I just purchased a 1987 Z/28 hardtop, Sedona Tan(51U), dealer ordered(1AY), AM Radio(UL6). I've read that there were only 179 camaro's with the AM Radio option. I've also read that there were only 3,052 yellow camaro's in '87. It's all orginal with a little over 70k miles. Is there any chance that I've scored a rare machine here? Is there somewhere I can send off to get the exact number of cars made in '87 with my option combinations?

 

I just purchased a 1987 Z/28 hardtop, Sedona Tan(51U)

Good find! FYI, Color Code 51 is called "Yellow" by GM. It will be called a host of other names by different sources/people....


.... dealer ordered(1AY)

This means the car was originally ordered by the dealership for their stock. Most Camaros have this. Specially (customer) ordered units are RPO 1AZ.


AM Radio(UL6). I've read that there were only 179 camaro's with the AM Radio option.

Correct. Rare by numbers. Not particularly rare by desirability. It just makes for a nice conversation piece though.


I've also read that there were only 3,052 yellow camaro's in '87.

True. One of the rarer colors but not the rarest.


Is there any chance that I've scored a rare machine here?

I'm assuming it's a Z28, not an IROC-Z. Just this fact makes the car rarer as only 14,718 Z28's and 38,889 IROC-Z's were made in 1987. I'm further assuming it has silver ground effects and gray striping?


Is there somewhere I can send off to get the exact number of cars made in '87 with my option combinations?

Sorry, Chevy did not keep records of option combinations. Unfortunately I know too much about this as I own a rare 1987 Z28 convertible. No official records of how many were made......

 

Boy! that is an odd combination of options for a dealer ordered car. What option package level do you have? There were four for the Z28 in 87.

We need more info, and pictures please!

 

Boy! that is an odd combination of options for a dealer ordered car.

No lie. I'm thinking the dealer may have wanted to install an aftermarket stereo (with a huge markup) but someone came along before they had a chance????


What option package level do you have? There were four for the Z28 in 87. We need more info, and pictures please!

Actually three: 1SA, 1SB & 1SC. Same for the IROC-Z.

Yes, pictures!! Also, what engine and transmission????

Willie

 

Wow, thanks for all the info guys. Yes, it's a Z/28 and not an Iroc, and it has the 305 Carburated engine with 4 speed automatic transmission. It has the silver ground effects with grey striping. Here are the RPO codes found underneath the glove box lid:

AR9 -SEAT, FRT BKT, EUROPEAN STYLE, PASS A DRIVER RECL
B94 -ORNAMENTATION, EXTR EMBLEM, BODY, VAR I
B97 -ORNAMENTATION, EXTR MLDG, LOWER ACCENT
C60 -HVAC SYSTEM, AIR CONDITIONER FRT MAN CONTROLS
D08 -PAINT, HIGH GLOSS FINISH
D34 -MIRROR, VISOR VANITY
D35 -MIRROR, OUTSIDE REAR VIEW
D6D -COLOR OVERRIDE, TRIM AND PAINT COMPATABILITY
D80 -SPOILER, RR END PNL
D88 -DECAL, STRIPE, SPORT
E5Z -SPEEDOMETER ADAPTER (DELETE)
E7Z -SENSOR, VEH SPD - DELETE
E9Z -KEY, SPEEDO - DELETE
F41 -SUSPENSION SYSTEM, FRT, RR, FIRM RIDE, HANDLING
GU2 -AXLE REAR, 2.73 RATIO
J50 -BRAKE SYSTEM, POWER
K60 -GENERATOR, 100 AMP
LG4 -ENGINE, GAS, 8 CYL, 5.0L, 4BBL
MD8 -TRANSMISSION, AUTO 4 SPD, THM 700 R4
MX0 -MERCHANDISED, TRANS, AUTO PROVISIONS, O/D
NA5 -EMISSION SYSTEM, FEDERAL, TIER O
N0D -ASSEMBLY PLANT, NORWOOD, OHIO
NP5 -LEATHER WRAPPED, STEERING WHEEL AND SHIFT ****
N90 -WHEEL, 15 X 7,ALUMINUM CAST,4.75 INCH BOLT CIRCLE
PB4 -LOCK CONTROL, WHEEL
P20 -HUBCAPS, WHEEL, STYLED ??? (Center caps?)
QYZ -TIRE ALL, P215/65R15/N BL R/PE ST TL HWY
T93 -LAMP, TAIL & STOP, SPECIAL
UL6 -RADIO, AM, CLOCK, MTR
UP7 -RADIO PROVISIONS, FOR MONO INSTRUMENTATION
U21 -CLUSTER, INST, OIL, COOL TEMP, VOLTS, TACH
VK3 -LICENSE PLATE, FRT MOUNTING PKG
V73 -ANTENNA, FIXED
YT9 -OPTION PACKAGE, FISHER FURNISHED PARTS
Z28 -MERCHANDISED PKG, SPECIAL PERFORMANCE
1AY -Stock Orders Processing Option (DEALER ORDERED CAR)
1PV -PAINT SCHEME, 21
1SA -OPTION PACKAGE 01
10A -STRIPE COLOR, ACCENT, TWO TONE, LT GRAY/RED (91)
16P -WHEEL COLOR, BRT WHITE (91)
19B -TRIM COMBINATION, CLOTH, BLACK (B) (91)
19I -INTERIOR TRIM, BLACK (I) (91)
199 -SEAT BELT COLOR, BLACK (91)
51U -PRIMARY COLOR EXTERIOR, SEDONA TAN (91) (Yellow)
6ZW -SPRING, COMPUTER SELECTED, FRONT, LEFT HAND
7ZW -SPRING, COMPUTER SELECTED, FRONT, RIGHT HAND
8NL -SPRING, COMPUTER SELECTED, REAR, RIGHT HAND
9NL -SPRING, COMPUTER SELECTED, REAR, RIGHT HAND

I hope to have some pictures to post soon.

Rob

[edit] Hopefully the rare AM radio option will be a neat and desireable asset in the future. Maybe the "retro" thing will apply since these UL6 3rd gens will have that option in common with the old muscle cars of the 60's with their AM radios.

 

It never fails that anytime someone is enthusiastic about their car they come in here thinking it's 'rare'. By definition alone, there is no such thing as a rare thirdgen. They simply were too heavily produced and the market is/was flooded. It's kind of like 1984 Fiero's or mid-80's - mid-90's Grand Prix's. That said, combinations and options can be unusual, but it's not going to make up for the generic nature of these cars. Z28, IrocZ, Coupe, Convertible, 1LE, etc it's all just a Camaro to anyone but an enthusiast.

Condition is what makes a thirdgen desirable, rare, or valuable. Production numbers are just like HP ratings, good for bragging rights only.

1SA is the option level, indicating it was basically a base model stripper. The dealership probably ordered it that way to put a flashy car on the lot for the lowest possible cost. Definitely a cool car, and would be a lot of fun, but it's not going to break any records at Barret Jackson.

 

BTW anytime you see a RPO definition from the decoder and it says (91) next to it, that means the code is different for different years. In this case the definitions came from the 91 Helm manual so that's what the RPO decoder shows. Example: 16P -WHEEL COLOR, BRT WHITE (91) Obviously a Yellow car didn't come with White wheels. Further white wheels weren't even an option in 87. Typically speaking when the code has a two digit number followed by a letter, it indicates a color code for either paint, trim, interior, etc. It'd be easy to decode if you had the Camaro White Book or a similar reference manual.

After reviewing the codes you listed, these are the ones that stand out. I'd recommend checking another resource (or as many as you can get your hands on) for more definitions. The source material will often show different definitions for the same codes. The Norwood assembly plant stands out because 87 was the last year a Camaro was produced at the original assembly plant that built Camaros in 1967. The radio provisions indicate an unusual package, but not necessarily desireable. A full on radio delete would be more interesting.

D6D -COLOR OVERRIDE, TRIM AND PAINT COMPATABILITY
N0D -ASSEMBLY PLANT, NORWOOD, OHIO
P20 -HUBCAPS, WHEEL, STYLED ??? (Center caps?)
UL6 -RADIO, AM, CLOCK, MTR
UP7 -RADIO PROVISIONS, FOR MONO
1PV -PAINT SCHEME, 21

All the following code definitions are 91 specific, check another resource
10A -STRIPE COLOR, ACCENT, TWO TONE, LT GRAY/RED (91)
16P -WHEEL COLOR, BRT WHITE (91)
19B -TRIM COMBINATION, CLOTH, BLACK (B) (91)
19I -INTERIOR TRIM, BLACK (I) (91)
199 -SEAT BELT COLOR, BLACK (91)
51U -PRIMARY COLOR EXTERIOR, SEDONA TAN (91) (Yellow)

 

It never fails that anytime someone is enthusiastic about their car they come in here thinking it's 'rare'. By definition alone, there is no such thing as a rare thirdgen. They simply were too heavily produced and the market is/was flooded. It's kind of like 1984 Fiero's or mid-80's - mid-90's Grand Prix's. That said, combinations and options can be unusual, but it's not going to make up for the generic nature of these cars. Z28, IrocZ, Coupe, Convertible, 1LE, etc it's all just a Camaro to anyone but an enthusiast.

Condition is what makes a thirdgen desirable, rare, or valuable. Production numbers are just like HP ratings, good for bragging rights only.

1SA is the option level, indicating it was basically a base model stripper. The dealership probably ordered it that way to put a flashy car on the lot for the lowest possible cost. Definitely a cool car, and would be a lot of fun, but it's not going to break any records at Barret Jackson.

Thank you for the information. Being a die-hard Mopar fan myself, I can attest to the fact that a thirdgen camaro wearing an option which came on only 179 units makes me sit up and take notice. That fact along with the color combination and hardtop option instead of T-tops actually made me pull a once-upon-a-time "generic" 1970 Duster 340 body out of the garage so I could put the complete, running and driving yellow Z in it's place. Remember, Dusters were also considered to have "flooded" the market as well, you literally used to see them everywhere, but that was back in the 70's/early 80's....it was just another old Duster, no biggie, but we know it's a very different story today(at least for a real '70 340 Duster). Let's put this in perspective; Production figures for the 1970 duster were a total of 217,192 units, with a whopping 24,817 of those being 340 cars, and believe me, any 1970 Duster 340 is a very desireable and rare car these days, some even more than others depending upon color/option combinations and condition. Find a '70 Moulin Rouge 340 4-speed Duster(which would have been a rare color/drivetrain option), and you can say that you've got one of the rarer cars out of that whopping 217,192 units sold, and the market will reinforce that statement. Now, compare those figures with the 1987 Camaro's production figures of 137,760 cars in total, with 14,718 of those carrying the Z/28 option. Then take into account that only 3,052 of those cars(in total, not just Z/28's) came in Yellow. Going even further, take into account that only 179 of those cars(in total, not just Yellow cars or Z/28's) were ordered with the AM radio option. Given these facts, I feel confident in saying that I've scored a rare car, even though it is one of those "heavily produced" thirdgens that have "flooded" the market. It might take a few years for the market to back that statement up, but I feel confident that it will eventually do just that.

At this current time, you may be somewhat correct about condition making a thirdgen desireable, rare or valuable(especially if we're talking about a base V6 grocery getter) and production numbers being just like HP ratings, good for bragging rights only, but I think those are somewhat dated statements, and they're are losing ground daily when it comes to some of the specialty thirdgens. It's easy to stay caught up in the past and make statements about certain cars based upon how they've performed historically in market value, but one has to take in the whole picture and approach this subject realistically based upon moods and interest of the current buying public. With the current upswell of interest that has been taking place in "muscle" or specialty cars(this is even being reflected in new car retro styling Ie Mustang and the impending new Challenger), and the prices of the older cars going through the roof, I think it's safe to say that the more affordable(and more available) "Thirdgen" Camaro is slowly starting to take it's rightful place in line. Evidence of this can already be seen in the rising prices of certain thirdgens like(but not exclusively) the 5.7 Iroc and Iroc convertible(5.0 Iroc's - hang in there, your time is coming as well).

As for B&J, the only reason I would give notice to that particular outlet is because of the lasting effect it has on the buying public. This is a real phenomenon that we're experiencing here with the muscle/specialty car market, and this is evidenced everywhere you look and almost everyone you talk to on the street, not only in interest, but pricing(whether justified or not). I think we should be looking foreward at what will eventually become the next 1970 'Cuda or 1969 Camaro for generations to come, and not staying marred down in a mindset of times past. Just ask my Father about that particular mindset and how it made his 1970 Chevelle SS turn into a 1972 Ford LTD, back when Chevelle's "flooded" the market.

 

Pics please!!

Please note that the only Z28/IROC-Z that does not have original or reproduction striping available today is the 1987 Z28. It was a one-year only design and because of it's relatively low production, no company has stepped to the plate to buy GM's rights to this particular striping design. Even when it was available, it was expensive. For example, one of the two rear striping (behind the rear wheel to the center of the rear bumper) cost about $80.

Also note that the gray striping was used only on the yellow Z28. The other available colors were silver, gold, red and metallic blue. I have pics of all these if anyone is interested. In a nutshell, your striping cannot be replaced!!!

I've attached a pic of my '87. Although the difference in the gray and silver striping may not be obvious, I don't know for sure as I've never seen the gray. Does your striping look any different that my silver?

Willie

 

What are you talking about? There are quite a few RARE thirdgens. How can you say that cars such as Firehawks, 1LE's, B4C's, Turbo Trans Am's, etc. aren't rare because that made so many normal cars? By that reasoning, all the 60's muscle cars that are pulling in BIG money today shouldn't be worth much because they made tons of those cars as well.

Also, to say that the rare models make no difference because they're nothing more than a "normal" Camaro to anybody but an enthuiast is an absolutely ridiculous statement. Who do you think drives up the price of the rare cars? It's the collectors!!!

Sure, condition plays a big part of a cars value but a clean low-mileage 1LE is worth a lot more than a comparable normal IROC or Z28. Also, more than likely the price gap between rare and normal car will only widen over time.

The 80's cars may never see the money that cars from the muscle car era are seeing today but they will definitely go up in value and the rare cars will command the most money just because the demand will far exceed the supply.

 

I consider my GTA a rare car, one of the Midnight Russet Metallic cars made in '87 and the only year for the color, so it wasn't a heavily produced flooded to the public car.

 

I managed to take a pic this morning. My digital camera is halfway working, so I'm lucky I got one. I backed the Camaro out last night and wouldn't you know it, a big wind and rainstorm last night . As you can see, it's still in pretty nice shape considering it's right at 20 years old and was used as by the previous owners son for a while. The black rubber strip on the drivers door is coming loose a little. And Willie, the stripes look almost exactly like the ones on your car, except these might be a tad bit darker....

 

Thanks for the pic! It is a cool color combo.

The yellow presents unique color coordination issues. For example, this is the only color where the silver ground effects does not necessarily have to match the interior. Normally, silver accents = gray or black interior. However with yellow, a beige interior was an option even with silver ground effects.

I'm glad you mentioned the body side molding. Actually, the Z28s were originally body color and the Sport Coupes were all black. Yours has been replaced! As for the striping, I tend to agree with you. The grays may be darker tones than the silvers.

Willie

 

AM radio I never even knew you could get that in a third gen

 

In '82 an 8-track player was an option. I've actually never even seen one. I'm guessing there has to be at least one still in existence.

 

I've seen Z28s with black moldings before. I wouldn't say they have been replaced. I've seen them mostly on the quazar blue cars, but I've also seen them on yellow cars and the burnished brown color Z28.

 

I've seen Z28s with black moldings before....

Yes, for 1986 or earlier. For 1987, the Sport Coupes got the black. The Z28's got color matching. There were no options in this regard.

Willie

 

The moldings "look" factory over factory paint, but they could have been replaced. Could this have been an option which came with the unusual color scheme of yellow/black/silver? What about the "D6D" code - "COLOR OVERRIDE, TRIM AND PAINT COMPATABILITY", could this have had something to do with the black Sport Coupe side moldings?

 

.... What about the "D6D" code - "COLOR OVERRIDE, TRIM AND PAINT COMPATABILITY", could this have had something to do with the black Sport Coupe side moldings?

Certainly. You're setting the precedent here as I know of no other yellow '87 Z28's and I've been around here since nearly the beginning. Yellow IROC-Z's, yes, but no Z28's. And furthermore, I know of none others with RPO D6D. So, I just don't know. It makes sense that by selecting this code, weird color combos can happen.... But like I mentioned earlier, yellow poses many color coordinating problems.

I just looked up some stuff. Remember, this is 1987 only. Some of it is truly strange:

1) Yellow exterior w/saddle interior = gold striping & gold painted wheels. (Makes sense.)
2) Yellow exterior w/black or gray interior = gray striping & silver painted wheels. (Makes sense again.)
3) Now here's where it gets weird. Yellow exterior w/saddle interior = what I said in #1 UNLESS the buyer specifies gray striping. By doing so triggered gold painted wheels.... I think this is the only instance where the wheels do not match the striping.

Unfortunately, there is no mention of body side molding colors.....

Willie