How to tell a "real" Mirage

[kgroombr]

I found somebody selling a Monza with the Mirage body panels and although it looks to be a correct Mirage, what is a sure way to tell?

I didn't find any of the decals or stickers with the number on them or the label on the door indicating it was modified, but these could easily be peeled off or came off by themselves since it is a fairly old car and it has been resprayed once.

Everything looks pretty good, except paint and the front air dam is gone. Is there a reliable source for an aftermarket fiberglass replacement front air dam? Showcars is the only place I found that has the air dam listed, but would hate to try them from all the bad press they get.

This may have been answered before but my search terms came up empty.

Thanks,
Ken

[rm617]

Unfortunately there is no way to tell a "REAL" Mirage just by looking at it. The only way that I know to tell for sure is to contact George Zapora in Canada with the VIN and any other info and he can get you a reso-pack (or whatever it's called).

George Zapora
General Motors of Canada
Vintage Vehicle Services
CA1-160-001
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, ON
Canada L1H 8P7

Phone: 905-440-7636
Fax: 905-440-7644

[marco_1978_spyder]

No definitive way...here's some clues.... in the door jamb... any stickers there? MAT put an information decal there. The trim tag should list 11l and 11u as the paint codes. The steering wheel should have wood grain decal inserts in the steering wheel spokes.

[macman]

Hold off on ordering anything from show cars there is someone working on making molds for the front spoiler. It should be available soon.

[kgroombr]

Thanks all for the info. I am hoping to get a good deal on the car and it looks like there is no way to tell at this time whether it is a true Mirage since there are no stickers anywhere ( I searched the door jams, under the hood, etc and found nothing), I might try to get a better deal. If I do get it, I am in no hurry, so more than willing to wait for the air dam.

Thanks,
Ken

[Biscayne John]

The steering wheel should have wood grain decal inserts in the steering wheel spokes.

Marco,that would be if it has the sports style steering wheel., not all of them has the sports wheel. The sport wheel is listed under "suggested" equiptment. My Mirage is "Potatoe Joes" car which you had seen years before I even heard about it has the regular GM steering wheel. I have another one that I am going to be selling in a few weeks that I feel was a dealer Mirage, that has the sport wheel from the paperwork that came with it.


i would not worry to much if it were original or added on, it can't hurt the valuue on something that does not have much value to begin with