Is 1988 SSE have a chance to become a classic?
Guest
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Is 1988 SSE have a chance to become a classic?
I have reached a decisionnal crossroads with my 88 SSE
who have only 204,000 kilometers.
Aging is starting to show-up esthetically, main carpet & sunroof inner sliding blanking window panel tissue need replacement) and exterior need few body repair (rust around back wheels and doors handles and leaks at the sunroof and the trunk) and a full paint refurbishment is obviously necessary w/in the next year.
This is representing approx. $3500 - $4500 (canadian $) to bring this baby it'* youth back..
Considering that in Quebec, Canada, there are less and less of the 87-91 model running on the road (rough winter in CANADA)
I feel like driving a dinosaure model where GM spares parts are
more and more obsolete where the problem of spare parts may exist sooner or later.
Base on the above, I am wondering if should go ahead investing
$$$$ to keep this "seducting mistress" alive on the road or
should I terminate this relation now.
Is there anybody here that feel like I feel?
What are the chances that the 88 SSE could becomes a classic
in the future?
Any comments?
who have only 204,000 kilometers.
Aging is starting to show-up esthetically, main carpet & sunroof inner sliding blanking window panel tissue need replacement) and exterior need few body repair (rust around back wheels and doors handles and leaks at the sunroof and the trunk) and a full paint refurbishment is obviously necessary w/in the next year.
This is representing approx. $3500 - $4500 (canadian $) to bring this baby it'* youth back..
Considering that in Quebec, Canada, there are less and less of the 87-91 model running on the road (rough winter in CANADA)
I feel like driving a dinosaure model where GM spares parts are
more and more obsolete where the problem of spare parts may exist sooner or later.
Base on the above, I am wondering if should go ahead investing
$$$$ to keep this "seducting mistress" alive on the road or
should I terminate this relation now.
Is there anybody here that feel like I feel?
What are the chances that the 88 SSE could becomes a classic
in the future?
Any comments?
Senior Member
Posts like a Corvette
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From: New Jersey - Most of Our Elected Officials Have Not Been Indicted
I doubt that your 88 SSE will become a classic anytime soon. And I would not invest $3500 Candian to bring this car back to it'* original luster. However, I would invest what would amont to about 2 car payments a year in keeping your existing car on the road. I would not repaint this car, but I would try and slow down the rusting process by sanding and painting the rusted areas. I would also try to find the source of your leaks(gaskets around the windows, maybe) and get that taken care of. Other than that I would just keep the car "in tune" and replace the normal wear items such as tires, brakes, shocks, exhuast pipes, and drive it till it drops. There are a "bazillion" of these cars on the road today, so getting parts for it in the future(except body parts) will always be plentiful.
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Originally Posted by Sol
Give it 10 years, and you will only see a few of those around.
rarety is already arrived here in Montreal region.
I may say without much error margin that there are only few
of these 88 SSE remaining on the road here and from what I have saw so far, what is left will vanish soon.
My visit to my local scrap yard teached me that the choice
is now very limited for body parts replacement.
I am the original owner of mine and I have never regretted this purchase and 16 years later it is still pretty solid despite the aging process.
The idea to spend approx 2 car payments per year to keep-it rolling is also making sens.
The best car GM ever made deserve consideration!
Senior Member
Certified Car Nut
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Those SSE will be classics for sure. I' might even toss around the idea of restoring one in the future. The lights and body panels are RARE, and very hard to come by at double a reasonable rate. They are gorgeous cars for sure. a guy here in MN has a candy blue one with gold wheels/badges he got in ohio after a few months of searching for the perfect one. It'* dead sexy 
I'd say atleast stop the rust from spreading, and try to prevent it from ever coming back atleast. Just setup a restoration if you don't want to do it right away.
I'd say atleast stop the rust from spreading, and try to prevent it from ever coming back atleast. Just setup a restoration if you don't want to do it right away.
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Originally Posted by BonneMeMN
Those SSE will be classics for sure. I' might even toss around the idea of restoring one in the future. The lights and body panels are RARE, and very hard to come by at double a reasonable rate. They are gorgeous cars for sure. a guy here in MN has a candy blue one with gold wheels/badges he got in ohio after a few months of searching for the perfect one. It'* dead sexy
I'd say atleast stop the rust from spreading, and try to prevent it from ever coming back atleast. Just setup a restoration if you don't want to do it right away.
I'd say atleast stop the rust from spreading, and try to prevent it from ever coming back atleast. Just setup a restoration if you don't want to do it right away.
Just stopping the rust in progres is the best step to start with.
Never done a body repair so far, but I will try to rout out the corroded areas and then
spend some times to fix the LESS URGENT step by step.
Thanks for the advice.
Senior Member
True Car Nut
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Originally Posted by BonneMeMN
Those SSE will be classics for sure.
Of course, then there'* sentimental value. But that'* besides the point
Senior Member
Certified Car Nut
Joined: Jun 2003
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SSEs of that vintage look noticably different then the SE or LE ones.
Just like that, SSEi'*, SHO'*, Z34'* etc all will be collectors. Things like rare options and packages help a lot too
"Don't Crush 'em, Restore 'em"
Just like that, SSEi'*, SHO'*, Z34'* etc all will be collectors. Things like rare options and packages help a lot too
"Don't Crush 'em, Restore 'em"