undecided on 86 or 87 GLHS

[k20fg]

I owned an '87 Shelby Z with S60 kit and a 85 Shelby Charger prior to joining the Navy, I gave the ok to sell them about two years in since I was only home for 2-3 weeks a year and couldn't enjoy them. Needless to say my family sold them for well under my asking price :::cough::$1500 bucks for both::cough::: some one got a steal, both cars were very clean.

Now comes time to buy a numbered car to enjoy. Like the title says 86 or 87

Found an original owner 86 GLHS with 140k unmolested miles on the clock. Has full documentation, all Shelby parts, extra decal set, extra set of reverse cut centurions, removable roll cage/bars, still has adj koni knob, fog light covers, turn key .. drive home. No rust on the floor boards, driver front fender has a good size dent, interior needs a very good cleaning, needs paint, ect.
He is asking $4900

Also considering 87 GLHS with a laundry list of mods.
'88 block boreed .020 over with t2 forged crank and rods. Vienolia pistons. ARP rod bolts, main and head studs. Crank scraper. New oil pump and remanufactured head. Stock Shelby 2 piece intake and Shelby valve cover still on car. Aftermarket exhaust manifold, t3/t4 "super 46" turbo from FWD performance. 3" swingdown and downpipe exiting behind drivers fron tire. +40 injectors, stage 5 calibrated computer. Big FMIC, 3" piping into intake. K&N of course. Braided oil and collant lines for turbo. MSD 6A and Blaster 3 coil. New alternator and power steering pump. TurboXS BOV. A520 trans that I broke when I put in the OBX limited slip. T2/T3 clutch and pressure plate set up from Gary Donovan. All suspension bushing have been replaced with polybushings. Adjustable Konis still on car. 255 fuel pump. Auto Meter pro comp boost, fuel pressure, oil pressue, and egt. New Toyo Proxies on front.
This car isn't running as it needs a tranny. Already know where an a555 and 568 are in the area. Turbo will probably need a rebuild, everything listed above is newish and motor isn't broken in yet. Comes with stock block and tranny if I want. He is asking $2500 which dropped from 3k, been listed for a while.

I am leaning towards the 86 to do a nice restore but would want to mod it and would take some self control to keep it close to stock. The fun factor of the 87 is very alluring.

Opinions are welcome .. the girlfriend isn't crazy about the 86 but understands the limited production and actully wants to help with a restore.

[itsbudda]

I'm definitely feeling the 86 glhs. It's too stock to pass up.

[1983Rampage]

I personally like and have owned an 87 GLHS, and love the 2-door feel. But there are a lot of people that want the 86 since it is rarer then the 87. With that said, if you are looking at modifying it, you would want to ask yourself the question of would you rather have the satisfaction of saying you did the work or you had somebody else do the work. From there, the 87 sounds like a hell of a deal with the amount done to it already and the list of things that would need to be done to it is almost none. But if you would rather do the work, then the 86 would be a fun way to start everything off. Plus something you would want to look at is the fact that what would keep the "rareness" of the car is keeping it stock and keeping everything matching. If I were to be the 2nd owner of a good condition GLHS that had quite a few miles, I would probably go through and do a fresh engine job and keep it stock and numbers matching. Maybe put in a boost gauge but nothing that would alter the interior for that future "perfect" buyer. But both would be great cars. But for the response from your question, I would go 87, plus it never hurts to have the little ladies approval.

[k20fg]

Tough decision for sure .. I would most likely end up pulling the motor from the 87 prior to paint, clean up the wiring(its a mess) and mabye install a FAST system to maximize the options. So I would feel quite satisfied with working on it. They are both a good deal in my mind just don't have enough room for both!!

I apprecaite all the input guys.

-Tyler

[tryingbe]

87

[k20fg]

Heres a couple pics of my old 87 Z and 85 SC ... I should've never got rid of them.




Heres pics on the 87's condition .. going to see it in person tomorrow.

[boost geek]

2 door L bodies are sooo sexy!

[Marcus86GLHS]

both cars sound nice, but a one-owner 86S in decent and unmolested shape for less than 5 grand? that's the way to go.

[banshee X]

buy your girl something very nice kiss butt for a few day and buy both, the 87 glhs are my favs but an unmolested 86 is definitely getting rare by the moment

[detobias]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcus86GLHS both cars sound nice, but a one-owner 86S in decent and unmolested shape for less than 5 grand? that's the way to go.

+1

but if you buy the 86 one you *should* keep it stock(ish) or limit your mods to those that are reversible

if you want a car to hot-rod, the 87 is a better choice

the 4drs are faster anywayz

but the 2 doors ARE sexy

[turbokid]

I would go with the 2dr.
Save the 86 for another buyer willing to keep it original or buy both and beat on the 87 and baby the 86.
THe 86 will be worth more overall all because it is in unmolested condition but the 87 sounds like a potent combo for the money.
Good luck
Q

[k20fg]

Quote:

Originally Posted by banshee X buy your girl something very nice kiss butt for a few day and buy both, the 87 glhs are my favs but an unmolested 86 is definitely getting rare by the moment

Genius! I ran it by the 'ol lady and she said "Then theres one for me!"
I guess a storage unit is in my future. Don't want them out in the elements .. especially the 86S.

Thanks guys ... I'm going to get the 86S and keep trying to get in contact with the 87S owner.

[k20fg]

Well the 86S got sold to someone in Flordia .. sucks. Can't find another in the area right now so guess the decision is made. 87 it is if the owner ever surfaces.

Tyler

[k20fg]

The owner of the 87 surfaced (after alot of leg work on my end) and he is in the Persian Gulf on Deployment right now .. won't be back until Christmas.

Decision made .. found an 86 GLHS with 54k orig miles in Ohio .. deposit has been sent and car transport arranged. I am exicted!

[itsbudda]

Ohio to washington. Now that's a haul.