Pricing help

[Hawaiin00b]

Aloha!

Hello Ladies and Gentlemen! I have recently received permission from the wife to buy a toy and I am looking into a C3. Unfortunately I live on the island of Oahu, Hawaii and it is very difficult to find a car. Soooo...I have a couple of questions for you all, if you don't mind:

There is a service member here who has a '78 L82, 4spd for sale. The body and interior is in good shape; no cracks in fiberglass, no tears in leather- it seems like it would be a fun car to learn simple interior/exterior restoration. The engine appears to be the original with 78k miles on it. The engine, too, is in decent shape, but it needs to be "sharpened up" a bit. I drove the car and loved it.

I have looked at different pricing guides and still have no idea what this car might be worth. He is asking 12,500, but went to 11,500 after I showed him the web sites that I had looked at- he was pricing his car using nadaguides, which I think are a bit overpriced; my 2002 protege listed at 3k higher than edmunds and kbb.

Any opinions? I wish I had pics to show you guys...sorry 'bout that!

Pat

 

[jdp6000]

Pat,

I was in Hawaii back in October. I checked on shipping to North America. it was anywhere between $3000 to $4200 USD. I think you should factor this all in on your search. So...yes you can find 78 Vettes for less here...BUT....shipping is expensive.

Therefore $11,500 isn't bad if the car is in decent shape. Technically thats $7500 here plus shipping to there.

Jim

 

[Red VelVette]

Pat,

I just sold my '78 Silver Anniversary edition L48 with 78K miles for $13,100. This was an original survivor with some very minimal wear on the seats and everything worked. I had received an NCRS Top Flight award 6 months ago.

So with that being said I would give a little more value to the L82 if it runs smooth and has no smoke. If there is no major rips or tears on the seats, the carpet is clean of stains or fading, the door panels are in good shape, and the paint and body are in good shape I would say that $11,500 is probably a fair price. But being on the Island the market may be a bit weaker and you might try for $10K or under-it never hurts to make an offer.

Good luck!

 

[Hawaiin00b]

Groovy!

Thanks, Jim!

Tough price to pay for paradise, eh? Hard to be in a place where the only sharks you can find are in the ocean. *sniff*

Anyway...if any members, by any small chance, live in Hawaii and have a C3 for sale, please let me know! Also, if anyone on the mainland is interested in selling a nice project car (no engine work; I barely know how much fluid the headlights need ) and would include the price of shipping in the overall price please post here. Wife would allow around 14k (but YOU all will tell her it was a steal, I hope- I'm sure we're all on the same page on this one ).

Pat

PS- I live on Oahu (Honolulu).

 

[Hawaiin00b]

Thanks, Silver!

Great...that gives me a bit more to think about. I actually think the car is in pretty good shape. He really has no documentation, however, and that makes me a bit nervous. Should I be about no docs or is that no big deal?

Pat

 

[jdp6000]

Doc are always nice. But not always available. You can do a bit of research right here
http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/specs/c3/1978/78id.html

You can always check out Ebay but buying something sight unseen can be scarey. Try the "for sale" ads right here at this site...nice deals from time to time.

You are right Hawaii is paradise. I was in Maui for the most part. Beautiful Island. Great weather. Nice people. What else could you ask for?

Jim

 

[Hawaiin00b]

Jim,

Thanks for the site! How long were you in Maui? I've been on Oahu for over four years and island fever is not a myth...I've had it since about year one. My first trip to the mainland, my wife and I rented a car and put 4.5k miles on it in about 3weeks...just had to drive.

Ebay sounded good in the beginning, but it makes me a bit nervous. I know so little about cars in general, much less C3s that I'm a target for a hustler.

I'd actually like to get the one here, but it's hard when it's just a deal, money for car, and not a "good" or "great" deal...know what I mean?

Thanks for the help, though!

Pat

 

[jdp6000]

I was ther for 2 1/2 weeks. I stayed at the Marriott. I could have stayed forever but being Canadian makes it hard to get into the States....permanently.

Try the want ads here. We have some real honest members. You can always ask someone to check the car out on your behalf.

As for the car you are looking at. Everything has its price. Make an offer you are comfortable with and see what happens. Use this as leverage...Paints is usually several thousand. Interior is minimum $1100...if you can do it yourself...etc....etc..

Jim

 

[Hawaiin00b]

Canadian? Why didn't you say so? My best friend is Canadian, Marty Bennett...you know him?

lol

Sorry, Marty always hated it when my American friends asked him that...lol.

2.5 weeks is PERFECT for a visit to Hawaii in my very humble opinion. There are many locals who, for obvious reasons, love it and stand by it, but I think it's a bit overrated, personally.

Not sure if this will work, but here is a guy offering is 1970 for 12.5k...talking to him right now to see if we can negotiate shipping to Hawaii; if that works, then we'll keep talking....

Any opinions?

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=1109623&forum_id=56

 

[Hawaiin00b]

By the way..his craiglist expired, scroll to his last post for the pics...

 

[jdp6000]

Two sites to check out.

http://hawaiicorvetteassociation.com/index.html

http://www.corvetteclubofhawaii.com/

Car looks okay in the pictures. Will need paint. Make sure you ask about the frame.....any rust anywhere???? also the frame around the window...any rust? How does it run....etc....numbers matching?...documents? History???

Jim

 

[Hawaiin00b]

Thanks...actually checked both of them out and emailed a few people for some information. No classifieds, but that's not surprising; Hawaii's so small, there aren't many up for sale.

The guy with the '70 is in China right now, but is in contact with me. If he stays in touch and seems like he's serious, I'll try and see if any member(s) would go check it out for a Outback, Chili's or some other eatery's coupon. Or maybe a place to crash when the visit Hawaii...hehe.

Thanks again, Jim!

Pat

 

[Chiller]

Hawaii and shipping

I was stationed in Hawaii for apx.2 years and loved every moment of it !! It's the perfect place to cruise as long as you stay away from the pineapple fields!!(it's difficult to get the yelow crap off of you vehicle) I could never get tired of it !!( unfortunately there was a "War in the Gulf" that limited my time there) Back then, for a servicemen the government would ship a vehicle state side for free. (I'm not sure if this is still true) Anyhow good luck on your Vette quest !
Chiller


2.5 weeks is PERFECT for a visit to Hawaii in my very humble opinion. There are many locals who, for obvious reasons, love it and stand by it, but I think it's a bit overrated, personally.


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[Hawaiin00b]

I'm getting out of the military next week, actually, and they would ship my vehicle home. I couldn't get a vehicle shipped here, though, unless I payed for it like everyone else. Sux0rs!

Pat

 

[jdp6000]

I might have bought you a beer??? I was in a bar in Wikiki (spelling)...it was at that outdoor flea market....there were two officers there in uniform. We picked up there tab in thanks for all they have done in this recent war on terrorism....

Two nice guys...one I recall was the commander of a naval ship the other was his second officer.

Any luck on the Vette hunt???

Jim

 

[Hawaiin00b]

Jim,

No luck...I was on fire for a while. I think without some good advice from you guys and a couple of guys here in Hawaii I may have bought that '78. He's pretty firm at 11500, which might not be a bad deal if I didn't know I was going to have to drop at least 6k into paint/interior etc...if he doesn't sell this weekend I'll try him again.

I can't speak for the two guys you bought beers for, but I know that my friends and I get treated so well by others due to our service and we appreciate it greatly. I'm just an intel weenie, so I never saw the "work" up close, but I hope that any support I provided back here helped out.

Had a few contacts about vettes on the mainland, but many people seem hesitant to get involved with shipping which is understandable. There are two 82's that look pretty sharp here at one of the bases but they are automatic and I'd prefer manual.

I'm just gonna keep cruising the forums and see if I can catch a good car!

Thanks again!

Pat

 

[Hawaiin00b]

Looking at...

Couple cars that I'm looking at...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4561488288&category=6168&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...561586203&category=6168&rd=1#ebayphotohosting

I think I have a couple of guys to take a look at the car in IL, but I wonder if anyone in Houston area would like to take a gander at that one for me? I'm game to provide some grub and gas money for yas!

 

[jdp6000]

The 69 looks better then the 74. I don't like how the headlights are sitting in the 74, its a sign of the fiberglass separating from the metal frame.

Pat, make sure the frame is good on either, its critical, evrything else is a simple fix. of course made sure the obvious is fine, i.e. mechanical.

All 82 vettes came 4 speed automatic, no standards.I like the style of the 1980 to 1982. Are either of the 82'a collector editions? Easy to tell the would be a beize color with multicolor seats. The crossfire engine is a ***** to diagnose, make sure it runs smooth. Parts are also a litlle more dificult to find, some are specific to the 82.

Jim

 

[Hawaiin00b]

I like the 80-82 style as well...didn't know that all 82s were automatic. Yep, one of them was the collector's, I do believe. Was listed for 17.5k...

I really like the '69 that's on ebay. What does he mean "...the engine is 'free'?" The one in IL had a bad number, so he changed it. I'm gonna try and get some pics of the Houston car that include the frame, if possible. Like anything else, pretty shifty buying without being able to look at it. Asked him if it had been driven lately, but still no reply.

Still wonderin' if I should pass up that '78 here...

Asked senior member? president? of one of the vette associations here in Hawaii what a '78 should run and he said 6-8k...I'd kill to get a car that cheap here, but I'm not sure it's possible. Guess he'd know, he lives here...

The best thing and worst thing about looking for a car like this is that I feel like I'm 16 again...and I'm 30! Damn these toys!

Pat

 

[Chiller]

That sucks !! The military payed completely to have my vehicle shipped both to and from Hawaii. They told one of buddies that they would pay half if he wanted to ship a second vehicle.

I'm getting out of the military next week, actually, and they would ship my vehicle home. I couldn't get a vehicle shipped here, though, unless I payed for it like everyone else. Sux0rs!

Pat