used car prices.

[Robin7TFour]

hello, i just read the updated price listing for 2004. it shows the 74 and 80 models as the lowest valued corvettes. any thoughts or ideas on why that is?

ROBIN

 

[The73vetteman]

Plenty of supply and limited demand.

To expand on this, the '74s were the first to have plastic bumpers front and rear, plus a very low power engine. (When did cats first appear? 75?) I think most people shopping for a C3 want the chrome bumper look, so demand for the plastic nose and tail cars is lower.

Doesn't make them any worse cars tho.

As for the 80 cars being cheap - I guess this is because GM built a heck of a lot of 'em.

'73

 

[Robin7TFour]

73, that makes some sense. the 74 was the last of the non-cat exhausts.however, the 75-76 years seem to be the really lowest powered cars.structurally they were very similar. i guess i'll go back and look at the numbers again.

thanks

ROBIN

 

[Robin7TFour]

HOWDY, now i am really baffled. looked at the production numbers and the most produced model was in 1979,followed by 77,then 76. so it can't be the market was flooded in 74.also the h/p rating were the same for all the L48 models.
so what really makes the 1974 least desirable.

inquiring mind(s) want to know

BUBBA

 

[GTR1999]

I can offer an opinion from the car people I've been around the last 30 years. When the rubber bumper cars came out they were a big drop in raw performance that a lot of the car guys of the tiem didn't like them or the bumper look. Remember most of the cars then had chrome on them. The 74's were known to have problems with them and developed a bad rep-at least around here. Also this was a time when you could get 5-10 year old muscle cars for $1,000 that ran harder then a new $7,000 vette would. Most of the mechanics didn;t understand the emission equipment and the mood changed in the 70's,the vette survived but it was not the same as the early years in many peoples mind.
A lot of new people have now bought and started restoring the late C3 and the climate has changed again-for the better,but I don't know if you'll ever see the late C3's in the same light as the C1 & C2's. I remember when NCRS didn't even judge C3's, 68 and up were considered sleds.
I like the 74 because you can buy them for less and build them any way you want,driver,racer,show car,or NCRS( if you want to get caught up in that $$ game) so enjoy your car and drive it. If you buy a vette for an investment you're better off going to a casino.

 

[The73vetteman]

If you buy a vette for an investment you're better off going to a casino.

Don't let my wife hear that!!

I told her my '73 would be a great investment when I bought it!

 

[BruceBed]

Don't let my wife hear that!!

I told her my '73 would be a great investment when I bought it!

I had the opportunity to buy a 74. I opted to buy the 73. The rubber bumper on the 74 is offensive - especially with the split. All the guys I know around here call the 74-82 vettes the Barbie vettes- All show and no go.
The marketplace bears this out. Sorry- Didn't mean to offend anyone.

 

[Tom73]

hello, i just read the updated price listing for 2004. it shows the 74 and 80 models as the lowest valued corvettes. any thoughts or ideas on why that is?

Robin,
Cann't say about the '80 but the '74 is caught up in the "curse of the 4's"

Seems that the years that end in a "4" have the worst values compared to the ones around them. The '54 has to compete with the '53 (first year and only 300 built) and the '55 which introduced the new V8. Thus of the 53-55 models, the 54 is the lowest priced. The '64 has to compete with the '63 (first Stingray and the splitwindow) and the '65 which introduced the big block and disc brakes. Then there is the '74 which is a good car, much better then the '75 (VERY low hp year) and has basicly the same engines as 73 and the same power of 72 and 73. 74 is just suffering from the curse. Then there is the '84, the first of the C4s but with the Crossfire engine. It has to compete with the 85 which introduced the TunedPortInjection engine. Then the '94, not sure if there is any problem there other then the LT1 and its optispark but then there is the '04 which is the last of the C5s and is followed by the new C6.

Over all the "4's" have been a bad luck year. But if you want a great car, one that does not have all the serious emission stuff, still has true dual exhaust, was available as a convertible, and can be had at a very low price, then look no further than the '74 Vette.

tom...

 

[mike weyman]

when i bought the 75, i looked at the looks of the car for the money i wanted to spend.the car was on the road, liscensed, inspected(certified).running o.k. for 4,000 cdn ($2,500 am.).I could not find a 73 even close to that money,let alone a big block .so i grabbed it.those chrome bumpers are literally worth thousands.

After investing a total of 13,000.$ cdn($10,000 am.)and countless hours,I won't have the epitomy of the corvettes, but i'll have a beautiful example of the american sports car.wether or not it has the big block or the chrome bumpers is not important. it's the best 75 it can be.
as far as the engine goes, i have adressed the h.p. problem , it's not original,it's better.
sure i'd like the chrome bumpers, but mine doesn't have them, oh well. mike

 

[Robin7TFour]

GREETINGS, i enjoy all the opinions. i bought what i could afford.and to me my 74 is PRICELESS .i don't care what the book says it's value is.

ROBIN

 

[problemenko]

I struggled for many months on which year C3 to buy. After all the advice I received from more experienced C3 owners, countless hours spent on the internet and reading many publications, it came down to what I can afford today. I recently purchased a 79 that needs paint and AC. Is it the best example of a C3? Most likely not. Is it the fastest one one the planet? No. But I can say it's mine. What will it be worth in the future I really don't know, does anyone? I'll just enjoy the ride for what it is. A C3. Pretty kool, huh?

 

[brit_trader2003]

I started looking for a 74 Big Block because I did not like the chrome. Then I discovered Side Pipes, given that Side Pipes have a fair amount of chrome I re-evaluated the chrome thing. I now have a 69 with re-chromed everything and brand new Side Pipes plus a 454 engine. Not original but who cares.

Given that all C3s are now pretty old I think that value should be affected by how much work has been put into the car. A fully rebuilt car is worth far more than any original car in my opinion as who knows what expensive problem might be lurking beneath the surface.

I bought the car with all the Suspension, Drive Train, Shocks etc replaced with new. In short everything behind the Gearbox was new. I have still had to take out the Gearbox, Starter Motor and Engine to have them rebuilt. Given that my Beast is now pretty much capable of going until the end of time without any problems (I hope !) I think it should be worth a fortune, but it is not !

 

[wallyknoch]

The 74 model had both front and rear rubber bumpers. A one year only model with a split rear bumper. Horsepower declined starting with the 71 year model and got progressively worse with a 15 year run of the same basic car. Cosmetic changes and lack of horsepower in the C3`s now make the 68-70 cars rising in price while the later C3`s are declining and actually a good value piece for modifications. It really got sad when GM actually placed a 305 engine in a California model. Auto trans and AC was the norm, no roadsters available and performance was gone. Fortunatly the newer models have some HP available again. But, still no big blocks for sale! I`m still hoping. :L

 

[bossvette]

I had the opportunity to buy a 74. I opted to buy the 73. The rubber bumper on the 74 is offensive - especially with the split. All the guys I know around here call the 74-82 vettes the Barbie vettes- All show and no go.
The marketplace bears this out. Sorry- Didn't mean to offend anyone.

my 76 is definatly not a "Barbie Vette"

 

[Bob Chadwick]

I had the opportunity to buy a 74. I opted to buy the 73. The rubber bumper on the 74 is offensive - especially with the split. All the guys I know around here call the 74-82 vettes the Barbie vettes- All show and no go.
The marketplace bears this out. Sorry- Didn't mean to offend anyone.

Don't let the 74 - 82 Vettes value get you down. It is one of the things that makes them so attractive. I bought my 77 for next to nothing, have made some modest exhaust, intake and ignition changes and have been told that I likely have somewhere in the 220 - 240 range in hp. I don't have to feel guilty because I am modifying a classic, the cost was less than the metal bumper and I like it. I suspect that the insurance is cheaper for these later model C3's as well.

And on that HP thing, I don't recall what year they changed the HP ratings from net to gross, but when comparing apples to oranges you need to divide your hp rating by 85%, give or take a few % points, to convert your net HP rating to gross. So my 180 net actually translates to about 210 gross. Still lower but not as bad as someone would have you believe.

On top of that they tend to be more comfortable to drive and ride in on a daily basis.

 

[CQRT]

Hey Boss:
As a former Buckeye, I sure do miss the seasons, but not the opportunity to drive the Vettes year-round . . . are those little `nads hangin' there under the bumper ? That's DEFINITELY not a barbie !

And Robin-- as a fellow `74 Vette owner, I bought it because it was a good value, and then bolted on the power - - hang in there Brother !
CQRT in AZ !

 

[Robin7TFour]

CQRT(aka Rollie), i also bought mine because of the price.now, it's priceless to me.
btw my sidepipes are great.leave the th400 in second gear and blitz around orlando.yeah i do love the sound of american horsepower.

ROBIN

p.s. congrats to the Pratt & Miller corvette C5r team for the GTS class win at Sebring

 

[bossvette]

Hey Boss:
As a former Buckeye, I sure do miss the seasons, but not the opportunity to drive the Vettes year-round . . . are those little `nads hangin' there under the bumper ? That's DEFINITELY not a barbie !

their called "bumper nutz" made for trucks, but I put them on my Vette. It does have enough power to back it up

 

[CQRT]

I love the nutz Boss-- a great statement !~ And Robin-- I'm sure everyone would love to see a picture of your masterful pipework and striping . . it's gotta sound AWESOME !
CQRT in AZ