Opinions on Collectability of 83 Pontiac 6000 STE

[83STE]

I'm looking for some knowedgeable opinions on collectability of 83 Pontiac 6000 STE. This was the first year for the STE. The STE was written up in Collectable Car mag as a possible future collectable. Anyway, I thought I would throw it out to the group for some input.

Thanks

[Peter J.Heizmann]

83STE...Welcome to the AACA Forum.

Thank you for inquiring...I feel confident you will receive knowledgeable answers to your questions shortly.

Regards, Peter. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

[rocketraider]

Well- it's now 20 years old, and it was a distinctive limited-production offering with advanced features and superior handling for its time. I don't think you'll ever get rich off it, but it's at the age a nice example should hold its value.

The thing that worries me on all 80s cars is the electronics and emissions stuff. There were actually some interesting cars built during that dark period, but they are complex and may be impossible to restore down the road- face it, hard parts can be made if needed, but making electronic stuff is beyond the capability of most hobbyists.

[Rawja]

Your car seemed to have a fairly decent cult following on the now defunct GMForums message boards.

I wouldn't worry about electronics and the like. The computers that made the cars more reliable and easier to service back in the eighties still make the cars more reliable and easier to service. I know some of the older people in the hobby are frightened by all the mysterious "black boxes" and whatnot, but as an owner of an '89 Reatta (old cars dont get much more electricaly complex than this one) I can say from experience that the electronics are extremely reliable, and are exceedingly easy to troubleshoot when they fail.

GM used a lot of the same pieces across their models, so the parts (should you need them) are cheap and plentiful and should remain so for a long time.

[rocketraider]

Went out for breakfast this morning and saw an older couple pulling out of the restaurant in one. Faded paint, but fairly clean otherwise. Car had the old style Virginia plates so I figure it was an original owner car.

[Dave@Moon]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> The computers that made the cars more reliable and easier to service back in the eighties still make the cars more reliable and easier to service. </div></div>

Would this be cars like the '83 Olds Firenza a friend of mine had that lost all electrical power (except the ignition system) in hard left turns? GM never was able to fix that one, she traded it on a Honda. I guess "easy" sometimes means "live with it".

It stretches the limits of credibility to refer to any front wheel drive American car of the 1980's as "reliable". this was a pioneering era for automotive technology for the U.S. manufacturers, and even a cursory reading of the <span style="font-style: italic">Consumer Reports</span> and NHTSA recall lists from that era would give a very different impression of these car's reliability.

The 6000STE was the (IMHO) best of the front wheel drive bunch from that era. It is, however, far too mechanically and electrically complex to (with any sense of economic reason) restore. It is certainly a car to be preserved if it has survived in good condition to this date. However if it requires any serious repairs or restoration it would be (economically) unwise to pursue it.

But then again, we (should) do this for fun. If you like the car, that's what matters.

[Rawja]

On the more reliable front I was referring to the car's greater reliability compared to earlier models.... By the time the eighties rolled around, it was not considered unreasonable to expect your car to start the first time, every time; whereas that would be too "pie in the sky" to expect that from a car from say, 1975.

The onboard diagnostics that became commonplace in the eighties also eliminated a lot of the guesswork involved in troubleshooting mis-performing components. My '89 Reatta has the ability to tell me exactly what is bothering it prior to an actual breakdown in most cases, and with 115,000 miles on the odometer it is still running perfectly, with all it's features and gismos in 100% working order. There are a large number of members on the Reatta board with mileages well in excess of 200,000 miles, and a couple over 300,000 miles.

Do I think that the STE is going to be the next "hot" collectable? No, but I believe that a lot of you are much more frightened of electronics than is warranted.

[48LCCOUPE]

I for one am not frightened by the electroinics or technology of the '80's "vintage cars". What bothers me is that new car smell and the fact that they are out of warranty by less than 4 decades!

If the radio has more buttons than the car has cylinders or if it can play recorded tapes or discs, then something is amiss.

[83STE]

Hi All,

Thanks for the welcome to group and all the input. Well, I thought I would give a little more background on this car. It has 69K miles, all options, the rare (so I am told) 2.8 Z code H.O. carbureted engine and I am the second owner. The interior is suede and in good shape. The body is straight, with some minor surface rust, but it needs paint. Unfortunately the GM silver paint of that era faded worst than other colors. I've seen black cars of the same year with excellent paint. It probably needs about $ 700 in repairs excluding paint. A few electrical gremlins in this car are in the maintenance computer, climate controls and radio. The car has some driveability problems caused by the infamous Rochester Varajet E2SE carb. This is a feedback carb that costs $ 800 for a rebuild, so I will rebuild it myself if I decide to keep it. Engine and mechanical parts are usually available, since it uses many common parts from other lines. Any parts specific to the STE are tougher to get. Body and interior parts need to be from the junkyard.

As mentioned in an above post, this car does drive, handle and brake well; even when compared to some cars today. I've read that the STE was part of Pontiac's effort to rebuild the Pontiac brand back in the 80s. About 7500 83 STE were made.

[Pontiac59]

If you like it, go for it. My driver right now is an '84 Skylark - a freebie, with the same 2.8 V6 but the standard output motor. Production on the STE is fairly low - 6719 according to the Standard Guide to Pontiac. Appears the STE package included the HO motor.

These cars will go in the snow if nothing else, I had to run mine on a flat in a storm - one stripped lugnut and no one could help at 5:30 on a Sunday evening - and even with junky tires I made it home okay. If anyone has any specific suggestions for the computer controlled carb, I have a drivablility issue - possibly a vaccum leak, it hesitates and will even stall at mid-throttle. Plugs, wires, cap and rotor are all new and the EGR is disconnected and plugged to see if that was bad, still no change but it does vary somewhat with temperature. Runs good when it feels like it, although it leaks some oil from locations unknown. Starts right up even this morning in -15 temps no problem.

Should be a good little car and will run you to 150,000 miles if you want. I'd love to find a decent notchback Phoenix SJ with the Z-code motor and a manual trans in it, myself, but these are pretty rare (about 2800 total 1982-83-84 production).

[decembro]

I also had a Skylark of approximately the same vintage. No matter what you did, you couldn't get the carb adjusted right. Probably needed a mixture control solenoid. Yours probably does too. They were very common. As far as oil leaks, I would check the distributor o-ring (still a common oil leak on 3100 and 3400 GM engines), oil pressure sending unit above the oil filter, and of course valve cover gaskets.

Steve

[Pontiac59]

I know the valve covers leak, but they don't look like they're too bad... the oil pressure sending unit is a likely culprit. I can't see how I'd change the valve cover gaskets anyhow without about taking the engine out of the car, there is so much junk in the way. Thanks!

[83STE]

You might double check that distributor for oil leaks - that was the major cause of the leak on my engine. Use the silicone oring (red) if you change it out . For the carb mc solenoid: 1) turn the ignition to on position and you should hear a clicking, which means the solenoid is cycling , 2) remove the solenoid and to check to see if the rubber tip on the pintle is broken off (if it is a steel tip you good to go) 3) check the oring for damage . 4) pressure leak test when the solenoid is energized (you can search google for details on this). The other problem with these carbs is the floats get saturated over time and sink in the bowl enrichening the fuel mixture.

[1937hd45]

Could someone post a photo of the car in question? I wouldn't know what a '83 Pontiac looked like if it hit me.

[Dave@Moon]

This is a 1984 STE, but they pretty much all look the same. You can spot them from a standard Pontiac 6000 by the additional driving lights set in the grille.

[1937hd45]

Thank you Dave! I can't see any reason to invest in one of these cars unless you just need basic transportation. Might be a good cheap first car for a kid.

[Guest Kristopher Gerbracht]

To imported_83STE:

Of all of the STE's made, the 83 model was the most distinctive. About 6,500 were built, they had analog instruments, no tach, no rear wheel disc brakes, and the Z code engine was used for just for 83 and 84. I almost purchased one along time ago, but I was new to my job and I did not possess the credit to acquire the car. So, some years later, in 11/88, I purchased a used 85 STE and in 07, I purchased another 85 STE. I love the cars and am a member of the Pontiac, Oakland Club, the a-body.net club, and the 6000 Club. So, as you can see, there are plenty of club support out there.

Most Sincerely,

Kristopher Gerbracht@juno.com (lower case)

[MCHinson]

Kristopher,

Welcome to the AACA Discussion Forum. Unfortunately, I don't think the original poster is likely to see your reply. This discussion is over 9 years old, and he has not posted anything on the forum since 2004.

[rocketraider]

But, being as these cars are now right at 30 years old, maybe this post will bring out other 6000 fans.

I cannot tell you the last time I saw one.

[John_Maine]

I've seen a few regular 6000's but haven't seen an STE in ages. I agree - if it's a good original car and just needs a few minor repairs, then I'd keep it. Who knows? We're seeing Pintos and Chevettes at recent car shows and we never thought they'd be collectible. Now they're kind of fun to look at.

[MCHinson]

Off the top of my head, I can't remember what year my 6000 STE was. I think it was a 1984. I don't think I have seen but a few of them since I traded mine in on a new 1986 Riviera.

[Pontiac59]

That old Buick ran right up until I picked some of the new parts off it and sold it to a you-pick yard. It didn't owe me anything, I hated to let it go, but it was rusty and by then one wet spring the pond at the farm rose high enough to get some water in it. But it still ran.