Where will the latter C 3's be in 5-10years.

[billyvette]

Hey guys and gals, I would like to hear your input on this. Early C 3 68-72 are becoming more and more collectible. Do you as fellow 73 to 82 owners predict our cars becoming sought after as say the 63-67 stingrays? You know when I bought my s/a car there was a pace car sitting right beside it and I did not really check it out because I thought it was way out of my price range and that is something I will always regret.

Administrators, if this shoud be moved I will in no way be offended if it is moved.

 

[resto75]

My theory is as soon as the amount of c3s still on the road declines the c3 will pop up in price. There was a whole bunch of c3s built during the 14 yr period and a lot of them still out there as daily drivers. When these disappear the prices will go up. Look at what the c2s are worth. They only made them 5 years and in lesser amounts so they are at a peak. Like anything else the rarer ones will be worth more. A 67 427 eng coupe is worth more then a 67 327 coupe, but the 327 coupe is still a nice car worth a bunch of money. The same will happen to the c3s

I dont know if the c3s will ever worth more then a c2 but they were popular and will always be so. Now is the time to buy a c3 and hang on to it until the price goes up. They should be the next ones on the price jump up list.

 

[Last Ride]

Hey guys and gals, I would like to hear your input on this. Early C 3 68-72 are becoming more and more collectible. Do you as fellow 73 to 82 owners predict our cars becoming sought after as say the 63-67 stingrays?

In a word, "No." I don't see these cars ever as being as valuable on the market at a Mid-Year or a chrome bumper shark. They came at a bad time for the General from a performance/emmissions standpoint, so they have that against them. This is not to say that they won't hold their value or even increase in value over time, but I think the earlier cars will always be ahead by far. Our cars sure are fun to modify, though! That's kind of why I picked my '78. No one really cares if I hack it up! Anyway, this should not discourage you from owning a later C3, and you can take my uneducated opinion for what you paid for it. Enjoy the car, whatever you have!

 

[78SilvAnniv]

Eventually...

I think they will increase dramatically in price, but it will be a VERY long time off before they command the high prices the earlier vettes are getting now.
The sheer numbers produced will ensure that the supply and demand will be fairly even for a lengthy time. After demand is greater than supply...then the prices will jump considerably.
Heidi

 

[Willis76]

Always thought you buy them to drive unless you have very deep pockets to have more than one. Enjoy your ride for what it is and invest in something else.

 

[billyvette]

thanks for the replies

thanks to everybody,

my car is a driver and will probably always be a driver, cars are meant to be driven. i would probably be miserable with my dream car 67 427 hp 435 horse 6 pack 4 speed convertible, because i would want to drive it. if i had it i would probably build a clone to drive. But i still do not like trailer queens.

 

[2tone81]

I have a C3 (81 Bowling Green car)

IMHO the 78 Pace car was probably the only money car in the 78-82 run.

Prices on Anniversary 78s topped out.......as did 82 Collectors.

Occasionally you might see a low mile Non pace do some money.

I can't see my 81 doing more than 10 grand in the near future(next 5 years) By the time the insurance bill and repairs are made......it'll be a break even deal at best. BUT ITS STILL A VETTE!Jim

 

[Eric]

Performance be damned, just look at the prices over the past couple of years for nice 82s. Nothing against the pre-80 models, but it seems a lot more people really dig the 80-82 body changes and that IMHO will eventually make the last of the line more sought after. Admittedly, they will never be as valuable or sought after as chrome but sought after nonetheless.

 

[L82Dan]

I'm still waiting for the prices to inch upward and have seem slow movement in my area. I've had my 79 since new and being in original condition, I'd like to think that it is desireable. Just last week, an article appeared in the local Chicag Tribune that stated that these very year cars are now of interest to the car thieves! Just what I wanted to hear, now that warm weather is coming! I don't know the actual statistics, but I wasn't thrilled to read that article. You probably can still find it on chicagotribune.com website in the archive section. Interesting read.

 

[Tom73]

Overall I do not feel that the late C3's will be outstanding collector cars thus not highly valuable. There will of course be exceptions. Extreamly low milage original cars will always command high dollars. Cars with the optional engines, L82s and big blocks, will command significently more then the base engine cars. Will also be very much the same for the early C4s.

I personaly lump the 73 and 74 in with the early C3s as they are pre cat converter and had good performance including a big block option. The 75 to 82 Vette just came along at a bad time in history with the auto companies having to fight to meet the emission and safety standards that had been mandated. They did not get out of this mess until the mid 80's. A lot of Vettes were built in the 75-82 time frame and was really nothing stand out during that period (but they were still better than anything else being built during that time). Don't see any real collectability coming from that time period.

I think something like the 73 and 74 big blocks have the potental to become real collectors. The last of the big blocks, only 4412 built in 73 and 3494 in 74 makes them a rare combo. Also the 73/74 L82 cars had 250 hp and that was not exceded by the classic Chevy small block until the GenII LT1 came out in '92. They were the top dog for about 18 years.

tom...

 

[2tone81]

Gotta agree on the 73-4s with Tom73.

I had been looking at 73s around here......couldn't find a straight enough car to justify the money. Kind of stumbled into the 81 I now have(I'm not sorry)

The one-off body style and big block option on a 73 makes it a real keeper. I almost prefer them over a bumper car (I had a 71)

Jim

 

[MaineShark]

I gotta agree with Tom, also. If I wanted a C3 to keep pretty much stock, as a driver/collector, it would be a '73 big block.

All around, the '73 is the most unique C3 year. Like Jim, I was looking for a '73, but couldn't find one that I liked, and ended up with the '79. Not a problem, though... I'm planning on some major performance when I do find a '73 small block car that I like, and I'll need a more sedate daily driver, so the '79 fills that job.

Right now, I'm more interested in daily drivers, and performance modifications. But I'll eventually save up for a '73 big block for eye candy, and the occasional drive in nice weather.

Joe

 

[rpounds]

Eventually they will go up . . . everything does and these things will be collector items.

And, I'll be dead by then . . . even though I am a young fellow . . .

 

[woobie1966]

hi all,
just my .02, ive always loved performance cars but hadnt had one for about 3 yrs (if you want to call a 98 grand prix gpt performance). i justified buying my 70 big block 4 spd to friends,family and self by the theory that if the mid years are fetching a hefty price now...in a while i should be rich (joking). in the long run,i plan to keep it, play with it, have fun with it, and spen money on it. if i sell it down the road i should be able to get some $$ back. the most important thing is to have fun snd enjoy your car, whatever year
mike

 

[81 Corvette]

http://vettefinders.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Vette101Story&id=60

Here is some good info(imo) on the value of Corvettes.

 

[Chas]

I think 73 is the most unique....

Always have...always will....ive read the Zora even felt that the 73 is the closest to what he visioned for the corvette.

its an argument that should run for a few pages too.....
the bottom line for me is the early c-1s are at the $50000 range
and the brand new ones at the otherend are around the $50000
range...im in the game for $10000 and love it. My vette came in at much more than we expected when it came time for insured value.
its worth more already than i paid so im smiling .

 

[Tom73]

Re: I think 73 is the most unique....

Always have...always will....ive read the Zora even felt that the 73 is the closest to what he visioned for the corvette.

Actualy that was said by Larry Shinoda. Michael Antonick, in his book Illustrated Corvette Buyer's Guide, states "Larry Shinoda, the famous Corvette designer, once commented in an interview that the 1973 was his favorite of the post-1967 era because the front and rear styling were closest to what the stylists originally had in mind when this series was first designed."

But Car and Driver in their Dec '72 test of the new '73 Vette stated: "Zora Arkus-Duntov reckons the new Corvette to be the best ever, and after exhaustive testing of four different models, we're inclined to agree"

Just keep in mind that Zora was an employee of Chevrolet, so, of course, the latest has to be the greatest

tom...

 

[chockey]

I was tickled pink when I bought my 81 and felt I paid a decent price but then 3 weeks later the 9/11 World Trade Center attack took place. The next year Corvettes at Carlisle the prices were down with job losses and general economy slumps, about $1500 +/- from the previous year. I doubt that this will ever recover for the later C3's but I still love my vette and would still like to buy a 70 or 71. I didn't buy with the thoughts of its worth 5-10 yrs later, I just love driving the dream I had since I was a teenager, yup thats a looooooooong time ago. So what are $$$$$$ when you get great joy from owning one, sounds weird, sorry, love my vette.

Chuck

 

[Chas]

Re: Re: I think 73 is the most unique....

Actualy that was said by Larry Shinoda. Michael Antonick, in his book Illustrated Corvette Buyer's Guide, states "Larry Shinoda, the famous Corvette designer, once commented in an interview that the 1973 was his favorite of the post-1967 era because the front and rear styling were closest to what the stylists originally had in mind when this series was first designed."

But Car and Driver in their Dec '72 test of the new '73 Vette stated: "Zora Arkus-Duntov reckons the new Corvette to be the best ever, and after exhaustive testing of four different models, we're inclined to agree"

Just keep in mind that Zora was an employee of Chevrolet, so, of course, the latest has to be the greatest

tom...

thanks tom....i knew you would be on this one!

 

[finadk]

I think they will increase, remember the 76 is now in the "older that 25 years department"and at least in NJ exempt from inspection and emissions testing if you register it as a historic.
That opens up all kinds of possbiities, if it has to meet emissions there are few that are worth the $$ to restore but if exempt you can drop in any engine you want. Make a real hot rod out of a chassis that for the past 27 years did not make enoigh power to hurt itself.

Scott