in late 1998 the local Chevy dealer had a bare-bones hugger SS, it had crank windows, hardtop, and no rear window defroster. Never looked to see if it were a 1LE, but I'm betting it was. Damn I wanted to trade my 98 Formula in, but I'd have been mega upside-down.

https://www.fquick.com/images/vehicles/full/290788.jpg

I am definitly not a collector of these 4th gens ....but i would not really want ANY car that was orange----unless it was a '69 Camaro. Sorry, but i believe this "hugger" ..will be worth 'nil' in 20 years...I sure would not buy it. :judge:NINE BALL----I know u like these cars...but really....they are not CLASSICS by any means. :) if u are looking to invest...you are looking the wrong way. :drive:

grb.. I'm sure you remember the threads and some responses that color alone doesn't drive up the price on a car.. (future tense)

The Hugger orange is collectable to some, as well as the purple color in '98, but if you're gonna turn the car into anything but stock (large cube/heads/cam).. you're killing the true collectablity of it.

Take mine for instance. Fully polished engine, added lots of power, but a true collector 20 years from now (the guys that will pay a premium) would rather have it bone stock.

Must be why people are always asking me to sell them mine. Your opinion is just that. An opinion.

Just because you won't buy one, that doesn't make it less of a potential collectible. The hugger 99 SS has already proven to be in high demand, always has been. In fact, it is one of the highest demand LS1 Camaros built. That will not change over time, it will only become more difficult to find them as time goes on.

I got more inquiries on people wanting to buy my hugger SS than any other f-body I've owned so far. Probably got at least 1 PM per week when I had it. Pretty safe bet that in 20 years people will still seek them out.

That might be the case for some ultra-rare car like a ZL1 or COPO Camaro, but not so for just a car like this. For example, my previous red 69 Camaro was a true X55 code SS-350. Had it been perfectly restored and numbers matching, it would have been worth about $35-40K tops. I sold it for $60K with the modern LSX engine and late model brakes and suspension work. Modified collectible cars can sometimes be worth more than stock cars. Not all numbers matching cars are worth alot.

Hey 2xLS1, maybe he's right. It is a gaudy color and most people really don't like orange cars.
This might be a good chance for you to unload yours on me! :devil:

BTW - there are plenty of HOSS's out there and most are priced like any other '99 Maro. Those of us, everybody in this thread, think they will be collectors and admire the unique color. As usual, plenty of people don't think any late model Maro will ever be worth a dime. So now is a good time to buy!

I'm going to post a picture next week of my favorite SS angle. I don't think I've ever seen a pic from this angle and not sure it will turn out right. We'll see! I love it! :drive:

Yeah i had my eye on one...a buddy of mine has got a 99 HOSS 1LE with about 20k mi. on the clock. But my begging and demanding wouldnt convince him to sell it. It still sits tucked away in his garage only to see light maybe 10 days a year. :(

Simple, LS1tech. Get a lot of pictures and look it over, car fax the vin and post in the regional forum that covers California on this site, some one in that area would check it out for you I'm prety sure of it. Also, theres a couple guys who work for dealers on this site, they can run the VIN and get you a full service history on it.

Ditto! I agree about the numbers matching! Would I pay a lot of money for a 69 Camaro ragtop, with a numbers matching 6 cylinder, or 307 and powerglide? Hell no! Would I be like the idiot in Phoenix that paid 3 million for a Hemi Cuda at BJ a couple years back (if I could afford it)? Hell no! I think guys that truly understand performance cars will find these cars desirable. I beleive that history will repeat itself (not only just in horsepower) with these cars going up in value in the future just like the first era muscle cars. Gas is back up to over $3 gal for regular out here in CA., and if it stays that way, I believe that the current muscle cars will disappear also, because they wont sale enough to justify production. The 4th gen cars are the best all around performing Camaros built to date. If youre a serious Camaro fan, they will be desirable...

Which Highlands? What's the address? If it's close (there is one 20 miles from me near LA) I could do some recon for you...

Demon - I'll get back to you. It's in Auto-Trader. Zip 92346. The guy doesn't give the VIN, which kind of worries me. Private seller, 949 area code.

rob c - I think the point you are making is why resto-mods have outpaced everything else. Why have generations old tech. when you can have LSX? Would you rather have a plain Jane maro or a 427 Katech, Lingenfelter or whatever??? If you blew the motor on a Z-16 Chevelle and the dealer just happened to replace the 396/375 with a ZL-1 427 motor would it be worth more or less??

There's a HOSS 6sp w/60K right by me in Philly,Pa.
If anyones interested...

I'm interested. E-mail or post some info. You are welcome to give the guy my e-mail address. Got to have a great body, no rust and no wrecks.

So what do you think this guy thinks his car is worth? Is he going to keep it forever or just wait until the right offer comes along? Car guys say they will never sell every car we own. But we do. :devil:

949 area code is south orange county.. i used to live there for 25 years.. NICE place to live.. people usually have nice cars there.. (if you didnt know 949 is the same area code for the show THE OC).. so i bet someone has kept up the keep on it..

I agree with grb, that dude probably won't sell you his 1LE HOSS because you aren't offering enough ;)